This is the fifth 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.
Overview
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.
John the Baptist Coming in the Spirit of Elijah Prepared the Way for Yeshua
Matthew 3:2, John preached the message of, “Repent for the kingdom of Elohim is at hand.”
Matthew 3:7–12, John confronted the hypocritical religionists of his day and castigated them for their spiritual smugness, selfishness and pride. He then proclaimed that judgment was coming upon them for their lack of repentance and spiritual fruitlessness.
Matthew 3:11, 13–17, John’s mission was to prepare the way for the Messiah.
As John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah the prophet (Matt 11:14) to prepare the way for Yeshua’s first coming, so the prophet Malachi declared that YHVH would send the prophet Elijah (figuratively speaking) to this earth before the great and dreadful day of YHVH’s wrath, and that he would turn the hearts of the children back to the fathers (Mal 4:5–6). In partial fulfilment of this prophecy, the heavenly messenger proclaimed to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, that his son would be that Elijah (figuratively speaking) to which Malachi referred (Luke 1:17). Yeshua confirmed this angelic prediction (Matt 11:14; 17:12). However John didn’t fulfil the every aspect of Malachi’s prophecy. Malachi’s prophecy was dual in nature, for it also contained elements that referred to Yeshua’s second coming.
What would be the mission of that future “Elijah,” or the one who would come in the spirit of Elijah in the end times? Malachi prophesied that “Elijah” would bring the law or Torah of Moses back to the remembrance of the people of Israel, who had in one way or the other forgotten it. Most Israelites of the Northern Kingdom had forgotten the law when they split off from the Southern Kingdom in the time of King Rehoboam. Others had forgotten it later on when they went into captivity and assimilated with Gentile cultures. Still later on, many Jews and later early Christians from the second century onward had forgotten YHVH’s Torah-law when they began adding layer upon layer of man’s religious traditions over the top of YHVH’s simple instructions in righteousness, so that these laws eventually became voided or were functionally made of none effect (Matt 15:6; Mark 7:6–9). Still other religionists developed cunning and humanistic rationales and, disguising them behind philosophical theologies, the mind of man was in essence exalted over the clear and direct revelation of YHVH thus obscuring the Creator’s Torah-Truth. Eventually Christian theologians came along and cloaked their complex and clever anti-Torah theologies in terms that the unlearned and common man could understand and then brainwashed their unwitting and naive Christian disciples into regurgitating such phrases as “nailed to the cross,” “done away with,” “fulfilled in Christ,” “not under the law,” “for the Jews only,” “Judaizing” and “legalistic” such that these terms become the lingo of the laity to explain away the Torah of Elohim.
The effect was still the same: religious men forgot the Torah of Elohim, which is why YHVH, through the prophet Malachi, told his people to “remember the Torah of Moses my servant…” because they had obviously forgotten it (Mal 4:4, emphasis added). This is also why the sovereign Creator insured that the Book of Malachi would be the last book in the Christian Bible’s Old Testament (by comparison, 2 Chronicles is the last book in the Jewish Bible). You see, the last verses in this book as well as the entire the Old Testament (or Tanakh) speak prophetically to the Christian church, which has forgotten the Torah YHVH gave to Moses. This prophecy is both a plea and a warning for Christians to return to the Torah. This prophecy of Malachi also dogmatically states that in the last days before the great and terrible day of Elohim’s wrath just prior to the second coming of the Messiah, there will be those Christians who will remember the Torah and will turn back to the Hebrew roots of their faith (Mal 4:4–6 cp. Rev 12;14; 14:7).
Amazingly, according to Malachi, all of this would begin to occur before the great and terrible day of Elohim’s wrath. Eventually, all those so-called Bible believers who refuse to accept YHVH’s Torah-law will be burned up like stubble and become ashes under the feet of the righteous. This will occur during the time period when King Yeshua will have been ruling over the earth as the Sun of Righteousness with healing (or salvation) in his wings (Mal 4:1–3). Since this prophecy was not totally fulfilled with John the Baptist at Yeshua’s first advent, there obviously is a future aspect to it that is yet to be fulfilled that pertains to the second coming of Yeshua.
While there very well could be a literal Elijah or John the Baptist-type individual who will arise on the earth in the last days (perhaps the two witnesses of Rev 11) to “cry aloud and spare not” and who will be a “voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way” for the Messiah and urging the saints to make their spiritual paths straight (Matt 3:3), as John did for Yeshua, there will doubtless be a company of individuals who will come in the spirit of Elijah and John, who will fulfil this mission as prophesied by Malachi.
The Book of Revelation reveals some distinctive characteristics about the end time saints—those who will be on the earth just prior to the second coming of the Messiah, and who will likely help to fulfil that Elijah and John the Baptist mission. Of these future saints, the Word of Elohim reveals that they will have not forsaken the commandments or Torah of YHVH and, at the same time, they will have the faith or testimony of Yeshua (Rev 12:17; 14:12).
We believe that these end time Torah-keeping and Yeshua-loving saints will be those who will come in the spirit of Elijah and will help to prepare the way for the return of the Messiah by turning the hearts of the children (Christians) back to the fathers of their faith (i.e., their Jewish apostolic fathers, who established the Messianic faith as modelled in the Book of Acts; cp. Mal 4:4–6). These spiritual forerunners will help YHVH’s people to restore the ancient paths of Torah-based obedience and worship.
Additionally, they will continue the mission of the apostles to preach the message of repentance (Acts 2:38; from sinning, i.e., breaking YHVH’s Torah-commandments, see 1 John 3:4), and the restoration of the kingdom of Elohim or heaven (Matt 10:7), which involves the regathering of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, which Yeshua came to do, and commanded his disciples to do as well (Matt 15:24; 10:6).
The message of the kingdom of Elohim (an aspect of the gospel message that the Christian church has largely ignored) was on the forefront of the disciples’ minds, based on their final question to Yeshua in Acts 1:6 before his ascension. As we shall see later, the disciples’ question in Acts chapter one about the “restoration of the kingdom of Israel” (an aspect of the kingdom of Elohim) is a reference to the return of the lost Israelites to the land of Israel, who until then had been lost among the Gentiles. The term Gentilescan sometimes be a reference in the Scriptures to the lost or exiled Israelites. The restoration of the kingdom also involves Israel’s return to the Torah and to a covenantal relationship with YHVH (see Eph 2:11–12), which they had forsaken and from which they had become alienated. This resulted in their being dispersed and exiled among the nations of the world (i.e., becoming part of physical and spiritual Babylon). That is why YHVH in the Book of Revelation admonishes his people to “come out” of the spiritual Babylonian religious systems where they have been held as spiritual captives (Rev 18:4, 13).
The preaching of the message of repentance, coming out of Babylon, and the restoration of the kingdom of Israel is a precursor to Yeshua’s return to rule as Messiah Son of David over the nation of Israel—a nation comprised of both the houses of Judah and of Ephraim (Ezek 37:15–28). Luke refers to this as the restitution (or restoration) of all things that must occur before Yeshua can return to the earth from heaven (Acts 3:19–21). In the last days, those who come in the spirit of Elijah the prophet are those who understand these things, and who are helping to fulfil these prophecies.
What You Can Do
Has YHVH called you to be a modern-day John the Baptist or Elijah to help prepare the way for Yeshua the Messiah before that great and terrible day of YHVH’s wrath that will burn like a fire? Through Bible study, prayer and fasting, YHVH will divinely reveal to his saints how they can be part of this great spiritual company and what they can do to support each other in this divine end times mission.
The Young Yeshua Speaks With the Jewish Leaders in the Temple
Luke 2:41–49, “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Yeshua tarried behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the [Torah] teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed and his mother said unto him, ‘Son, why have you thus dealt with us? Behold, your father and I have sought you sorrowing.’ And he said unto them, ‘How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?’”
Prophetic Points to Analyze
Revelation 3:9, Worship/bow down before your feet. This scripture has puzzled many. Who are these saints before which those who are of the synagogue of Satan will at some time in the future bow down in worship? Who are those who are of the synagogue of Satan? First, the saints are wearing crowns (verse 11) and they have the name of Elohim written upon them (verse 12). We know that a group of saints will be ruling with Yeshua in his millennial kingdom (Rev 1:6; 5:10). These same saints will be part of the first resurrection (Rev 20:6), which occurs at Yeshua’s second coming. Not all saints will be kings and priests. There are levels of rewards (and responsibilities) in YHVH’s kingdom depending on how obedient one has been to his Torah-commandments. This Yeshua teaches in Matthew 5:19. Some saints will be the least in his eternal kingdom, while some will be the greatest depending on their level of Torah-obedience. Similarly, Yeshua identifies two groups of saints in his Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1–13)—the wise saints and the foolish saints. The wise virgins will go into the wedding supper of Yeshua, and presumably will become his bride, while the foolish ones will be left outside. In Revelation chapter three, Yeshua further identifies two groups of believers: those who are spiritually lukewarm and those who are spiritually hot (Rev 3:14–22). It is not a stretch to connect those who are spiritually on fire in Laodicea with those in Philadelphia who have been faithful to his commands, who will be given a crown and who will be worshipped.
Can we further identify these faithful saints who will be worshipped (or before whom the knees of lower order saints will bend, which is the actual meaning in the Greek of the word worship) in Yeshua’s kingdom? They have crowns and are thus ruling as kings and have the name of Elohim written on them. Similarly, the 144 thousand have the seal of YHVH’s name on them (Rev 7:3–4 and 14:1), and they keep his Torah commandments and have the testimony or faith of Yeshua (Rev 14:12). These are the likely candidates for being those Yeshua describes in Matthew 5:19 who will be the greatest in the kingdom of Elohim, and who others will worship (Rev 3:9).
Why would people be worshipping (or bending the knee before) these glorified, resurrected and kingly saints? There are several possible explanations here for this. First, the bride of Yeshua will be ruling and reigning with Yeshua as a queen (in ancient Jewish thought) or like a king (under Yeshua, who is the King of kings as the Book of Revelation tells us in Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). Second, Paul teaches us that those saints who will be resurrected will be literally adopted (Rom 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal 4:5; Eph 1:5) into the family of Elohim as sons or children of YHVH Elohim.
Moreover, in Galatians, Paul speaks of redeemed believers being both Abraham’s seed and being adopted as sons of Elohim (Gal 3:29; 4:5). Elsewhere where the term adoption is used in the Testimony of Yeshua, it is in reference to our relationship with our Heavenly Father, not with our earthly father, Abraham. The redeemed are, therefore, sons or the seed or offspring of Abraham, yet adopted into the family of Elohim as spiritual children (Rom 8:15, 23; Eph 1:5). In other words, the saints are literal the sons or the seed (physically) of Abraham, yet adopted sons (spiritually) of YHVH. This adoption will be finalized or completed at the resurrection when the saints receive their spiritual bodies (Rom 8:23), for then they will be like him for they shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
Elohim is a plural word in Hebrew and can mean many things, and has many usages in the Scriptures. It is used to refer to the Creator, YHVH Elohim, as well as to angels, kings, judges and humans in authoritative capacities. When the saints are resurrected, they will be as Elohim and will be part of the family of Elohim, though they will not be Elohim, who has existed forever and is the Creator of all things. It appears that these saints will be worshipped, not as YHVH Elohim, but as his created sons who have been elevated through the process of redemption, sanctification, glorification and adoption into members of the family of Elohim.
Revelation 3:14, The church at Laodicea.
Laodicean Church: Awaken!
Will you pass the test and make the grade?
Life is a series of tests. We either pass or fail them. YHVH is the school teacher who determines whether we will pass or fail, not us. His Word is our text book that tells us how to pass. If we learn the lessons and put to practice the things we have learned, we will pass. If not, we will fail.
The problem is that we’re not just in a regular school classroom where if we fail, it’s really not a big deal in the bigger scope of life. No. Our “classroom” is this life. Whether we pass or fail will determine not only whether we will obtain eternal life or eternal damnation, but if we pass, the grade we get will determine our level of rewards in YHVH’s eternal kingdom. As should be obvious, there are a couple of important things going on here: there is not only the issue of life after death, but if we pass the test of life and are granted eternal life, where will we be, what will we be doing and, most importantly, how close will we be to the Creator. Some people will be existing in close proximity to YHVH Elohim, while others will be living further away.
When YHVH calls us with his holy calling and we respond, we have a choice. The choice we make will determine whether we will be the least or the greatest in his kingdom (Matt 5:19). If we choose to obey him a little, we will be least in his kingdom. If we choose to obey him all the way, we will be the greatest in his kingdom. Our level of obedience to his commandments determines our level of rewards in his kingdom.
If we give him our all by loving Elohim with all our heart, soul and strength like virtuous Ruth did when she chose to forsake the world and follow Naomi and her Elohim, we can become the bride of Yeshua and live forever in his eternal kingdom. Ruth is a prophetic picture of Yeshua’s bride. The heart-attitude of the bride is: your people will be my people, your Elohim will be mine, and where you go, I will go (Ruth 1:16).
Continue reading
This is the fourth 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.
This is the second 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.