Servias Ministries Blog

Who is the Restrainer?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2^nd Thessalonians chapter 2:

1  Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,

2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

In Thessalonica, some of the members had passed away and the remaining members thought they had been left behind.  Paul had to correct their assumptions.  It is clear by his writing in verse 2 that they had received communications to support their assumptions.  He told them that they were being deceived and provides specific details:

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

He had to reassure them of the Truth he shared by the revelation he was given by Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit.  Has the son of perdition been revealed as evidenced by the above?  No!  What will happen so that the son of perdition can come forth?  The Restrainer had to be removed:

6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.

In cryptic terms, Paul identifies the Restrainer Who have been preventing the great delusion from coming forth.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

Once The Restrainer is removed, Paul explains what will happen next:

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the Love of the Truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The only entity who has ever restrained sin is God through the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus.  When the Restrainer is removed, then and only then will the Man of Sin be revealed, because he is no longer held back in his lies and lawlessness.

The Holy Spirit is removed with the Church at the Rapture, leaving no one standing in the way of the man of sin.

This is not a new view of Scripture.  Thomas Ice researched and wrote the following:

Ephraem the Syrian of Nisibis (c. 374-627) was a major writer for the Eastern Church. Many of his hymns and sermons were never translated until recently. One of his sermons was on the end times, and he wrote about the antichrist, saying, “All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.”

How was Jesus able to restrain the devil during His earthly ministry?

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Luke chapter 4:

1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

When you and I are led by The Holy Spirit, we cannot be deceived for the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 15:

26  “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

And in John chapter 16:

13  However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

The son of perdition will glorify himself as the counterfeit and people will believe him.  How?  The Spirit of Truth has been removed!

Don’t count Israel out, FATHER hasn’t. HIS gifts and calling are irrevocable!

I have heard teachings that the church replaced Israel in all the promises directed toward them.  Paul disagrees by revelation given to him by The Holy Spirit.  I am not interested in man’s opinions based on his motives, neither should you.  Paul provides us with sufficient understanding concerning Israel and its future.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 11:

1  I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

3 “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?

4 But what does the Divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

People tend to judge matters from their limited knowledge and understanding.  Elijah was not aware of the 7,000 men who formed a remnant, yet he was a major prophet.  This is why it is vital for us to carefully read the Scripture without preconceived ideas and past teachings (aka opinions).  We must be constantly cleansed by The Word.

5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.”

9 And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them.

10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

Israel’s failure brought forth the Church and the opportunity for all mankind to be restored to FATHER.

12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.

15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also Holy; and if the root is Holy, so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Do not be critical of Israel or anyone else for that matter.  FATHER is The Judge!

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”

20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Isaiah prophesied: “There shall be a Root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”  Jesus IS the Root, and we receive our Spiritual nourishment from Him.

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

28 Concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are Beloved for the sake of the fathers.

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Paul revealed the mystery of Israel’s restoration in the end times.  Israel will be restored AFTER the fullness of the Church has come in!  However, they will once again suffer the judgment of GOD.

Through Scripture, we can resolve the mystery of the saints!

Not all saints are alike. There are different groups of saints.  A fundamental question has been: How can the Antichrist have the power to overcome the saints if the Church can break down the Gates of Hell?

In the history of the world there have been both Old Testament saints and New Testament saints. You and I belong to the latter category as true believers, members of Christ’s body saved through faith. There is a third type of saint yet to come: the Tribulation saints. These are servants of God who die during the Tribulation, who are seen under the altar when the Fifth Seal is opened in Revelation 6.

John recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 6:

9  When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held.

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, Holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth (earth dwellers)?”

11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

It is important to understand the Biblical use of the term “Church” – an ecclesia. It is not a structure, nor a denomination, but those all over the world who belong to Jesus Christ, who will be raptured when Christ returns for his Bride. Other people will still be saved after the Church is gone; these are the saints who will experience the Tribulation.  The Church has a unique purpose as The Bride whereas all others will go through the tribulation period at the time of GOD’S wrath toward the unrighteous. There will be those who repent during the Great Tribulation as well as those who are of Israel that will finally accept Jesus Christ.

Also in Revelation chapter 13:

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in Heaven.

7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Yet Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 16:

13  When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven.

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock (revelation) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.”

Are these Words of Jesus contradictory to what is revealed in Revelation 13:7?  Not at all!  The Church has authority over the adversary whereas the saints in the time of Jacob’s Trouble are subjected to war with the beast.  Let us not confuse the two groups.  Otherwise, you may assume that the Beloved Church must endure harsh times associated with the Great Tribulation.

There are three general areas of study when we seek to understand the Scripture!

Principles used to interpret the Bible is call Hermeneutics.  Do we treat Scripture as an allegory, or do we see it as literal?

Allegorical interpretation of the Bible is an interpretive method that assumes that the Bible has various levels of meaning and tends to focus on the spiritual sense, which includes the allegorical sense, the moral sense, and the anagogical sense, as opposed to the literal sense.

After fifty years of study, I view Scripture in the literal sense and let It interpret itself.  I believe FATHER means what HE says and says what HE means.  If you allow man to interpret the Scripture for you, the interpretation will be filled with opinion and personal orientation.  FATHER does not need man’s help

The only sound approach to Bible study is to let the Bible interpret itself. (1 Peter 4:11). Two things are evident: Either God gave us a book that we cannot understand and therefore left it up to us to decide what he had in mind, or God gave us a book that we can study and come to a knowledge of the truth.

Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Peter chapter 4:

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the Oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.

The study of the Church is called Ecclesiology.  It differs from the focus of Israel.  Eschatology is the study of end times, of last things.  The problem here is that most Christians haven’t done their homework in these areas of understanding the Word. A great majority don’t make a habit of thinking about God’s purpose for His Church, the Bride of Christ.  If you don’t understand intent, then you will have difficulty in understanding and embracing what is said.

 Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 5:

22  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, Love your wives, just as Christ also Loved the church and gave Himself for her,

26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be Holy and without blemish.

28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who Loves his wife Loves himself.

29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

30 For we are members of His Body, of His Flesh and of His Bones.

31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

It is important to recognize that Paul is illustrating our honored and beloved position as the Bride of Christ. He highlights our destiny to be claimed by Him when He returns, to be presented sanctified, pure and Holy to God the Father.

And in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 5:

9  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

We should begin to see how the Church is distinct from the rest of mankind and expressly exempted from the judgment God will inflict on the rest of the unbelieving world.  No Loving Husband would even consider subject His wife to any form of wrath!

Israel will suffer during the Great Tribulation, but many will finally accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!

It is recorded by The Holy Spirit in Daniel chapter 12:

1  “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the Words, and seal the Book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

In the Bible, the angel Michael is always presented as a military commander, while Gabriel always arrives with messages about the Messiah.  Ultimately, the people of God will be driven to the wall, and then they will be saved. This message is a theme throughout the Old Testament.

Israel failed to continue in righteousness through the Old Testament, yet FATHER delivered them every time.  Why?  He had not forgotten His Covenant with Abraham.  The theme remains the same.  Israel fails to live by FATHER’S Commandments, judgment comes, captivity ensues, there is a call to repentance, and the people finally repent of the wicked ways.  The Book of Hosea focuses on this repetitive process.

Jesus speaks of this very issue in Matthew chapter 23:

37  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

38 See! Your house is left to you desolate;

39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the LORD!‘ “

Always pay close attention to words such as “till”.

This is the Heart of FATHER, to gather HIS people to Himself. The great tragedy is that so many times Israel would not. The Messiah came as promised on the precise day foretold centuries prior, fulfilling hundreds of Biblical details in order to authenticate Himself, yet the unrighteous would not have Him rule over them because in their sin they would not recognize Him. “We have no King but Caesar,” they cried.

FATHER is precise in HIS prophecies recorded in Scripture.

It recorded by THE SPIRIT in Daniel chapter 9:

20  Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God,

21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.

22  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.

23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:

24 “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.

25 “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.

26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

Gabriel tells Daniel that from the time the commandment was given to restore and build Jerusalem until the coming of Mashiah Nagid, the Messiah, the King, there would be 69 weeks of years. Calculated by the original 360-day year, that’s 173,880 days. We know the commandment was given to Nehemiah on March 14, 445 B.C., decreed by Artaxerxes Longimanus.

It is recorded in the book of Zechariah chapter 9:

9  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

When did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a colt?  Jesus rides the donkey from Bethany over the Mount of Olives down through what’s called the Golden Gate into Jerusalem. That incredibly detailed fulfillment took place on April 6, 32 A.D., exactly 173,880 days after the decree issued by Artaxerxes to restore and reconstruct Jerusalem.  Yes, it is helpful to understand history.

FATHER says what HE means and means what HE says… exactly!

Would Jesus Christ subject His Bride to the wrath of His Father?

The Beloved Disciple recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 6:

15  And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

16 and 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!

17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?“

Jesus opened the seal to allow His Father’s wrath to go forth on the earth.  His Bride is in Heaven protected from such intense wrath, more that has ever been seen on earth.  Those who have rejected the call will be subject to this wrath, not the Bride who is unconditionally Loved by Jesus.  Those who believe that true believers go through the seven years of tribulation simply don’t understand Agape Love.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Corinthians chapter 6:

20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Why did Jesus suffer more than any other man on earth for us?  This is what it took to restore us to fellowship with Him and FATHER.  Why would He suffer greatly only to subject His Bride to sustained wrath?  He wouldn’t!

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 5:

6  For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

8 But God demonstrates His own Love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Paul also wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 5:

9  For God did not appoint (destined) us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Jesus spoke to His disciples privately in Matthew chapter 24:

15  “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy Place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

25 See, I have told you beforehand.

26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.

27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 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 the other.

Keep in mind that that there are two groups: the true church and Israel.  Israel rejected Christ but that does not negate FATHER’S Covenant with Abraham.  As in the past, they will go through a period of tribulation, and many will finally repent and be classified as “the elect”.

Below is the process passed down over the last 3,800 years. If you will take time to read this, you will better understand the preciseness of the entire Bible and how the wedding process is currently playing out:

“For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. …  Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”  (Revelation 19:7, 9)

Wedding-ring Jewish wedding bands are often inscribed with Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li (I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine).  The words of this verse are also considered an acrostic for “Elul,” reflecting our very real potential to enjoy a vibrant, intimate relationship with Adonai if we will only turn from sin in repentance and seek Him.

While the exchange of covenant vows between a man and woman who love each other is a blessing in any culture, there are aspects of the Jewish wedding celebration that are rich in Spiritual Truths.

This ancient ritual prophetically points to the coming of the Messiah and the great celebration of the marriage supper of the Lamb.  It also teaches us unique lessons about God’s covenant Love for His people.

One would be hard pressed to find an occasion more joyous than that of a Jewish wedding.  In Hebrew, it’s called a simcha (a joyous occasion).

“Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom.”  (Jeremiah 33:10–11)

Jewish bride and groom, chatah, kittel. An Orthodox Jewish wedding in Jerusalem: Traditionally, on the day of his wedding, the chatan (groom) wears first wears the kittel (white linen garment), which signifies purity, Holiness and new beginnings. Thereafter, he wears it on special occasions such as Rosh Hashanah (New Year’s), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Pesach (Passover).

There are three distinct parts to the ancient Jewish wedding:

shiddukhin (mutual commitment),

erusin (engagement), and

nissuin (marriage).

Shiddukhin: A Time of Mutual Commitment

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.”  (Genesis 2:18)

Shiddukhin refers to the preliminary arrangements prior to the legal betrothal.

Ketubah.  Signing the ketubah (marriage contract): In ancient times, the ketubah protected the rights of the wife by specifying the groom’s responsibilities in caring for her, and the amount of support that would be due her in the event of a divorce.

In ancient times, the father of the groom often selected a bride (kallah) for his son, as did Abraham for his son Isaac (Genesis 24:1-4).

In ancient times, marriage was looked upon as more of an alliance for reasons of survival or practicality, and the concept of romantic love remained a secondary issue, if considered at all.  Romantic love grew over time.

Of course, the consent of the bride-to-be is an important consideration.  Rebecca (Rivkah), for example, was asked if she agreed to go back with Abraham’s servant to marry Abraham’s son, Isaac.  She went willingly (Genesis 24:57–59).

Likewise, we cannot be forced into a relationship with the Son, Yeshua (Jesus).

In the same way that Rebecca was asked if she would go with Abraham’s servant, the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) asks us if we are willing to follow Him to be joined in a covenant of Love with Yeshua.

Traditionally, in preparation for the betrothal ceremony, the bride (kallah) and groom (chatan) are separately immersed in water in a ritual called the mikvah, which is symbolic of spiritual cleansing.

In Matthew 3:13–17, we read that Yeshua has already been immersed (baptized) by Yochanan (John) in the waters of mikvah at the Jordan River.

As the Bride-to-be, we are also asked to be immersed.

“Whoever believes and is baptized [ritually immersed] will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  (Mark 16:16)

The water for this mikvah bath is outside and fed by a spring, from which the natural water runs down a hill into the mikvah, just outside of Jerusalem.

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”  (Proverbs 18:22)

After the immersion, the couple entered the huppah (marriage canopy)—symbolic of a new household being planned, to establish a binding contract.

Here, the groom would give the bride money or a valuable object such as a ring, and a cup of wine was customarily shared to seal their covenant vows.

In this public ceremony under the huppah, the couple entered into the betrothal period, which typically lasted for about a year.  Although they were considered married, they did not live together or engage in sexual relations.

To annul this contract, the couple would need a religious divorce (get), which had to be initiated by the husband.

Matthew 1:18–25 provides an excellent example of this.

During the erusin of Yosef (Joseph) and Miriam’s (Mary), Yosef discovered that Miriam was pregnant, and he considered divorcing her, although he had not yet brought her home as his wife.

Love is patient and kind

“… he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”  (Matthew 1:19–20)

During the erusin period, the groom was to prepare a place for his bride, while the bride focused on her personal preparations:  wedding garments, lamps, etc.

Although the bride knew to expect her groom after about a year, she did not know the exact day or hour.  He could come earlier.  It was the father of the groom who gave final approval for him to return to collect his bride.

For that reason, the bride kept her oil lamps ready at all times, just in case the groom came in the night, sounding the shofar (ram’s horn) to lead the bridal procession to the home he had prepared for her.

In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13), Yeshua (Jesus) likened the Kingdom of Heaven to this special period of erusin, when the groom comes for his bride:

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!’  Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.”  (Matthew 25:6–7)

In Jewish weddings today, there are two cups of wine during the wedding ceremony.  After the rabbi recites the betrothal blessings accompanying the first, the couple drinks from the cup.  Since wine is associated with Kiddish, the prayer of sanctification recited on Shabbat, and since marriage is the sanctification of the bride and groom to each other, marriage is also called kiddushin.

So too today, in the season of Yeshua’s end-time return, we should be careful to remain alert and prepared for His coming, since Yeshua was speaking to His disciples prophetically about the condition of the Church in the last days.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 7: 21)

 Nissuin:  The Marriage

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  (John 14:3)

The final step in the Jewish wedding tradition is called nissuin (to take), a word that comes from naso, which means to lift up.

At this time, the groom, with much noise, fanfare and romance, carried the bride home.  Once again, the bride and groom would enter the huppah, recite a blessing over the wine (a symbol of joy), and finalize their vows.

Jewish-Marriage-Orthodox  It is traditional in some communities for the bride to circle the groom seven times and then stand to the groom’s right side under the huppah.  Since seven is the number of completion and perfection, this act symbolizes the “wholeness and completeness they cannot attain separately” (Aish).

Now finally, they would consummate their marriage and live together as husband and wife, fully partaking of all the duties and privileges of the covenant of marriage.

Likewise, the Messiah, as the Bridegroom, has gone to prepare a place for us.

The day of the return of the Messiah for His Bride is soon approaching.

Although, we know approximately the time of His return from the signs of the times, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”  (2 Peter 3:10)

The Bride (Believers in Yeshua) should be living consecrated lives, keeping themselves pure and holy in preparation for the Nissuin and the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, when the Groom comes with the blast of the shofar (1 Thessalonians 4: 16) to bring His Bride home.

Christ’s Second Coming comes in two phases, once for the Church and once for Israel!

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 4:

13  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these Words.

There are those who would try to redefine Paul’s specific Words, I choose not to.  If Jesus was able to ascend, then so will we.  We will no longer be tied to only four dimensions and will experience interdimensional attributes.  Those who have gone to Heaven and returned experienced similar ascensions.  Why attempt to restrict Our Heavenly Father as though you need some scientist to validate HIS methods?  No man authenticates Our Heavenly FATHER but instead, HE will authenticate them if HE so desires.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Zechariah chapter 14:

3  Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.

4 And in that day His Feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.

This passage refers to the second Coming of Christ as He returns to the earth.

After His Resurrection, Christ was only seen by those who Loved Him, and He was only touched by Loving hands. That should tell us something about the Rapture. Only His own will see Him at the Rapture, but every eye alive will see Him and tremble at the Second Coming.

In any reference to the Rapture there is no reference to satan. He’s not involved.  In fact, because there is no warning, it will catch satan by surprise. But note this: at the Second Coming of Christ, satan is bound.

The Beloved Disciple record in Revelation chapter 20:

2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

When the Rapture occurs, and satan undoubtedly knows it will, it will alert him that his time is short. At that point he will unleash his best destructive efforts.

In Revelation chapter 12:

17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The Rapture certainly takes place before the Great Tribulation, according to Scripture, but it’s not necessarily in that instant that the Great Tribulation begins.  The conditions in the world will change rapidly and people will look to someone to lead them through the expanding chaos.  How do you think people will respond when a significant departure of a large number of the population is suddenly missing?  The adversary is now supporting the idea that aliens and UFO’S are a viable option.

Things are lining up.  Is the conclusion of a convergence of multiple fronts at hand?  The answer to that question is above my pay grade.  Only FATHER knows!

Christ’s Second Coming comes in two phases, once for the Church and once for Israel!

He comes once for the Church to fulfill His promises to His Bride. He then comes again in power to fulfill all the commitments laid down by GOD in both the Old and New Testaments for the Kingdom on Earth, where He takes David’s Throne.

Jude wrote by The Holy Spirit in Jude:

14  Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,

15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

Who is Jude writing to?  He is writing to the chosen ones who are wrapped in the Love of Father God—kept and guarded for Jesus, the Messiah.  Notice that Jesus comes WITH ten thousands of His saints.  They had to be with Him in Heaven for Him to bring them with Him.

The Beloved Disciple John recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 20:

6 Blessed and Holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

If there is a “first” resurrection, the must also be at least a “second” resurrection.  Further, we will be classified as “priests and kings”.  Levitical law did not allow Israelites to hold both offices so this refers to the true church of believers.

Isaiah wrote by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 61:

1  “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

And the day of vengeance of Our God;

When Jesus read aloud the above passage, He stopped before that last phrase referring to vengeance of Our God.  Why?  It was not time yet for FATHER’S vengeance to arrive on earth.  Jesus does everything exactly on schedule.

The Beloved Disciple John recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 19:

15  Now out of His Mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And He has on His robe and on His Thigh a Name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

It is vital that we make this very important distinction between these two groups in prophecy.

The Rapture is imminent thus it can occur at any moment without signs. There will not be a sign preceding it other than the very moment wherein there is a shout, the voice of the archangel, the trumpet of God. There simply is no precedent, no set of conditions by which we can know the Rapture is coming.

On the other hand, the Second Coming, which is the most documented period of time in the entire Bible, is yet to unfold. It’s the seven-year period about which more is written in the Scriptures than any other period of time. This seven-year period precedes the Second Coming. If we can tell when it starts, we can almost set the date of His Second Coming.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 1:

10   and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers (rescues) us from the wrath to come.

And in chapter 5:

1  But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and Love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Paul taught the church at Thessalonica about this topic when he visited them face-to-face.  This is why they had no need to be instructed about this Truth.

The rapture will come as a thief in the night to those who don’t walk in the Light.  We will not be surprised by His Coming.  Instead, we are to watch (be alert) and be sober (clearheaded).

The Rapture is to translate the true believers only. The Second Coming, on the other hand, affects all people on the earth.