TERRA NOVA CHRISTIANA
- WHO ARE THE 144 000 SEALED ONES?
- And why are God’s three holy harvest festivals important?
- WHO IS THE WOMAN AND WHO IS THE MAN CHILD IN REVELATION 12?
Does bible reveal the identity of the 144 000 sealed ones?
Do this concern also the three harvest festivals and are these of any interest?
Maybe, but let’s take a look if we can find a link somewhere in scripture.
Pls note: This is an assumption of the purely literal vision of how the Bible describes the 144 000 sealed ones, and does not prevent that the 144 000 has a very different meaning than it literally defines!
in Rev 21:9 we find the real meaning of the symbolic number 144 000!
More on Revelation analyzed and listed
Watch and listen to the most acceptable understanding of who or what 144 000 means:
The 144,000 by 119 Ministries.com
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About the literally understanding of the 144 000 without taking into account the 119 ministries.com understanding,
and thus merely a first determination of the author without any further scripture to scripture equations:
Note: the following study is of no immediate proof of their identity to us, but worth trying to know who God appoints by the 144000 and this considering all the criteria that He has given to us by scripture. However, this also does not mean that this study certifies the identity of the 144000 sealed and redeemed ones, but however, we can assume that the Bible somewhere indirectly reveals their identity. Let’s take a look.
Are they the Jehovah's Witnesses as they claim they are?
No, with all certainty not only they, and at this far only those written in the book of Life!
So then, who are they if we regard their features according the literally way?
Let’s begin to research where in scripture is written about the 144 000 sealed ones.
Probably most scholars know they’re only mentioned in Revelation chapter 7 and chapter 14. Why only at the end and not elsewhere before in scripture? This will become more apparent when we know who they are!
Does this passage regards the saints?
1Peter 3:18 about spirits! Are these saints with a soul? Let's see:
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”
Just a brief exposition in relation to this passage:
-The spirits in prison at first sight you might think are those kept apart in a place outside the heavens, awaiting the resurrection until the number of the saints is completed. This will occur at the end. These so called 'spirits' are those who died in faith before the Cross as we consider the ancestors, prophets, faithful and righteous men, and all innocence who died in vain.
But does spirits mean the same as souls? I think not! Spirits are mostly referring to evil identities, and in this passage not referring to the faithful ancestors and others.
With 'Outside the heavens' i mean the outer darkness as we read in the book of Enoch. Later I explain more about the innocence. But spirits do not refer to righteous people, and i think this is about fallen angels, because the context of this passage refers to Noah and probably these captured fallen angels called spirits, who got no soul because they mingled with mortal women in those days and after Noah, known as the Giants of those times. Spirits are in fact demons. Gen 6 - Rev 16:14 - Mt 12:45 - Acts 19:13 - Psalm 82:6-7.
Now there is a difference between those who died before and after the coming ( birth) of Yeshua. Why?
After the coming of Yeshua the Lamb, and in this case counting from the day of His birth, cause then He was actually present, even though he was not under the Holy Spirit yet, He was regarded to be divine and protected by His Father. His birth was prophesied and this prophecy revealed that He would die on the cross. By His Blood all sins of the faithful ones would be forgiven and death shall be put into destruction. It is important believing that He is the Son of Man who came in this world to defeat and to redeem us from evil: Evil is/are the rulers of this world in particular Satan and his demons, who are the enemies of righteousness and modesty.
The supreme law consists in leaving the world and her wealth, her greed and her pride. One should leave all wealth, not gaining fame neither power nor richness for all this will serve to nothing than just eternal death because of temptation ruled by the dark forces who prefer to gain all souls. Yeshua accentuated to give up all worldly things otherwise you will not belong to the Most High! To follow Yeshua and respecting the law is a priority and that is the core of the Gospel.
“Who loves the world, is not worthy of me”, Yeshua said. How hard is it to respect this quote? Sometimes I caught myself into this but then try to persevere and if it still goes wrong again, I ask for forgiveness. Afterwards you may not succumb to worldly temptations again, but to overpower and reject them. If you go through this once and can resist, you will feel free! That is what we call Luck!
But some now shall ask if they have to sell all they possess. That’s not what Yeshua meant. The main thing is that those who possess more than they need can grow into greed and pride and these are major sins. If you acquire wealth through corruption, deceit, falsehood, murder and robbery then you know what time it is! There’s a difference between wealth to survive and to acquire wealth for the sake of power. This I mentioned to know how to recognize the saints: do not love the world and the Mammon, but love and follow Yeshua and His Father’s Law, feasts and commandments, then you are on the right way to once be called ‘His saint’ and gain the blessed gift of resurrection without JUDGMENT: this is the first resurrection which consists of three parts:
-First on Pesach and week of unleavened bread (already occurred by the (rapture) resurrection of the FIRST FRUITS!)
-Second on Pentecost (resurrection before or in the middle of tribulation period)
-Third on Sukkoth/Tabernacles (After tribulation period and before the second coming of the Masshiach)
These are the three most important feast days of the seven year festivals of the Eternal.
These are also the three ‘Harvests’ of the Eternal: three most important divine feasts linked to three resurrections and these three are the FIRST RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS BEFORE THE MILLENNIUM.
The Three Harvests - Barley, Wheat and Grapes:
A particular harvest is associated with each of these three feast days. Passover is associated with the harvest of barley; Pentecost is associated with the harvest of wheat; and Tabernacles is associated with the grape harvest.
God’s plan in the context of resurrection is sealed in three so called ‘raptures’ or resurrections. The first were the First Fruits and this occurred when Yeshua Himself resurrected and these were the 144 000 sealed ones or First Fruits of innocence, just like Yeshua also was innocent and pure!
Where in scripture we find something about these three feasts representing the three harvests of the Eternal?
Exodus 34:23: “Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.”
Deuteronomy 16:16: "Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.”
As we see, only males are called to celebrate these three important feasts, but we see that only the 144 000 are appointed as male virgins, and can assume that all the rest of the saints, whether in the past or current, is a mingle of men and women. That only male should appear before the Lord has to do with the Temple rules where only chosen ones may enter the Holiest of Holy while all other priests were responsible for the blood and other sacrifices. Women in this case would have been responsible for the preparations of meat and the associated kitchen work, but certainly not excluded as being possible redeemed one day.
The purpose of these three important meetings on the same day as the three major Year celebrations, must surely imply a particular purpose, because why exactly three harvest festivals while the Eternal determined seven Year Festivals to be celebrated throughout all their generations? These three harvest festivals thus, must definitely enclose a special meaning! But the most logical vision can only be linked to three spiritual harvests of people: the First Fruits, consisting of three parts because three harvest festivals were determined by the Eternal.
All souls (male and female) of the saints must all wait until the number of the saints is completed and then they all together will resurrect with the Lord, whether they are dead or still alive! The ending of the complete number of the saints shall occur in the last days.
1Cor 15: 51:”Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
Matthew 27:50: first resurrection of the saints on Pesach!
“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”
(Psalm 22:1-31; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-30)
In the Gospel of Nicodemus we read:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/lbob/lbob10.htm
Chapter 8: 3: “ When we were placed with our fathers in the depth of hell, in the blackness of darkness, on a sudden there appeared the colour of the sun like gold, and a substantial purple-coloured light enlightening the place.
4 Presently upon this, Adam, the father of all mankind, with all the patriarchs and prophets, rejoiced and said, That light is the author of everlasting light, who hath promised to translate us to everlasting light.
5 Then Isaiah the prophet cried out, and said, 1 This is the light of the Father, and the Son of God, according to my prophecy, when I was alive upon earth.
6 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim beyond Jordan, a people who walked in darkness, saw a great light; and to them who dwelled in the region of the shadow of death, light is arisen. And now he is come, and hath enlightened us who sat in death.
7 And while we were all rejoicing in the light which shone upon us, our father Simeon came among us, and congratulating all the company, said, Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God.
8 Whom I took up in my arms when an infant in the temple, and being moved by the Holy Ghost, said to him, and acknowledged, 1 That now mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.
9 All the saints who were in the depth of hell, hearing this, rejoiced the more.”
Chapter 22: 9 “And we saw two witnesses, whose bodies Jesus raised from the dead, who told us of many strange things which Jesus did among the dead, of which we have a written account in our hands.
10 And it is our custom annually to open this holy book before an assembly, and to search there for the counsel of God.
11 And we found in the first of the seventy books, where Michael the archangel is speaking to the third son of Adam the first man, an account that after five thousand five hundred years, Christ the most beloved Son of God was come on earth,”
Are those mentioned saints above the 144 000? In fact they aren’t and in fact they are! Why? Because Revelation 14 tells us something about their features.
Who then are the 144 000 when we should regard their features literally?
Revelation 7: 4: “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.”
Revelation 14: 1: “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
NOTE: It is written: "These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb": 'were redeemed' ! These are already taken away on the day of Pesach/crucifixion, the Day the Lamb was offered! This was the first fulfillment of the Feasts of the Masshiach!
In Rev 7 we read: ‘and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.’
Interlineair scripture says about the original word written for ‘children’
Greek: huiōn
υἱῶν
of [the] sons
In Hebrew and Old Covenant we see for children also the word ‘sons’ or original word: huios: a son, a young, a child.
-Original Word: υἱός, οῦ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: huios
Phonetic Spelling: (hwee-os')
Short Definition: a son, descendent
Definition: a son, descendent.
Word Origin
-(Aramaic) corresponding to ben, see bar
Definition: son
NASB Translation: among, children, exiles, sons, young
-Strong's Exhaustive Concordance: child, son, young
(Aramaic) corresponding to ben -- child, son, young.
As we see the correct word used in the original scripture is ‘ Sons’ not children. Sons points to male descandents, while the word ‘children’ consists both: male and female.
And what is Rev 14 telling us:
“These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.”
It’s very clear these are all male children, and they are indisputable virgins! So, these can’t be adult persons, especially not Jews or Israelites who rejected Yeshua and His Father’s Law not to mingle with heathen women, nor to commit adultery. Some did, some didn’t, but it’s very obvious that Rev 14 is talking about young people, sons or male children or the innocence itself who are called the ‘first fruits’, while we know that Christ Himself was the FIRST FRUIT OF ALL TIMES! If these are the first fruits, plural, then they were raised on the same day the Lord raised from the death. They all were FIRST FRUITS because this regarded the first resurrection after the Cross or Part one of the three resurrections whom all together form the FIRST resurrection without JUDGEMENT as I already mentioned before.
So, let’s get any closer: If Yeshua is the First Fruit and First Fruit refers to a saint who lived in the footsteps of Yeshua and died in Yeshua’s name, and these 144 000 are according to scripture the First FruitS, then they must have lived and have also died before Yeshua died and were born after His birth otherwise they couldn’t be called the First Fruits: with other words: these were born since the day the Masshiach was on earth and not earlier and died before He died, for they were contemporaneous present on earth with the Lord!
All those saints (ancestors, prophets…) who lived and died before Yeshua’s birth could have made part of this First Fruits resurrection, but I think they didn’t because these were not all male nor virgins, but are kept apart in a safe place until the number of saints is completed at the end.
Who then are they these male virgins?
Do we find some link in the Old Testament?
Jeremiah 31:11: “For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.”
This verse confirms the 12 tribes as mentioned in Rev 14, as being ransomed and redeemed.
Jeremiah 31:15-17: “Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.”
Does these passages refer to the 144 000? Could be, but if we look closer, we almost can be sure.
Strong's Concordance says:
-‘Ramah’: "height," the name of several places in Israel.
Original Word: רָמָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
-‘Rahel’: a wife of Jacob
Original Word: רָחֵל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Rachel
-‘Border’: Area, barrier, border, borders, boundary, coastline, districts, land, line, territories, territory, wall.
Brown-Driver-Briggs says:
About Rahel: all womb, compassionate.
About ‘Ramah’: רָמָה proper name, of a location the Height, Rama, הָרָמָה, several places in Israel.
'Rahel' also represents 'all womb' of the tribes, as the mother of all sons of Israel.
What do we conclude?
In fact, It’s all about ALL children of Israel; about ALL descendants of all twelve tribes, that’s obvious. Then where are the 144 000 virgin male cause only male virgins are sealed?
We read:
“…Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.”
Because ‘they were not’? Her children (sons)? Of course: all descendants of Jacob are her children, but some in a time and place are not. And these make part of ‘all womb’ of Israel, because Rahel (Jacob’s wife and mother of his children) is weeping for them, and this is a prophecy that those 144 000 one day shall die; cause when Jeremiah wrote this, these 144 000 male virgin were still in the future and not born. ‘Rama’ points to several places in Israel. ‘Border’ points to the land and or coastline: every soul will return to his own land! God divided Israel in twelve pieces: every tribe got its own piece of land!
This is generally intended for the whole of the children of Israel inclusive the 144 000, but the 144 000 only are sealed.
Who are they really! (In the suspicion that we think they probably could be)
Matthew 2:13: “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
Matthew 2:16-18: “When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing consolation, because they are no more.”…
(see Jeremiah 31:15 prophecy)
What do we see?
Jeremiah prophesied this by mentioning Ramah and Rachel weeping for her children, which means: these are the 144 000 sealed ones, those who were killed by Herod, cause they were all male children and innocent virgins and died for the name of Yeshua, His First Fruits! Now you know why I said earlier, they were born after Yeshua’s birth and died before the Cross, because to be a first fruit one has to be present when the Lamb is present or at least knowing about Him! Before Yeshua’s birth, no one knew about His divine ministry not Holiness or Holy Spirit. All came to pass after His divine presence on earth, whether he was a child himself. It was the Eternal who sealed them for Him, because they died in vain for his presence on earth that some high leaders and kings didn’t like, as Herod also did, and he commanded to slain all male children in ‘all places’ of Israel and probably not only in Bethlehem.
Have the 144 000 sealed ones and Yeshua something in common?
Yes, they have!
First we know by Herod’s evil child slaughter, that Yeshua had no ‘same aged’ playmates during His childhood. These were all killed for his presence and Yeshua knew this.
Isaiah 53: 7: “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? 9 His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.…”
Similarities: Yeshua vs 144 000 children:
-Not open his mouth
-Like a sheep silent before slaughter
-Taken away
-Cut off of the land of the living
-Grave assigned with the wicked
-No violence
-No deceit
And they were All innocent Virgins and First Fruits!
These are the army of Yeshua for they first as children couldn’t be His playmates, but now they shall fight for Him and follow Him wherever He goes! Now I thought at once: actually this is a very sad story! May they all be blessed!
And also Ezekiel got a prophecy about this army:
Ezekiel 37: 7: “So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.”
(The army of 144 000 sealed ones: who shall be with Him when He returns)
The Vision Explained:
“11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.”
“The whole house of Israel”? Of course they are, because all these murdered children by Herod didn’t have any descendants, which was a lost generation. READ MORE ABOUT - 'WHO IS ISRAEL'
“We are cut off for our parts!: They were cut off for their parts! Clear as crystal!
“And I shall put My spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land”! Obvious isn’t it! These children were killed before the Holy Spirit could have reach them, so they didn’t got the opportunity, and when they live again they shall return into their own places, where they once were cut off of all material and spiritual things!
I think we know by now who the 144 000 sealed ones are: they are Yeshua’s divine Army when He returns on the last Day to battle against the antichrist and his evil adherents! This army consists with those who are called the first fruits or like barley ripens at first and remains strong. Herod's victims were male sons of Israel, these children are definitely the 144000 virgin male, but can possibly also include some other virgin male saints who died earlier than the 144 000.
That's why Yeshua said: " Be like children!", because of their innocence for they did not know the world! But always remember who Israel really represents!
Note:
Those who current claim they are the 144 000 sealed ones are wandering and have examined the Bible very improperly. I do not judge Jehovah’s witnesses, for they are those who wander from door to door preaching the Gospel, and that’s a good thing, but they do not examine eschatology nor do they make any research regarding prophecies and that’s a leak and a shortage in divine knowledge, but many of them get my deep respect as being faithfull and humble saints! May they and many others all be blessed by the Lord!
Isn’t it amazing how the Eternal sealed the seven Thunders which were not written down, so at the end we could break our heads about this mystery? Just like the Red Dragon in Revelation 12 whom I also mentioned in my eschatological study, which, as I assume, makes part of one of these seven Thunders. I’m not saying this statement is the correct one, but although it seems very clear that Herod’s little victims are part of the 144 000 sealed ones, but if we examine the features of these 144000 figuratively then we know that these represent the whole group of God's elect, dead or alive.
To examine prophecies and hidden thunders is a difficult task but liberation when one gets to an acceptable explanation. Most important, in this case, is to follow Yeshua and His Gospel and to delve more into his teachings: and please do not forget this!
Share all your knowing’s and examinations so many can get to the Lord and be saved as well, cause the more we are, the more we shall rejoice!
Examination made possible by http://biblehub.com
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My understandings regarding the three Harvest festivals:
First Resurrection constists of three parts:
God sealed seven festivals in a year: Pesach, Week of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles.
Ex 23: 16:
"Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. 17 "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD."
Three of these divine festivals were appointed as major festivals to be celebrated in the Temple: Pesach, Pentecost and Tabernacles representing three harvests.
-Pesach associated with First Fruits harvest
-Pentecost associated with Wheat harvest
-Tabernacles associated with Grape harvest
A spiritual harvest represents or pictures a taking away of the Body of Christ or His saints.
Isaiah 57: 1 "The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come."
1Cor 15: 50 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Several bible passages confirm a taking away, but regarding God's harvest feasts we could assume three differant kind of raptures and this could include that the first resurrection constists of three parts of a 'taking away' of the saints (raptures)!
First: Pesach after representing the salvation out of Egypt, it also represents the major prophecied offer of the Cross. On this event, after Yeshua died as a man on the Cross and resurrected, the First Fruits went with Him. These saints were already taking away! These were the 144 000 virgin men who were slaughtered by Herod: the innocence of a man child, slaughtered in the name of the King and because of the presence of Yeshua, the King. These were His first Fruits: The purest of all saints, same as Yeshua himself was without sin and pure in innocence. This is an appointed and numbered group: sealed and anointed, but can also include many other virgin males of course!
Second: Pentecost representing the harvest of Wheat. Wheat is a major harvest and the biggest in a year when we consider a wheat harvest of a field. This represents a great 'taking away' of people before the worst tribulations during endtimes begins. Those who always believed in Yeshua and the Father respecting His will. This is the biggest group.
Third: Tabernacles represents a minor harvest or the last riping fruits if we consider the little harvest of a field or tree or vineyard. This harvest represents the third 'taking away' of those who shall come out of the tribulation period just before the second coming. Those who first doubted or didn't believe at all, but during tribulation came to faith and believe by cause of what they saw during that horrible period and remembered the warning words of those who meanwhile were vanished once before them! This is the smallest group.
These three raptures makes part of the First Resurrection without judgment! Think about that! WITHOUT JUDGMENT and the only purpose of the Cross!
The great judgment day after the millennium is a great JUDGMENT DAY and final judgment were some can die a second time! This is the Second Resurrection and for some this day shall put them into a second and eternal death!
The blood of the Lamb or the Cross was meant to be understand as being saved without judgment and that's why the Cross was needed, otherwise it had no divine and saving significance. To be saved means to be accepted as the body of Christ, as His bride without being judged!
Make your choice whether you will make part of the first or second resurrection, hoping you will be part of the Pentecost harvest!
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WHO IS THE WOMAN AND WHO IS THE MAN CHILD IN REVELATION 12?
◄ Revelation 12 ► BIBLEHUB
A thought:
Many bible scholars, and there are really some good ones but there are many more with an illogical theory about rapture that makes one reflect were they got their wrong information from!
I do not claim anything concerning my findings about rapture are correct, but according to my understanding they seem more logical then many other’s view about this matter when we examine some older scriptures in bible than only Revelation and the four gospels.
Revelation makes part of the New Testament and the N.T. is the revealing of the Gospel, and Rev represents a book, in this case, the last book of the New Testament. This means that since the ministry of the Gospel we can assume that all these books reveal the NT and all that happened before the ministry period of Yeshua can be seen as the last part of the Old Testament, His birth included. Therefore we can think that Yeshua’s birth makes part of the end of the Old Testament for the Gospel began after the Holy Spirit came upon Yeshua when He was about thirty years old. After His death, His disciples made the New Testament and were responsible for the spreading of the Gospel. They are the Gospel and founders of the Church! Is there a rapture that regards Israel, I mean the whole context of Israel? I do not think so, but rather a rapture of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, His Temple. And of course Jews and Israelites can be part of it, but not Israel as seen by God’s lens throughout scripture, because Israel didn’t listen and shall be punished, but in the end times God will restore Israel, and already proceeding but He won’t rapture Israel, nor will He refer to Israel as being the virgin/woman.
King James Bible: Revelation 12:
The Woman and the Dragon
1"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered."
Are we sure what this wonder actually represents? Some think they are, some doubt, some do not even dare to explain. I’m one of those who still doubt and I have three options as what this wonder might reveal:
This Rev 12 wonder which appears in the heavens next September 23- 2017 has undoubtly a twofold meaning: a physical in the sky and a spiritual regarding the real Church of Yeshua. It’s a sign seen and described by Yochanan (John the apostle of Yeshua) as a wonder. The sun alights the woman because the church is the light of the world. Twelve stars refer probably to the twelve disciples who build and instructed the church as first.
First opinion:
The woman who represents the virgin in the constellation must be clearly represents the whole of the Christian church because all Christians in a way or another believe in Christ, but there’s a difference in being a true Christian by Word or being a dwelling Christian of the world or: the greatest part are secular Christians and the minor are true Christians by Word! ‘The woman is crying out in pain to be delivered’ of… I think of the minor part for these anointed saints, or minor group of the church, who are truly saved by grace and now taken away, but the rest of the church (the woman) shall be left behind because of their ‘shortness’ which can be seen as ‘causes the pain’, but the pain can also refer to the pain of the anointed saints for the difficulties they passed through during their lives and during tribulations to endure and to behold until the end.
The woman regarding my view is not Israel!
Second opinion:
Another thought could be that the woman refers to the whole church as we already said, but further we see (Rev 12:5-6) that this part of the church shall be kept away in a safer place for 3,5 years which means the first 3,5 years of the seven tribulation years this part of the church will not be troubled that much, because in scripture only the last 3,5 years are described as the most worst under the flag of the antichrist who shall persecute this remnant! This means also that Rev 12 announces the beginning of the seven year period or last week of Daniel.
The child refers to the anointed saints who will be taken away to God’s throne, and the woman as first represents the whole church but after delivered the child, after the rapture of the anointed ones, only the remnant is left over to watch over during the coming tribulations.
Third opinion:
The child could also refer to the saints who died! Didn’t no one thought about this? Scripture says that first the dead shall arise and then the living in a twinkle of an eye! Could the child refer to those who died and shall arise as the first before the living. Why do I mention this? Because bible doesn’t tell us if this rapture of the dead and the living shall occur on the same day or hour. If rapture is sealed as: first the dead and then the living then probably there’s a time period in between, and this can refer to the child caught up to the Throne as the dead then the virgin should be the living ones! But then we do not know about the rapture of the living ones. Or do we know? Maybe we do: The woman could refer to the anointed saints giving birth (as referring to be raptured) to the dead ones who all shall be taken away to heaven. The woman then, in this case the anointed saints shall be kept apart for 3,5 years in the wilderness which could refer to a provisional safe place which means in this case: a pre wrath rapture (midst of trib) and not a pre trib rapture. ‘Safe place’ can refer to ‘not be persecuted yet’. Rapture of the saints then shall occur before the last and worst 3,5 years begin.
Does this make sense?
I doubt, but what I want to make clear is that there could be a time period between the rapture of those who already died and the living ones and Rev 12 could refer to the rapture of the dead saints represented by the child. Could be, who knows, but I am sure the woman is not Israel, and not even sure about the dead saints being the child. However, i wanted only to mention this about the dead saints but seems not very likely regarding the Rev 12.
Do we have to know or only be awaken? Knowing is one thing, but being awaken is far the most important!
Rev 12 doesn’t concern Israel but regards the Church.
Wilderness refers to the world as we see in Isaiah 14:17, but also to a desolate place or desert Hosea 13:5. My understanding is that this place is provisionally safe despite the chaos , until…
3"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."
The dragon (again twofold meaning), as we know, refers to satan (antichrist to come) who shall fight and being cast away out of heaven into the world: this is a sign of a troubled period to come after the presence of evil on this world and announced by this sign of Rev 12. Immediately after appearance of this sign or later? We shall see! I think not on the same day but not very later.
5"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days."
Verse 5 (again a twofold meaning: Yeshua linked to the church) can only refer to the minor holy church or saints who shall be taken away in a twinkle of an eye, (BUT can also refer to the already dead saints by the words ‘WAS to rule…’ but seems more unlikely)
In the church period only the church could rule with a rod of iron, but they couldn’t as we note today. Verse 6 already explained above.
The War in Heaven
7"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
To who does this quote refers: ‘The accuser of our brethren’?
To Israel? Is Israel meant by ‘brethren’?
Seems not, but more likely to the saints of the church!
Take account of verse 11: is this about Israel? I do not think so! Can we link Israel to the quote: ‘by the word of their testimony’? Didn’t they reject Him? Who were those who preached the Gospel? Not Israel, but the church by the twelve!
Again we see this revelation is not about Israel, for Israel not even know about this sign because they rejected the Gospel of the firstborn.
The Dragon Persecutes the Woman
13"And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
The Antichrist's policy will persecutes a remnant of her seed who was given ‘two wings of a great eagle’ or a provisionally ‘freedom’ from the face of the antichrist. In the beginning of tribulation it probably will seem as if Christians won’t be harmed. During this period of 3, 5 years this remnant, on the assumption that this is the remnant of the church according my First opinion above, who shall be left behind. But then the antichrist shall persecute them, but wars and disasters shall break the attacks and persecutions of this evil presence. But he won’t give up persecuting this remnant who keeps the commandments and testimony of Christ! Is this referring to Israel? I doubt! When we read ‘remnant’ it regards a remnant of the Church not Israel. Israel in this case could make part of this remnant.
Conclusion: the woman is NOT the whole house of Israel, but the Church herself.
The child refers to the rapture saints: those who are dead or those who are alive, or both together. But unfortunately this we can’t figure up by Rev 12.
Why do I believe the virgin is the Church? We know that whole bible is focused on Israel, but regarding my understandings this sign doesn't concern Israel, but only the church for not only Israel is under grace and salvation. What we know is that in the end time, ISRAEL shall be restored and then accept the Messiah. Would God, regarding the sign of Rev 12 made it that easy for us to link the woman to Israel? Please note that this is only my understanding and not necessarily correct.
We read that the virgin is clothed with the sun and the sun gives light referring to ‘be Enlighted’ which indeed the Christ Church also is, for she is the Light of the world! The moon that does not give light and on September 23-2017 also is black, is under her feet: referring to darkness and those who are in darkness, the children of darkness, are under her feet, as if she would trample them, which she in fact also did by rejecting the wicked of this world and finally shall defeat at the end.
The twelve stars above the virgin represent the Twelve (of whom the head is the Messiah, the Lion) who built the church as first. The woman/church is giving birth to those who are the followers and in a sense are 'equal' to the One she once delivered in Bethlehem. Here we see a similarity and connection of Christ and the church as being born. The woman is the inheritance of the Twelve of whom the head is the Messiah, her Son, and now giving birth tho those who belong to her Son. Then the woman who after childbirth remains a remnant, shall be kept apart in a safe place for 3,5 years and then after this period persecuted for the next 3,5 years when the son of perdition is at hand. This sign most likely announces the seven year trib period. Israel in this case, and i do not doubt the virgin also represent Israel as part of the remnant, makes also part of woman, because also Israel shall be persecuted and attacked in those days.
In Exodus 4:22-23 we read: “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, "Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23"So I said to you, 'Let My son go that he may serve Me”
Israel is the firstborn and His son and not a virgin woman! The virgin in this case represents the church and Israel as a part of it but not the major presence.
Hebrew 12:23:"in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the judge of all men, to the spirits of the righteousmade perfect,,enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the judge of all men, to the spirits of the righteousmade perfect,
'to the congregation of the firstborn', here we see the church (orig. ekklésia) as the chruch of the firstborn or Yeshua.
About signs:
By bible we know that signs and prophecies were used as signs to watch for some important events to come on a later period. Not any previous sign or prophecy ever appeared on the same day that it was spoken or revealed. God told us to watch and be awaken, so we can determine by signs which period we have to expect. Rev 12 indeed reveals a taken away of saints, but not on that same day? A sign is an announcement of an event to come and still remains a heavenly sign to watch. Yeshua did not told us to watch the skies, but to watch the signs of times around us!
Let's be awaken and prepared when the hour is near.
This Rev 12 sign/wonder does not concern Israel, for Israel is yet to be punished even in the end days! This sign is about the Church who’s the light of the world and children of the Light! Israel is not the Light of the world, but shall be one day with the Church.
When the selected saints are taking away at the last trump (the child), a great part of the Church/Virgin/Woman/the Light, is gone and what remains is a remnant, or better, a remnant of a remnant, because not all of this remnant shall be raptured after tribulations for it shall be a little harvest and the last one of the three parts of the first resurrection without judgment.
Than we have another issue regarding this sign: Would the Eternal made it that easy for us to conclude that the virgin should represent Israel because of the twofold symbolic meaning of Mary and Her child? Israel till today never was Enlighted but in fact they rejected Yeshua as the Masshiach.
God's promise to Israel was to rule the earth according the birthright of the firstborn, but the church was promised grace and to be redeemed. After Israel turned her back to God, God did the same, and then He went to the Nations. But He will never break His promise to Israel and perform at the end as well after He gathers His people again. Think about this!
Another view about Rev 12 is that the born man child may refer to Israel when we know from some biblical quotes that Israel is called the ‘firstborn son’ of the Eternal. But Israel as being the delivered man child in Rev 12 doesn’t give any sense in the context of being raptured.
If we would link the 144 000 virgin man children as being the ‘born man child’ of Rev 12, while we know these already were raptured immediately after the Cross as the First Fruits during Pesach, then also this view doesn’t give any sense in the context of being raptured at the moment Rev 12 is referring to. How can we know these 144 000 already were taking away? Yochanan in his vision of the Revelation saw the NUMBER of these sealed virgin male saints and not a rapture or event linked to those or connected to this vision. We can’t claim to understand a rapture in this passage, but only a mentioning of an amount of this divine group of people. So this means the 144 000 are not the born child of Rev 12 and are another group of people, most likely those who are still alive during the end times in the hypothetical view that it’s about a rapture of the living and not about the dead who shall be taken away first. The taking away of both the dead and those still alive could occur at the same time but could also not, i mean not necessarely!
Another thought regarding the day or the hour, from no one knows about, I doubt that Yeshua didn’t mention this in Revelation! Why do I mention this? Because when Yeshua said that no one knows the day nor the hour, He said this when He still was a mortal man and couldn’t know that. After His resurrection He went to the Throne of the Father and became a God himself and could then probably know the day and the hour when He revealed the Revelation to Yochanan! We could check this out by a time laps in the Rev 12 sign seen from Stellarium.
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In a brief conclusion & possibilities:
First possibility: The born child who refers to a taking away, represents a group of selected saints coming from the whole church who are the true Christians by Word: these are the big harvest linked to the wheat harvest of Pentecost.
Or:
Second possibility: These are the dead saints who shall arise first before those who are still alive, but then we do not know when those who are still alive shall be raptured, because the remnant does not refer to the saints who are still alive before tribulation and because the true saints are the selected people, and the remnant refers to a minor part who shall repent during trib. The remnant has to wait until the end of tribulations.
The born child can not refer to Israel nor to the 144 000 sealed virgin males.
Blessed are you brothers and sisters, may peace be with you!
Shalom
TNC