by Gavin Finley MD - 2001, -- revised in 2025
A Dream
The hike in the woods has been pleasant. A time for a soul seeking peace to draw apart. The world seemed to be turning into a pot of revolution, about ready to come to the boil. The time had come to take a hike, to reflect, and to pray. It is late afternoon. Pausing to rest by a stream you fall asleep. There by the murmuring stream you hear a voice.
"Hello there, Jacob."
Someone is calling out you among the fallen and standing cedars on the cliffs above. You rise from your slumber to see someone coming. He approaches you there at the riverside, where you have been resting.
"Why are you addressing me as Jacob?" you reply.
"That is not my name."
"I think it is."
the voice replies.
"And soon you may understand why".
You have gathered a name for yourself, down through all these years, haven't you Jacob. For 1700 years you have been trying to do your best in a co-mingled spiritual and secular company, the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly. The watchers continue to bring the same report. You have been greatly blessed. But deep within, you remain much as you were in that former time. You are still 'tricky Jacob'."
With that you are taken aback and begin to become indignant. But you are careful. Just who is this commanding figure?
As you rest in the shadows down by the river he is coming towards you. You ask,
"Who are you?
And what gives you the right to subject me to any spiritual evaluation?"
Character issues at the Jabbok River crossing.
And questions about church responsibility.
You see him now, a glowing presence approaching you in the twilight.
Something about him gives you pause.
Then he begins to speak to you, and in a very direct manner.
"Do you hear the sound of the rippling waters?
Look behind you, Jacob. This is the Jabbok River. And here you are at the crossing point.
It was inevitable. This transition was bound to happen. You cannot turn back.
The four winds of heaven are blowing you every which way. You have finally come to your time of crisis,
times and seasons of great danger, great opportunity, and, if you will allow it, "great expectations."
You are starting to get a bit upset,
in a strange mixture of irritation and anger.
"What crisis?" you ask.
"If you are referring to all the strange events we are experiencing of late, well history goes on in cycles.
So this is just a bump in the road.
Our political and religious leaders will soon get things sorted out.
Everything will soon return back to normal again."
But you are beginning to wonder what is going on.
The visitor is closing in. His voice is gentle but firm.
"Well, I think you know better than that, Jacob. Deep down you know that you are about to enter unprecedented times.
And here you are. Approaching the closing of the age. Your kings and priests are failing you. A state of lawlessness is the new normal.
The culture at large is in an accelerating state of moral decline. Your nations under the sovereigns you have trusted are losing their grip.
The nations are in disarray, verging on chaos. Citizens no longer have the trust in their government so vitally necessary for peaceful rule.
If your nations and its rulers are not able to keep the peace the bankers will be coming to call in the note and establish a new order.
You begin to emerge from your drowsiness. The words of the messenger are alarming. No doubt there has been a quickening pace of untoward events, in every sphere of life. You and your people are facing mounting difficulties, this is true. And you are not sure why. But gamely you answer back.
"Look, I don't know who you are. But I am not one to dwell on the negative. I tell you, deals will be made,
debt ceilings extended, our political leaders will clean house. Everything is going to be OK.
Having got that off your chest you are beginning to feel a whole lot better about yourself.But the rippling river beside you seems to be singing a different song. The visitor is closer to you now, speaking very directly to you in the failing light.
"Do you really believe that, Jacob? You read the signs of the times.
You know full well that in there is a tempest coming.
Whoever this person is he seems to be reading your mind.
He sees the same calamities up ahead that you see. You answer,
Yes, amen! For those of us who know Bible prophecy we know the signs of the times.
We are fully aware that the time up ahead will be a time of trial and tribulation for people in Israel.
Your visitor nods quietly. Then he comes to sit down beside you, apparently to want to have a chat.
He also seems to be reading your face, and doing a good job of it. You are warming to the guy. He asks,
"So what then do you see for the future, Jacob.
What role do you think you will play in the coming arena of holy history?"
The sudden change in the direction of the conversation is a bit troubling to you. Somewhat perturbed you answer,
“Role? What role? A role for me?
And in an arena? Hey, you are talking to the wrong person here. I am not headed for any arena.”
Your visitor raises one eyebrow.
Then, speaking softly he says,.
"Are you absolutely sure that the Israel you refer to does not involve you and the Church?
You do belong to the Congregation of Israel's Messiah, Jesus Christ, do you not?"
The conversation is becoming a bit uncomfortable.
But you have your ready answer. It immediately comes to mind.
"Yes, we belong to the church of Jesus Christ. But Israel and the church are two separate entities.
And those final seven years open up after the Age of Grace ends, and God turns His attention to Israel.
That is what those final seven years are for, to bring the Jewish people back to the Messiah they have rejected.
Your visitor is looking into your eyes.
But he says nothing. So you continue.
"Look, our Bible prophecy teachers know all about these difficult matters. We in the pews, the rank and file, are still left a bit unsure.
We are pretty confused about what they are telling us. Still, we trust these prophecy experts to tell us what is about to happen.
They are schooled in the seminaries in Greek and Hebrew. Many are powerful Bible teachers, gifted by God. We like what they say."
The one who has drawn near to you is looking out across the river.
Then he turns to address you.
"So, you like what they say, do you, Jacob?
What. specifically is it that you like in their message?"
You begin to get a bit uneasy about this visitor.
Where is this conversation going? What is he driving at?
You begin to back off a little.
"Well, this is not exactly my idea. All the Bible believing churches agree. They tell us that those final seven years will be a chamber of horrors.
They tell us that the coming tribulation period is the wrath of God, no less. That is why we can't be there. In fact there is broad agreement that those of us who are born again are about to get raptured."
You clear your throat before continuing.
"So, as soon as we cross this river here we'll be caught up in the glory. For us we'll not need to worry about facing any trials and tribulations on the other side. We'll be lifted up and over all that unpleasant stuff. That tribulation out there is for others. They can get "left behind" if they want to. It will be their funeral. But we get special privilege. As soon as that seven year covenant is signed we will be "outta here!"
The visitor stands up and faces you, in the deepening evening gloom.
You are beginning to get extremely uneasy about all this. His voice now has an edge to it.
"You will be crossing this river, Jacob. And on into a new realm. Over there, across this threshold, you will face your trials and tribulations. And your glories. The time that has been set, cut out of time, for God's determined dealings with you, and the Jewish house, for you, and for all your people. You are still looking for that "city on a hill". You are on journey back to the Holy Place that Abraham saw, back to the threshing floor. A great reset is about to open up. Across this river are realms you have never imagined. The trumpets are about to sound, even propelling you into the days of awe. Yes, Jacob. You are very definitely headed for the arena of unfolding holy history. It is time for you to wake up, come face to face with your God, take responsibility in your calling, and lay hold of your true destiny."
The Jabbok river sings beside you, and different somewhat troubling story is hanging in the air. And just who is this visitor who has come to question you? You are a stout soul, and very capable. You must, and you will, forge on, in your usual forceful way, putting yourself first, come what may. You have prepared yourself to cross the river. But a voice speaks loudly to you in the approaching darkness.
"You cannot even think about crossing this river yet, Jacob. I will not allow it. Not in your present spiritual condition!"
You are mystified by this. You have never been stronger, never been more able. You are in your prime. And now? Well, you are now going out beyond your borders, getting ready to take on the world. So you snap back.
"What are you talking about! I have lots of allies and friends. And I keep my enemies even closer.
They will keep me safe from any threats until the rapture.
I have been on good terms with many powerful opponents. When they did not want to deal with me they went on to regret it.
For them it was a disaster."
Then you see him. A holy presence is circling around you there at the riverside.
He seems to be trying to stop you from crossing over. And when he speaks again he is in your face.
"Jacob, here is something you need to know. For a long time the watchers have been observing your progress. Of late, it seems that you have been allying yourself with the dark Luciferian angel of self. Look, I am on your side here. But if you cross this river in the pride of life, in your present untamed unbroken state of narcissism, it will not end well. In fact, it will be your undoing."
You begin to get indignant, then find yourself being grabbed.
You try to break free.
"What? Me a narcissist? Look I am just taking care of business!
I am not just an ordinary earthly biological father. I am a person of religion, a godfather looking out for my family!"
Family squabbles: And a long family feud.
The visitor still has your arm behind your waist, pinning your arms and leaning on you heavily. He pulls you in close as he speaks in your ear.
"You have spoken it well, Jacob, And when you cross this river you will indeed be dealing with family matters. You have a family feud going on between two powerful members of your family. Hard pressed Judah is now in the Land, and facing antisemitism. He is having some angry confrontations with the others, brothers who should know better. The vexation is even beginning to engulf that other very powerful family member who seems to be hidden in plain sight. When you reconcile that family matter then your future will be assured. You will then come to walk in your true calling and your true destiny.
But that is not my immediate concern.
You are a bit mystified about all this..
So you answer back.
"What family feud! We are the church of Jesus Christ! At the cross He said. "It is finished! We are complete in Him. Nothing further needs to be attended to. Then too, of what importance is that dusty Old Testament history to us? Our Bible teachers have said we are in a new separate category now. One of them has already unhitched the Old Testament entirely from our Christian conversation. . . . . And what is this more immediate concern of which you speak? Whatever it is, it certainly seems to be forcing you to play the troll here, and right here at this crossing point."
The voice at your ear takes on a more earnest tone.
"Look Jacob, the types of problems among the 12 families have changed since that last World War. The fighting and warring with each other has stopped, apart from the main Family Feud. And now, within the borders of your Judeo-Christian families there is a deep spiritual division emerging. The raging of nations is bringing great vexation even within the walls of your own homes and hearth. Without you seeking help from beyond your own political kingdoms and divine help from beyond the self-life, this rebellion, and the idolatry over things will tear your nations apart from within. Without you returning to your God this next period of history will not end well. Then there is that more immediate family matter. Yes, that time has arrived. Your brother, and your old enemy Esau is back in town. He has a bone to pick with you. And he is headed your way.
You are more than taken aback by all this.
But your response is heated.
"What's that got to do with me?" you ask.
"I wasn't involved in those ancient dealings. God help me!
Those events happened 4,000 years ago!"
And what has Esau got to do with me?
The messenger pulls you into an uncomfortable hammerlock before answering,
Jacob, perhaps you have forgotten this. But you have a brother Esau, the black sheep of the family. He has been under your yoke of civil behavior in the past. But now he is becoming restless and assertive. He is back in town and resentful of your expanding wealth and lands. He is rising up in anger at what he says is your haughty self-serving attitude. He has said, "I'll be back!" And now he is. A big reason I oppose you crossing here and now is that you cannot meet your resentful and angry bother Esau in your present unbroken prideful condition.
You try to break free but the angel has you in his grip.
There is some urgency in the voice now.
Jacob, your brother Esau is out there across the river. Oh yes. You will be meeting him again after all this time. Your father Isaac's left-over blessing for Esau was that he would live by the sword. He would be a not a nurturer of life in shepherding or agriculture. He would be a hunter, taking down what he wanted. His father Isaac prophesied that in the latter days Esau would become restless, shake off your yoke of civil behavior, and run wild.
So, you have unfinished business over the river. Issues you will need to attend to with Esau. He has a large newly awoken mob riding with him. And they are coming at you fast." It is for your own security that I have come to check you at the crossover point here. You have some serious outstanding problems. I have come to call you to account.
By this time I am beginning to get fuming mad.
I reply with some harsh words,
"You must be out of your mind! I tell you, I belong to the post-modern era.
I am not involved in any of these ancient squabbles!"
The war of words now breaks out into a full-on wrestling contest.
It is now,
Round #1
A call to family matters beyond the self-life.
The wrestling angel circles around, and the heated words continue.
"Oh, but you ARE involved."
the Voice answers.
"And the burden of the family of faith, those who are justified by faith in the Seed of Abraham, now rests upon you.
Right back at your beginning you cheated him. You swindled him out of his firstborn right to the blessing and the birthright.
It seems that things haven't changed very much, Jacob. You continue in your long history of shady dealings."
The messenger lunges towards you and the rocks beneath your feet move.
You lose your footing for a moment. You are a bit startled at this.
The words he speaks cut through the evening gloom.
"You are involved, Jacob. Deep down you know it. And now the end of the age is upon you.
You think you are ready to come and cash in on your inheritance. But something is missing. Isn't it Jacob?
You have been caught short. And it seems that you may have forgotten something. Something very important."
You hear the words but they do not make sense.
You find yourself becoming very uneasy.
"Forgotten something?" you ask. "What are you talking about?!
I am saved and 'born again'. I am personally ready to meet my Maker.
The deal is signed, sealed, and delivered! What else is there!"
The Messenger fixes you in a steady gaze.
Oh, the deal, as you put it, may be signed. But it is not sealed in blood covenant commitment. You are in danger, and far from being delivered. You have forgotten something, Jacob. You have overlooked certain weighty and important matters. Matters that relate to the Eternal Covenant for ALL your people. This is the Covenant to which you lay claim. The wider issues involved here are your crucial responsibility. You have been charged to keep the Covenant with all diligence, not just for yourself, but for all your people. Way back in the days of Isaiah in Isaiah 49:6 you were called to be a servant, a light to the gentiles. But all across your lands the lights now seem to be dimming and in many cases going out."
The sun has now gone down below the horizon.
And the light is fading.
"What responsibility? What Covenant? What light to the gentiles? " you ask.
"Look, I am not Israel! We are the Church! We have a special separate deal!"
As far as I am concerned the Covenant is my own personal salvation business with God! I'm a born again Christian! That is all there is to the Covenant as far as I am concerned! The deal I made with God is private! My own personal salvation is all there is to this deal!"
The angel is coming in closer in a wrestler's stance.
He views you narrowly and then asks,
"Are you sure about that Jacob?"
The visitor now stands between you and the brook.
"Of course I'm sure!" you respond.
"Jesus Christ did it all! He did it at the cross! The contract for my salvation has been finalized! There is nothing more for me to do! At the end of my life I just get raptured or resurrected into glory. That's it! Nothing else is involved for us in the Church. Anything else in the way of response is a "works Gospel".
Now I've heard some say that our witness will be called for at the end. But I don't buy it! I am not appointed to wrath! Those last seven years of tribulation are God's wrath. I am not appointed to wrath. So therefore I won't be there!"
Round #2
Rejecting the call to the end-time witness.
The Angel is at your side, pinning your arms and pushing you sideways.
"Is that right, Jacob? You won't be there?
Who then, pray tell, will be there? Who will be God's representatives on earth as history comes to its conclusion?
Who will be bringing the climactic witness at the end of the age?"
You avoid his gaze as you answer.
"We were told that there would be 144,000 fiery Jewish evangelists that would rise up. They will be the ones to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We are not appointed to wrath. So we are outta here!"
You feel the force of the attack and find yourself falling backwards.
With both your arms pinned you land heavily on your side.
The angel is speaking in your ear now.
"So you think then that the time of coming tribulation is God's wrath, do you? That is a bit of a twist isn't it Jacob? And where are you told in scripture that all 144,000 are Jewish? Only 12,000 of them are from the royal House of Judah. How can a small company of 12,000 newly saved Jewish evangelists finish the great global Harvest spoken of in Matthew 13? But then your have been going down some twisted pathways haven't you?
You are correct in saying say that the redeemed are not appointed to God's wrath. But then you turn around and falsely assert that trials and tribulation are God's wrath. Then you use that shifty bit of reasoning to say that you cannot be there as a witness in the tribulation.
But that's not all you are saying. You also say that the Jews will be there in the tribulation. Since you identify the tribulation with God's wrath then tell me this, Jacob. Are you saying that the Jews are appointed to wrath? Is that what you are saying?"
You refuse to answer. You struggle in the grip of the angel.
He has you in a hammerlock. You cannot move.
"Let me ask you again, Jacob. Are you saying that the Jews are appointed to God's wrath?!
You wrench yourself free of the hammerlock and regain your feet.
Then you reply boldly,
"Look, I don't know all the answers to the questions you pose. All I know is that I'll not be seeing any sorrows or trials. No sir! I have my ticket to heaven. Its right here in my back pocket. If the tribulation comes I'm outta here!" If the Jews don't make the train to glory well that's their problem. But I have my ticket! That's it for my side of the bargain! There are no further requirements of me. The eternal covenant and the promised salvation is mine! I have it in my hand! It's a done deal! There is nothing more. Do you hear me?"
You are surprised at how angry you have become. You slow your breathing down and look around.
The Angel is closing in on you again. He begins to speak again in the failing light.
"You are truly a heel, Jacob. You claim all the blessings of the Eternal Covenant. This is truly a great gift you have been given.
But you will not realize or attain it. Not until you are prepared take your to stand in witness to that covenant."
Round #3
The end-time uprising up of the Edomites.
There is an uneasy silence. Then the angel continues.
"Here you are, Jacob. You say you are ready to enter into the land of promise. But are you? . . . . . Your brother Esau will be coming
to confront you soon. He thinks that you've got a nerve even daring to show up here. He says you are a trickster and a manipulator.
Well are you?" The time is late. The new millennium dawns. And here you are. What are you going to do now?
Will you run from your calling, fall away from the faith? Or will you face what you must face?"
You answer comes quietly from deep in the shadows.
"I am here." you say.
"And here I will make my stand."
"Very well" says the Angel. "Prepare yourself! Because here at this river, and at this crossing
you will continue on into a night of wrestling with your God and engaging in a struggle with your inner self. This will be your dark night of the soul. Right here you will face your worst fears. And yet beyond this river are your greatest glories."
Round # 4
The issue of the First Resurrection.
The angel is now closing in on you as night falls.
A question is shouted at you. And it echoes across the river.
"Why are you here?
Why don't you run off?"
"I won't be run off!", you say.
I will stick with You come what may."
******
"Very well", says the angel. Be on your guard!
The end-time drama is about to unfold.
This is the final showdown, Jacob, and you are here.
A cloud of heavenly witnesses is watching, waiting with keen expectation to see what you do here.
In the gathering darkness the murmuring river begins to speak,
And the Word of God issues out across the waters.
"......And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (But rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished). This is the FIRST RESURRECTION." - Revelation chapter 20:4-5.
The angel is before you speaking quietly and directly.
"Did you hear that, Jacob? There is an important date out there in the not too distant future. It involves the 'first resurrection'.
The Word of God is telling you of this future resurrection of the righteous saints. They will come out of their graves at the end of this age."
The messenger comes closer, awaiting my answer.
"Well yes." You reply. But what has that got to do with me? The next big event for me is the Rapture. My departure time is imminent. And as for the First Resurrection, well that is a broad and very complex category. We have been told that the first resurrection could even extend back to the resurrection of Jesus 2,000 years ago."
The angel is coming at you now circling around for another assault.
"You are a shifty character, Jacob. Why do you insist on dodging this matter? The scriptures here are speaking about a future epic event.
The Bible calls it the "first resurrection". This a climactic single point in time is the resurrection of the righteous dead."
You are somewhat taken aback, but manage to reply,
"Well the first resurrection is a complicated business. There are lots of theological angles on it. We mustn't be too dogmatic and draw any conclusions on the resurrection because it is a broad subject. Jesus was resurrected 2,000 years ago. So this first resurrection can be stretched back 2,000 years or so to include that. Yes, this first resurrection looks to be at the end of the age. But it can be stretched back to include the resurrection of Jesus 2,000 years ago . . . . . . . ."
Lunging forward the Angel is suddenly in your face.
"Jacob, you are indeed a shifty character! Why do you manipulate and twist God's word!" You cannot blend and confuse the past
Firstfruits resurrection of Jesus in the Passion Year and conflate His resurrection with future harvest resurrection of His saints!"
With that you find your feet swept out from beneath you.
Now you are on your back and looking up at the stars.
The messenger is speaking clearly and plainly in your ear.
"The resurrection of your Savior and the harvest resurrection of those who are His at His coming are two distinct events. The resurrection of the Head of the Man-child came 2,000 years ago. The resurrection of the Body of the
Man-child will come at the end of this age. These are two distinct resurrection events and two distinct dates in time, Jacob!"
The messenger continues,
"Well the coming future harvest resurrection of His Body will be a special day too.
Your Bible tells you that those who are Christ's will be resurrected at His coming. (1Cor.15:23)
You twist and strain but to no avail. The angel pins your
arms and presses you into the pebbles as he continues.
"You cannot wriggle out of this one, Jacob. Your Master in His parable of the Harvest in Matthew 13 said that his future harvest resurrection by the angels of the Harvest would be at the end of this age. In 1Corinthians 15 your apostle Paul laid out all the resurrections very clearly.
"But each one in his own order, Christ the Firstfruits, then those that are Christ's, at His coming."
In 1Thessalonians 4 He said that "The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air." So, the living and the dead, will all be glorified into new spiritual bodies to rise together at His second coming. So wherever we place the Resurrection of the righteous dead will be where we must place the Rapture.
You are squirming but the Angel has you in a scissor lock and is speaking in your left ear.
"The past resurrection of Jesus, the Head, two millennia was a special Springtime Firstfruits Resurrection Feast day was it not?
The future harvest resurrection of His Body will also be a climactic special single future date, this time on the Fall Feast calendar.
You have no authority to conflate the past Firstfruits Resurrection of Jesus with the future first resurrection, the resurrection of the righteous dead at the end of the age. But that is what you are trying to do with the First Resurrection, is that not right, Jacob? You are trying stretch it out backwards in time to cover an earlier resurrection you need to be tied to the pre-tribulation Resurrection-Rapture. But there is a problem. That resurrection is an end-of-age event.
"Behold He comes, in ONE moment,
Behold He comes, in ONE twinkling of an eye,
Behold He comes, at the sound of ONE Last Trumpet."
Suddenly you find yourself being propelled sideways. You are sent sprawling to land with a clattering of rocks.
Your face is close to the rippling waters. There by that brook you find yourself lying there in the darkness.
Round #5
The matter of a single Resurrection of the righteous dead
accompanied by the Rapture of the righteous who are living.
You get back on your feet and dust yourself off.
Facing the Angel you protest saying,
"Well, could there not be another earlier resurrection to match up with our early rapture?
Why couldn't there be another earlier resurrection 7 years before the 'last day'?"
The angel has you by both arms. Pulling you down he then catapults you into the air to come down with a splash in the river.
The Angel has an armlock around your neck and your arms held fast. Tightening his grip he says,
"You are a shifty piece of work, Jacob! Listen to your God for a change! There is only one "First Resurrection.
And as you see. That First Resurrection is right there at the Last Day at the end of this age.
********
"This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me
I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day." -John 6:39
"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life;
and I will raise him up at the last day." -John 6:40
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;
and I will raise him up at the last day. -John 6:44
"Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life,
and I will raise him up at the last day. -John 6:54
The angel has you in his grip once more.
He speaks to you in quiet even tones.
"Four times in one chapter Jesus said that He would raise His people up at the last day".
Why might the Holy Spirit repeat twice what He has already repeated twice?
Is someone trying to get your attention, Jacob?
You try to pull away but you are being held very firmly.
The angel continues.
How many resurrections of the righteous dead do you see in Holy Scripture, Jacob? How many are are necessary? And why would he have two resurrections of the righteous dead from this age? You have read what John saw in Revelation chapter 20. If John saw one and only one resurrection of the righteous from out of this age and He calls it the FIRST RESURRECTION why do you see one earlier than that?
Gamely you break loose to face the angel.
You protest loudly.
"I never said that there would be two resurrections! Never did you hear me say that! Now our pastors told us that there would be a special secret Rapture at the beginning of the final seven years. They told us that this is the mystery Paul was speaking about. I said nothing about two resurrections!"
Round # 6
The Tribulation martyrs of the First Resurrection are there at the Last Day.
The angel is approaching you again. He is crouching down ready to spring.
"Look, Jacob, this end-time resurrection of Revelation 20 is clearly stated to be the First Resurrection.
So you know very well that there can be no other resurrection before it. What do you have to say about that?"
In the darkness you find that the Angel has locked his arms around your chest.
It is becoming difficult for you to breathe. He is speaking to you again. But loudly this time.
"Look Jacob! There are martyrs in the harvest day company of resurrected saints. They include TRIBULATION MARTYRS.
Wake up, Jacob! You are drifting off!" The harvest day of the FIRST RESURRECTION includes TRIBULATION MARTYRS!
This further confirms that the First Resurrection saints, who died in the witness are there at the close of this age.
You struggle to break free but it is no use.
"I refuse to look at it." you say.
The river is singing in the darkening gloom. The angel hold you firm.
"Still full of guile, aren't you, Jacob? Okay, now calm down.
Take a deep breath and look. You can't struggle against the Eternal Word forever!"
A still small voice is speaking quietly, right to your face.
"Now let us be reasonable. Let us handle the word of God honestly and responsibly.
Face the truth here, Jacob! And answer this question.
When is the harvest day of the FIRST RESURRECTION?"
You answer, "Well if the first resurrection harvest includes tribulation martyrs as we see in Rev. 20 then the harvest day of the FIRST RESURRECTION must come AFTER the Great Tribulation."
Says the Angel, sighing and releasing his grip a little,
"You are precisely correct. If martyrs of the Great Tribulation period are in the resurrection company for the departure to glory then it must be a very late departure indeed. You had not seen that before had you? I had to force you to see it. I had to knock you out of your trance. Only then did you see this future harvest resurrection date clearly. Now take a one minute rest."
Round # 7
The cross-linked Resurrection-Rapture
Again your Beloved Enemy is facing you out in the darkness.
Now you are right at the edge of the Jabbok River.
You hear His voice in your right ear.
"OK Jacob!
Remember what your dear Apostle Paul said to you in 1Thes. 4:15-17? He said that, "the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air".
The scripture of Truth shows that the Rapture follows immediately on the heels of the Resurrection of the righteous dead.
As we have just seen, the Resurrection of the righteous dead at the end of the age is a combined event with the Rapture.
So the truth is that there is not in fact an isolated pre-tribulation rapture as you have been told. This message from God in 1Thessalonians shows an all inclusive combined Resurrection-Rapture of the quick and the dead. This is just as is stated in your Apostle's Creed. Christ will indeed "come to judge the quick, (or the living), and the dead". So the end-time harvest resurrection and the rapture are combined.
The two are welded together. They are inseparable." The Bible here in 1Thessalonians 4 and in 1Corinthians 15 clearly teaches of a combined Resurrection-Rapture at the end of this age.
"The dead in Christ are raised first,
then we who are alive and remain shall be "caught up"/(raptured)...."
- 1Thes.4:16-17.
Round # 8
The angel now has you in a scissor-lock through the waist with an arm around your neck.
He now has a simple question.
"When is the Resurrection-Rapture, Jacob?"
You are struggling with the Truth here. Pushing against the Angel you twist around and try to break free. Now you are protesting with,
"I thought that there was an earlier rapture just for us special church people in the west.
Look, I know we do not see a Rapture separated from that Last Day Resurrection. what the Holy Spirit calls the First Resurrection.
But why can't there be a separate Rapture to match the beginning of the final seven years? We could call this the main Harvest.
Then that Last Day Resurrection and Rapture could be called the gleanings, and afterthought Rapture perhaps.
"Oh you are a grasper and a grabber, just as you were named, Jacob! Why did you think or believe that your afflictions, tribulations which you brought upon yourself, is God's wrath? I am dealing with you here because of God's love! The wrath of God is reserved for His enemies and the enemies of those who are under His covenant. But you cannot wriggle out of your destiny by twisting God's Word, Jacob. The things that you personally have loosed by covenanting with the fallen powers of this evil world have now come upon you! Did not Moses warn you that in the last days you would enter into this tribulation?! -Deut.4:29-31
OK, now Jacob. I am here to help you. You will indeed come into your destiny. And you will begin by submitting to the real Word of God. You will do it right now! And at this place!"
And with that the Angel pins both your arms to the ground. In the darkness you hear the river gurgling just inches from your ear.
"Answer the question!", He demands. "Now when is the rapture in relation to the harvest resurrection?"
You remain silent but now the Angel has slipped you into a hammerlock. You have lost your room to maneuver.
He says, "The answer is clearly laid out in 1Thessalonians chapter 4 and verses 15-18. It is right there in your Holy Bible, Jacob!"
"Let me help you here. Your Apostle Paul tells of the "catching up" or "rapture".
The rapture or "catching away" is of the living righteous, the glorification of those future saints who are alive at the time of your Redeemer's second coming. The sequence of events is crystal clear from the verses here. The scriptures read,
"....we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord
will by no means precede, (or go ahead of), those who are asleep, (the righteous dead).
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel,
and trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first,
THEN we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air,
and thus shall we always be with the Lord".-1Thes 4:15-17 NKJV/GWF Expanded.
"Paul says that the living saints would in no way precede, (in rapture), those saints who had previously died. He said that there would be the resurrection first.............
And then the rapture! Your Apostle Paul says here that he got this information by the very words of the Lord Jesus Himself! If this is so then hadn't you best listen, Jacob?"
Round # 9
Unconvinced and pushing the Angel aside you rise up again to say,
"And where might those words of Jesus be in scripture? There are no such words!"
You find yourself caught in a scissor lock now. You are forced on your back and grimacing in pain. Now you are looking up at the stars and fuming in anger.
The angel speaks in your ear.
"The words of your Lord are in the Olivet Discourse", says the Angel. "Disciples such as you should know this scripture by heart. You should understand what you are being told intimately! Did not the disciples ask Jesus for THE SIGN, of His coming, Jacob? And when it was clearly told you when THE SIGN would come you turned a deaf ear to what you were being told!"
You gasp as the lock holds you face to face with the Angel.
you stagger backwards into the river, landing on your back with a 'splash'.
"Ah, Jacob you shifty trickster!" He says.
"Listen to what your Saviour was telling you!"
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. Then THE SIGN of the Son of Man will appear in heaven , and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His Elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another."
Jesus said quite clearly and in unmistakeable terms that it would be
"AFTER the tribulation of those days"
that THE SIGN of the returning Christ would be seen in heaven.
Then, and only then, would He gather his elect. Jesus spoke of one single, glorious, all encompassing harvest! This will include Jew and non-Jew, the living(quick) and the dead. He gathers His elect from the four winds of heaven.
When is this harvest to occur? Your coming Messiah said that He would gather His elect (singular). He clearly and unmistakeably says that this harvest ingathering would be AFTER the Tribulation of those days. -vs.29"
Round # 10
Now the Angel is in your face with another question.
"Can the rapture can occur years before that first resurrection harvest, Jacob? Ask yourself if the rapture can be rightfully plucked out of its post tribulation, time slot and be pulled back and pasted onto the timeline of holy history years before its appointed time at the harvest day of the first resurrection. Ask yourself why the rapture was ripped out of its resurrection context.
You were called to "rightly divide the Word of Truth". -2Tim.2:15. What scriptureless religious sleight of hand is this that you have done? And what nefarious purpose did this religious scheming serve? Can the rapture "jump the gun" prematurely against the clear teaching of the scriptures? Why have you not placed it faithfully where it belongs, Jacob? Why is the rapture not following in the train of the First Resurrection harvest as the holy scriptures in 1Thes 4:15-17 clearly stipulates?
And while you are at it ask yourself this question.
Short of twisting the scriptures of Truth into a profane and confusing tangle of disinformation is there any legitimate way at all that the rapture can occur before the Great Tribulation?"
Wrestling with the Angel, you must answer.
"I don't want to discuss this!
My God! I must get out of this somehow!" you say.
The Angel replies,
"You are a crafty trickster, Jacob! You are truly the "heel" your name implies!
How can you even hope to manipulate your way out of this?
The promised land is closeby.
We are at the Jabbok River!
This is where all your foolishness must end!
Do you dare come here unwilling to face yourself and your God?
You know you must stand and deal with Him here."
The dawn is breaking and the first light reveals the broken wrestler still embracing his God and his destiny. Tied down in the hammerlock he is unable to rise.
Face in the pebbles at the river's edge, you finally answer.
And what is your answer?
Paul says (vs.15) he had it on the authority of Jesus own words (Mat.24) that those who were alive at the coming of the Lord would IN NO WAY precede into His presence those righteous who had previously "fallen asleep". The rapture would NOT come before the harvest resurrection. By this he meant that the rapture would NOT come before the harvest resurrection. He means that the rapture would NOT precede the harvest resurrection!
Has that religious hypnotic spell, that gnostic fog, and your SELFISM been broken, Jacob?
Your answer to these next two questions will tell who you are.
Round # 11
Answer these two questions.
1. When is the rapture?
2. What is your name?
"Israel" means contender and prince with God?-Gen.32:22-28. Will you wrestle on with your God in all of this, Jacob?
Will you arrive finally at your destination?
And in doing so will you also discover your new identity in the indwelling Prince of Israel?
Or will you leave this River and turn back into the wilderness?
You won't be forced to stay. Will you rise up and leave Him at this river here?
And will you "fall away" when the going gets rough?
How will you answer?
If you do wrestle on with your God and stay on with Him your character will indeed change.
It will be transformed in your tribulations and in that very struggling and wrestling process.
And your name will change as well. You will become as Nathaniel, an Israelite indeed! One in whom there is no guile. -John 1:47 You will eventually be found resting under the fig tree of sweetness and good fruit. And in the day of Messiah's peace He will smile and greet you with cheer and recognition just as He did Nathaniel.
Turning away from the dust you look up.
"When and how will this change come about?" you ask.
This will happen to all the saints called into God in the coming threshold, the time of "Jacob's Trouble". -Jer.30:7 It will happen in a personal way in the wrestling ground of our own hearts.
Even in history's climax, we shall join with millions of others of the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from around the world who are now and will in the future go through similar wrestlings.
These are wrestlings of identity and initiation.
In these awesome times the Judeo-Christian family will be transformed into the "Israel indeed" that Jesus recognised in Nathaniel. This will surely happen during our dark night of the soul, that awsome night of passage, at a certain spiritual place,
- at the Jabbok River.
So what will be our attitude to this challenge? Are we Jacob? And if so will we submit to our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel? Is it not Our God Himself who is wrestling us into our destiny in Him? And does He not intend these coming trials to perform a work within us for our own good
Listen? The bell sounds for
Round # 12
Now, dear reader, we come to you.
How will you respond?
Will you stay with Him in all this?
Will you walk on with God and submit yourself to His will come what may?
Will you trust Him to strengthen you to endure these trials to come?
Will you pass through the strait gate to embrace your destiny?-(Mat.7:13)
Will you enter into the Kingdom and the realms of splendour beyond?
May our answer be in word and deed.
And may God help each and every one of us as we journey on.
Grace and patience to all the saints.
