Matthew 15:21–28, “Then Yeshua went away from there, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Master, Son of David; my daughter is grievously demonized.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries after us.’ But he answered and said, ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Then came she and worshipped him, saying, ‘Master, help me.’ But he answered and said, ‘It is not suitable to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.’ And she said, ‘Truth, Master, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Yeshua answered and said unto her, ‘O woman, great is your faith. Be it unto you even as you desire.’ And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”
Prophetic Points to Analyze
verse 21— coasts
verse 22— Son of David
verse 23— send her away
verse 24— I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel
verse 25— came she and worshipped him
verse 26— the children’s bread
verse 27— crumbs which fall from their master’s table
verse 28— made whole
The Canaanite woman in this story is a non-Israelite Gentile who recognized that Yeshua was the Messiah, Son of David. She, like Rahab of Jericho and Ruth the Moabitesse, had accepted the Elohim of Israel, and she even put her faith in Yeshua, Israel’s Messiah.
In faith, this woman recognized that part of the Messiah’s mission was to exercise dominion over and eradicate from this earth every vestige of satanic influence, while simultaneously advancing the kingdom of Elohim. Indeed, we find prophesied in the Book of Revelation Satan’s demise, his removal from this earth and his confinement to the bottomless pit at the return of Yeshua and the establishment of Yeshua’s millennial kingdom (Rev 20:1–3).
At his first advent, it was Yeshua’s mission to preach the good news of the kingdom of heaven, and to begin establishing the kingdom of Elohim on earth (Matt 4:17)—a mission that his disciples were to continue after his ascension.
Furthermore, the Scriptures teach us that Yeshua and his disciples preached that the “kingdom of heaven was at hand” (Matt 4:17), and that it was near because the sick were being healed and the demonized delivered (Luke 10:9; 11:20). The kingdom of heaven was “among them” (Luke 17:21) through the work and person of Yeshua, and through the fact that the saints are being “translated into the kingdom of his [Elohim’s] dear Son” (Col 1:13; 1 Thess 2:12).
This is what Yeshua and his disciples taught, and what those who followed him believed including any formerly non-Israelites Gentiles, such as the Canaanite woman in this story. Upon acknowledging Yeshua as their Redeemer, these Gentiles are no longer strangers or aliens to the nation of Israel, but become grafted into the commonwealth of Israel and the blessed beneficiaries of the divine covenants of Israel (Eph 2:11–19.
As noted throughout this book, we see that Yeshua’s primary target group was the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Yet the good news message never precluded non-Israelite Gentiles from sojourning with Israel and becoming grafted into the nation and the covenantal promises YHVH made to them (Exod 12:48; Num 9:14; Eph 2:11–19; Rom 11:13–24).
Bread on the masters table metaphorically represents the Word of Elohim, the instructions, teachings or precepts of Elohim (i.e., the Torah) given to Israel to live by. It also points to Yeshua, the Living Torah-Word of Elohim (Matt 4:4; John 1:1, 14; 6:48–58). Yet there has always been a righteous “Gentile” remnant that has been attracted to the glorious light of the Torah-truth of Elohim (Isa 60:1ff). Such was the case with Joseph’s wife, Rahab, Ruth and the mixed multitude that left Egypt with the Israelites (Exod 12:38). Even in our day, many Christian (non-Israelite“Gentile”) believers have been feeding from the spiritual crumbs that have been falling from YHVH’s banqueting table, which David references in Psalm 23:5. These Gentiles have received salvation, deliverance and hope, yet, in a state of being somewhat detached from the Hebraic roots of their faith, they have not realized the fullness and richness of the gospel message. They have become grafted into the olive tree of Israel and are now Israelites in the eyes of YHVH Elohim.
Yeshua referred to this Canaanite woman from the area of Tyre and Sidon as a “little dog” (Matt 15:26). He contrasted this non-Israelite woman with the ten tribes of the lost sheep of the house of Israel (verse 24), which was his mission to regather (Matt 10:5–6). The woman, in great faith, replied that even dogs were allowed to feed from the master’s table and therefore benefit from the spiritual food, salvation and healing available through the Jews and the Jewish Messiah (verses 22 and 27). Upon seeing her great faith and perspicacity, Yeshua granted her the request that he heal her demonized daughter (verse 28).
Furthermore, Tyre and Sidon were cities of Phoenecia, and not part of geographical Israel. This woman of Canaan may have been an Israelite dwelling in the land of the Gentiles, or she may have been a non-Israelite Gentile. Whatever the case, she had a knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures and knew who the Messiah was and that his mission would be to heal the sick and to go primarily to Israel and not specifically to the non-Israelite Gentiles.
What can we learn from this encounter between Yeshua and the Phoenician woman? First, there will be those of the non-Israelite Gentile nations who will have a heart for the Messiah and will seek him for spiritual healing. Second, some Israelites will want to keep Messiah for themselves and will hinder the non-Israelite Gentiles from coming to faith in Messiah. Third, Yeshua had a heart for and was willing to minister to those Gentiles who had faith in him. Fourth, some of those who are non-Israelite Gentiles will be demonized and need deliverance at the hands of the Messiah, the Anointed One. This whole story shows the loving grace of our Savior for everyone and that he is not willing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to him in repentance (2 Pet 3:9).
This Gospel account teaches us that the message of the gospel—a message of great hope, deliverance, salvation and life—is not confined to the biological nation of Israel alone, but is a message of hope for all peoples throughout the world. As such, all peoples everywhere are called to become part of Israel.
What You Can Do
Do you feel as if you have been feeding from the spiritual crumbs and leftovers in your spiritual associations? Have you wanted to be an Israelite, or felt a spiritual affinity with the people of Israel, but have believed what your spiritual teachers have told you—that you are a Gentile, and always will be one? Well, it is time to believe the Word of Elohim, which clearly states that if you are redeemed by the blood of Yeshua, you are no longer a Gentile, that is, one who is without Elohim and without hope (Eph 2:11–19). You are now a redeemed Israelite and a literal child or descendant of Abraham, and as such, you are entitled to the full rights and privileges of an Israelite (Gal 3:26–29). As such, you will enter the New Jerusalem through one of the twelve gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel; there is no gate labelled “Gentile” (Rev 21:12)! So now it is time for you to have faith like the Canaanite woman, and claim what is yours and what the Father wants to give to you!
In this video, discover the end times prophetic implications of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, and Yeshua’s discussion with the woman at the well as it relates to worshiping the Father in Spirit and Truth.
In this video, discover the end times prophetic implications of the coin in the fish’s mouth, and Yeshua’s teaching on marriage and divorce as it relates to his marriage to his saints.
This author believes that the earthly ministry of Yeshua had prophetic implications pertaining to end time events. In other words, I will now attempt to show the reader that behind, if you will, the literal events surrounding Yeshua’s earthly ministry including his miracles and teachings, there was an entire prophetic or allegorical subtext or message. Yeshua’s life was literally a walking prophetic shadow-picture. Understanding these divinely engineered, yet hidden clues from a Hebraic context will yield a literal treasure trove of understanding into end time events as prophetically prefigured in the fall festivals of YHVH.
For the record, let it be known that such a study in no way denies the historicity of the literal events surrounding Yeshua’s life. Both Jewish and Christian scholars have been interpreting literal biblical events in an allegorical light for thousands of years. This is not a new exercise. (For a discussion of this, please refer to our brief study of the Jewish rules of biblical interpretation at the end of this book.) Not only have the biblical exegetes derived understanding from the biblical record through this means of interpretation, but numerous examples can be cited from the apostolic writers themselves interpreting various scriptural passages from the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament) in this manner as well.
What is different about the following study is that it will allegorically examine the entire life of Yeshua—his ministry activities, the meaning of the geographical names of the places where he ministered and his parables for the purpose of deriving insights into end time events such as the great tribulation and wrath of Elohim periods, the resurrection, the second coming, the regathering and reunification of the exiled Israelites, the marriage of the Yeshua to his bride and the establishment of his kingdom on earth. It is hoped that the insights gained may clarify some of the difficult passages in the writings of the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures as well as the prophecies found in the Testimony of Yeshua including the Book of Revelation.
Yeshua’s Compassion on the Scattered Sheep
Matthew 9:35–38, “And Yeshua went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then said he unto his disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore that the Master of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest.’”
Prophetic Points to Analyze
verse 36, scattered abroad
verse 36, sheep having no shepherd
Yeshua continued his ministry of healing the shepherdless sheep of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, who had been scattered, hurt, maimed and exploited by hypocritical, self-righteous and self-serving religionists (see Ezek 34).
Yeshua commenced the mission to regather his lost and scattered sheep at his first coming, and his servants continue this mission to this day. At Yeshua’s second coming, he will culminate the work he started 2000 years ago of redeeming and (re)gathering the exiles back to the land of Israel in fulfilment of the land inheritance promises YHVH made to the patriarchs—promises which have yet to be fulfilled to their fullest extent, and which must be fulfilled if the Word of Elohim is true.
The Parable of the Large Net
Matthew 13:47–50, Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the age. The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Prophetic Points to Analyze
verse 47, like a net
verse 47, cast into the sea
verse 47, gathered every kind
verse 48, gathered the good…cast the bad away
This is another parable relating to the kingdom of Elohim, and correlates with the concept of Yeshua’s servants being fishermen or, more accurately, fishers of men, seeking lost Israel (the descendants of Ephraim, Manasseh and, by logical extension, the other tribes of the Northern Kingdom as well) whom Scripture likens to fish mixed throughout the sea of humanity (Gen 48:16).
As we have already seen, this understanding corresponds with the rabbinic Jewish interpretation of Genesis 48:16 which says, “may they [Ephraim and Manasseh’s descendants] proliferate abundantly like fish within the land” (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach translation), or as the Aramaic Targum Onkelos translates it, “And like the fish of the sea may they multiply like the children of men on earth.”
The descendants of Ephraim will be mixed in among the nations to become like fish of every sort and kind. As the spiritual net (that is, the message of the gospel) of YHVH is preached to these lost sheep, it will draw up every sort of fish (to mix metaphors). The angels will go forth just prior to the resurrection of the righteous to separate the good fish from the bad, the wheat from the chaff, the righteous from the wicked and the wheat from the tares (see Matt 24:31; 13:30, 37–41, 47–50; cp. 13:24–30). This will be a day of rejoicing for those who are gathered in, a day of anguish for those who are rejected because they failed to heed the gospel message and place their trust and obedient faith in Yeshua the Messiah.
What You Can Do
What are you doing to support the spreading of the gospel, so that the lost sheep of the house of Israel can be brought in? To what degree are you using your divinely-given gifts or talents, as well as the time, treasures and resources heaven has placed at your disposal to be a fisher of men, or to support those who are doing that work? Let us not forget Yeshua’s Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 where he rewarded the faithful servants, but cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.
Yeshua Feeds the Five Thousand
Matthew 14:13–21, “When Yeshua heard of it [about the death of John the Baptist], he departed there by ship [they crossed the Sea of Galilee, John 6:1] into a desert [wilderness] [up into a mountain, John 6:3] [to rest a while, Mark 6:31] place apart. And when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Yeshua went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things, Mark 6:33], and he healed their sick. And when it was evening [the day was now far spent, Mark 6:35], his disciples came to him, saying, ‘This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.’ But Yeshua said unto them, ‘They need not depart; feed them.’ [“There is a lad here, which has five barley loaves, and two small fishes,” John 6:9] And they said unto him, ‘We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.’ He said, ‘Bring them to me.’ And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled [satisfied, fulfilled]: [Yeshua said, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost,” John 6:12] and there was left over of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.”
Prophetic Points to Analyze
John 6:1— Sea of Galilee
Matthew 14:13— by ship
Matthew 14:13— desert (wilderness)
Matthew 14:14— great multitude
Matthew 14:14— moved with compassion
Matthew 14:14— healed the sick
Matthew 14:15— evening (the day was far spent)
Matthew 14:15— buy victuals
John 6:9— a lad
Matthew 14:17— five loaves
Matthew 14:17— two small fishes
Matthew 14:20— twelve full baskets
This account appears to be an allegory pertaining to end-time events—specifically, the regathering of the Israelite exiles, and is another allusion to the final redemption.
John the Immerser (or Baptist), who came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Messiah, had just been killed by the politico-religious system of his day. (It is interesting to note that the two end time witnesses or prophets, who will come in the spirit of Elijah, similarly will be martyred in Jerusalem just prior to the return of Yeshua [Rev 11:1–13].) In response to John’s murder at the hands of Herod, Yeshua and his disciples left the area to escape any possible backlash as a result of the wrath of Herod (who symbolically represents the devil). I take this to be a picture of what the Bible prophesies will occur to Yeshua’s bride (the saints) during the great tribulation just prior to his return (Rev 12:12–17). In this scenario, metaphorically the boat in which Yeshua and his disciples were sailing across the sea appears to point to the eagle’s wings of Revelation 12:14 that carried the woman into the wilderness, which is a place of protection and safety the first half of the wrath of Elohim period that is to fall upon the unsaved inhabitants of the earth.
Once in the wilderness, “when the day was far spent…and now the time is far passed” (a prophetic reference to the end of the age just prior to the return of Yeshua), Yeshua fed the multitude five loaves and two fishes provided by a young boy. The five loaves can symbolically represent the five books of YHVH’s Torah or Pentateuch. This is because in Jewish thought the number five represents the Torah, and bread can be a biblical metaphor for the Word of Elohim (Matt 4:4). This points to Yeshua who, spiritually speaking, is the Bread of Life and the Torah-Word of Elohim made flesh (John 1:1, 14; 6:32–58). The two fish is a likely metaphor for the two houses of Israel (i.e., the houses of Judah and Ephraim). This is because, as we have seen before, Scripture likens the sons of Joseph (Ephraim and Manessah) to fish of the sea in Genesis 48:16 (or and who would “proliferate abundantly like fish,” according to TheArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach translation of Gen 48:16). At the same time, as we noted earlier, Yeshua called his disciples to become fishers of men (i.e., Jews, all Israelites and eventually all humans across the face of the earth (Acts 1:8). The fact that a lad provided the makings for the dinner shows us that the Torah-Word of Elohim is neither too difficult for YHVH’s people to understand nor to obey (Deut 30:11–14), for even a child is able to provide this food. Elsewhere Yeshua taught that we must become humble, simple and teachable as little children if we are to enter his spiritual kingdom (Matt 18:2–5).
Yeshua was moved with compassion toward the multitude because they were as sheep without a shepherd. In Ezekiel 34, YHVH rebukes the spiritual shepherds of Israel (i.e., the religious leaders) for not feeding his spiritual sheep,130 for not gathering those who were scattered and lost, and for not healing the wounded and sick. This was the spiritual condition of lost (Ezek 34:16) and scattered (Ezek 34:5) Israel, but YHVH, the Good Shepherd, promises to feed his sheep upon the mountains of Israel (Ezek 34:13–14), even as Yeshua fed the multitudes in the wilderness upon the mountains of Israel by the Sea of Galilee in the historic homeland of the house of Israel (or the Northern Kingdom). He not only fed the multitude, but healed their sick. This he also promised to do for the returning sheep of Israel in Ezekiel 34:4 and 16.
Moreover, Yeshua would not permit the multitudes to return to the villages (symbolic of the churches or religious institutions of the Babylonian world system—out of which YHVH commands his people to come, Rev 18:4) to procure food even though it was becoming evening (or prophetically a reference to the end of the age—a time of spiritual darkness). After all, Yeshua is the Bread of Life (John 6:48–58) and he, as a faithful shepherd, will feed his sheep provender (Ps 23:1–2). He promises to nourish his people in the wilderness during the dark times of the great tribulation just prior to his second coming (Rev 12:14) by feeding Israel from his Torah (pictured by the five loaves).
It is not until one comes away from the villages (a metaphor for the churches or religious systems of this world, which the Scriptures call Babylon or “confusion”[Rev 18:4]) that one becomes truly satisfied and fulfilled with the spiritual nourishment of both the Written Torah-Word and Yeshua the Living Torah-Word of Elohim. In fact, there was such an abundance of food in the wilderness by the hand of Yeshua that twelve baskets of bread were left over.
The number twelve is a symbol of the twelve tribes of Israel, who Yeshua the Good Shepherd will feed once he gathers all his scattered sheep together (Ezek 34:5, 11–16). Twelve also speaks of perfect government. For example, in YHVH’s kingdom the twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt 19:28). Eventually, only redeemed and glorified Israelites will inhabit the New Jerusalem, which has twelve gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel. There will be no gate labelled “Gentile” (Rev 21:12)! This will be the perfect governmental system of YHVH eternal kingdom.
What You Can Do
Have you left, or are you in the process of leaving Babylonian religious systems, which contain a mixture of biblical truth and pagan and humanistic teachings? This is the time when Yeshua is calling his people out of Babylon (Rev 18:4) and promises to feed and care for them in the wilderness, even as YHVH led the children of Israel out of Egypt and cared for them in the wilderness and prepared them for going into the Promised Land.
In Hebrew, the word wilderness is midbar, which, interestingly, is the Hebrew name for the fourth book of the Bible, the Book of Numbers, which is B’midbar, meaning “in the wilderness.” This word contains the Hebrew word d’bar or debar (also devar), which literally means “word” as in “the word of Elohim”. In fact, the name of the fifth book of the Bible is Deuteronomy is also related to this word. It is the Hebrew word devarim (literally meaning “words” [of Elohim], which is the plural of debar (also devar). Finally, the most set-apart place (or the holy of holies) in the Tabernacle of Moses was alternately called the deveer, which is a Hebrew word meaning “oracle”. It was called this because it was there that Moses went to hear the word of YHVH.
What is the point of this quick word study? Simply this. The Hebrew word for wilderness is related to the Hebrew word for theword of Elohim. What can we learn from this as related to Yeshua feeding the multitudes in the wilderness away from the cities of the Babylonian world system? Sometimes YHVH’s people have to leave the non or quasi-religious (Babylonian) systems of men, and go into the spiritual wilderness to hear the pure and undiluted word of Elohim. This is not easy for many people to do, but in the end times, YHVH is calling more of his people to do just that so that he can purify them spiritually, bring them into alignment with his Word and Spirit (Ezek 20:33–38), and then prepare and train them for their future destiny as leaders in his millennial kingdom in the spiritual Promised Land.
They can steal elections, but they cannot steal the elect out of Yeshua’s hands when they are in his boat!
In this video, Nathan comments on the US fall 2022 midterm elections and the current state of things in the world as we progress toward the New World Order, which the Bible calls Babylon the Great. He ties this into the Gospels’ account of Yeshua walking on the water while his disciples were safe in the boat.
This author believes that the earthly ministry of Yeshua had prophetic implications pertaining to end time events. In other words, I will now attempt to show the reader that behind, if you will, the literal events surrounding Yeshua’s earthly ministry including his miracles and teachings, there was an entire prophetic or allegorical subtext or message. Yeshua’s life was literally a walking prophetic shadow-picture. Understanding these divinely engineered, yet hidden clues from a Hebraic context will yield a literal treasure trove of understanding into end time events as prophetically prefigured in the fall festivals of YHVH.
For the record, let it be known that such a study in no way denies the historicity of the literal events surrounding Yeshua’s life. Both Jewish and Christian scholars have been interpreting literal biblical events in an allegorical light for thousands of years. This is not a new exercise. (For a discussion of this, please refer to our brief study of the Jewish rules of biblical interpretation at the end of this book.) Not only have the biblical exegetes derived understanding from the biblical record through this means of interpretation, but numerous examples can be cited from the apostolic writers themselves interpreting various scriptural passages from the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament) in this manner as well.
What is different about the following study is that it will allegorically examine the entire life of Yeshua—his ministry activities, the meaning of the geographical names of the places where he ministered and his parables for the purpose of deriving insights into end time events such as the great tribulation and wrath of Elohim periods, the resurrection, the second coming, the regathering and reunification of the exiled Israelites, the marriage of the Yeshua to his bride and the establishment of his kingdom on earth. It is hoped that the insights gained may clarify some of the difficult passages in the writings of the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures as well as the prophecies found in the Testimony of Yeshua including the Book of Revelation.
Yeshua Ministers to a Great Multitude
Matthew 4:23–25, And Yeshua went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with various diseases and pains, and those which were demonized, and those who were epileptic, and those that were paralytic; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis,103 and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.
Prophetic Points to Analyze
verse 23— all Galilee
verse 23— preaching the gospel of the kingdom
verse 23— healing all manner of sickness and disease
verse 25— great multitudes
verse 25— Decapolis
verse 25— Judea
verse 25— beyond Jordan
Yeshua ministered with miraculous healing power to those from the region of Galilee in northeastern Israel (the ancient territory of Ephraim in the Northern Kingdom of the house of Israel) to the area of Decapolis (meaning “ten cities”) east of the Jordan River. This is a possible allegorical if not a prophetic reference to the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, some of whose lands were located east of the Jordan River.
At the end of this present age just prior to and at the return of Messiah Yeshua as well as after the return of Yeshua, those Jews and Ephraimites returning to the Promised Land from the nations of their captivity (“beyond [or east of] the Jordan [River],” verse 25—a reference to Babylonia and Assyria where the Southern and Northern Kingdoms were exiled respectively)—will be returning broken, wounded, sick and demonized. They will need physical and spiritual healing (see the prophecy of Ezek 34). The regathering of lost Israel was Yeshua’s main ministry focus at his first coming (or advent), and is a mission that will be completed after his second advent. This end time or final regathering of lost Israel will occur during the time period that many Jewish sages refer to as the “final redemption” (when Messiah returns, the resurrection of the saints will occur, and Messiah will establish his kingdom upon this earth). At this future time, the regathering of the exiled twelve tribes of Israel will swing into full gear.
In the Gospel narrative, Matthew chapter four records that “great multitudes”followed Yeshua out of Galilee (verse 25), which, again, was the historic region of the Northern Kingdom comprising of the ten tribes of Israel.
Multitudes from this region of the ten tribes of Israel following Yeshua is a prophetic picture of what will happen in the future. Both the prophet Isaiah and Matthew the Gospel writer use the term “Galilee of the nations” (goyim or Gentiles, Isa 9:1; Matt 4:15) in reference to the Israelite tribes that had settled east of the Jordan River. The Bible writers also use this term in reference to the fact that those of the house of Israel would be scattered among the Gentile nations as part of their punishment for forsaking the Elohim (God) of Israel and the covenant they had made with him at Mount Sinai.
Likewise, prophetically at the time of Messiah Yeshua’s second advent, a final regathering of the Israelite exiles will occur from the nations of the world where they have been scattered. Multitudes will come to Yeshua as we see in the Book of Revelation (Rev 7:1–17) where John, under the inspiration of the Spirit of Elohim, prophesies about the 144,000 righteous saints sealed from all twelve tribes of Israel. After this, John speaks of the ingathering of the exiles and describe this momentous and long-awaited event as follows (verses 9–17),
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our Elohim who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.’ And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped Elohim, saying, ‘Amein: blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our Elohim for ever and ever. Amein.’ And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, ‘What are these which are arrayed in white robes and whence came they?’ And I said unto him, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of Elohim, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and Elohim shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.’”
Prophetic Points to Analyze from Revelation 7:1–17
verse 9— a great multitude…of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues
verse 14— which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes … in the blood of the Lamb
verse 16— they shall hunger no more
verse 17— the Lamb…shall feed them
One may ask the question when does this regathering of exiled Israelites occur that John speaks about in Revelation? Is it strictly an end time event as the Jewish scholars see, or has it been occurring since the time of Yeshua’s first coming only to culminate after his return?
In that the rabbinic Jews refuse to recognize the first coming of Yeshua the Messiah they, by default, have placed the “final regathering” of lost and exiled Israel at the coming of Messiah just prior to “the Messianic Age” or Millennium.
In reality, by Yeshua’s own admission (see Matt 15:24), he began the regathering at his first coming, and commissioned his disciples to continue that mission (Matt 10:6 cp. Acts 1:8).
Zechariah, the prophet, saw this regathering occurring when he prophesied hundreds of years before the birth of Yeshua, “In those days…ten men of the nations shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the cloak of a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you,’” (Zech 8:23). Yeshua said that salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22), and he is that Jewish man, and Jewish Savior, and all people must take hold of him spiritually to be brought to Elohim (John 14:6). Ten is the number of the tribes in the Northern Kingdom who were mixed among the Gentile nations after their deportation and captivity from the land of Israel. This prophecy was partially fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 when many from the nations placed their trust in their Jewish Messiah (Acts 2:9–11, 36–41). So Zechariah’s prophecy, along with that of John in Revelation 7, began to be fulfilled in the time of the apostles and has continued to this very day. It will culminate in what the Jews call the “final redemption” or the “Gathering of the Exiles.”
The message that Yeshua preached was called “the gospel”, which is an Old English word meaning “good news” (Matt 4:23). This mission not only involved healing the sick, comforting the afflicted, feeding the hungry, and giving drink to the thirsty, but also preaching “the good news of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 4:17). Yeshua was that Good Shepherd about whom Ezekiel prophesied in Ezekiel 34, who would heal the sick and feed the hungry.
When Yeshua mentions preaching “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt 4:23), to what kingdom is he referring? If he were coming again, this time as Messiah Son of David, to rule the earth during the Millennium or Messianic Age, as Ezekiel 37:24–25 indicates, ruling over a reunited Israel (i.e., both houses of Israel, or the whole house of Israel as Ezek 37:15–22 states), then what other kingdom is there except the kingdom of Israel, that is, one nation under King Yeshua Son of David (verses 22–25)? And that kingdom is comprised of people coming from all nations who have one thing in common: they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:14) making them children of Abraham as Paul clearly states in Romans 4:16; 8:9, 11 and gain in Galatians 3:7, 9, 14, 28–29), and who are no longer Gentiles (Gal 3:28), but are Israelites as Paul describes it in Ephesians 2:11–13,
[I]n time past Gentiles [peoples of the nations] in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time you were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth [citizenship] of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Elohim in the world, but now in Messiah Yeshua you who sometimes were far off are brought near by the blood of Messiah.
Early in his earthly ministry, Yeshua began preparing the way for the reunification of the two kingdoms or houses of Israel and for his rulership over this reunited kingdom during the Messianic Age (or Millennium). The final redemption or regathering of Israel is an event for which the rabbinical Jews have been waiting (as testified in their writings) for thousands of years. They simply fail to recognize that their Messiah Son of David and the Christian “Jesus” or more properly, Yeshua, are one in the same Person.
Are you a part of this final regathering of lost Israelites returning to their heritage as the prophets Zechariah and Malachi (and many other biblical prophets, as well) prophesied would happen in the last days (Zech 8:23; Mal 4:1–6)?
What You Can Do
Are you the willing “victim” of some invisible hand that is guiding your heart and footsteps back to the ancient and original Hebraic roots of your Christian faith? For some unexplainable reason, are you beginning to take an interest in and to identify with the nation of Israel as well as to our Jewish brothers? If so, then you are a part of the final regathering that the Gospels refer to literally and prophetically as “multitudes from Galilee of the nations” that followed Yeshua. These are some of the same people about which John prophesies, who will come out of great tribulation in the last days in Revelation 7:9, 14.
With all of your heart, embrace the divine calling that YHVH has graciously and sovereignly tendered to you. Do not turn back form it! Ask Elohim what he would have you do to be part of his end-times spiritual program to help restore his people to their ancient spiritual heritage and their future destiny.
Yeshua Heals the Man With an Unclean Spirit in a Synagogue
Mark 1:21–28, 39, “And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, ‘Let us alone; what have we to do with you, Yeshua of Nazareth? Are you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Set-Apart One of Elohim.’ And Yeshua rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet, and come out of him.’ And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.’ And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout the entire region round about Galilee.…And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.”
Prophetic Points to Analyze
verse 21, Capernaum
verse 21, synagogue
verse 23, an unclean spirit
verse 28, region round about Galilee
verse 39, preaching in their synagogues…casting out demons
This is the sixth in a series of videos containing the subject matter of Nathan Lawrence’s upcoming new book entitled, “The Gospels Decoded—Prophetic Pictures of End Time Events”. In this book, we will discover who we are as a people and what the future holds for us as we look at Yeshua’s ministry and teachings through the lens of the third level of biblical interpretation. You have never heard anything like this before. This is not hyperbole. I invite you to check it out for yourself.
