From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Friday, July 11, 1997 2:33 AM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Rapture-Wedding-Sukkot
From: "Scott R. Ward"
To: <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: Rapture-Wedding-Sukkot
Shalom Eddie,
I would like to thank you for writing your book "The Seven Feasts of the
Messiah". I Have just finished teaching the Feasts in our Sunday school
class. I drew primarily from your book. I also had a Rabbi (a friend of
mine) come in and show the Pass Over seder to the class right before
Passover. We had one person in the class (besides myself) who wanted to
celebrate the Pass Over in their home.
From Eddie:
*************
I praise God that HE found fit to use me and my book in
a small way to be a blessing to you and your Sunday school class.
From Scott:
*************
I do have a question though. The Fall Feasts portray the Second Coming of
Christ. I noticed that you explained this from a pre-tribulation point of
view. You also pointed out that at Har Sinai that Israel was betrothed to
God. Therefore both Israel and the Gentile Church are the bride of Christ.
Now here is the question: if the Church (That is all believes Jew or
Gentile) is Raptured out of the world and Gods attention is turn to
recalling Israel to faith then this leaves the Jews (and surviving Gentiles
for that matter) who have turned to Christ during the Great Tribulation on
earth will the wedding of the Bride and the bridegroom is going on in
Heaven.
From Eddie:
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While I do believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, I don't
believe that ALL believers will be raptured prior to the tribulation.
I DO believe that ONLY the BRIDE will be raptured. I also believe
that EVEN THE BRIDE will live to see VERY DARK times on this earth
PRIOR to the tribulation period.
Let me share with you some scriptures regarding the
resurrection.
I Corinthians 15 deals with the subject of the
resurrection. In I Corinthians 15:20, 23, it is written:
"But, now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the FIRSTFRUITS
of them that slept ... But every man in his OWN ORDER, Christ the
firstfruits, AFTERWARD they that are Christ's at his coming".
In Matthew 13:38-39 it is written:
"The field is the world. The good seed are the children of the
kingdom .. the HARVEST is the END OF THE WORLD (AGE) and the reapers
are the angels"
In Mark 4:26, 28-29 it is written:
"And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed
into the ground ... for the earth bringeth forth FRUIT of herself,
FIRST the BLADE, THEN the EAR, AFTER THAN the FULL CORN in the ear.
But when the FRUIT is brought forth, immediately he puts in the SICKLE
because
the HARVEST is come".
In Joel 3:13-14 it is written:
"PUT IN THE SICKLE for the HARVEST is RIPE ... multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision"
In Revelation 14:14-16 it is written:
"And I looked, and behold a white cloud and upon the cloud one sat
like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown and in
his hand a SHARP SICKLE. And another angel cmae out of the temple,
crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in the
SICKLE and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the HARVEST
of the EARTH is RIPE. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in the
sickle on the earth and the earth was reaped"
In Matthew 25 it talks about five WISE virgins and five
FOOLISH virgins. Regarding the WISE virgins, it is written in Matthew
25:10:
"And while they went to buy (the FOOLISH virgins), the BRIDEGROOM
CAME and they that WERE READY WENT IN with him and the door was shut"
In Revelation 19:7, it is written:
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him, for the marriage
of the Lamb is come, and his wife had MADE HERSELF READY"
From these scriptures, I would like to present to you the
following thoughts:
#1) There is an ORDER to the resurrection of the dead. Christ being
the FIRSTFRUITS. The Biblical Festivals were AGRICULTURALLY
based, SPIRITUALLY, the HARVEST of the agriculture which is
centered around the FESTIVALS prophetically speaks of the HARVEST of
souls born into God's Kingdom.
#2) The harvest is FIRST the BLADE, then the EAR, then the FULL CORN
of the ear and WHEN the HARVEST is RIPE, the SICKLE gets put
in.
#3) The Bride of Messiah is WISE and is PREPARED for the wedding.
Therefore, she will be RESURRECTED FIRST.
I was always taught and the church teaches that the BRIDE is
the ENTIRE church (all those who have accepted Jesus as Messiah.
While I embrace that (all those who have accepted Jesus as Messiah)
will spend eternity in the presence of God for all eternity and will
be in the Olam Haba (World to Come), NOT all believers are the BRIDE.
It is a REMNANT of the church who is PREPARING and MAKING
HERSELF ready. Therefore, the BRIDE will be "ripe" to be "harvested"
FIRST.
The Bride is an OVERCOMER. In Revelation 2-3, promises are
made to the OVERCOMERS. You either are an overcomer or you are
overcome. The "foolish virgins" failed to "overcome" and let their
lamp and oil wane.
In Revelation 13:6-7 it is written:
"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his
name and his tabernacle and THOSE THAT DWELL IN HEAVEN (the Bride).
And it was given unto him to make WAR AGAINST THE SAINTS (the
believers on the earth ... who did not overcome and were foolish)
and to OVERCOME them: and power was given him over all kindreds and
tongues and nations"
So, WHO is the Bride of Christ? I have written a 476 page
book to answer this question. In the book, I give BIBLICAL SPIRITUAL
CHARACTERISTICS of the Bride of Christ. By having an understanding of
these characteristics, you will know who the Bride of Messiah is.
However, the Bride of Messiah will consiste of BOTH Jewish and
non-Jewish believer.
From Scott:
**************
The Sukkot occurs and the Church and Christ return to the renewed
Earth and celebrate the wedding feast . What of all these believing Jews
and Gentiles that have survived the Tribulation. They have been excluded
from the Wedding?
From Eddie:
**************
Scott, I believe that ONLY THE BRIDE will return with
Messiah at His second coming. She will then rule and reign WITH HIM
during the Messianic Age. Spiritually, the Bride is a PRIEST unto God
as we are told in (I Peter 2:5, 9)
It was the duty of the priests to teach the Torah. During
the Messianic Age, the Torah will be taught to all the nations (Is
2:2-23). In Luke 19:11-27, the FAITHFUL stewards were given rule OVER
CITIES (during the Messianic Age).
The non-Bridal believers will be resurrected at the end of
the Messianic age to receive their eternal rewards. As it says in the
book of (I Corinthians 15:23) ... everyone in THEIR ORDER.
From Scott:
**************
Keep up the Good work. As soon as my reading schedule clears up I would
like to get your new book the "Bride of Christ." I have also enjoyed
receive the NewsGroup e-mails. Thanks a lot.
I the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Scott Ward.
From Eddie:
***************
Scott, what I just mentioned above will make more sense and
become more clearer after you read the "Bride" book.
Eddie Chumney
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