RAPTURE – PART XVIII
HIJACKING the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT
If I wanted to waste my emotions on getting upset at pre-tribulation proponents, I could easily do so, but what would that accomplish? Instead, we’ll keep digging into Yahweh’s word to see what He has to say on the matter. When Yeshua appeared on earth in the 1st Century BCE and 1st Century CE, we know that was the time commonly known today as His FIRST ADVENT, or JESUS 1.0 ADVENT. Pre-tribulation advocates would have you believe that Yeshua will come again and then again, a PRE-tribulation JESUS 1.5 ADVENT in the sky followed about 7 years later by a JESUS 2.0 ADVENT when He lands on the Mount of Olives. Scripture simply DOES NOT SUPPORT such a doctrine. Most of the Second Covenant Scriptures that talk of Yeshua COMING AGAIN, relate to the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT, not a 1.5 PRE-tribulation rapture/resurrection ADVENT. Some of the COMING AGAIN Scriptures do mention a rapture/resurrection, which are tied directly to His 2.0 ADVENT. Pre-tribulationists simply hijack many of Yeshua’s 2.0 ADVENT Scriptures and try to make them speak of a 1.5 ADVENT at a PRE-tribulation Rapture/Resurrection of the saints. Poor and deceptive scholarship at best.
There are so many Scriptures to look at in regards to the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT, that it can become overwhelming. Personally, I don’t think Yeshua sees any difference between His 2.0 ADVENT and the Rapture/Resurrection of the saints, just from His statements we looked at in Matthew 25:1-13. Pre-tribbers like to put forth the Greek word parousia (Strong’s # 3952) as the word of choice for the 1.5 ADVENT of Yeshua to PRE-trib rapture/resurrect His saints, but in just a brief look at Matthew 24-25, I see that Yeshua used at least 3 Greek words to talk about His 2.0 ADVENT. He used erchomai (Strong’s # 2064,), parousia (Strong’s # 3952), and heko (Strong’s # 2240). Why don’t the pre-tribbers talk about all 3 words? I believe Yeshua used them interchangeably to relate His JESUS 2.0 ADVENT message. And just for the record, in John 14:3, one of the pre-tribbers foundational rapture Scriptures, Yeshua said erchomai, “I will come” not parousia!! But we are not to get side tracked in arguing over words, but we can present our findings from research! And here’s another point to look at. There are 300 Scriptural signs of the JESUS 1.0 ADVENT that were fulfilled about 2,000 years ago. There are about 2,500 Scriptural signs of the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT that will be fulfilled soon, but there are ZERO (0) Scriptural signs of a PRE-tribulation Rapture/Resurrection event BETWEEN the JESUS 1.0 ADVENT and the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT! Pre-tribbers would then want you to build a whole doctrine on those ZERO (0) Scriptural signs of a PRE-tribulation Rapture/Resurrection!! And that in light of the Word of Yahweh, which states in Amos 3:7, “Surely Sovereign Yahweh does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” If a man-made PRE-tribulation Rapture/Resurrection doctrine breaks Scripture, throw it out!
I can’t help it, but I approach the Word of Yahweh from an accountant’s perspective. That’s my professional training, so I just can’t help it. I always look for the bottom line, foundational thought, or principle. So far, in my Rapture Safari, I believe Hebrews 9:28 presents us with this bottom line, “so Messiah was offered once to bear the sins of many [Yeshua’s 1.0 ADVENT in the 1st Centuries BCE/CE]. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Read all of Hebrews chapter 9, for in it you see the FINISHED WORK of Yeshua on the execution stake securing our SECOND COVENANT in His own blood. Back to the bottom line, look at that word “second time”. It’s one Greek word, deuteros, Strong’s # 1208, and can mean second in time, which apparently is what the writer wanted to convey, since he had just summarized Yeshua’s 1.0 ADVENT. This is where I begin with the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT. This principle is reinforced by Yeshua Himself, our First Witness, by His RAPTURE statement in John 14:1-4, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in Yahweh, believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4And where I go you know, and the way you know.” The Greek word for “come” is erchomai, which means that Yeshua will come FROM Heaven TO earth to establish His Kingdom. This is the great Rapture/Resurrection Scripture from the lips of Yeshua Himself!! But look at the next word in the sentence, “again”. It is the Greek word palin, which does means Yeshua is coming again, but when in relation to time, it means: ONCE MORE!! This word palin leaves NO ROOM for a JESUS 1.5 ADVENT, or a JESUS 3.0 ADVENT; it ONLY leaves room for a JESUS 2.0 ADVENT!! To try to use John 14:1-4 as a PRE-tribulation rapture breaks Scripture, for it leaves no room for Yeshua to come back at the end of the Great Tribulation to establish His Kingdom on earth! So, John 14:1-4 MUST be speaking of the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT at the END of the Great Tribulation!! And is that not the exact teaching we get from the two dudes in white at Yeshua’s ascension in Acts 1:11? Yes, it is.
So, what’s my problem? Well, if Yeshua comes back BEFORE the Tribulation to Rapture/Resurrect the saints at a JESUS 1.5 ADVENT, but you call it His 2.0 ADVENT, you’ve hijacked His 2nd ADVENT and broken all the other Scriptures that talk about His bodily, physical, visible return to the earth to set up His Kingdom on this planet and tabernacle with mankind forever. By calling His return at the Rapture/Resurrection the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT, forces His return to earth to reign for 1,000 years to be called His JESUS 3.0 ADVENT, breaking Hebrews 9:28 and John 14:3! Pre-tribbers trip all over themselves trying to separate His coming at the Rapture/Resurrection from His coming to earth for His millennial reign, but the writer of Hebrews 9 makes it crystal clear, to me anyway, that Yeshua is ONLY COMING BACK ONE MORE TIME, AT HIS JESUS 2.0 ADVENT!! And for the record, in Hebrews 9:28, the word “He will appear” is the Greek word optomai, Strong’s # 3700. Go figure, the Second Covenant writers used several Greek words to describe Yeshua’s 2.0 ADVENT! But the Hebrews 9:28 “second time” appearing correlates well with what those two dudes in white said in Acts 1:11. Yeshua’s ascension 1,982 years ago was bodily, physical, and visible, so shall His JESUS 2.0 ADVENT be, in the 21st Century!!
I believe 100% in the Rapture/Resurrection of the saints at the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT, just not in a PRE-tribulation 1.5 ADVENT. In fact, most of the Scriptures pre-tribbers use to create the imminency doctrine of Yeshua’s soon return describe His 2.0 ADVENT, not a 1.5 ADVENT. Pre-tribbers need to STOP abusing Yahweh’s word; it’s outright heresy and deception, even end-time profiteering (false propheteering?). Undoubtedly, 1 Corinthians 15 is one of the foundational Scriptures describing the Rapture/Resurrection of the saints. Look one more time at verses 22-24, which set the CONTEXT for Paul’s great Rapture/Resurrection teaching, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah all shall be made alive. 23But each one in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits [1,982 years ago], afterward those who are Messiah’s at His [JESUS 2.0] coming (relax, it’s parousia!). 24Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to Yahweh the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” LOOK CLOSELY at the 3 Greek words that follow “at His coming”, “Then the end”, the word “comes” is not in the Greek. My question to pre-tribbers is and always will be, WHERE do you see Daniel’s 70th Week of the 7-year tribulation BETWEEN verses 23 and 24? Huh? Please SHOW ME, because I really do want to believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. But where is it? It’s NOT IN THIS SCRIPTURE!! Paul ONLY LISTS 3 EVENTS:
1 – Messiah as Firstfruits 1,982 years ago
2 – JESUS 2.0 ADVENT, our blessed hope in the 21st Century
3 – Then the end
Is that too difficult for pre-tribbers to grasp? Apparently. Please stop abusing Yahweh’s word.
If I have abused Yahweh’s word, I apologize and repent now. I may have made a sweeping statement in my Safari 2 post, and I’m sorry for doing that, but I want to go back and look at Revelation 14 again. John has several rapid-fire visions in Revelation 14, which appears to be talking about the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT, on Judgment Day. For context see verse 1, “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” And for more context, see verse 7, “saying with a loud voice, “Fear Yahweh and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment [His krisis] has come [erchomai]; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”” Now, let’s look at verses 14-20, “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come [erchomai] for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of Yahweh. 20And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.”
Pre-tribbers like to brag that the Church is nowhere to be seen in Revelation chapters 4-18, but I beg to differ here and now. I propose a possibility to you here in Revelation 14:14-16. We see Yeshua, One like the Son of Man, sitting on a cloud in the breathable air of the lower atmosphere reaping some folks off the face of the earth!! Friends, this could easily be a Scriptural picture of the Rapture/Resurrection of the saints, IMMEDIATELY prior to Yeshua’s angels reaping the wicked grape company into the winepress of Yahweh’s wrath!! You could interpret this Scripture passage as a pre-tribber and say Yeshua is the first sickle in to reap the wicked into the wrath of Yahweh, but the passage DOES NOT SAY THAT NOR DOES IT DEMAND THAT INTERPRETATION. This is plainly, literally, a POST-TRIBULATION, PRE-WRATH Rapture/Resurrection Scripture. No twisting or hem hawing around with the passage, just a literal reading of it. Notice the distinction in John’s vision between Yeshua’s harvest and His angel’s harvest! The angel specifically harvested the tares, the wicked grape company into the wrath of Yahweh, but the passage doesn’t say what happened to Yeshua’s harvest!! Is it possible this is where we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air? I believe it’s not only possible, it’s very probable that is EXACTLY what Yeshua just did. Thus, again we see the saints protected from the wrath of Yahweh, since we are not appointed to wrath (1 Thes. 5:9)!! Do you see how dangerous it is to make sweeping statements about the Scriptures, like the Church is NOT SEEN IN REVELATION 4-18!?! Maybe I need to look deeper into Revelation 14, but I don’t see where John identified the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT harvest in 14:14-16 as ONLY PEOPLE WHO GOT SAVED DURING THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION!!
Revelation 14:12 shows Israelite and non-Israelite saints are present, the One New Man in Yeshua. Verse 13 gives a special blessing to those who die during the Tribulation, saints who NEED RESURRECTION by Yeshua in verse 16.
We could argue day and night about the 144,000 virgins, but let’s not argue, let’s look at a gem I just noticed. Go back and read verse 1 again, the 144,000 virgins are STANDING ON MOUNT ZION, in Jerusalem, Israel, with Yeshua, obviously at the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT. Now read verse 3a, “They sang as it were a new song before the throne”. Now read verse 5b, “for they are without fault before the throne of Yahweh.” LET THIS VISION, THIS DIGITAL PICTURE, soak into your brain, spirit, and smartphone! Yeshua and the 144,000 saints are STANDING ON EARTH IN JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, AND AT THE SAME TIME STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE OF YAHWEH, SINGING AND WORSHIPPING THE FATHER!! I told you Yahweh and Yeshua are moving to earth. I don’t care when we’re raptured, I just want to stand on Mount Zion, in Jerusalem, Israel, and sing and worship my Father!! Hoo Yah!! It just does not get any better than that!! Heaven and earth are merging at the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT!!
Now, for more confirmation of this, go back and reread Revelation 7, which is set as an EARTHLY scene, not a Heavenly scene, where and when the 144,000 virgins are sealed by Yahweh during the Tribulation. How do we know it’s a heavenly scene? Because Rev. 7 is happening on earth during the sixth seal and then Rev. 8:1 switches the scene BACK to a heavenly scene! Now see the Church of Jesus Christ between Revelation 4-18! Let Yahweh continue to blow our minds and hearts wide open! You won’t find PRE-tribulation teachers preaching this stuff! Revelation 7:9-17, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, [the One New Man multitude] standing before the throne and before the Lamb [ON EARTH!!], clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our Mighty One who sits on the throne [ON EARTH!!], and to the Lamb!” 11All the angels stood around the throne [ON EARTH] and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne [ON EARTH!] and worshiped Yahweh, 12saying:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our Mighty One forever and ever.
Amen.”
13Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” [That is the question of the moment, and the Holy Spirit is about to show us!]
14And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come [Greek word erchomai, the SAME WORD YESHUA USED IN HIS GREAT RAPTURE SCRIPTURE IN JOHN 14:1-4!!!] out of the great [mega] tribulation [thlipsis], and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore they are before the throne of Yahweh, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. [THIS VERSE PROPHESIES OF HEAVEN MOVING TO EARTH, THE KINGDOM WILL MOVE TO EARTH, YAHWEH WILL TABERNACLE AMONG HIS PEOPLE ON EARTH. This is NOT a Heaven scene!! In fact, at this point in prophetic history that John sees, the spiritual heaven may be literally overlaying the physical Temple mount in Jerusalem, Israel.] 16They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun [the sun has no effect in Heaven, only on earth!!] shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne [ON EARTH, NOT HEAVEN!!!] will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters [ON EARTH, NOT IN HEAVEN!]. And Yahweh will wipe away every tear from their eyes [ON EARTH, NOT IN HEAVEN!].”” This is a parallel picture of the raptured/resurrected saints that Yeshua reaped in Revelation 14:14-16, at the JESUS 2.0 ADVENT!! So, we DO see the Church in the Book of Revelation AGAIN between chapters 4 and 18!! This passage plainly indicates that these saints were Raptured/Resurrected (erchomaied, if you will) DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION, just like Rev. 14 and 1 Corinthians 15 also indicate!!
Maranatha, come (parousia, erchomai, optomai, heko) Lord Jesus 2.0,
Gene Benjamin II
October 14, 2012 CE