A. Mashiach’s Earthly Kingdom
We believe Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach will return to the
earth just as He went, in Person and in the body in which He was
crucified, now glorified, coming on the clouds of heaven, and with power
and great glory to introduce the Millennial Kingdom, to bind HaSatan and
place him in the abyss, to lift the curse which now rests on the whole
creation, to fully restore a reunited Israel to her own land and to give
to her the realization of G-d’s covenant promises, to bring
the whole world to the knowledge of G-d, and to personally
and bodily reign over the whole earth for a thousand years. We believe
that in His glorified body, Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach will proudly bear the
marks of His sacrifice as an eternal “badge of honor.”
We believe that all who died “in
Messiah” will be resurrected and be given glorified bodies like His, and
that they will actively participate in the “management” of the Kingdom.
We believe that Holy Temple will be rebuilt in
Jerusalem, that the priesthood and the sacrifices will be restored, and it
will be from the Temple that HaMashiach will reign over a restored Israel.
We believe that King David will literally rule as co-regent with Mashiach,
and that Avraham will be “governor” (or similar) over the entire promised
land from the Nile to the Euphrates. We believe that Israel will be
recognized as the center of earth’s government and a “light to the
nations,” and that all the peoples of all the nations will come “up to
Jerusalem” to observe all the Feasts of Adonai under the tutelage of
Israel.
B. The Final Rebellion and Judgment
We believe that following the release of HaSatan at the
end of the Millennium, he will deceive the nations of the earth and gather
them to battle against Messiah and His saints, and against Jerusalem, and
they will be destroyed by fire from heaven. HaSatan will then be cast into
the lake of fire, where the Beast and the False Prophet live in eternal
torment. All of the unrighteous dead will then be resurrected to stand
before the Great White Throne, where the books of their lives will be
opened and they will be judged according to their deeds. But regardless of
their deeds, “since not one was found ever having been written in the Book
of Life, he was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15,
literal), where they will experience eternal conscious torment.
The elements of the earth will then be dissolved with a
great rushing sound and HaShem will create a completely new heaven and
earth. The new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven and will be the
eternal dwelling place for all (and only) those whose names are written in
the Lamb’s Book of Life, where they will enjoy eternal fellowship with
HaShem and with one another. Having fulfilled His redemptive mission,
Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach will then deliver up the kingdom to HaShem the
Father.
C. The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the
righteous to eternal life, and the unrighteous to judgment and everlasting
punishment. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are at death absent
from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they
await the first resurrection, when spirit and body are reunited to be
glorified forever with the Lord. We believe that the souls of unbelievers
remain after death in conscious punishment and torment until the second
resurrection when, with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the
Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not
to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and
torment.
 The Return of Messiah
The following passages of Scripture speak of the future
return of Yeshua HaMashiach to earth, and are presented here in
approximate chronological order, and are from a blend of four main
scriptural sources: Daniel 12 (supported by other prophets), Matthew 24,
the Shliach Sha'ul’s chronology in his letters to the Thessalonians (which
tracks with Messiah’s chronology), and the book of Revelation, which is
generally chronological, but which contains flashes backward and forward
in time.
The Rebuilt Temple
Dan. 11:45: And [the Lawless One] shall plant the dwellings of his
palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain [Temple
Mount]; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Matt. 24:15: Therefore, when you will see [The Lawless One]… stand
in the holy place…
2 Thess 2:3: … so that he [The Lawless One] as G-d sits in the
Temple of G-d, showing himself that he is G-d.
Rev. 11:1-2: And there was given to me a reed like a rod: and the angel
stood, saying, Rise, and measure the Temple of G-d, and the altar, and
those who worship therein. But the court which is outside the Temple leave
out, and do not measure it, for it is given to the Gentiles, and the holy
city shall they tread under foot forty two months.
The Man of Sin Revealed (Abomination of Desolation)
Dan. 12:11: And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken
away, and the abomination that makes desolate is set
up, there will be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
This is a flashback in the text to a former time in
chronology.
Matt. 24:15-22 demonstrates that Daniel 12:11 fits here.
Matt. 24:15: Therefore, when you will see the abomination of
desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place…
2 Thes. 2:3-4: Let no one deceive you by any means, for that day
[catching up of chosen ones] shall not come, until there comes the
apostasy first, and also the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called G-d, or that is
worshipped; so that he as G-d sits in the temple of G-d, showing himself
that he is G-d.
2 Thes. 2:8-9: And then shall that Lawless One be revealed, whom Adonai
shall consume with the breath of His mouth, and shall destroy with the
brightness of His coming: Even him whose coming is after the working of
Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Rev. 13:5-6: And there was given to him [the Creature, Lawless One] a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to
continue forty-two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against
G-d, to blaspheme His Name, and His Tabernacle, and those who dwell in
heaven.
People in [or of] Judah Flee
Zechariah 14: 5: And you will flee to the valley of the mountains;
for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal, Yes, you will flee,
like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of
Judah: and Adonai, my G-d, shall come, and all the holy ones with you.
Matt. 24: 16-20: Then let those who are in Yehudah flee to the
mountains: Let the one which is on the housetop not come
down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him who is in the
field return back to take his clothes. And woe to those who are with
child, and to those who nurse their baby in those days! But you should
pray that your flight is not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.
Rev. 12:6: And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has
a place prepared by G-d, to feed her there a thousand two hundred and
threescore days.
This comes from a parenthetical history of Israel in
Chapter 12,
and is interjected here to go with the Matthew chronology.
The Great Tribulation (Time of Trouble)
Dan. 12:1: And at that time shall Michael ["Who is like G-d"] stand up,
the Great One, the Prince who is the Protecting One for the children of
your people: and there will be a time of trouble, such as never was
since there was a nation even to that same time…
Matt. 24: 21-22: For then there will be great tribulation, such as
was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall
be. And unless those days would be shortened, there would
no flesh be saved, but for the chosen one's sake those days will be
shortened.
2 Thes. 2:10-12: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in
those who perish, because they received not the love of the truth
[remembrance], that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, That they all might
be damned who have not believed the truth [remembrance], but rather had
pleasure in unrighteousness.
[1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with G-d to recompense tribulation
to those who trouble you.]
Rev. 13:7: And it was given to him to make war with the holy ones, and
to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues,
and nations.
Rev. 14:7: … Fear G-d, and give glory to Him; for the hour of his
judgment is come, and worship Him who made heaven, and earth, and the sea,
and the fountains of waters
Rev. 14:8: … another angel was saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen,
that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the
wrath of her fornication.
Rev. 14:9-11: … If anyone worships the Creature and his image, and
receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of
the wine of the wrath of G-d, which is poured out without mixture into the
cup of His indignation; and He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone
in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And
the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever, and they have no
rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever
receives the mark of his name.
The Salvation of the Jewish Remnant (Protection of the Chosen Ones)
Dan. 12:1: And at that time shall Michael [the One Who is like G-d]
stand up, the Great One, the Prince who is the Protecting One for
the children of your people:… and at that time your people
will be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.
Matt. 24:23-28: Then if anyone shall say to you, Look, here or there is
Messiah do not believe. For there will arise false messiahs and false
prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders so much so that, if
it were possible, they would deceive the true chosen ones. Take
notice that I have told you before. Wherefore if any say to you, "Look, He
is in the desert," do not go; or "Look, He is in a secret place," do not
believe it. For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to
the west; so also will be the coming of the Son of man. For wherever the
carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
[By this the Messiah shows His desire for the chosen
ones to be protected.]
2 Thes. 2:13-15: But we are bound to give thanks always to G-d for you,
brethren beloved of Adonai, because G-d has from the beginning chosen
you to salvation through holiness of the Spirit and
belief of the truth [remembrance]: He called you to that by our good news,
to the obtaining of the glory of Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach. Therefore,
brethren, stand fast, and hold to the traditions which you have been
taught…
1 Thes. 5:9-10: For G-d has not appointed us for wrath, but to obtain
salvation by Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach, Who died for us, that, whether we
are awake or asleep, we should live together with Him.
[This is a later point made by Shaul out of chronology
to affirm that G-d will protect His chosen ones.]
Rev. 13:8: And all who dwell on the earth will worship him [The Lawless
One], whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world.
Rev. 13:10: He who leads into captivity will go into captivity. He who
kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience
and the faith of the holy ones.
Rev. 14:12-13: Here is the patience of the holy ones. Here are those
who keep the commandments of G-d, and the faith of Yeshua. And I heard a
voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in
Adonai from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labors and their works do follow them.
Rev. 18:4: And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of
her, my people, so that you are not partakers of her sins, and so that you
receive not of her plagues."
Rev. 12:11: And 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… .
Rev. 12:14: … And to the woman were given two wings of a great
eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, to her place, where she is
nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the
serpent.
The Sun and Moon Darkened
Joel 2:10-11: The earth will quake before them; the heavens shall
tremble; the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the
stars shall withdraw their shining: And Adonia shall utter his voice
before His army, for His camp is very great: for He is strong who executes
His Word. Because the day of Adonai is great and very terrible; and who
can abide it?
Isaiah 13:9-11: Behold, the day of Adonai comes, cruel both with wrath
and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate. And He will destroy the
sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations
thereof shall not give their light. The sun shall be
darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause her light to
shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for
their iniquity. I will cause the pride of the presumptuous to keep
Shabbat, and will humble the majesty of the tyrannical.
Matt. 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the
sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the
stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be
shaken.
Rev. 6:12-17: And I beheld as he opened the sixth seal. There was a
great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and
the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell to the earth,
as when a fig tree casts her untimely figs when she is shaken by a mighty
wind. And the heavens departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and
every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of
the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains,
and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves
in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains
and rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of His wrath has
come and who will be able to stand?'
[This portion is chronologically out of place in the
Book,
since the seals seem to be an overview of the coming
events. It rushes to the end when Messiah is about to come.]
Messiah's Coming in the Atmosphere
(Sound of the Shofar and Voice of the Archangel)
Isaiah 27:12-13: And it shall come to pass in that day, that Adonai
shall thresh… and you will be gathered one by one: you children of Israel.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great shofar shall be
blown, and they will come who were ready to perish… and worship Adonai
in the holy Mount at Jerusalem.
Isaiah 40:10-11: Behold, Adonai your G-d will come with a strong
hand, and His arm shall rule for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him,
and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall
gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them to His bosom…
Isaiah 59:20: And the Redeemer shall come to Zion; unto those who turn
from transgression in Jacob, says Adonai.
Matt. 24:30-31: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they will
see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory. And He will send his angels with a great sound
of a shofar…
1 Thes. 4:16-17: For Adonai Himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the shofar of G-d…
(17 in the atmosphere)
Rev.19:11-15: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He
who sat upon him was called Faithful One and True [Remembered One], and in
righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were as a flame of fire,
and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man
knew, except Himself. And He was clothed with a talit dipped in blood: and
His name is called The Word of G-d. And the armies which were in heaven
followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, and with it He can strike the
nations: and He will rule them with a rod of iron, for He treads the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty G-d.
The Resurrection of the Righteous Dead
Dan. 12:2: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awaken,
some to everlasting life…
Matt. 24:31: … and they shall gather together His chosen ones
from the four winds, from one end of the heavens [atmosphere] to the
other.
2 Thes. 4:14: For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even
so those also which sleep in Yeshua will G-d bring with Him…
2 Thes. 4:15: … we which are alive and remain until the coming of
Adonai shall not preceed [rise before] those who are asleep.
2 Thes. 4:16: … and the dead in Messiah shall rise first.
Rev. 20:4-6: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment
was given unto them: and I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for
the witness of Yeshua, and for the Word of G-d [Torah], and who had not
worshipped the Creature, neither his image, neither had received his mark
upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with
Messiah a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again
until the thousand years were finished. This is the first
resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first
resurrection. On such the second death has no power, but they will be
Kohanim of G-d and of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
The Catching Up of the Righteous Living
Dan. 12:3: And those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the
firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever
and ever.
Matt. 24:31: … and they shall gather together His chosen ones
from the four winds, from one end of the heavens [atmosphere] to the
other.
2 Thes. 4:17: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds, to meet Adonai in the atmosphere…
Rev. 19:6-7: … HalleluYah! for the Adonai Elohim the omnipotent reigns!
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him, for the marriage of the
Lamb is now here, and His wife has made herself ready…
Rev. 16:9: … And he said to me, "Write, Blessed are those who are
called to the marriage supper of the Lamb …
[This is from the introduction of this chapter, which
anticipates the union
of Messiah with His own. Reference to Messiah as "the Lamb" here alludes
to the Passover Seder as the marriage supper.]
Messiah’s Return to Earth in Wrath
Zechariah 14:3-4: Then Adonai will go forth, and fight against those
nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall
stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on
the east; and the Mount of Olives shall split in the middle toward the
east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley. Half of
the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the
south.
Matt. 24:48-51: But if that evil servant says in his heart, Adonai
delays His coming; And begins to strike his fellowservants, and to eat and
drink with the drunken, The Lord of that servant will come in a day when
he looks not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall
cut him to pieces, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2 Thes. 1:7-10: And to you who are troubled rest with us, when Adonai
Yeshua shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming
fire, taking vengeance on those who know not G-d,
and that do not obey the good news of Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach. Who shall
be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of Adonai, and
from the glory of His power; When He shall come to be glorified in His
holy ones, and to be admired on that day in all those who believe.
1 Thes. 4:17: … and thus we will forever be with Adonai.
1 Thes. 4:18: … comfort one another with these words.
Rev. 19:14-17: And the armies that were in the sky followed Him upon
white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And
out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, that with it He would strike the
nations. And He will rule them with a rod of iron, for He
treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty G-d. And He
has on His Talit on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud
voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of sky, 'Come and
gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great G-d…
Rev. 19:19-21: And I saw the Creature, and the kings of the earth, and
their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sits on the
horse, and against His army. And the Creature was taken, and with him the
false prophet who performed miracles before him, with which he deceived
those who received the mark of the Creature, and those who worshipped his
image. They both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword of Him who sits upon
the horse, which sword proceeds out of His mouth, and all the birds were
filled with their flesh.
Revised
on
Saturday, 27 November 2010 07:54 PM
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