PART ONE - THE SECOND COMING
 

 The second coming is the most important coming event mentioned in the Bible. It is mentioned 300 times in the N.T. which is 1 in 25 verses. This is an important event which unlocks our understanding of the end times. It is the most misunderstood doctrine in the Christian Church today.
There are four different interpretations among Christians in the church today:

1. I won’t be here at all - Pre-Trib- dispensationalists, believe there are different dispensations of God’s working, believe Jews and Church are separate and the O.T. is just history of Jews.

2. I’ll be here for half of it - Mid-Trib - Rapture is at 3.5 years into the tribulation (1Thess 5.9) and the last 3.5 years are the wrath of God period for all those left on the earth.

3. I’ll be here for over half of it - Pre Wrath - Church rapture is sometime after the Antichrist comes to power and defiles the temple, prior to the wrath of God.

4. I’ll be here for the entire event - Post Trib - Rapture and second coming are at the same time. Believers go through tribulation but are spared the wrath of God. Matt 24. 29-31

We all agree He is coming back and this has nothing to do with our salvation. There are two resurrections. The Just and the Unjust.

PRETRIBULATION - This is the most popular belief among the Church today as 80% of believers adhere to it. We will begin our study with the proof texts the Pre-tribulation believers use and work towards a conclusion from these.

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Rev 3.10 to the church at Philadelphia.

What is the hour of temptation? It is not defined here. Does it mean remove? A rule of Bible interpretation must be that unclear scripture be interpreted by clear scripture.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10.13 We see here a way is made to bear temptation or trial.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1.12 James tells us we are blessed if we endure temptation--then we will receive a crown of life. You get a crown of life after a trial.

Pre-tribbers use the word in Rev 3.10 to the church of Philadelphia and apply it to them being taken out. If this scripture applies to them why don’t any of the other messages to the rest of the churches apply? Why aren’t they say “spit out of my mouth” as the next church is? This is taking a verse out of context.

Holy Spirit Removed? Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 1 Thess 2.3-7

They take this scripture out of context. They say the Holy Spirit is removed from the world. What is taken out of the way? The restraint is taken out of the way. It does not say the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth. The Holy Spirit is now restraining, but will at some future day move aside and allow.

If we look at Daniel 10 we see an angel was restrained from getting to Daniel and was helped by Michael. Daniel prayed and it took three weeks for the angel to get to him because he was restrained by the Prince of Persia. When we pray things happen in spiritual places! In this example we can see the Holy Spirit is restraining and will then allow.

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 5.9 Here wrath means punishment or judgments on the specific day of judgment.

For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles. Ezek 30.3

The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Joel 2.31

The “day” has not come yet, and won’t come until….Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 1 Thess 2.1-4 The Antichrist must be revealed first. That doesn’t happen until 3.5 years into this seven year period. See Daniel 9.27 when this happens mid week.

So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Matt 24.33 This will be clear to all believers when they see all the signs in Matt 24. Pre-tribbers believe Matt 24 is only happening to Jews who will be saved after the church is raptured. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals the Lord to individuals. They said earlier that the Holy Spirit has gone from the earth. Has He now returned? Where does it say that?

When the Lord returns He said we will know because we will all see Him. There is no secret rapture. We will know because the signs of the season are clear to us. Yaweh will come at His appointed time after all the signs are fulfilled. It is going to happen according to His calendar--His feasts.

In ancient Israel kings where inaugurated or crowned during the Feast of Trumpets, just as our president is inaugurated after the November election in January.

THE TEN VIRGINS - In the parable of the ten virgins, five are unprepared and told to go and buy oil for themselves. They were not ready. When they returned later after buying oil the Lord said He did not know them. Oil is used to light the menorah and Yeshua is the “light of the world”. The Torah is God’s light. The Torah is the word--Jesus was the word made flesh--the Torah made flesh. He fulfilled the law, He did not destroy it. We are to walk as He walked--therefore we too are fulfilling the law.

The truth is God’s light. The word (Torah) is truth. All the virgins had light, but only five had enough light to get them through. Understanding the word (Torah) is most important.

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matt 7.23 The Lord knows those who obey and understand His word. Lawlessness is illegality. Sin is the transgression of the law. The Lord is telling those who refuse to obey that He doesn’t know them. These are people in the church He is talking to! Depart from me you who don’t practice what you believe! See Ps 104.35, 1 John 3.4 The five wise virgins knew their Bridegroom--they knew the season He was coming and were prepared.

TRIALS AND TRIBULATION - The Bible tells us to expect trials and tribulation and that it purifies and causes us to become holy. Now are we to believe that we don’t experience trial? Everything in the word says trial and tribulation are good for us and allow us to grow in the Lord. Strong’s defines tribulation: to press as grapes; press hard on; a compressed way, to trouble, afflict, distress.

VALUE IN TRIBULATION These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16.33 Also see 1 Peter 1.5-7, 1 Peter 4.1-2, 7

…and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 1 Thess 3.2-3 Paul is talking about current and future tribulation.

We are going to have tribulation. The Bible is clear on this and repeats it time and time again. Look at the apostles after Jesus’ death. All but one was martyred. (Is this why Paul advised believers not to marry?) Jesus wants our lives to build His kingdom. He came that we would die to ourselves. We have lost this meaning in our society--yet in many places in the world today there is persecution--it is going to come here soon! See James 1.2 and 12 The final tribulation is designed for the bride--to refine her! Look at the Biblical pattern.

Israel was in Egypt for all the plagues. They came out at the last hour--the last plague. Look at the tribulation Joseph went through when his brothers sold him into slavery. Look at the apostles and early believers. Look at church history! Burned at the stake for translating the Bible into common language! Look at the pattern: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance" Romans 5.3 Tribulation is of value--it draws us closer to our Messiah. We need to be prepared.

…strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14.22 (This verse refers to the second coming) This is the tone of the Bible. We have been blessed to live in a free country and not be persecuted--but a generation is soon coming where that will not be the case. This is the pattern: Tribulation, then crown! And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev 7.14 Some are going to wash their robes. Pretribbers think this will only be Jews. This is a misconception. Again, if the Holy Spirit is gone from the earth, how would Jews be saved? Remember only the restraint has been removed. We will discuss the Jews further in a moment.

Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matt 7.14 In the Greek in Strong’s we see difficult as the word Thlibo as meaning tribulation. This verse now is: “small is the gate and tribulation is the road that leads to life!” Only few find this road or understand it--tribulation leads to a “God life”.

In Rev 12.11, 17 the beast goes after one group--the true believers--who hold the commandments of God. Then in Rev 14.12-13 the saints are described as those who obey His commands. We will walk like He walked.

POST TRIBULATION SCRIPTURES

Matt 13.24-30 is the parable of the wheat and tares. This is the end--the last day harvest. Notice the tares are gathered first. The armies of Armageddon are brought together like the tares to be burned in the fire of war. See Matt 24.29-31 and Rev 19.11-21. We see Him when He comes: But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thess 5.1-4 Paul is saying, be prepared. Remember the virgins.

In Genesis 1.14 it says: Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years…” The word for season in Hebrew is Mo’ed or fixed time or season. Specifically a festival, an appointment. The moon, sun, and stars tell us the “time or season” when we are supposed to meet or gather. The feasts of the Lord (Lev 23.2) are His appointed times. There are still three to be fulfilled: Trumpets (Yom Teruah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Tabernacles. (This is another detailed study in order to understand all this.)

“You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thess 5.5-6

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119.9-11
Verse 10 says with all my heart. He realizes he must walk in the light of the word (Torah) and not in darkness. We will know the season if we walk in the light. Rev 3.3 says: “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” He is talking to believers!

He comes as a thief to those who do not obey. He comes expected to those who recognize the times and seasons. They hear the trumpet of warning. “Left behind” is a fraud doctrine. Those who obey know the season--not the 24 hour period. Understanding the feasts of the Lord is a key to what is going to occur and how to be ready.

GOD’S CALENDAR - The feasts of the Lord are God’s calendar or appointed times. Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits (all combined in Passover), Pentecost (or Weeks) have already been prophetically fulfilled. There are three remaining feast to be fulfilled on Yeshua’s calendar: Trumpets (Yom Teruah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Tabernacles (Wedding Feast of Bride and Groom).

The dead in Christ rise at the sound of the trumpet (Yom Teruah 1 Thess 4.16). The Jews believe this. The Messiah raises His children on that day (the dead), Joseph was released from prison on that day, Israel was released from Egypt on that day, and the final redemption of our people is on that day! Jews believe on Yom Teruah they will be redeemed--that is when Messiah comes. The Talmud says: The resurrection will take place on Rosh Ha Shanna. This is the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah--“the day of the awakening shout.”

Trumpets is the only feast that cannot be calculated by a numerical day because it is the only feast that starts on a new moon. A new moon must be “seen” in order to be declared. The new moon is when the moon is dark. The slim sliver, however, is seen on the third day. This is when the new moon is declared. This event, therefore, can take place any time during those three days. It is the day “no man knows.” 1 Thess 4.14-16

THE NUMBER ONE PRE-TRIB POSITION: God deals with Israel differently than He deals with the church and all passages that appear to be talking about the saints going through the tribulation are really referring to Jews. Therefore all those saved in the tribulation are Jews. This is totally false. In other words they are saying that the church is raptured out and sitting at a banquet table feasting with the Lord while down on earth Jews are being persecuted and martyred! How preposterous is that? Christians throughout the ages have been the number one persecutor of the Jewish people--now we are partying while they go through the tribulation?

Is the New Covenant for Jews or Gentiles? “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 31.31-33 This verse does not mention gentiles when speaking about this new covenant. If we are grafted into Israel, however, than we are part of the commonwealth Israel (Eph 2.11-3.6 and Romans 9-11). We are one with Israel--not separate. If you read the previous study on the "lost tribes" you should begin to understand this.

Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone." Ezek 11.16-21

Ezek 11.16 This verse speaks of the dispersion of the lost tribes of Israel. They have lost their identities! Try researching your family back two hundred years--it is very difficult. We have been scattered for two millennia!

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. James 1.1

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 1 Peter 1.1
…for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them. Romans 2.13-15

Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God. Ezek 11.19-21 Ezekiel is talking about the new covenant and being reborn in Jesus. Those who have been grafted into Israel--we are spiritually Jews!

In Christ you are either of Israel or you are a pagan (unbeliever). We are grafted into Israel (Romans 11.17, Ephesians 2.11-3.6). The mainline church has forgotten their roots. We are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel. All that we believe is written in the O.T. In the first century Jesus was preached out of the O.T. There was no New Testament. The N.T. is commentary on the O.T. All the epistles refer to the O.T. or Torah as witness to what they preached concerning Jesus. As a believer you should be able to lead a person to Jesus only using the O.T. as reference. That's how Paul did it!

We are grafted into Israel (Rom 11.24). The olive tree which we were grafted into is Israel. All the twelve tribes were sons of Jacob (Israel). In the O.T. the tribe of Judah is called the Jews (2 Kings 16.5-6) and the northern kingdom is called Israel. The wild tree is being grafted back into Israel--this is us. If you are grafted into the olive tree of Romans 11 then you are grafted into Israel, which allows us to be part of the new covenant. The destiny of today’s nation of Israel, the Jews, is parallel with the church. We are part of them. Ephesians 2 We are the commonwealth of Israel.

Gentiles are not allowed into the new covenant. You must become a Hebrew. The true meaning of the word Hebrew is “crossed over”. When we accept Jesus into our new heart we cross over to the olive tree. When the Hebrews left Egypt it says they were a mixed multitude--there were those who had crossed over with them (Gentiles). This is the issue of predestination in a nutshell. We were predestined to be grafted in! Predestination now is easily understood.

You read the study on how the lost ten tribes were scattered throughout the earth and became a large part of the current “gentile” nations. This means that many gentiles may actually be descendants of the children of Israel. This is a study for another day. In the meantime, this fact of our being grafted in is very important. Those who believe in a pre-trib rapture will not be ready when the middle east goes up in flames. We need to be prepared for His coming. Jesus is going to return some fall season during the time of Yom Teruah.

TOMORROW: ORIGINATION OF THE PRE-TRIBULATION “ANY MOMENT RAPTURE" DOCTRINE