When contemplating our Salvation, that God has saved us and given us Eternal Life, we tend to think of it as having been wrought through Jesus’ Crucifixion; “I have been crucified with Christ…” (Gal 2:20).

The Lord Jesus Christ, Who lived a perfect and sinless life, willingly took upon Himself all our sin; in fact, the Word tells us that God the Father caused Him to actually ‘be’ sin for us: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Cor 5:21).

Most Believers and even nominal Christians will give assent to “Jesus died for our sins.” But when we focus solely on the Cross, we tend to miss the full meaning of all that Jesus Christ has done for us.

His Resurrection. Before we were born again, yes, we were ‘sinners,’ but our sin was simply the result of our deeper problem… we were spiritually dead. Jesus’ Crucifixion would have meant nothing if its purpose was only to pay the penalty of our sin. “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1Cor 15:16-19).

The first step in understanding our full Salvation is in recognizing the absolute importance of the Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross and that His shed blood washed away all our sin. But then, we must also see the cruciality of His Resurrection. We were all dead in Adam, but we were raised to Life in Jesus Christ; we are now ‘sons of the Resurrection’: “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection'” (Luke 20:34-36).

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Rom 5:10).

In Christ, we were crucified with Him and then raised up to new life, Everlasting Life. In the Cross, we were forgiven; the full penalty for our sin was paid. In the Resurrection, we were raised to Eternal Life in Christ.

Our new life is not only in Jesus Christ but, in fact, He is our life: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:3-4).

As long as Jesus Christ lives… we will live… and that is forever as we rule and reign with Him. Of our Eternal home, New Jerusalem, John writes, “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they [we] shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5).

“But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:24-25).

But there is even more that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. Some will say, ‘Sure, Jesus died for our sins and paid for our Salvation, but it’s important that we continue in the faith, doing our part, walking like a good Christian.’

Not only are we saved by His Crucifixion and Resurrection, but also as important, we are saved by His Life. From the time of His miraculous conception to His birth and through all of His growing years into adulthood: through His childhood, His teen years, His twenties, and on until His Crucifixion at the age of 33, He lived a perfect and sinless human life on Earth. He obeyed His mother and ‘stepfather’ in all things, and even more important, He obeyed all the Law of Moses. He fulfilled all the Law and Prophets up to and through the moment of His physical death on the Cross when He said, “It is finished!” or “It is fulfilled!”

The Word and the Law were written with intent; it was meant to be fulfilled.

The prophets and their prophecies were meant to be fulfilled… some have been while others await their fulfillment; the Law was also given with the intent that it be, in the Messiah, fulfilled; It was completely fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly life.

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matt 5:17-18).

Then, on the Cross He said, “It is finished” or, “It is fulfilled!” It is the very same Greek word for both.

If the Lord Jesus Christ did not completely fulfill the Law during His earthly life and ministry, when would He have done so?

He was our substitute for our punishment, for our resurrection to Eternal Life, and for perfectly fulfilling all the Law for us. Because He fulfilled the Law completely for us, we are no longer under the Law. It’s as if we, ourselves, fulfilled the Law perfectly ‘in Him.’

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom 8:3-4).

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom 10:4).

“But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Gal 3:23-25).

So many desperately try to claim that it is incumbent upon us to ‘keep the Law’ when the fact is, no one could ever keep the Law; only the Lord Jesus Christ could and did.

Why would we be commanded to do something which is impossible?

Jesus Christ came to finish and fulfill the Old Covenant and to establish the New Covenant.

His entire earthly life and ministry directly fulfilled every Messianic prophecy and fulfilled all the Law. His death fulfilled all the sacrificial Law, and His resurrection proved He was, in fact, God Almighty. His earthly Life fulfilled the Law for and in us. His death was for us; we died with Him, and His Resurrection was for us as we were raised with Him to Life Eternal.

Finally, when He returns for us in the clouds to call us up to Himself, our full and final redemption will have been accomplished as He, in a moment, changes our physical earthly bodies into glorified Eternal bodies fit to enter Heaven and the New Jerusalem. Then we will, like Him, be at home in the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm. Then we will see into every realm which God opens up for us, and we shall finally know as we are known.

“And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of fine, aged wines, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined, aged wines. And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 25:6-8).

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:51-57).

Now, we eagerly await His return for us: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body…” (Phpp 3:20).

Look at that verse again… “Heaven, from which we wait…” Our spirits are, even now, in Heaven with Him; our spirits understand what awaits us in our full redemption. Our spirits know to wait eagerly.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:4-7).

Our full redemption began in Eternity past when God knew us, chose us for His Son, set His love upon us, and set in motion His Eternal Plan to glorify Himself as He purposed, in His Son – to save us, to fully redeem us and to glorify us, as His sons and daughters, princes and princesses fit to rule and reign with Him first for 1,000 years during His Kingdom on Earth and then for Eternity throughout all of His Creation.

Look for Him; wait eagerly for Him. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:2).

Tom Tillman

heartsoflove.org

There is a Biblical standard of first mention that sets the pattern for future similar events, and these initial patterns are essential for understanding Yahweh’s message to the people of the world and are quite frequently noted in scripture. Parallels, patterns, pictures, and types are the backbone of scripture, which informs us that prophetic patterns are cyclical: what has happened in the past is bound to happen in the future! With this statement, scholars, teachers, pastors, and laypeople are in agreement, and there is little to no disagreement – well, almost no disagreement! Let’s examine further:

The Tabernacle and Yeshua

The tabernacle and its instruments are formed after the heavenly pattern (Exodus 25:9-40, Numbers 8:4). David proclaims that the entire Temple pattern was given to him by the spirit (1 Chronicles 28:19). Hebrews 8:5 puts it this way: “They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.” This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Yeshua is the pattern that we are to follow (1 Timothy 1:16).

Abraham, Isaac, and Yeshua

Abraham being called out of Ur and pagan idolatry into a relationship with Yahweh is a pattern for all humans to be called out of sin and into the kingdom of Yahweh.

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah is a pattern of Yahweh’s willingness to sacrifice Yeshua, again on Mount Moriah. The patterns are unmistakable: Isaac was the only son of his father Abraham; Isaac was sent to Mount Moriah, the present site of the Temple Mount; Isaac carried the wood upon which he would be sacrificed as an offering to God; A lamb replaced Isaac as the sacrifice. Yeshua is also the only son of his Father, Yahweh; Yeshua also goes to Mount Moriah; Yeshua also carries the cross (wood) upon which he was sacrificed as an offering to God; Yeshua is the lamb that is sacrificed.

Joseph and Yeshua

Joseph is a pattern of Yeshua. Joseph is rejected by his family, sold into slavery, becomes the right hand of Pharaoh, is not recognized by his brothers, and saves his family from starvation. Joseph in Pharaoh’s court to guarantee the survival of the Jews is a pattern of Yeshua in the heavenly court to guarantee our eternal survival.

Joshua and Yeshua

Hoshea’s name (he saves) is changed to Joshua (Yahweh saves) by Moses, thus denoting that Yahweh is salvation; Israel did not enter the Promised Land under the leadership of Moses, who represents the Law; Israel enters the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua; Israel enters the Promised Land on the third day after being instructed how to cross the River Jordan; Israel enters the Promised Land about 2000 cubits behind the Ark of the Covenant; When the Priests entered the Jordan, the water backed up all the way to the city of Zaretan (their distress) and to the city of Adam; After crossing, Joshua circumcised them.

Yeshua is the Savior; The promises cannot be obtained under the Law: the Law cannot bring salvation; Believers enter the Promised Land through Yeshua, The Savior; We are now at the start of the third day since Yeshua rose into Heaven; We are now about 2000 cubits behind our Ark, Yeshua; Yeshua’s blood washed away the sin and distress of mankind all the way to Adam; Yeshua circumcises our hearts.

Ruth, Boaz, and Yeshua

The story of Ruth has been called “The Romance of Redemption” wherein Naomi, a Jewish woman from Bethlehem, and a Gentile [Moabite] woman, Ruth, return to Bethlehem. Upon their return, Boaz falls in love with Ruth and marries her. Naomi represents the role of Israel, destitute and alone, not yet recognizing her Messiah Yeshua; Ruth represents the Gentile bride of Yeshua; and Boaz represents the Kinsman Redeemer, Yeshua.

The Bronze Serpent

Yeshua had to be lifted up just as the serpent was lifted up (John 3:14-15). The bronze serpent was a pattern – those who looked to the bronze serpent were healed of disease. All who look to Yeshua are given eternal life.

Melchizedek

Melchizedek is a pattern of Yeshua as both King of Salem (King of Peace) and High Priest. He sets the stage for Yeshua: “You are a priest forever, to be compared with Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6-10, 6:20, and 7:1-17).

The Pattern of Destruction

The Flood of Noah’s time wreaked utter destruction upon the earth: “the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished” (2 Peter 3:6). Genesis 7:10 puts it this way: “After seven days the water flooded the earth,” and Genesis 7:21 states clearly: “All living beings that moved on the earth perished – birds, livestock, other animals, insects, and every human being.”

This is a pattern of the coming destruction by fire: “The heavens and the earth are reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men,” says 2 Peter 3:7. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 puts it this way: “When Yeshua will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, he will take vengeance on them that know not Yahweh.” 2 Peter 3:10 is just as blunt, saying: “On The Day of Yahweh the heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will melt and disintegrate, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up.” So we have a pattern of the earth being utterly destroyed – first by water, next by fire.

The Pattern of Bodily Raptures

The sons of the prophets and Elisha watched Elijah climb into the chariot of fire pulled by horses, which took him up to the clouds (2 Kings 2:11-12) – he didn’t just disappear or vanish out of sight. The apostles visibly watched as Yeshua ascended (Acts 1:9-11) – he didn’t just disappear or vanish out of sight either. The same pattern we are told in Revelation applies to the Two Witnesses when they will be raptured – and the wording states clearly that “they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched” (Revelation 11:12). So we have a pattern of bodily raptures being witnessed.

The Pattern of Forty

Forty is a key number in scripture. The Hebrew slaves took forty years between their “resurrection” from the graves of Egypt to get “raptured’ to the promised land. This first mention of forty after “resurrection” sets the pattern. Yeshua (and the Holy Ones) spent forty days witnessing after his resurrection before he was raptured (second mention of forty). So we have a pattern of forty connected to resurrection, then rapture.

The Patterns Thus Far Hold True

The patterns of scripture set the stage for future similar events. On this there is much agreement.

• The Patterns of Abraham, Isaac, and Yeshua, of Joseph and Yeshua, of Joshua and Yeshua, of Ruth, Boaz, and Yeshua have all held true.
• The Patterns of The Bronze Serpent and Melchizedek have also held true.
• The Pattern of Destruction will hold true – first water, then fire. Of this there can be no doubt.
• The Pattern of Bodily Raptures has thus far held true, and we are told it will hold true for the Two Witnesses of Revelation – it will undoubtedly hold true for other similar future events.
• The Pattern of Forty has thus far held true – it will undoubtedly hold true for similar future events.

The Pattern of the Jewish Bride

A Jewish Wedding Ceremony is full of significant rituals and is a perfect prophetic parallel of the coming of Yeshua to take his church to be his Bride, a dress rehearsal for The Rapture. The patterns of leaving the father’s home to find a bride, paying the bride price, and returning to build an addition have thus far all held true. When the Jewish father tells his son to go get his bride, the bridegroom and his friends go to a place near her home and then carry her from her house to his in full view of all the neighbors who have been awakened by their shouting and blowing of the shofars and who are now watching the procession.

• It is a safe bet to believe that those who are resurrected or still living in Yeshua when our Heavenly Father gives Yeshua permission to go get his bride will also have a time of witnessing before their rapture, shall we say – forty days? – that’s what the Patterns of Forty indicate!
• It is a safe bet to believe that when Yahweh gives Yeshua permission to go get his bride, his Bride will also be clearly visible as they are taken up – that’s what both the Pattern of Bodily Raptures and the Pattern of The Jewish Bride indicate!

I Have a Question: Why the Disconnect?

Hosea 12:10 – “I have spoken to the prophets; it was I who gave vision after vision; through the prophets I gave examples to show what it would all be like.”

Romans 15:4 – “It is written that ‘Everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction’…so that we may have hope.”

1 Corinthians 10:11 – “These things happened to them as patterns, and they were written down as a warning to us who are living in the end of the ages.”

The patterns hold true throughout history, both past and future. Scripture interprets scripture and says: x and y are given as examples. The patterns indicate that past patterns will be similar in the future. So, then, why do so many teach that the patterns do not apply to the rapture of the Bride of Yeshua? Why the disconnect? Can you give me an answer to this conundrum?

Parallels and patterns are one of the methods that Yahweh uses to teach us, as stated in both the Romans and Corinthians passages above. Patterns set the stage for future similar events, and these initial patterns are essential for understanding Yahweh’s message. With this statement, scholars, teachers, pastors, and laypeople are in agreement, and there is little to no disagreement, no disconnect, except when it comes to the rapture patterns.

This failure to apply the same standard to all the above patterns is impossible for me to understand! If the patterns of Abraham, Isaac, Yeshua; Joseph and Yeshua; Joshua and Yeshua; Ruth, Boaz, and Yeshua; The Bronze Serpent; Melchizedek; Destruction; and Forty all hold true, then how dare we then dismiss the patterns of Bodily Raptures and the Jewish Bride and teach that these patterns will not hold true as well? Why the disconnect? Can you give me an answer to this conundrum? Is Yahweh schizophrenic? I think not. What do you say?

Website: https://raptureparty.net/

Email: jeff@raptureparty.net