Part 4

Does scripture teach the imminent return of the Messiah?

I believe that this has been one of the great errors of pre-tribulation rapturism. It holds the false hope of imminent rapture instead of the truth of the hope of expectant rapture.

By expectant rapture it is meant that every generation since the fist century could have been the generation that entered the seventieth week of Daniel. To that generation Yeshua said, so likewise when you see these things (events of the 70th. week) know that it is near, even at the door. Mt. 24:33 – What the scriptures actually teach is the expectant return of the Messiah and not imminency. We are called to ‘wait for,’ ‘expect,' 'look for’, ‘keep awake,’ ‘be free from excess’ and ‘be alert’.

These kind of phrases found in the Bible do not imply an imminent view but an expectancy.

God never promised His children immunity from the trials and tribulation of this godless world nor escape from the Anti-Messiah. The scriptures promise to us is “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). We are called to fight the good fight, to endure, persevere, to be overcomers but not to escape…

The one thing that we were promised is that God will deliver us from His wrath that is to come. Next week we will begin to understand whether all seven years represent the wrath of God or only a portion of it.

In light of this teaching that the Messiah can come at any time with no prophetic events that must first take place, let me share with you three scriptures that indicate otherwise.

There are three conditions the scriptures teach will occur when the Messiah returns at the rapture and one after. How do we respond to these statements?

Mt. 24:14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations and then the end will come.” Yeshua gave us His marching orders when He said, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'” Mt. 28:19,20.
How do Christians respond to this condition that Yeshua Himself said will come. Yeshua said that he will not return until this gospel of the kingdom is preached as a witness to all nations.
In Thessalonians 2:1-3 Paul describes two other events that must first come before the Second Coming of the Messiah. He begins with a warning to not be shaken or disturbed that the Day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For the Day of the Lord will not come unless two things happen first. For the Day of the Lord will not come unless two things happen first. The Day of the Lord will not come unless the apostasy comes first Vs. 3,
“And the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so called god or object of worship.” 2 Thess. 2:3
Another condition that relates to the Messiah’s return relates to Israel. Yeshua said He will not return until the Jewish leadership of Israel recognizes Him as the Messiah. This is an event that will happen at the end of the Daniel’s 70th week. In Mt. 23:38,39 and Luke 19:41-44 – “For I say to you, from now on you shall not see me until you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Baruch haba bashem Adonai.

It was the Jewish leadership that rejected Him and it will be the Jewish leadership that will one day believe in Him. Zech. 12:10 The Holy Spirit will move supernaturally on the hearts of the Jewish people as they are surrounded by their enemies during the battle of Armageddon. They will cry out with deep anguish and repentance for having rejected Yeshua and being responsible for crucifying Him.
The restoration of the Jews to their homeland and their possession of Jerusalem are essential requirements for the return of Yeshua. It is to Jerusalem that Yeshua will return, not Washington, not Ottawa, not Moscow.

It is from the Mount of Olives that He ascended and it will be the Mount of Olives where He will return. That Israel is becoming more of a focus of controversy in these last days is no coincidence.

How do we explain the almost daily focus of the world’s media on a tiny strip of land no larger than Vancouver Island? Why are there more foreign journalists in Israel than any other country in the world? Why does the world have such a preoccupation with this small dot on the map? Why does the world care whether Jerusalem is Israel’s capital or not? There is no normal or political reason why Israel has captured the attention of the world. The only explanation is that the issue is spiritual.

The powers of darkness are all too aware of how important Israel is to their destiny. Satan pays more attention to Biblical prophecy than most Believers do. Until Yeshua returns, he knows that the greatest battle of his life will reach its climax within the borders of Israel, when the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of darkness will collide and result in the greatest collision in human history. God’s entire purpose for mankind is rooted in the land of Israel. There is one event that Satan fears more than any other, and that is the return of Yeshua in power and glory. It will represent his ultimate defeat.

What then should our attitude be towards Yeshua's’ return in light of these truths?

written and / or assembled by Cal Goldberg, Messianic Leader, Beth Shechinah