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Does the Bible forbid Christians from wearing jewelry? There are Christians and even entire denominations that have treated jewelry as something inherently sinful, sometimes making abstinence from jewelry a mark of holiness or obedience to God. But when we examine what the Bible actually says, rather than beginning with a denominational tradition or personal conviction, a very different picture emerges. Scripture certainly warns believers about vanity, pride, materialism, immodesty, and becoming preoccupied with outward appearance. It also contains examples in which jewelry becomes associated with idolatry and false worship. But none of that means jewelry itself is sinful. In fact, throughout the Bible we repeatedly find jewelry used in perfectly acceptable and even strongly positive ways. There is also a larger biblical problem with the idea that jewelry somehow became sinful for Christians. Under the Old Covenant, Israel was given roughly 613 commandments in the Mosaic Law, covering an enormous range of religious, moral, civil, ceremonial, and everyday matters. Yet nowhere in that entire body of law did God prohibit the wearing of jewelry. In fact, as we will see, the Old Testament repeatedly presents jewelry in perfectly acceptable and sometimes strongly positive ways. So we would have to believe that something God never prohibited under the much more detailed legal system of the Old Covenant somehow became morally wrong when we arrive at the New Testament. That simply does not make sense. If God intended to introduce an entirely new moral prohibition for the Church, we should expect scripture to state it clearly, not require us to create that prohibition by taking a couple of passages about modesty and inward godliness beyond what they actually say. Before looking at those passages themselves, an important distinction needs to be made. If someone has a personal conviction against wearing jewelry, there is nothing wrong with following that conviction. Nobody should feel pressured to wear something that violates his or her conscience. The problem comes when a personal conviction is turned into a commandment for everyone else. If scripture does not call something a sin, we need to be extremely careful about declaring it sinful in God's name. We should not impose our own convictions on other believers and then present them as though they are commandments from God. So the real question is not whether jewelry can be misused. Obviously, it can. Almost any material possession can become a source of pride, vanity, obsession, or idolatry if it is allowed to occupy the wrong place in a person's heart. The question is whether the Bible teaches that the act of wearing jewelry is inherently sinful or forbidden for Christians. To answer that properly, we need to look carefully at the two New Testament passages most commonly used to make that claim, and then compare them with the broader testimony of scripture. When we do that, the biblical picture becomes very clear. The Meaning of 1 Peter 3:3-4 One of the primary passages used to argue against jewelry is 1 Peter 3:3-4. The immediate context is important because Peter is specifically addressing Christian wives and discussing their behavior within marriage. He writes: Do not let your adornment be merely outward, arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel, rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. -1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV) At first glance, someone might read the reference to “wearing gold” and conclude that Peter is prohibiting jewelry. But that interpretation misses the contrast Peter is making. His subject is not the absolute prohibition of outward adornment. His subject is the greater importance of inward character. He contrasts outward adornment with “the hidden person of the heart.” His concern is that a godly woman should not place her primary emphasis on external beauty while neglecting the far more important beauty of a godly character. This is obvious in the word “merely” – do not merely adorn yourselves outwardly. That wording itself assumes one will adorn themselves outwardly, but cautions that the true godly wife will continue beyond that into the true and more important adornments of the spirit. Notice also that jewelry is not the only thing Peter mentions. He includes arranging the hair, wearing gold, and putting on fine clothing. If the passage is interpreted as an absolute prohibition against jewelry, then consistency would require us to interpret it as an absolute prohibition against fixing one's hair and wearing nice clothing as well. Yet that is obviously not Peter's point. He is not giving Christian women a list of three sinful activities. He is telling them where their priorities should be. The principle is straightforward. Do not become so preoccupied with the outward person that you neglect the inward person. External appearance has temporary value, but godly character has eternal value. There is nothing wrong with grooming yourself, dressing well, or wearing jewelry, but those things should never become the source of your identity or an object of obsession. Pride and vanity can turn almost anything into an idol. Money can become an idol. Food can become an idol. Sports, entertainment, careers, possessions, and even physical fitness can become idols. That does not make the objects themselves inherently sinful. The problem is what happens in the human heart. This same basic principle appears elsewhere in scripture. Jesus repeatedly emphasized that true moral defilement comes from within. The outward person cannot substitute for inward righteousness. Someone can appear extremely religious on the outside and still be filled with pride, hatred, jealousy, bitterness, or selfishness. Peter is directing Christian women away from an excessive emphasis on external appearance and toward the character that God considers truly beautiful. The verses immediately following this statement make Peter's meaning even clearer. He continues: For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. -1 Peter 3:5-6 (NKJV) Peter points Christian wives back to the godly women of the Old Testament as examples. He refers generally to the “holy women who trusted in God” and specifically mentions Sarah. This becomes very important because the women of the patriarchal period unquestionably wore jewelry (as we will note shortly). If Peter had just declared jewelry sinful, it would make little sense for him immediately afterward to present Old Testament women who wore jewelry as examples of godliness. Rebekah and the Jewelry Given by Abraham’s Servant Genesis 24 provides one of the clearest examples of the godly women of the Old Testament wearing jewelry. Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, the son through whom God’s covenant promises would continue. God providentially led the servant to Rebekah. When the servant later described what had happened, he said: “But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also. Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. And I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.” Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.” And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. -Genesis 24:45-53 (NKJV) The entire account is presented positively. Abraham’s servant puts a nose ring on Rebekah and bracelets on her wrists. He later gives her jewelry of silver and gold. He then worships God and acknowledges that the Lord has providentially directed the entire situation. Rebekah goes on to become Isaac’s wife and the mother of Jacob, who becomes the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Rebekah was exactly the kind of godly woman from former times to whom Peter directs the attention of Christian wives. Yet she wore jewelry, and the jewelry she received was associated with God’s providential arrangement of her marriage to Isaac. If jewelry were inherently sinful, this passage would be extremely difficult to explain. It makes far more sense to recognize that Peter was never prohibiting jewelry in the first place. He was warning against making outward beauty more important than inward godliness. What Paul Means in 1 Timothy 2 The other major New Testament passage used against jewelry is 1 Timothy 2:8-10. Once again, context is essential. First Timothy is a pastoral epistle in which Paul gives Timothy instructions concerning conduct within the Church. In this section, Paul discusses prayer and the appropriate behavior of men and women in the setting of congregational worship. He writes: I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. -1 Timothy 2:8-10 (NKJV) This passage closely resembles Peter’s teaching in 1 Peter 3. Once again, the contrast is between excessive attention to outward appearance and the greater importance of godliness. Paul specifically uses words such as “modest,” “propriety,” and “moderation.” Those words tell us what his concern is. He is not inventing a new ban on jewelry. He is warning against extravagance, showiness, and the deliberate use of outward appearance to draw attention to oneself. A church gathering should not become a fashion competition. Christians come together to worship God, not to display wealth or social status. This would have been especially important in first century congregations containing believers from very different economic backgrounds. Some Christians were wealthy while others had very little. A wealthy woman who deliberately arrived wearing an extravagant hairstyle, expensive gold, pearls, and costly clothing could easily turn a gathering of believers into an opportunity to flaunt her social position. Instead of contributing to unity, she could create jealousy, division, or distraction. Paul therefore calls for moderation. Look respectable and appropriate, but do not make yourself the center of attention. Do not make worship about your clothing, jewelry, hairstyle, or wealth. The focus belongs on God. There is also an important clue in the way Paul constructs the contrast itself. He begins with actual outward adornment, things that can literally be worn, such as clothing, braided hair, gold, and pearls. But then he contrasts those things with “good works.” Obviously, good works are not literal clothing. A woman cannot physically walk outside wearing good works instead of a dress. Paul has moved from literal outward adornment to figurative spiritual adornment. His point is that what should truly adorn a woman who professes godliness is the character of her life and the good works that flow from it. That becomes a serious problem for anyone who tries to read the first half of the contrast as an absolute prohibition. If “not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but ... with good works” means that the physical items are completely forbidden, then the alternative Paul gives would have to function as their literal replacement. But that is obviously impossible. Nobody can substitute good works for actual clothing. The contrast itself therefore shows that Paul is speaking about what should define and characterize a godly woman. Her most important adornment should not be the expensive things she wears outwardly (and he says there should be moderation within the context of public worship so as to avoid becoming a distraction). Instead, the higher goal is the godliness and good works that are visible in her life. This is really the same point Peter makes when he contrasts outward adornment with “the hidden person of the heart.” Neither writer is saying that outward appearance has to disappear. They are saying that outward appearance must not become the primary preoccupation. The spiritual must take priority over the physical. The meaning becomes even more obvious when all of Paul’s examples are considered together. He does not merely mention gold. He mentions braided hair, gold, pearls, and costly clothing. If his language constitutes an absolute prohibition, then a Christian woman cannot braid her hair either, nor could she ever wear costly clothing. Very few people who use this passage against jewelry are willing to apply the same reasoning consistently to every item Paul names. And such rules would be practically impossible to legislate in the life of a believer. What constitutes costly? Who makes those rules? What is costly to one person may be very affordable to another person. If a pastor gets to decide, should he ask for a copy of each person’s tax returns in order to determine each article of clothing a person is allowed to wear in order to maintain their holiness? This is where overly literal rule-making can become absurd. For instance, some have treated a particular type of braid as sinful while allowing another hairstyle that technically avoids the exact form of braiding mentioned. Maybe a three-stranded braid is sinful but a two-stranded twist is perfectly fine. But that completely misses what Paul is talking about. A person can avoid jewelry and still spend hours creating an elaborate hairstyle designed to attract attention. Someone can refuse to wear gold around her neck while wearing extremely expensive designer clothing for exactly the same reason another person might wear expensive jewelry. The outward rule has been kept while the inward problem remains untouched. That kind of thinking is very similar to the problem Jesus repeatedly exposed among the Pharisees. They could become so focused on the outward regulation that they completely missed the original spiritual purpose behind God’s commandments. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus showed that someone might technically avoid the outward act of murder while harboring hatred in the heart. The deeper moral issue had been missed. God’s concern was never merely about checking a box saying, “I did not physically murder anyone.” The inward attitude was what truly mattered. The same principle applies here. A person may boast that she does not wear jewelry while being consumed with pride over her hairstyle, clothing, reputation, or perceived spiritual superiority. Nothing has been accomplished spiritually. The outward expression has simply changed. The real purpose of Paul’s teaching is humility, moderation, godliness, and proper priorities. What should truly adorn the Christian woman is not the display of wealth or outward extravagance, but a life that visibly reflects godliness through good works. This in no way places an absolute ban on jewelry. A Common Biblical Way of Making a Comparison There is another reason we know Peter and Paul are not absolutely prohibiting the things they mention. Scripture commonly uses a form of comparison in which a lesser thing is placed against a greater thing in order to emphasize which deserves priority. The language can sound absolute when isolated, but the broader context shows that the lesser thing is not actually forbidden. Jesus provides a good example in John 6:27: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” If we applied the same kind of rigid interpretation sometimes applied to 1 Peter and 1 Timothy, we would have to conclude that Jesus commanded Christians not to work for physical food. But that cannot be His meaning. Paul explicitly teaches the importance of working to provide for physical needs. Second Thessalonians 3:10 says: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” Thus, Jesus was obviously not outlawing work for physical food. He was comparing physical food with something far more important. Physical food sustains temporary life, while spiritual life has eternal consequences. His point is one of priority. The construction in Peter's teaching is similar. Do not make outward adornment the thing that defines you. Make inward godliness your greater concern. That does not mean every form of outward adornment is forbidden. Paul is doing essentially the same thing in 1 Timothy. He points women away from extravagant outward displays and toward good works and godly character. The greater thing must not be sacrificed for the lesser. In the first-century Roman world, elaborate hairstyles could become obvious displays of wealth and status. Women could braid, twist, and pile their hair into elaborate arrangements, sometimes incorporating gold, jewels, and decorative ornaments. The overall presentation could become a public advertisement of wealth. Paul's command makes perfect sense against that background. A Christian worship service was not the proper place to turn social status into a spectacle. That does not mean Christians should purposely make themselves look neglected or unattractive. There is nothing spiritual about looking as though personal hygiene and basic grooming no longer matter. Christians should carry themselves respectably. There is a difference between looking attractive and respectable, however, and deliberately trying to draw everyone’s attention through extravagant display. Paul’s concern is the latter. The Bible’s Broader Treatment of Jewelry The strongest way to settle this question is to move beyond the two disputed New Testament passages and ask how the Bible treats jewelry as a whole. When we do that, we find jewelry presented in positive, neutral, and negative settings. That fact by itself tells us that jewelry is not inherently sinful. Jewelry in scripture can represent beauty, honor, wealth, authority, love, celebration, or blessing. It can also become connected with pride, materialism, idolatry, or false worship. The difference is not in the physical material. The difference is in how people use it and what place it occupies in their hearts. The same principle applies to many other things. Money can be used to help the poor or to finance wickedness. Food is necessary for life, but gluttony is sinful. Possessions can be received gratefully or turned into idols. Something does not become inherently evil simply because human beings can misuse it. The Bible’s positive examples of jewelry are especially important because they directly contradict the claim that wearing jewelry is sinful in itself. The High Priest’s Garments One obvious example appears in the garments God commanded to be made for Israel’s high priest. Exodus 28 and Exodus 39 describe the ephod and breastplate, which included gold, fine materials, and precious stones. Twelve gemstones were incorporated into the high priest’s breastplate, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. These were not secular garments created by pagan people. They were sacred garments used in Israel's worship according to God's own instructions. Gold and precious stones were deliberately incorporated into something God Himself designed for holy service. That does not mean Christians should attempt to copy the high priest’s garments. It simply demonstrates that gold and gemstones cannot be inherently sinful materials, even when worn for adornment. God Himself used them as part of something holy. Israel Took Gold and Silver from Egypt When Israel was preparing to leave Egypt, God specifically instructed the Israelites to receive articles of silver, gold, and clothing from the Egyptians. Exodus 3:21-22 says: And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians. -Exodus 3:21-22 (NKJV) Notice that the passage specifically says these things would be put on their sons and daughters. It does not just say that Israel would possess precious metals for some future construction project. The people themselves were expected to wear these adornments and clothing. There are larger theological reasons for Israel receiving the wealth of Egypt, and much of that material would later be useful in constructing the tabernacle and its furnishings. Nevertheless, the passage itself speaks positively of Israelites actually wearing these adorning articles. It therefore cannot be maintained that wearing gold or jewelry is inherently sinful. Jewelry as a Picture of Wisdom Proverbs also uses jewelry positively. Proverbs 1:8-9 says: My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. -Proverbs 1:8-9 This proverb uses jewelry as a picture of wisdom and instruction. That is obviously a positive comparison. It also assumes that ornaments and chains were normal things people wore in that culture. The jewelry itself is not presented as sinful. Instead, something valuable and desirable is being compared to it. The same thing happens again in Proverbs 25:11-12: A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. As an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear. -Proverbs 25:11-12 (MEV) Once again, gold jewelry is used as a positive comparison. A wise correction given to someone willing to receive it is compared to a gold earring and an ornament of fine gold. That would be a very strange illustration if gold jewelry were understood as something inherently sinful or negative. Proverbs also helps us understand the references to expensive clothing in 1 Peter and 1 Timothy. Proverbs 31 describes the famous “virtuous wife,” and part of that description includes the fact that her family possesses fine clothing: For all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. -Proverbs 31:21b-22 Scarlet and purple fabrics were costly in the ancient world because of the difficulty involved in producing those dyes. Fine linen was also a luxury material. Yet scripture describes these things positively in connection with a virtuous woman. So if we interpret Paul's reference to “costly clothing” as an absolute prohibition against owning or wearing expensive clothing, we immediately create a problem with other passages of scripture. The issue is not whether something is expensive. The issue is what place it occupies in your life and what you are trying to accomplish by wearing it. Nice clothing can be enjoyed without becoming an idol. Jewelry can be worn without becoming an expression of vanity or pride. The biblical concern is always that outward things remain in their proper place. Jewelry and the Adornment of a Bride Another important biblical theme is the adornment of a bride. Throughout the Bible, brides are pictured as wearing ornaments, precious metals, and jewelry. This is never treated as something shameful. Instead, bridal adornment is regularly associated with beauty, joy, love, and celebration. The Song of Solomon gives us one example. The man speaks to the woman he loves and says: Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, Your neck with chains of gold. We will make you ornaments of gold with studs of silver. -Song of Solomon 1:10-11 (NKJV) There is nothing negative in this passage. Gold and silver jewelry are part of the woman’s beauty and adornment, and the language is entirely positive. Isaiah uses the same familiar image when describing the future restoration of Israel. God says: Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth. -Isaiah 49:18 The imagery assumes something everyone in the Old Testament Israelite culture understood: a bride adorned herself with beautiful ornaments. God actually uses that picture to describe the glorious future restoration of Israel. If the wearing of jewelry were inherently sinful, it would be very difficult to explain why God would use bridal adornment as a positive picture of His own work of restoration. Ezekiel 16 Shows the Real Issue One of the strongest examples in the Bible appears in Ezekiel 16. In this chapter, God uses the imagery of a young woman whom He cared for, clothed, adorned, and raised to beauty and prominence. The woman represents Jerusalem and, more broadly, God's covenant relationship with Israel. God says: “Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord God. “But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it. You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them. Such things should not happen, nor be. You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them. -Ezekiel 16:9-17 (NKJV) This passage brings this whole issue into focus. God Himself says that He gave Israel the gold, silver, bracelets, necklace, nose jewel, earrings, crown, fine linen, silk, and other beautiful things. The problem did not begin with the jewelry. The problem began when Israel trusted in her own beauty. That is exactly the spiritual danger Peter and Paul warn about in the New Testament. Outward beauty became the focus. Pride took over. The gifts God had given Israel were then corrupted and used in idolatry. Notice what God says: “your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you.” The jewelry itself was a gift from God in the metaphor. Again, the sin occurred when Israel misused those gifts and turned them toward false worship. This also helps explain why jewelry sometimes appears negatively elsewhere in the Bible. In ancient cultures, jewelry could sometimes have a specifically religious purpose. People wore amulets and charms containing images or symbols connected with false gods. Such objects could become part of pagan worship, superstition, or an attempt to receive supernatural protection. In those situations, the spiritual problem is obvious. The sin is not simply that something is hanging around a person’s neck or sitting on a person’s wrist. The problem is idolatry. Someone begins trusting in an object, worshiping a false god associated with it, or using it in religious practices opposed to the true God. Ezekiel 16 therefore gives us both sides of the issue in one passage. Jewelry can be a beautiful gift, and that same jewelry can later be corrupted through pride and idolatry. The object did not change. The heart of the person using it changed. Jesus Used a Pearl as a Picture of the Kingdom Positive references to precious ornaments are not limited to the Old Testament. Jesus Himself used a pearl as an illustration of the kingdom of heaven: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. -Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV) The point of the parable is obviously not to teach about jewelry, but the illustration is still significant. Jesus takes something considered beautiful and extremely valuable and uses it positively in a comparison with the kingdom of heaven. That would be difficult to explain if precious adornments carried some inherent moral impurity. To the contrary, Jesus has no problem using a beautiful pearl as the central object in His illustration. Rings also appear positively in biblical imagery. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, for example, the father gives the returning son a ring as part of his restoration to the family. Rings could represent honor, authority, status, acceptance, and commitment. Once again, the object itself is not condemned. Did Jewelry Somehow Become Sinful in the New Testament? At this point, someone might acknowledge that the Old Testament contains many positive references to jewelry but argue that the situation somehow changed with the establishment of the Church. According to that reasoning, jewelry might have been acceptable under the Old Covenant but became sinful for Christians. That argument actually reverses the biblical direction of things. Under the Mosaic Covenant, Israel lived under an enormous body of law regulating religious, civil, ceremonial, and moral life. Yet nowhere in all of those laws did God issue a general prohibition against jewelry. Israelite men and women could wear ornaments, and as we have already seen, God sometimes approved of, or even explicitly instructed their use. Then we come to the New Testament, where Christians are no longer placed under the Mosaic legal system. The Church was not given a new extensive collection of laws regulating every outward detail of life. Instead, believers are called to live under grace through the inward work of the Holy Spirit. Of course, timeless moral commands still carry over into the New Testament, but jewelry cannot fall into that category because it was never prohibited in the first place. To argue that jewelry suddenly became sinful for Christians would therefore require us to believe that a completely new prohibition was introduced specifically for the Church. But scripture never states any such command. In fact, when Jesus spoke of a new commandment for His followers, He summed it up in one central principle: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. -John 13:34-35 (ESV) The New Testament certainly contains moral commands for Christians, but there is no new commandment declaring jewelry sinful. Paul actually spends a great deal of time explaining Christian liberty and freedom from the bondage of the Mosaic Law, particularly in Galatians. That freedom is never meant to become an excuse for sin, selfishness, or harming other believers, but neither are Christians supposed to create new laws that God never gave. It therefore makes little sense to argue that something which was not inherently sinful before the Mosaic Law, was not prohibited anywhere within Israel's extensive Mosaic Law, and was repeatedly used positively throughout the Old Testament (and even in the New) suddenly became sinful when the Church began. If God intended to introduce such a new prohibition, we would expect scripture to say so clearly. It never does. Instead, the same principles continue. Christians are warned about pride, materialism, vanity, showing off wealth, and allowing outward appearance to become more important than inward godliness. Those are the sins being addressed. Bridal Adornment Continues in Revelation The New Testament even continues the Old Testament imagery of an adorned bride. Revelation 21 describes the New Jerusalem using exactly this kind of language: And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. -Revelation 21:2 (ESV) The chapter later describes the city in terms of gold and precious stones. The bridal imagery has not disappeared. John expects his readers to understand what an adorned bride looks like, assumes it is the standard and perfectly acceptable cultural norm of his day, and he uses that familiar image to describe the holy New Jerusalem. This is especially significant because the New Jerusalem represents holiness at its highest level. Nothing sinful enters it. Yet John has no problem describing it as a beautifully adorned bride and then associating that beauty with gold and precious stones. The basic imagery therefore is exactly the same as what we saw throughout the Old Testament. Nothing suddenly changed when the Church began that transformed jewelry itself into something sinful. The Biblical Conclusion When all of the biblical evidence is put together, the conclusion is straightforward. Jewelry, like money, clothing, food, possessions, and countless other things, is not inherently sinful. The Bible never gives Christians a blanket prohibition against wearing it. What scripture does condemn is pride, vanity, materialism, idolatry, immodesty, and becoming so preoccupied with outward appearance that inward godliness is neglected. A person can misuse jewelry in all of those ways. Someone can become obsessed with expensive possessions, use jewelry to flaunt wealth, base personal worth on outward appearance, or even use particular objects as part of false religious practices. All of those things can become sinful. But none of them makes the physical object itself a sin. This is why the two New Testament passages in 1 Peter 3 and 1 Timothy 2 need to be read according to their actual purpose. Peter is telling Christian wives that the beauty God values most is the beauty of the inward person. Paul is telling Christian women to exercise modesty and moderation rather than turning outward appearance into a display of wealth, status, or self-promotion. In 1 Timothy, Paul even contrasts literal outward adornment with the figurative adornment of “good works,” making it clear that his concern is what should truly characterize a godly woman. Neither passage creates a universal prohibition against jewelry. The rest of the Bible confirms that interpretation. Rebekah wore jewelry. God instructed Israelites leaving Egypt to place articles of gold and silver on their sons and daughters. The high priest's sacred garments contained gold and precious stones. Proverbs uses jewelry as a positive symbol of wisdom. Scripture celebrates the adornment of a bride with gold and silver. God Himself describes giving Israel bracelets, earrings, a necklace, a nose jewel, gold, and silver. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a pearl of great price. Revelation describes the holy New Jerusalem as an adorned bride and surrounds that description with imagery of gold and precious stones. And this conclusion also fits the larger biblical picture. Under the Old Covenant, Israel was given roughly 613 commandments in the Mosaic Law, regulating an enormous range of religious, moral, civil, ceremonial, and everyday matters. Yet nowhere in that detailed body of law did God prohibit the wearing of jewelry. It therefore makes little sense to argue that something God never treated as inherently immoral under the Old Covenant somehow became a new moral offense for the Church, especially when the New Testament never plainly says that Christians must not wear jewelry. If such a major new prohibition had been introduced, we should expect scripture to state it clearly. Instead, what we find from one Testament to the other is a consistent warning against pride, vanity, idolatry, materialism, and placing outward appearance above inward godliness. Ezekiel 16 captures that issue especially well when God says, “you trusted in your own beauty.” That is where the real problem begins. The problem is not gold, silver, pearls, gemstones, clothing, or hairstyles. The problem is the human heart when these things become sources of pride, identity, obsession, status, or idolatry. Ultimately, whether a Christian chooses to wear jewelry is a personal decision. It should be approached with the same biblical wisdom that applies to other outward things. Christians should consider modesty, propriety, their representation of Christ, their influence on others, and whether material things are occupying a place in their hearts that belongs to God. Someone who has a personal conviction against jewelry is perfectly free not to wear it. But that conviction should not be turned into a commandment for every Christian or used as a measure of someone else’s salvation or holiness. We should not call something sinful when God has not called it sinful. The consistent biblical emphasis is not the elimination of outward beauty. It is the proper prioritization of inward beauty.

What is Biblical Typology? Within the subject of Bible prophecy, the area of typology involves the study of how God used real people, events, objects, and institutions in earlier Scripture to establish patterns that point forward to greater realities revealed later in His plan. The earlier pattern is called the type, while its later and fuller fulfillment is commonly called the antitype. A biblical type is not just an interesting similarity or an illustration created by the reader. It is a historical reality that God Himself designed and Scripture itself develops to point beyond itself, most often to Christ, His saving work, or other major parts of His redemptive and prophetic program. Understanding biblical typology is highly worthwhile for believers because it reveals an incredibly complex, unified pattern woven throughout Scripture across many centuries and through many different human writers. These carefully coordinated patterns point beyond human authorship to the true Author of Scripture, who stands outside of time and arranged earlier people, events, and institutions to anticipate what He would later fulfill. How Our List of Biblical Types is Organized A true biblical type must arise from Scripture itself rather than from similarities noticed by the reader. As Michael Vlach cautions, the Bible uses the language of “type” and “shadow” in specific and limited ways rather than applying it indiscriminately to every Old Testament person, event, or detail. [1] The connection should be grounded in the meaning of the earlier passage, its place within the developing biblical storyline, and the way later Scripture explains, applies, or fulfills that pattern. Abner Chou similarly emphasizes that biblical interpretation must remain grounded in authorial intent as expressed through the wording, context, and historical setting of the text. He argues that later biblical writers did not replace the meaning of earlier revelation but developed implications already present within it. [2] A shared detail or resemblance is not enough to prove that God intended a typological relationship. At the same time, the Bible does not provide a complete list of every type, nor does it always use words such as “type,” “figure,” or “shadow” when developing these connections. Some types are directly identified and explained, while others are established through repeated patterns, later revelation, and the progressive development of Scripture. For that reason, this list seeks to be as comprehensive as possible while carefully distinguishing between different levels of textual support. For clarity, the examples have been divided into three groups: Textually Explicit Types — Scripture directly establishes the typological correspondence by identifying and substantially explaining how an earlier person, event, object, or institution points forward to a later fulfillment. Textually Implicit Types — The typological connection is strongly grounded in the biblical text, but Scripture does not identify and explain the full correspondence as directly as it does with the types in the first category. The connection may involve direct comparisons, quotations, titles, prophecies, or applications, but its fuller significance emerges through repeated patterns and the way later Scripture develops and fulfills the earlier person, event, object, or institution. Possible Types With Limited Textual Evidence — These proposed connections have limited explicit or implicit support within the biblical text itself. Instead, the typological relationship is observed externally by the reader through similarities between an earlier person, event, object, or institution and a later biblical reality. Some of these comparisons may be meaningful and consistent with broader biblical themes, but they should not be viewed with the same level of certainty or definitiveness as the types in the first two categories. This three-part division is our best effort to represent the different levels of biblical support as carefully and honestly as possible. Scripture itself does not formally organize every type into these exact categories, so the classifications should not be treated as infallible or absolute. Some examples may reasonably be placed differently depending on how narrowly or broadly a person defines an explicit type. The categories are intended as a guide rather than a final or unquestionable classification. Category # 1: Textually Explicit Types The examples in this first category are established by direct New Testament explanation. In some cases, the New Testament actually uses words such as “type,” “figure,” “example,” “shadow,” or “allegory.” In other cases, Jesus or a New Testament writer directly compares an Old Testament person, event, object, or institution with a later fulfillment and explains the connection. This does not mean that every example is formally called a “type,” but it does mean that the typological relationship is directly stated or clearly explained within the text itself. 1. Adam as a type of Christ Old Testament: Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7-25; 3:1-24 New Testament: Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45-49 In Genesis, Adam was the first man and the representative head of humanity. His disobedience brought sin and death into the human race. Paul directly identifies Adam as a type of Christ when he calls him “the figure of him that was to come” in Romans 5:14. The Greek word translated “figure” is typos. Paul then explains that the actions of Adam and Christ each had consequences for others. Adam’s disobedience brought sin, condemnation, and death into the human race. Christ’s obedience brings righteousness, justification, and life to those who belong to Him. Paul strengthens the connection in 1 Corinthians 15:45 by calling Jesus “the last Adam.” Adam serves as a type of Christ because the devastating results of his disobedience are contrasted with the far greater saving results of Christ’s obedience. 2. Jonah as a type of Christ’s burial and resurrection Old Testament: Jonah 1:15-17; 2:1-10 New Testament: Matthew 12:38-41; 16:4; Luke 11:29-32 In the Old Testament account, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish and remained there for three days and three nights before God brought him back to dry land. Jesus directly identifies Jonah’s experience as a sign of His own burial and resurrection. He said, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Jonah was swallowed by the fish and disappeared into what looked like certain death. In Jonah 2, he describes his experience using the language of the grave, the depths, and going down beneath the earth. God then brought him back to the land of the living. Jesus said this event pointed forward to His own burial and resurrection. Jonah did not actually rise from death, but his experience was arranged by God to picture what Christ would later fulfill completely. 3. The bronze serpent as a type of Christ on the cross Old Testament: Numbers 21:4-9 New Testament: John 3:14-16 In Numbers 21, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it up before the Israelites after they had been bitten by poisonous serpents. Jesus directly compared Himself with this event when He said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” The Israelites were under God’s judgment because of their sin and were dying from the serpent bites. God provided one means of rescue. Anyone who looked at the lifted serpent in faith was allowed to live. Jesus said that He would also be lifted up so that those who believe in Him could have eternal life. The serpent represented the curse and judgment that Christ would bear when He was lifted up on the cross. 4. The Passover lamb as a type of Christ Old Testament: Exodus 12:1-28, 43-51 New Testament: John 19:31-36; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19 In Exodus 12, God commanded each Israelite household to kill an unblemished lamb and place its blood upon the doorposts so that the household would be spared when judgment passed through Egypt. Paul directly connects the Passover with Christ when he says, “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” The Passover lamb died in the place of the firstborn, and its blood protected the household from judgment. Peter describes Christ as “a lamb without blemish and without spot.” John also records that none of Jesus’ bones were broken, connecting His death with the Passover command that the lamb’s bones were not to be broken. The New Testament directly applies the Passover sacrifice, its unblemished character, its blood, and its protection from judgment to Christ. 5. The wilderness rock as a type of Christ Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13 New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:4 In the Old Testament wilderness accounts, God provided water for Israel from a rock when the people had no water to drink. Paul directly says that Israel “drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” The physical rock was not Jesus Himself, but God used the event to point to Christ as the true source of life and spiritual provision. Paul’s statement proves that the rock was more than an interesting illustration invented by later Christians. Paul’s explanation directly establishes the wilderness rock as a type of Christ, the true source of life and spiritual provision. 6. Israel’s wilderness experiences as types and warnings Old Testament: Exodus 16-17; 32; Numbers 11; 14; 16; 21; 25 New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 The Old Testament records Israel’s repeated failures and God’s judgments during the nation’s journey through the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. Paul directly calls these wilderness experiences “examples” in 1 Corinthians 10:6 and again says, “all these things happened unto them for ensamples” in verse 11. The Greek words used are forms of typos. Paul then identifies the specific events. Israel fell into idolatry, sexual sin, tempting God, and complaining. God judged them even though they had experienced deliverance, passed through the sea, eaten supernatural food, and drunk supernatural water. Paul says that these events were written to warn Christians. His explanation directly establishes Israel’s wilderness experiences as types and warnings for God’s people today. 7. Hagar and Sarah as types of the two covenants and their sons as types of the children produced by each covenant Old Testament: Genesis 16; 17; 21 New Testament: Romans 9:6-9; Galatians 4:21-31 In Genesis, Hagar was Sarah’s bondwoman and the mother of Ishmael, while Sarah was Abraham’s wife and the mother of Isaac, the promised son. Paul directly explains that Hagar and Sarah represent two covenants and that their sons represent the children produced under those covenants. Hagar represents the Old Covenant given at Mount Sinai, which Paul associates with bondage. Sarah represents the New Covenant of promise, which Paul associates with freedom. Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, was born “after the flesh,” while Isaac, the son of the freewoman, was born “by promise.” Paul also connects Hagar with “Jerusalem which now is,” which was in bondage with her children, and Sarah with “Jerusalem which is above,” which is free. The mothers represent the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, while their sons represent the people identified with each covenant. Ishmael pictures those who remain under the bondage of the Old Covenant, while Isaac pictures those who belong to the freedom and promise of the New Covenant. 8. Isaac’s return from expected death as a picture of Christ’s resurrection Old Testament: Genesis 22:1-19 New Testament: Hebrews 11:17-19 In Genesis 22, Abraham obeyed God’s command to offer Isaac, the promised son, but God stopped the sacrifice and returned Isaac to him alive. Hebrews directly explains that Abraham received Isaac back from expected death “in a figure.” This means that Abraham received him back in a figurative or symbolic sense as though he had returned from the dead. Abraham believed that God was able to raise Isaac because God had promised that the covenant line would continue through him. From Abraham’s perspective, he had already surrendered his son to death. When God stopped the sacrifice and returned Isaac to him alive, Abraham received him back in a way that pictured resurrection. Although Hebrews 11 does not explicitly name Christ in its explanation of the figure, it identifies the event as a symbolic resurrection and gives us the textual basis for understanding Isaac’s experience as pointing forward to Christ’s resurrection. Isaac, the promised and beloved son, was given over to death and then received back alive. Isaac did not literally die, while Christ truly died and rose again. The figurative return of Isaac anticipated the greater and complete fulfillment in Christ’s resurrection. 9. Melchizedek as a picture of Christ’s priesthood Old Testament: Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:4 New Testament: Hebrews 5:5-10; 6:19-20; 7:1-28 In Genesis 14, Melchizedek appears as both king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, and Psalm 110 later promises a coming priest “after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews directly develops Melchizedek as a pattern of Christ’s priesthood. Genesis presents him as both king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. Psalm 110 later promises that the coming Messianic King will be “a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews then applies that promise to Jesus. It explains that Melchizedek appears in Genesis without a recorded father, mother, genealogy, birth, or death, making him “like unto the Son of God.” The point is not that Melchizedek literally had no parents. The Genesis record presents him in a way that allows his priesthood to picture Christ’s eternal priesthood. 10. Noah’s deliverance through the flood as a type of salvation through baptism Old Testament: Genesis 6-9 New Testament: 1 Peter 3:18-22 In Genesis, God preserved Noah and his family in the ark while the flood brought judgment upon the wicked world. Peter directly connects Noah’s deliverance through the flood with salvation through baptism. Noah and his family were saved through the waters of judgment because God had provided the ark. Peter then says, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.” He immediately explains that baptism does not save by washing dirt from the body, but through “the answer of a good conscience toward God” and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The flood brought judgment upon the wicked world while carrying Noah and his family into a new beginning. In the same way, baptism joins the believer with Christ’s saving work and marks the passage from the old life under judgment into new life through His resurrection. 11. The tabernacle as a copy and shadow of the true heavenly sanctuary and Christ’s priestly work Old Testament: Exodus 25-40 New Testament: Hebrews 8:1-5; 9:1-24 In Exodus, God commanded Moses to build the tabernacle according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain so that God could dwell among Israel. Hebrews directly explains that the earthly tabernacle was a copy and shadow of the true heavenly sanctuary. Hebrews 8:5 says that the Old Testament priests served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,” and it connects this with God’s command for Moses to build the tabernacle according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain. The tabernacle was not the final reality. It was an earthly representation of the greater heavenly sanctuary where Christ now serves as High Priest. Hebrews 9 then explains how the tabernacle and its services pointed forward to Christ’s work. The priests repeatedly entered the first part of the tabernacle, but only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and he could do so only once each year with blood. Hebrews says that the Holy Spirit was using this arrangement to show that the way into the holiest had not yet been fully opened. It then contrasts those repeated earthly services with Christ, who entered the greater and more perfect tabernacle and appeared in the presence of God on our behalf. The tabernacle, its restricted access, and its priestly services all pointed forward to the true heavenly sanctuary and the greater priestly work of Christ. 12. The Levitical priesthood as a shadow of Christ’s priesthood Old Testament: Exodus 28-29; Leviticus 8-9; 16 New Testament: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-10; 7:11-28; 8:1-6 In the Old Testament, God appointed the Levitical priests to represent the people before Him and offer sacrifices for sin. Hebrews directly compares the Levitical priests with Christ. The Old Testament priests were appointed to represent people before God and offer sacrifices for sin. However, they were sinful, they died, and their work had to continue from generation to generation. Hebrews says that Christ is a better priest because He is sinless, lives forever, and offered one complete sacrifice. Hebrews 8:5 also says that the Old Testament priests served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.” The priesthood is directly identified as a shadow that pointed to Christ’s greater priesthood. 13. The high priest as a type of Christ Old Testament: Exodus 28-29; Leviticus 16 New Testament: Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16; 5:1-10; 9:6-14 In the Old Testament, the high priest represented Israel before God, offered sacrifices for sin, and entered the Holy of Holies with blood on the Day of Atonement. Hebrews directly presents the Old Testament high priest as a picture of Christ. The high priest represented the people before God, offered sacrifices for sin, and entered the Holy of Holies with blood. However, he was also a sinner who needed to offer sacrifice for himself, and his work had to be repeated. Jesus is the greater High Priest. He is sinless, He offered His own blood, and He entered the true heavenly sanctuary on behalf of His people. His sacrifice does not need to be repeated because it fully accomplished what the Old Testament priesthood could only picture. Hebrews repeatedly compares the work of the earthly high priest with the greater and final priestly work of Christ. 14. The Day of Atonement as a type of Christ’s sacrifice Old Testament: Leviticus 16:1-34; 23:26-32 New Testament: Hebrews 9:1-28; 10:1-22; 13:11-13 In Leviticus 16, God established the Day of Atonement as the yearly occasion when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with blood to make atonement for sin. Hebrews directly presents the Day of Atonement as a picture of Christ’s sacrifice and priestly work. On that day, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with blood to make atonement for sin. He first had to offer sacrifice for his own sins and then offer blood for the sins of the people. Because these sacrifices could not permanently remove sin, the ceremony had to be repeated every year. Christ fulfilled this pattern through one perfect and final sacrifice. He entered the true heavenly sanctuary, not with the blood of animals, but through the value of His own blood. Unlike the yearly sacrifices of the Day of Atonement, His sacrifice never needs to be repeated because it fully accomplished redemption. The Day of Atonement pointed forward to Christ’s completed sacrifice and His work as our great High Priest. 15. The sin offerings burned outside the camp as a type of Christ Old Testament: Leviticus 4:11-12, 21; 16:27 New Testament: Hebrews 13:11-13 In the Old Testament sacrificial system, the bodies of certain sin offerings were carried outside the camp and burned after their blood was brought into the sanctuary. Hebrews directly explains that the Old Testament sin offerings burned outside the camp pictured Christ suffering outside Jerusalem. The blood of certain sin offerings was brought into the sanctuary, while the bodies of the animals were carried outside the camp and burned. Hebrews then says, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” The phrase “without the gate” means outside the gates of Jerusalem, beyond the boundaries of the city. Jesus was crucified there, fulfilling the pattern established by those sacrifices. The writer then calls believers to go to Him outside the camp. 16. The red heifer as a type of Christ’s cleansing Old Testament: Numbers 19:1-22 New Testament: Hebrews 9:13-14 In Numbers 19, the ashes of the red heifer were mixed with water and used to cleanse those who had become ceremonially unclean through contact with death. Hebrews directly compares the ashes of the heifer with the blood of Christ. Numbers 19 explains that the ashes were mixed with water and used to cleanse people who had become ceremonially unclean through contact with death. Hebrews says that if the ashes of a heifer could cleanse the flesh ceremonially, Christ’s blood can cleanse the conscience from dead works. The New Testament proves the connection by naming the red heifer ceremony and directly contrasting its limited outward cleansing with Christ’s greater inward cleansing. 17. Animal sacrifices as shadows of Christ’s sacrifice Old Testament: Leviticus 1-7; 16-17 New Testament: Hebrews 9:11-28; 10:1-18 In the Old Testament law, God established a system of animal sacrifices that had to be offered repeatedly for sin. Hebrews 10:1 directly says that the law had “a shadow of good things to come.” The sacrifices were repeated because they could not permanently take away sin. Hebrews argues that if they had completely cleansed the worshipers, they would have stopped being offered. Instead, their repetition reminded Israel that sin still needed a final answer. Christ came to do God’s will and offered His body once for all. The New Testament states that the sacrificial system was a shadow and explains that Christ’s one sacrifice accomplished what the animal sacrifices could not. 18. The Sabbath as a shadow of greater rest Old Testament: Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-17 New Testament: Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 4:1-11 In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was established as a day of rest and as a covenant sign between God and Israel. Colossians 2:16-17 directly says that Sabbaths were “a shadow of things to come” and that the substance belongs to Christ. Hebrews 4 also develops the meaning of rest. God rested after creation, Israel received Sabbath rest, and Joshua brought Israel into the land, but Psalm 95 still spoke of a future rest. Hebrews concludes that a rest remains for the people of God. The Sabbath pointed beyond one day of physical rest to the greater rest God provides through Christ and will complete in the future. 19. The Old Testament festivals as shadows pointing toward major events in God’s prophetic program Old Testament: Leviticus 23 New Testament: Matthew 26:17-29; John 19:14, 31-36; Acts 2:1-33; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 15:20-23; Colossians 2:16-17 In Leviticus 23, God established a yearly calendar of appointed festivals and sacred assemblies for Israel. Colossians 2 directly identifies these festivals as shadows of things to come, with their ultimate fulfillment found in Christ. These were real days of worship and remembrance for Israel, but Scripture also connects the spring festivals with the major events of Christ’s first coming. Christ died on Passover, was buried in the tomb on Unleavened Bread, rose on the Feast of Firstfruits, and poured out the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Paul directly calls Christ “our passover” in 1 Corinthians 5:7 and “the firstfruits of them that slept” in 1 Corinthians 15:20. Acts 2 also says that the Holy Spirit was poured out when the Day of Pentecost had fully come. Because the spring festivals correspond so closely with major events fulfilled through Christ at His first coming, many interpreters understand the fall festivals as pointing toward major events connected with His future coming and kingdom. Within this proposed pattern, the Feast of Trumpets may picture the gathering and resurrection of believers, the Day of Atonement may point toward Israel’s future repentance and cleansing, and the Feast of Tabernacles may anticipate the joy, restoration, and blessing of Christ’s kingdom. Thus, while Colossians 2 directly establishes Israel’s festivals as shadows of things to come in Christ, and the New Testament directly connects several of the spring festivals with events surrounding His first coming, Scripture does not directly identify the specific future event represented by each fall festival. Therefore, the festivals belong in this category as an explicitly established system of prophetic shadows, but the proposed connections between individual fall festivals and particular events of Christ’s future coming remain possible interpretations rather than proven fulfillments. 20. Firstfruits as a type of Christ’s resurrection Old Testament: Leviticus 23:9-14 New Testament: 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 In Leviticus 23, Israel was commanded to present the first portion of the harvest to God before gathering the remainder of the crop. This offering marked the beginning of the harvest and gave assurance that the rest would follow. Paul directly applies this imagery to Christ’s resurrection by calling Him “the firstfruits of them that slept.” Christ rose first, guaranteeing the future resurrection of those who belong to Him. Just as the firstfruits offering represented the beginning of the coming harvest, Christ’s resurrection is the beginning and guarantee of the resurrection harvest that will follow. Although #19 on our list discusses the prophetic significance of Israel’s festivals as a whole, Firstfruits deserves separate treatment because Paul directly identifies Christ’s resurrection with its specific harvest pattern. 21. Marriage as a picture of Christ and the church Old Testament: Genesis 2:18-25 New Testament: Ephesians 5:22-32 In Genesis 2, God created the woman for the man and established marriage as a one-flesh union. Ephesians 5 directly identifies marriage as a picture of Christ and the church. Paul quotes Genesis 2:24, which says that a man and woman become one flesh, and then states, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” He explains the connection throughout the passage. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, while the wife’s relationship with her husband reflects the church’s relationship with Christ. Paul’s quotation of the creation account and his direct explanation show that God designed marriage to picture this covenant relationship. 22. The veil in the temple as a picture of access through Christ Old Testament: Exodus 26:31-33 New Testament: Matthew 27:50-51; Hebrews 10:19-22 In the Old Testament sanctuary, the veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies and restricted access to God’s immediate presence. Hebrews 10 directly identifies the veil in the temple as a picture of the access to God opened through Christ’s sacrificed body. The veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies and showed that access to God’s immediate presence was restricted. When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. Hebrews then says that believers can enter the holiest “through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.” Christ’s body offered in death opened the way into God’s presence. The tearing of the temple veil at the crucifixion and the explanation in Hebrews directly establish the connection. 23. The blood of the Old Covenant as a picture of Christ’s New Covenant blood Old Testament: Exodus 24:3-8 New Testament: Matthew 26:27-28; Hebrews 9:18-22; 12:24 In Exodus 24, Moses established the Old Covenant by sprinkling blood and declaring, “Behold the blood of the covenant.” Jesus and the book of Hebrews directly connect the blood of the Old Covenant with Christ’s New Covenant blood. When Moses established the Old Covenant, he sprinkled blood and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant.” At the Last Supper, Jesus deliberately used the same language when He said, “For this is my blood of the new testament.” Hebrews 9 explains that the first covenant was dedicated with blood and then contrasts that blood with Christ’s sacrifice. Hebrews 12 also says that Jesus’ blood speaks better things than Abel’s blood. Jesus’ own words and the explanation in Hebrews directly show that the covenant blood under Moses pointed forward to His blood. 24. Joshua and the Promised Land of Canaan as types of Christ’s greater rest and inheritance Old Testament: Joshua 1-24; 21:43-45; Psalm 95:7-11 New Testament: Hebrews 3:7-4:11 In the Old Testament, Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land of Canaan, where the nation received its inheritance and rest from many of its enemies. Hebrews directly uses Joshua and Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land to explain the greater rest that God provides through Christ. Joshua led Israel into Canaan and gave the nation rest from many of its enemies. However, Hebrews explains that this was not God’s final and complete rest. If Joshua had provided that rest, God would not have spoken later in Psalm 95 about another day. The land gave Israel a real inheritance, security, and relief from its enemies, but Hebrews uses that historical rest to point toward the greater rest that still remains for the people of God. Joshua’s work and Israel’s entrance into Canaan pictured the greater salvation, rest, and inheritance God provides through Christ. 25. Sodom and Gomorrah as types of final judgment Old Testament: Genesis 18:16-19:29 New Testament: 2 Peter 2:6-9; Jude 7 In Genesis, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire because of their extreme wickedness while rescuing Lot from the judgment. Jude directly identifies Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of final judgment. He says that the cities were “set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Their historical destruction by fire pictured the eternal punishment that awaits the wicked. Peter makes the same connection when he says that God reduced the cities to ashes and made them “an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.” Both passages look beyond the destruction of the ancient cities and use it as a warning of God’s future judgment upon the ungodly. These direct New Testament statements show that the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah prefigured the final eschatological judgment. 26. The Days of Noah and Lot as a pattern for Christ’s coming Old Testament: Genesis 6:5-13; 7:1-24; 18:20-33; 19:1-29 New Testament: Matthew 24:36-42; Luke 17:26-30 In Genesis, the days of Noah and Lot were periods of widespread wickedness in which people continued their ordinary lives until God suddenly and simultaneously rescued the righteous and began a period of judgment on the wicked who were left. Jesus directly identifies the days of Noah and Lot as a pattern for His future coming. He says, “As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” in Matthew 24:37. He repeats the comparison in Luke 17:26: “As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” He then adds the example of Lot, saying, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot” in Luke 17:28, before concluding, “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed” in Luke 17:30. This direct “as” and “so” language shows that these historical events provide a pattern for His future coming. The comparison focuses on the suddenness of His coming during a time of relative normalcy, catching the world off guard, along with the rescue of the righteous and the beginning of judgment upon the wicked. Jesus presents this as a pattern for the beginning of the period of His future Parousia, or coming. 27. Elijah as a type of John the Baptist Old Testament: 1 Kings 17-19; Malachi 4:5-6 New Testament: Matthew 11:7-15; 17:10-13; Luke 1:16-17 In the Old Testament, Elijah was a prophet who confronted wicked rulers, called Israel to repentance, and was later named in Malachi’s promise of a coming Elijah-like ministry. Jesus and the angel Gabriel directly identify John the Baptist with the promised ministry of Elijah. The angel told Zacharias that John would go before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elias.” Jesus later said that John was the Elijah who was to come. John was not Elijah returned in person, since John denied that identification in John 1:21. Instead, he carried out Elijah’s prophetic role. Both men confronted wicked rulers, called Israel to repentance, lived apart from normal society, and prepared the people for God’s intervention. The angel’s statement and Jesus’ explanation directly establish Elijah as a type of John the Baptist. 28. Abel’s blood as a type of the greater blood of Christ Old Testament: Genesis 4:1-10 New Testament: Matthew 23:35; Hebrews 11:4; 12:24 In Genesis 4, Abel was a righteous man who was murdered by his brother, and God said that his blood cried out from the ground. Hebrews 12 directly compares Abel’s blood with the blood of Christ and says that Jesus’ blood “speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Abel was righteous, yet he was hated and murdered by his brother. After his death, God said that Abel’s blood cried out from the ground. His blood called for justice against the one who had killed him. Christ’s blood speaks a better message because it provides forgiveness, reconciliation, and salvation for sinners. The direct comparison in Hebrews establishes Abel’s blood as an earlier picture that finds its greater fulfillment in the blood of Christ. 29. The temple as a type of Christ Old Testament: 1 Kings 5-8 New Testament: Matthew 12:6; John 2:18-22 In the Old Testament, Solomon’s temple was the place where God’s presence dwelt among Israel and where sacrifice and worship took place. John 2 directly identifies the temple as a picture of Christ’s body. When Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” the people thought He was speaking about the physical temple in Jerusalem. John then explains, “But he spake of the temple of his body.” The temple was the place where God’s presence dwelt among Israel and where sacrifice and worship took place. Jesus is the true dwelling place of God among humanity, and His death and resurrection opened the way for people to come into God’s presence. John’s direct explanation establishes the temple as a type of Christ. 30. Manna as a type of Christ Old Testament: Exodus 16:1-36 New Testament: John 6:30-58 In Exodus 16, God provided manna from heaven to sustain Israel during the nation’s journey through the wilderness. Jesus directly identifies the manna as a picture of Himself, the true bread from heaven. When the crowd referred to the manna that Israel ate in the wilderness, Jesus explained that Moses had not given them the true bread from heaven. He then declared, “I am the bread of life.” The manna came down from heaven and sustained Israel physically during its journey through the wilderness, but those who ate it eventually died. Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe in Him. His own explanation directly establishes the manna as a type of God’s greater life-giving provision through Christ. Category # 2: Textually Implicit Types The examples in the first category are directly established by clear New Testament explanations, comparisons, or statements showing that an Old Testament person, event, or institution pointed forward to something greater. The examples in this second category are established differently. Their typological meaning is shown through repeated biblical patterns, later prophecies, direct quotations, and the way later Scripture develops and fulfills the earlier account. The connection is still strongly supported by the text, but it requires us to follow the Bible’s larger storyline and put several passages together rather than relying on one direct New Testament explanation. 31. Moses as a type of Christ Old Testament: Exodus 2-34; Deuteronomy 18:15-19 New Testament: Matthew 2:13-21; 5:1-7:29; Acts 3:20-23; 7:35-37; Hebrews 3:1-6 Moses said in Deuteronomy 18 that God would raise up a prophet like him, and Peter directly applies that promise to Jesus in Acts 3:20-23. Moses delivered Israel from slavery, performed signs, gave God’s words, mediated the covenant, and interceded for the people. The New Testament records Jesus fulfilling all of these roles on a far greater level. Hebrews 3 directly compares Moses and Christ, explaining that Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house, while Christ is faithful as the Son over the house. Matthew 2 presents Jesus coming out of Egypt, repeating an important part of Israel’s history associated with Moses. Matthew 5-7 then presents Jesus teaching from a mountain and speaking with an authority greater than that of the scribes. Together, these passages show that Moses stands as a pattern of Christ. 32. David as a type of Christ as the Messianic Suffering Servant and Reigning King Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16-31; 2 Samuel 5-7; Psalms 2; 16; 22; 69; 110 New Testament: Matthew 1:1; 22:41-46; 27:35-46; Luke 1:32-33; John 19:23-24, 28-30; Acts 2:25-36; 13:32-37 David’s life and writings repeatedly point beyond his own experience to Christ as both the Messianic Suffering Servant and the Reigning King. David was God’s anointed one, yet he was rejected, persecuted, betrayed, and forced to suffer before receiving the throne. The prophetic Psalms show that David’s experiences formed a pattern that would be fulfilled more completely in Christ. Psalm 22 describes the sufferer’s hands and feet being pierced, his garments being divided, his enemies surrounding and mocking him, and the sufferer crying, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus spoke those exact words on the cross, and the Gospel writers connect the divided garments and mockery with that Psalm. Psalm 69 likewise describes the suffering of a righteous servant who is hated without cause and bears reproach because of his devotion to God. David’s pattern of suffering was followed by exaltation and kingship. God established David upon the throne and promised that one of his descendants would rule forever. Psalm 16 says that God’s Holy One would not see corruption. In Acts 2, Peter quotes this passage from Psalm 16 and explains that David could not have been speaking ultimately about himself because David died, was buried, and his tomb remained among them. Peter says that David, speaking as a prophet, was referring to the resurrection of Christ. Psalm 2 presents God’s Anointed King ruling the nations, while Psalm 110 presents David’s Lord seated at God’s right hand until His enemies are placed beneath His feet. Jesus applies Psalm 110 to Himself, and the New Testament repeatedly identifies Him as the promised Son of David who will reign forever. David’s rejection, suffering, vindication, and eventual reign form a textual pattern fulfilled in Christ as the Messianic Suffering Servant and Reigning King. 33. Solomon as a type of Christ’s wisdom and peaceful kingdom Old Testament: 1 Kings 1-10; Psalm 72 New Testament: Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31 Jesus’ comparison of Himself with Solomon provides a textual basis for seeing Solomon as a picture of Christ’s greater wisdom and kingdom. Jesus says, “a greater than Solomon is here.” Solomon was the royal son of David, known for wisdom, wealth, peace, worldwide fame, and the building of the temple. Psalm 72, connected with Solomon, describes a king whose righteous rule, worldwide dominion, and blessing reach far beyond what Solomon personally accomplished. It says all kings will fall before him, all nations will serve him, and all nations will call him blessed. Those statements point forward to the Messiah. Jesus’ statement that He is greater than Solomon supports the understanding that Solomon’s wisdom and kingdom gave an earlier picture of the greater Son of David. 34. Joseph as a type of the rejected and exalted Savior Old Testament: Genesis 37-50 New Testament: Matthew 26:14-16; 27:1-10, 18-26; Luke 23:32-43; John 1:11; 19:23-24; Acts 7:9-16, 35, 51-52; Philippians 2:5-11 Stephen’s speech in Acts 7 provides a New Testament basis for understanding Joseph as a type of the rejected and exalted Savior. Stephen explains that Joseph’s brothers were moved with envy, rejected him, and sold him into Egypt. God was with Joseph, delivered him from his afflictions, and raised him to a position of authority. Joseph then became the one through whom his brothers and family were saved from death. Stephen follows Joseph with Moses, who was also rejected by Israel and later sent by God as a ruler and deliverer. He then accuses Israel’s leaders of following the same pattern by rejecting and killing Jesus, “the Just One.” The structure of Stephen’s speech shows that Joseph belongs to the biblical pattern of the rejected deliverer whom God later exalts and uses to save the people who rejected him. The biblical account also contains numerous additional parallels between Joseph and Jesus that Stephen does not explicitly mention. Joseph was the beloved son of his father, yet his own brothers hated him, conspired against him, stripped him of his special garment, cast him into a pit, and sold him for silver. He later suffered falsely, was condemned despite his innocence, and was placed between two prisoners, one of whom was restored while the other was put to death. God then raised Joseph from humiliation to authority, required others to bow before him, and used him to preserve the lives of the same brothers who had rejected him. Jesus was likewise the beloved Son of the Father, rejected by His own people, betrayed for silver, stripped of His clothing, falsely accused, condemned despite His innocence, and crucified between two criminals, one of whom received the promise of life. God then raised Him from the dead, highly exalted Him, and appointed Him as the Savior of the very people who had rejected Him. These additional parallels strengthen the Joseph-Christ connection, but most of them are not individually identified or explained as types by the New Testament. Considered by themselves, they would fit more naturally within the third category of possible types with limited textual evidence. Joseph remains in the second category because Acts 7 provides a stronger textual basis for the larger pattern: the deliverer is rejected by his own people, exalted by God, and later becomes the means of their salvation. 35. Israel as God’s son and Jesus as the true Son Old Testament: Exodus 4:22-23; Hosea 11:1 New Testament: Matthew 2:13-15; 3:16-17; 4:1-11 Matthew directly quotes Hosea 11:1, “Out of Egypt have I called my son,” and applies it to Jesus returning from Egypt. In its original context, Hosea was referring to Israel, whom God had called His son and brought out of Egypt. Matthew’s application shows that Israel’s history established a pattern that was repeated and fulfilled more completely in Christ. Jesus then passes through water at His baptism, is declared God’s Son, and enters the wilderness for forty days, where He answers Satan from Deuteronomy. Israel passed through the sea, was identified as God’s son, and spent forty years in the wilderness, where the nation repeatedly failed. Jesus repeats the pattern but remains faithful. Matthew’s quotation of Hosea and the structure of his account provide the textual basis for understanding Jesus as the true and obedient Son who represents Israel. 36. The exodus as a type of salvation through Christ Old Testament: Exodus 1-15; Isaiah 40:1-11; 43:16-21 New Testament: Luke 9:30-31; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 1:13-14; Revelation 15:2-4 The Old Testament prophets repeatedly used exodus language to describe a greater future deliverance. Isaiah spoke of God again making a way through the wilderness and bringing His people home. In Luke 9:31, Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration and spoke about the work He was about to complete in Jerusalem through His death, resurrection, and departure. Luke uses the Greek word exodos to describe this coming event. By using the word “exodus,” Luke presents Christ’s saving work as the greater deliverance to which Israel’s original exodus pointed. Paul calls Christ our Passover and says God has delivered believers from the power of darkness. Revelation also connects the final victory of God’s people with the song of Moses and the Lamb. These textual connections prove that the first exodus established the pattern for the greater salvation accomplished by Christ. 37. The Red Sea crossing as a type of separation from the old life Old Testament: Exodus 14:1-31 New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul says that the Israelites were “all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” By passing through the Red Sea, they were publicly identified with Moses as God’s appointed leader and were brought out of the realm of Egyptian slavery. The sea stood between Israel and its former bondage. Once the people had crossed, the Egyptian army was destroyed behind them, and Israel continued forward as a delivered nation. Paul uses this event while addressing Christian baptism, spiritual privilege, and the danger of turning back to sin and unbelief. His comparison provides a textual basis for understanding the Red Sea crossing as a pattern of identification with God’s appointed mediator and separation from the former life of bondage. 38. Noah’s ark as a type of salvation through God’s appointed refuge in Christ Old Testament: Genesis 6-9 New Testament: Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:18-22 Hebrews says that Noah prepared the ark “to the saving of his house,” while 1 Peter connects Noah’s deliverance through the flood with salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection. The ark was the one means of rescue God provided while judgment fell upon the world. Those who entered it were carried safely through the waters of judgment, while those outside it perished. The New Testament does not specifically state that the ark itself represents Christ. However, by placing Noah’s deliverance within a Christ-centered pattern of judgment and salvation, it provides a textual basis for understanding the ark as a picture of the saving refuge God provides through Christ. 39. Boaz and the role of the kinsman-redeemer as types of Christ, the ultimate Redeemer Old Testament: Leviticus 25:23-55; Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Ruth 1-4 New Testament: Galatians 4:4-5; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 2:11-18; 1 Peter 1:18-19 The law established the role of the kinsman-redeemer as a qualified family member who could redeem property, release a relative from slavery, and preserve the family line. The book of Ruth shows this role being carried out by Boaz. He was a near relative who was both qualified and willing to redeem. He protected Ruth, provided for her, paid the required cost connected with the family inheritance, and took her as his bride. Christ fulfills this pattern in a far greater way. Hebrews says that He took part in flesh and blood and was not ashamed to call His people brethren. Galatians says that He was born under the law “to redeem them that were under the law.” Titus says that He gave Himself to redeem His people, and Peter says that believers were redeemed by His precious blood. Although the New Testament does not specifically name Boaz as a type of Christ, his actions fit the larger biblical pattern established by the kinsman-redeemer laws and fulfilled in Christ. Boaz provides the clearest Old Testament example of that role being carried out in an actual person and story. Boaz and the legal role he fulfilled provide a strong picture of Christ, who became related to humanity through the incarnation, willingly paid the price of redemption, restores the lost inheritance, and receives His redeemed people in a covenant relationship. 40. The bridegroom as a type and title of Christ Old Testament: Psalm 45; Isaiah 54:5; 62:4-5; Hosea 2:16-20 New Testament: Matthew 9:15; 22:1-14; 25:1-13; John 3:29; Revelation 19:7-9 The Old Testament repeatedly describes the Lord as the husband of His people. Isaiah says, “thy Maker is thine husband,” and Hosea describes the Lord restoring His covenant relationship with Israel. Jesus then calls Himself the bridegroom. John the Baptist also identifies Jesus as the bridegroom and himself as the friend who rejoices at the bridegroom’s voice. Jesus’ parables connect the bridegroom’s arrival with His future return, and Revelation describes the marriage supper of the Lamb. These direct uses show that the Old Testament husband and bridegroom imagery points to Christ. 41. The shepherd as a type and title of Christ Old Testament: Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:1-31; Zechariah 13:7 New Testament: John 10:1-18; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4 Ezekiel 34 condemns Israel’s false shepherds and then says that God Himself will come and shepherd His people. The same chapter also promises that God will set up “my servant David” as one shepherd over them. Jesus brings both promises together when He says, “I am the good shepherd.” He identifies Himself as the divine Shepherd and the promised Davidic Shepherd. He knows the sheep, gathers them, protects them, and lays down His life for them. Hebrews calls Him the great Shepherd, while Peter describes Him as the Shepherd who watches over the souls of His people and as the Chief Shepherd who will appear. These titles show that the Old Testament shepherd pattern points to Christ. 42. The temple as a type of the church collectively and the individual believer’s body Old Testament: 1 Kings 5-8 New Testament: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5 The Old Testament temple was the dwelling place of the Lord among His covenant people. God’s glory filled the temple, and it stood as the physical place where His presence dwelt in the midst of Israel. The New Testament applies this temple imagery both to the church collectively and to the body of the individual believer. Paul tells the Corinthian congregation, “ye are the temple of God,” because God’s Spirit dwells among them. Ephesians likewise says that believers are joined together and “builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Peter describes individual Christians as living stones being built together into a spiritual house. These passages present the church corporately as God’s dwelling place. Paul also applies the same imagery to each believer personally. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, while addressing the proper use of the physical body, he says, “your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you.” Under the New Covenant, God dwells by His Spirit both within individual believers and among His people collectively. The temple provides a biblical picture of both the believer’s body and the gathered church as dwelling places of the Holy Spirit. 43. The mercy seat as a type of Christ’s atoning work Old Testament: Exodus 25:17-22; Leviticus 16:14-16 New Testament: Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:5 In the Old Testament, the mercy seat covered the ark of the covenant and was the place where the high priest sprinkled blood on the Day of Atonement. It was there that God met with His people and accepted the blood offered for sin. Romans 3:25 uses the Greek word hilasterion for Christ, the same word used in the Greek Old Testament for the mercy seat. Paul’s wording connects the mercy seat with Christ’s atoning sacrifice. The blood sprinkled on the mercy seat pointed forward to the blood of Christ, through which sinners receive forgiveness and are brought into a right relationship with God. 44. Cities of refuge as a type of safety and salvation in Christ Old Testament: Numbers 35:6-34; Deuteronomy 19:1-13; Joshua 20 New Testament: Hebrews 6:17-20 The cities of refuge were established in the Old Testament as places where a person could flee from the avenger of blood until the case could be judged. Hebrews uses similar language when it describes believers as those “who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” The passage then identifies that hope with Jesus, who has entered within the veil as our forerunner and High Priest. Hebrews does not explain every detail of the Old Testament refuge system, but its use of the language of fleeing for refuge in a Christ-centered passage provides a textual basis for understanding the cities of refuge as a picture of the safety and salvation found in Christ. 45. Antiochus IV as a type of the final Antichrist Old Testament: Daniel 8:9-14, 23-26; 11:21-35 Later prophetic passages: Daniel 9:27; 11:36-45; 12:11; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 In Daniel 8 and 11, Scripture describes a ruler who would arise after the division of the Greek Empire and persecute the Jewish people, stop the regular sacrifices, defile the sanctuary, and exalt himself against God. These descriptions fit Antiochus IV in the second century B.C. However, Jesus later spoke of the abomination of desolation as still future from His own time. Daniel 11 also appears to move from the historical Antiochus into a ruler whose actions and final destruction reach beyond Antiochus. Paul also describes the future man of sin as exalting himself above God and taking his place in the temple, closely repeating the pattern established by Antiochus. These repeated features show that Antiochus established a historical pattern that points toward the final enemy of God. 46. Babylon as a type of the final rebellious world system Old Testament: Genesis 11:1-9; Isaiah 13-14; 47; Jeremiah 50-51; Daniel 1-5 New Testament: Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17-18 The biblical pattern of Babylon begins in Genesis 11 with Babel, where humanity united in pride, rebellion, and the desire to make a name for itself apart from God. Historical Babylon later continued this same pattern as an idolatrous empire that conquered nations, persecuted God’s people, and exalted itself against God. Revelation then uses the name Babylon for the final great power or system opposed to God. Revelation 18 draws heavily from Jeremiah 50-51, repeating language about Babylon’s luxury, violence, merchants, sudden destruction, and judgment. These Old Testament echoes show that final Babylon is presented as the culmination of the rebellious pattern that began at Babel and continued through historical Babylon. Category # 3: Possible Types With Limited Textual Evidence These comparisons may be useful, but the Bible does not provide enough direct textual proof to teach them with the same confidence as the previous examples. 47. Gentile brides in the Old Testament as possible pictures of Christ receiving a people from the nations Old Testament: Genesis 2:18-25; 24:1-67; 41:45, 50-52; Exodus 2:15-22; Joshua 2:1-21; 6:22-25; Ruth 1-4 New Testament comparisons: Matthew 1:5; Acts 15:14; Ephesians 5:25-32; Revelation 5:9; 19:7-9 Several prominent men within the Old Testament storyline received brides who came from outside the immediate covenant family or the nation of Israel. Isaac received Rebekah from Mesopotamia, Joseph married Asenath of Egypt, Moses married Zipporah of Midian, Salmon married Rahab of Jericho, and Boaz married Ruth the Moabitess. Eve is also sometimes included at the beginning of this pattern because she became the bride of Adam, whom the New Testament directly identifies as a type of Christ. Some interpreters see these marriages as forming a repeated picture of Christ receiving the church as His bride from among the nations. The comparison is especially noticeable where the husband already fits a larger Christ-centered pattern. Isaac was the promised son who was figuratively received back from death before receiving his bride. Joseph was rejected by his brothers and later exalted among the Gentiles before receiving Asenath. Boaz acted as the kinsman-redeemer who redeemed Ruth and took her as his bride. Rahab and Ruth were also brought into Israel and placed within the Messianic family line. This is sometimes described as a pattern of six Old Testament brides followed by Christ and the church as the seventh. However, that description requires some qualification. Eve lived before the distinction between Israel and the Gentile nations existed, and Rebekah belonged to Abraham’s extended family even though she came from outside the covenant household being established through Isaac. More importantly, no biblical writer gathers these marriages together and explains them as a unified type of Christ and the church. The repeated pattern is meaningful and consistent with God’s purpose of gathering a people from the nations, but it remains a possible typological connection rather than a directly established one. 48. Benjamin as a type of Christ Old Testament: Genesis 35:16-20 As Rachel was dying in childbirth, she named her son Benoni, which means “son of my sorrow.” Jacob then changed his name to Benjamin, which means “son of the right hand.” Some interpreters see in these two names a possible picture of Christ, who first came as the suffering Man of Sorrows and was later exalted to the right hand of God. The wording fits important truths about Christ, but no later passage of Scripture connects Benjamin’s two names with Him. The comparison is meaningful but remains a possible type rather than a proven one. 49. Rahab’s scarlet cord as a type of Christ’s blood Old Testament: Joshua 2:1-21; 6:22-25 New Testament: Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25 In the Old Testament account in Joshua, Rahab was told to place a scarlet cord in her window so that her house would be identified and spared when judgment came upon Jericho. Everyone who remained inside the house was protected, while the rest of the city was destroyed. Because the scarlet cord marked the place of safety, some interpreters see it as a picture of the blood of Christ, through which sinners are saved from judgment. However, Hebrews and James praise Rahab’s faith and actions without giving any symbolic meaning to the cord or its color. Rahab’s deliverance is clearly taught in Scripture, but the scarlet cord as a type of Christ’s blood remains a possible connection rather than a proven one. 50. Eve coming from Adam’s side as a type of the church coming from Christ Old Testament: Genesis 2:21-23 New Testament: John 19:34; Ephesians 5:25-32 In Genesis 2, God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep, took from his side, and formed Eve as the bride who would be joined to him in a one-flesh union. Paul directly connects Adam and Eve’s marriage with Christ and the church, so the marriage itself has clear biblical support as a type. Some interpreters go further and see Eve’s formation from Adam’s opened side while he slept as a possible picture of the church receiving life through Christ’s death and pierced side. John records that blood and water came from Jesus’ side after His death, but he does not connect that event with the creation of Eve. The broader marriage pattern is directly established, while the specific comparison between Adam’s side and Christ’s side remains a possible but unproven detail. 51. The ark of the covenant’s wood and gold as pictures of Christ’s humanity and deity Old Testament: Exodus 25:10-22 In Exodus 25, God commanded Israel to construct the ark of the covenant from acacia wood and cover it inside and outside with pure gold. The ark stood within the Holy of Holies and served as the central object of the tabernacle, where God met with His people above the mercy seat. Some interpreters see the wood and gold as pictures of the two natures of Christ, with the wood representing His true humanity and the gold representing His deity. This interpretation fits the biblical truth that Christ is both fully human and fully divine. However, neither Hebrews nor any other New Testament passage assigns these separate meanings to the ark’s materials. The ark belongs to the larger tabernacle pattern that points to Christ, but the specific symbolism of the wood and gold remains uncertain. 52. The tabernacle colors as possible pictures of different aspects of Christ Old Testament: Exodus 25-28; 35-39 In the Old Testament tabernacle, God commanded the repeated use of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen in the curtains, coverings, veil, and priestly garments. These colors formed an important and highly visible part of the sanctuary God instructed Israel to build. Traditional typological teaching often interprets blue as representing heaven, purple as royalty, scarlet as sacrifice or blood, and fine white linen as purity or righteousness. These meanings fit genuine biblical themes associated with Christ, but Scripture never provides a passage that directly interprets all four colors in this way. The tabernacle as a whole clearly belongs to the shadow that points forward to Christ, but the separate symbolic meaning assigned to each color should be presented as possible rather than certain. 53. The grain offering as a possible type of Christ’s perfect humanity and consecrated life Old Testament: Leviticus 2; 6:14-23 New Testament comparisons: Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 10:5-10 In Leviticus, the grain offering was presented to God from fine flour with oil, frankincense, and salt, while leaven and honey were excluded. Unlike the animal sacrifices, it did not involve the shedding of blood. It represented an offering of produce given to God as an act of worship and consecration. Some teachers see the fine flour as a picture of Christ’s perfectly balanced humanity, the oil as the Holy Spirit, the frankincense as the pleasing character of His life, the salt as incorruption, and the absence of leaven as His sinlessness. Christ certainly lived a perfect life, offered Himself fully to the Father, and was a pleasing sacrifice to God. However, the New Testament never interprets the grain offering ingredient by ingredient. The offering may reasonably be viewed as a broad picture of Christ’s perfect and consecrated life, but the detailed symbolism assigned to each ingredient is not directly established by Scripture. 54. The Feast of Trumpets as a possible type of the Rapture Old Testament: Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers 29:1-6 New Testament comparisons: 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Colossians 2:16-17 In the Old Testament, the Feast of Trumpets was a sacred day of rest and assembly observed on the first day of the seventh month and marked by the sounding of trumpets before the Lord. It was the first of Israel’s fall festivals and was followed by the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:52 that the resurrection and transformation of believers at the Rapture will occur “at the last trump” may provide a New Testament connection to the Feast of Trumpets. Some Jewish sources do also exist linking that phrase to the Feast of Trumpets. [3] [4] Paul also says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, while discussing the Rapture, that the Lord will descend from heaven with “the trump of God” when the dead in Christ are raised and living believers are caught up together with them. Because Jewish observance of the Feast of Trumpets involved a series of trumpet blasts ending in a final blast, some interpreters believe Paul’s reference to “the last trump” may reflect language associated with the feast. This provides a possible textual connection that may be bolstered by an extra-biblical historical/cultural connection, but Paul never directly names the Feast of Trumpets or states that the Rapture will occur on that day. The proposed connection is also supported by the broader prophetic pattern of Israel’s festivals. The spring festivals are closely associated with the major events of Christ’s first coming. Christ died on Passover, was buried in the tomb on Unleavened Bread, rose on the Feast of Firstfruits, and poured out the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Because these spring festivals correspond with major events already fulfilled through Christ, many interpreters understand the fall festivals as pointing toward major events connected with His future coming and kingdom. Within this proposed pattern, the Feast of Trumpets may picture the Rapture and resurrection of believers at the opening of the broad Day of the Lord, followed by Israel’s future repentance and cleansing and then the blessing of Christ’s kingdom. Since Colossians 2:16-17 identifies Israel’s festivals as shadows of things to come in Christ, the reference to “the last trump” gives the Feast of Trumpets a reasonable possible connection with the rapture. However, Scripture never makes this identification explicit. 55. The Day of Atonement as a possible type of Israel’s future repentance and cleansing at Christ’s return Old Testament: Leviticus 16:1-34; 23:26-32 Prophetic comparisons: Zechariah 12:10-14; 13:1; Romans 11:25-27 Under the Old Testament law, the Day of Atonement was Israel’s national day of affliction, atonement, cleansing, and restored fellowship with God. Its sacrificial ceremonies directly pointed to Christ’s atoning sacrifice and priestly work, as explained in Hebrews. That fulfillment was discussed earlier and is explicitly established by the New Testament. Some interpreters also see a broader future application of the feast to Israel’s national repentance and cleansing when Christ returns. Zechariah says that Israel will look upon the One whom they pierced, mourn for Him, and experience the opening of a fountain “for sin and for uncleanness.” Paul likewise teaches that Israel’s present partial blindness will one day be removed and that “all Israel shall be saved” when the Deliverer comes and turns ungodliness away from Jacob. These passages closely reflect the themes of the Day of Atonement: national mourning, recognition of sin, cleansing, forgiveness, and restored covenant blessing. Its place between the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Tabernacles also fits the proposed prophetic pattern in which the church’s gathering at the rapture is followed by Israel’s repentance and cleansing, and then by the blessing of Christ’s kingdom. However, Scripture does not directly identify the future repentance of Israel as the prophetic fulfillment of the Day of Atonement. The connection is reasonable and fits the larger pattern of the fall festivals, but it remains a possible interpretation rather than a proven typological fulfillment. 56. The Feast of Tabernacles as a possible type of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom Old Testament: Leviticus 23:33-43; Deuteronomy 16:13-15; Zechariah 14:16-19 New Testament comparisons: John 7:37-39; Revelation 21:1-3 In the Old Testament, the Feast of Tabernacles was a joyful harvest festival in which Israel lived in temporary booths to remember God’s provision during the wilderness journey. It celebrated the completion of the harvest and called the people to rejoice before the Lord. Some interpreters see the feast as a picture of the joy, restoration, worship, and divine blessing of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. This connection receives particular support from Zechariah 14, which says that after the Lord comes and reigns as King, the surviving nations will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship Him and keep the Feast of Tabernacles. The feast is directly associated with the conditions of Christ’s future earthly reign, even though Zechariah presents the nations as actually observing the feast rather than explicitly calling it a type of the kingdom. Thus, the feast’s themes of completed harvest, rejoicing, restoration, divine provision, and God dwelling with His people correspond with the blessings of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. Revelation then ultimately describes the completion of this theme when God dwells with redeemed humanity. These connections do provide a reasonable basis for understanding the Feast of Tabernacles as a picture of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. However, Scripture does not directly state that the feast itself typologically represents the Millennium, so the proposed relationship should not be treated as a proven fulfillment. 57. Samson as a type of Christ Old Testament: Judges 13-16 In the book of Judges, Samson was set apart by God from birth and raised up to begin delivering Israel from the Philistines. His birth was announced beforehand, and his greatest victory over Israel’s enemies came through his death. These details can remind readers of Christ. However, Samson was also deeply sinful, acted out of personal anger, and does not receive a Christ-centered interpretation in the New Testament. Hebrews names him as a man of faith but does not call him a type. Any comparison must therefore remain limited. 58. Esther as a type of Christ’s intercession Old Testament: Esther 4-8 In the book of Esther, Esther risked her life by entering the king’s presence without being summoned in order to plead for her condemned people. This resembles intercession and self-sacrifice. However, Esther did not die, offer atonement, or remove sin. She is an example of courage and providential deliverance, but Scripture does not identify her as a type of Christ. 59. Mordecai as a type of Christ’s exaltation Old Testament: Esther 2-10 In the book of Esther, Mordecai was hated by Haman, marked for destruction, publicly honored, and eventually raised to a position of authority within the kingdom. The pattern of humiliation followed by exaltation resembles many biblical stories that point toward Christ. However, no later Scripture connects Mordecai with Jesus. The comparison may be useful in preaching, but it is not firmly established. 60. Daniel in the lions’ den as a type of Christ’s death and resurrection Old Testament: Daniel 6 New Testament comparison: Matthew 27:57-28:10 In Daniel 6, Daniel was falsely accused by jealous officials, condemned under an unjust use of the law, and placed in a lions’ den that was sealed shut. He was then brought out alive after God preserved him through the night. These details resemble Christ’s false condemnation, sealed tomb, and resurrection. Yet Daniel did not die, and the New Testament never makes the connection. The story provides a strong illustration of the righteous servant vindicated by God, but it should not be presented as an explicit resurrection type. 61. Job as a type of the suffering Christ Old Testament: Job 1-42 New Testament: James 5:11 In the Old Testament book that bears his name, Job was described as an upright man who suffered severe loss and affliction despite not being guilty of the sins his friends accused him of committing. He was falsely accused by his friends, interceded for others, and was finally vindicated by God. These themes fit the larger biblical pattern of the righteous sufferer. However, James uses Job as an example of patience and endurance, not as a type of Christ. Job contributes to the background for understanding innocent suffering, but the Bible does not directly connect his experience with the cross. 62. Jeremiah as a type of the rejected Christ Old Testament: Jeremiah 11:18-23; 20:1-18; 26; 37-38 New Testament: Matthew 16:14; 23:29-37 In the Old Testament, Jeremiah served as God’s prophet to Judah but was repeatedly rejected, persecuted, and mistreated by the very people he was sent to warn. He was opposed by religious and political leaders, falsely accused, threatened with death, and placed in a pit. Jesus also said that Jerusalem had a long history of rejecting and killing God’s prophets. Some people in Jesus’ day even thought He might be Jeremiah. These connections place Jeremiah within the broader pattern of the rejected prophet, but no New Testament passage directly identifies Jeremiah as a personal type of Christ. Final Summary The strength of a proposed biblical type is not determined merely by how many similarities can be found. The most reliable types are established by the way Scripture itself explains, compares, develops, or fulfills an earlier person, event, object, or institution. Textually Explicit Types These types are directly established or substantially explained by Jesus or the New Testament writers: Adam as a type of Christ Jonah as a type of Christ’s burial and resurrection The bronze serpent as a type of Christ on the cross The Passover lamb as a type of Christ The wilderness rock as a type of Christ Israel’s wilderness experiences as types and warnings Hagar and Sarah as types of the two covenants and their sons as types of the children produced by each covenant Isaac’s return from expected death as a picture of Christ’s resurrection Melchizedek as a picture of Christ’s priesthood Noah’s deliverance through the flood as a type of salvation through baptism The tabernacle as a copy and shadow of the true heavenly sanctuary and Christ’s priestly work The Levitical priesthood as a shadow of Christ’s priesthood The high priest as a type of Christ The Day of Atonement as a type of Christ’s sacrifice The sin offerings burned outside the camp as a type of Christ The red heifer as a type of Christ’s cleansing Animal sacrifices as shadows of Christ’s sacrifice The Sabbath as a shadow of greater rest The Old Testament festivals as shadows pointing toward major events in God’s prophetic program Firstfruits as a type of Christ’s resurrection Marriage as a picture of Christ and the church The veil in the temple as a picture of access through Christ The blood of the old covenant as a picture of Christ’s covenant blood Joshua and the Promised Land of Canaan as types of Christ’s greater rest and inheritance Sodom and Gomorrah as types of final judgment The Days of Noah and Lot as a pattern for Christ’s coming Elijah as a type of John the Baptist Abel’s blood as a type of the greater blood of Christ The temple as a type of Christ Manna as a type of Christ Textually Implicit Types These connections are strongly grounded in Scripture, but their fuller typological significance must be developed by comparing multiple passages and following larger biblical patterns: Moses as a type of Christ David as a type of Christ as the Messianic Suffering Servant and Reigning King Solomon as a type of Christ’s wisdom and peaceful kingdom Joseph as a type of the rejected and exalted Savior Israel as God’s son and Jesus as the true Son The exodus as a type of salvation through Christ The Red Sea crossing as a type of separation from the old life Noah’s ark as a type of salvation through God’s appointed refuge in Christ Boaz and the role of the kinsman-redeemer as types of Christ, the ultimate Redeemer The bridegroom as a type and title of Christ The shepherd as a type and title of Christ The temple as a type of the church collectively and the individual believer’s body The mercy seat as a type of Christ’s atoning work Cities of refuge as a type of safety and salvation in Christ Antiochus IV as a type of the final Antichrist Babylon as a type of the final rebellious world system Possible Types With Limited Textual Evidence These proposed connections may be meaningful and consistent with biblical truth, but Scripture does not establish them clearly enough to teach them with the same confidence as the first two categories: Gentile brides in the Old Testament as possible pictures of Christ receiving a people from the nations Benjamin as a type of Christ Rahab’s scarlet cord as a type of Christ’s blood Eve coming from Adam’s side as a type of the church coming from Christ The ark of the covenant’s wood and gold as pictures of Christ’s humanity and deity The tabernacle colors as possible pictures of different aspects of Christ The grain offering as a possible type of Christ’s perfect humanity and consecrated life The Feast of Trumpets as a possible type of the Rapture The Day of Atonement as a possible type of Israel’s future repentance and cleansing at Christ’s return The Feast of Tabernacles as a possible type of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom Samson as a type of Christ Esther as a type of Christ’s intercession Mordecai as a type of Christ’s exaltation Daniel in the lions’ den as a type of Christ’s death and resurrection Job as a type of the suffering Christ Jeremiah as a type of the rejected Christ These categories help distinguish between what Scripture directly establishes, what it strongly supports through broader textual patterns, and what remains a possible comparison observed by the reader. That distinction allows us to recognize the richness of biblical typology without presenting uncertain connections as though they carried the same authority as those explicitly or strongly established by Scripture. [1] Michael J. Vlach, article “Some Final Thoughts on ‘Shadow’ and ‘Type’ Language in the Bible,” January 20, 2017, Michael J. Vlach. (https://mikevlach.blogspot.com/2017/01/some-final-thoughts-on-shadow-and-type.html - Retrieved 08/03/26) [2] Abner Chou, The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers: Learning to Interpret Scripture from the Prophets and Apostles, Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2018, pp. 22, 26-36. [3] Theodor H. Gaster, Festivals of the Jewish Year, New York: Morrow, 1952, p. 113. [4] Herman Kieval, The High Holy Days - Book One: Rosh ha-Shanah, New York: The Burning Bush Press, 1959, p. 120.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 is often treated as an obvious reference to Christ’s visible return to earth at the end of the Tribulation. Paul prays that the believers’ hearts may be established “unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” Because the verse describes Christ coming “with all his saints,” many interpreters (even believers in a pretribulation Rapture) immediately connect it with passages such as Zechariah 14 or Revelation 19, where Christ returns in glory accompanied by His people. That conclusion is understandable at a quick glance, but it is not demanded by the passage. The real interpretive question is not simply what the phrase “with all his saints” reminds us of elsewhere. The question is what Paul meant within the immediate context of 1 Thessalonians and within the progression of his teaching throughout the letter. When that context is considered carefully, I believe the evidence clearly points toward the pretribulation Rapture at the opening of Christ’s broader Parousia rather than the Second Coming proper at its climactic end. Note: This article assumes that the reader already accepts the pretribulation Rapture. Its purpose is not to establish the distinction between the Rapture and the Second Coming proper at the end of the Tribulation. Rather, it addresses an “in-house” interpretive question among pretribulation believers: whether 1 Thessalonians 3:13 refers to the Second Coming proper, as is commonly assumed, or to the pretribulation Rapture. The Pastoral Logic of the Passage Paul writes: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. -1 Thessalonians 3:13 The verse occurs in a pastoral context. Paul is praying for Church Age believers and speaking about their present spiritual condition as Church Age Christians. His concern is that their hearts be established in holiness as they await the coming of Christ. That matters because the event Paul mentions functions as the terminal point of their present Christian course. He is directing believers toward the moment when their earthly responsibility, endurance and sanctification reach their prophetic end-goal. From a pretribulational perspective, that endpoint is the Rapture. The Rapture concludes the Church’s present earthly course, brings believers into Christ’s presence and results in their glorification. It is the event for which the Church is presently waiting. The Second Coming proper, by contrast, occurs after the Church has already been raptured and glorified. By that time, believers will have been with Christ throughout the Tribulation and will no longer possess a sinful nature. It would therefore be unusual for Paul to pray that Church Age believers remain unblameable in holiness until an event occurring years after their earthly course has already ended. The natural force of the passage is that believers are to remain faithful and holy until Christ comes for them. Paul’s exhortation is immediate, pastoral and consistent with an imminent arrival of the expected endpoint. Throughout Paul’s Letter, the Church Is Waiting for the Rapture Arriving at a sound understanding of how to interpret 3:13 is influenced by the broader understanding of what Paul is teaching throughout his letter. The expectation he weaves throughout relates undeniably to the Church’s Rapture as an imminent rescue from the imminent judgment to befall the wicked world. This expectation appears from the opening chapter of the letter: And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. -1 Thessalonians 1:10 The Thessalonian believers had turned from idols to serve the living God and to wait for His Son from heaven. Their orientation was not toward the appearance of the Antichrist, the unfolding of Day of the Lord judgments or the visible return of Christ after those events. Their hope was Christ’s coming from heaven to receive them. Paul here directly associates that expectation with deliverance from the wrath to come. The Church waits for the One who rescues it from the coming period of divine judgment. This fits naturally with the pretribulation Rapture as the opening event of the broader Day of the Lord. The same emphasis appears at the end of chapter 2: For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? -1 Thessalonians 2:19 Paul anticipates the Thessalonian believers being in Christ’s presence at His coming. The focus is again the Church’s gathering to the Lord and its entrance into His presence. Chapter 3 (our passage of focus in 3:13) then also speaks of believers being established in holiness at Christ’s coming “with all his saints.” Rather than introducing an entirely different event focusing on the end of the Tribulation, it is more sensible to recognize that Paul is continuing to develop the same hope he has already been speaking of thus far (the Church’s Rapture). The clearest explanation of the Lord’s coming in relation to the Church then appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and is the most well-defined mention of the Rapture in all of scripture: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. -1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 This passage explicitly describes the Rapture. Christ descends from heaven, the dead in Christ are raised, living believers are caught up and the entire Church meets the Lord in the air. Significantly, Paul calls this event “the coming of the Lord.” The Greek word used in 4:15 is parousia, the same term used in 1 Thessalonians 3:13. Therefore, the word parousia cannot be restricted to Christ’s visible descent to earth at the end of the Tribulation. Paul himself uses it for the Rapture in the very next chapter. This makes chapter 4 the interpretive center of the letter’s repeated references to Christ’s coming. Chapter 3 presents the hope in compressed form, while chapter 4 explains it in detail. The clearer and more developed passage should guide the interpretation of the shorter statement. The final reference at the end of chapter 5 reinforces the same pattern found throughout the letter. Paul prays that the Thessalonians’ “whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23), again presenting Christ’s coming for the Church as the endpoint of their present earthly walk and sanctification. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. -1 Thessalonians 5:23 For Church Age believers, that terminal point is most naturally the Rapture, not the later return of Christ to earth after they have already been glorified and with Him throughout the Tribulation. Therefore, it is easily noted that all through the book, Paul is seamlessly weaving the same theme as he unfolds his teaching on the Rapture as the opening event of Christ’s broader Parousia. It would be strange then to assume that the passage in 3:13 would not follow this same pattern. Christ Comes “With” Saints at the Rapture The phrase “with all his saints” is often considered decisive evidence for the Second Coming proper view. A common theological shorthand used by most of us today says that Christ comes “for” His saints at the Rapture but “with” His saints at the Second Coming. That distinction can be useful as a general summary, but it should not be applied so rigidly that it overrides Paul’s actual wording and the teaching he is unfolding throughout the letter. It should be noted that First Thessalonians 4:14, while speaking of the Rapture, explicitly says: “Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” At the Rapture, Christ does not descend alone. He brings with Him those who have died in Christ. Their departed spirits accompany Him as He descends. Their bodies are then raised and glorified, after which living believers are transformed and caught up together with them and with Christ. There is therefore a genuine “with all His saints” dimension to the Rapture itself. This provides an important explanation for 1 Thessalonians 3:13. When Christ descends at the opening of the Parousia, He brings the departed saints with Him, raises the dead in Christ and gathers the living saints into His presence. At that moment, He is associated with the complete company of His people. The phrase “with all his saints” fits this event particularly well. The Rapture is when the Church for the first time becomes fully assembled together “with Christ” in a glorified state. The dead in Christ are raised, the living are translated and both groups are united in the Lord’s presence. The Meaning of “With” The Greek preposition translated “with” in 1 Thessalonians 3:13 is meta. It expresses association or accompaniment, but it does not by itself specify a destination. [1] In other words, the phrase “with all his saints” does not automatically mean “descending all the way to the earth with all his saints” as will take place at the Second Coming proper. That directional idea must be supplied by the context. The same is true in 1 Thessalonians 4:14, where God brings those who sleep in Jesus “with him.” Paul does not say in that verse that Christ brings them to the earth. The verses that follow explain the movement: Christ descends, the dead are raised and the living are caught up to meet Him in the air. The grammar therefore does not force 1 Thessalonians 3:13 to refer to the final descent to earth. It can naturally describe Christ’s coming in association with His saints during the Rapture event. Parousia as a Broader Royal Arrival The word parousia carries the idea of arrival, presence or official coming. In the ancient world, it was used to describe the visit of a king, ruler or dignitary. [2] It was not necessarily limited to one split-second appearance. It could encompass the arrival as a broader period and included the events associated with it. [3] When an honored ruler approached a city, the loyal citizens would go out to meet him outside the city before he arrived in the city itself. They would welcome him and become part of the larger royal-arrival ceremony for his physical arrival inside the actual city. A span of time could therefore take place between the initial meeting outside the city and the eventual physical arrival inside the city. Paul uses related imagery in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 when he says believers will be caught up “to meet the Lord in the air.” The word translated “meet,” apantēsis, could be used for going out to welcome an arriving dignitary within the ancient Greek parousia context. [4] This imagery fits the Rapture as the opening stage of Christ’s Parousia. The King approaches, His people are gathered to meet Him and His royal presence begins. The climactic conclusion of that same broader Parousia occurs later when Christ returns visibly to physically touch down on the earth in judgment and kingdom glory. This does not require two comings. It recognizes two stages within one extended coming or presence of Christ: the Rapture at the opening of the Parousia and the Second Coming proper at the conclusion of the Parousia. A similar distinction can be made concerning Christ’s First Coming. His birth, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension occurred across a period of time, yet they all belonged to the larger reality of His First Coming. In the same way, Christ’s future Parousia (His Second Coming) will include an opening event and a climactic final event without becoming two disconnected comings. The Pattern at the End of Every Chapter It is instructive to recognize the patterning Paul uses to unfold his teaching of this doctrine in his letter. A central feature of 1 Thessalonians is the way every chapter ends with a reference to the Lord’s coming. Chapter 1 ends with believers waiting for God’s Son from heaven. Chapter 2 ends with believers in Christ’s presence at His coming. Chapter 3 ends with their hearts established at His coming with all His saints. Chapter 4 ends with the catching up of believers to meet the Lord in the air. Chapter 5 ends with Paul praying that they will be preserved blameless unto Christ’s coming. This pattern is not accidental. Paul is progressively unfolding one consistent eschatological hope for the Church. Chapter 4 makes the nature of that hope explicit. The coming for which believers are waiting is the event at which dead and living Church saints are gathered to Christ (the Rapture). That detailed explanation naturally informs the other references throughout the letter. It would be unnecessarily disjointed to assume that Paul repeatedly changes between unrelated aspects of Christ’s return without signaling those changes. The more natural reading is that the chapter-ending references build toward and flow from the Rapture explanation in chapter 4. The Difficulty with the Alternative View Interpreting 1 Thessalonians 3:13 as the Second Coming proper creates an awkward gap in Paul’s pastoral argument. It would mean that while exhorting Church Age believers to remain established in holiness, Paul directs them beyond the Rapture, beyond their glorification and beyond the entire Tribulation to Christ’s final descent to earth. But the Rapture is the event that actually ends their present earthly course. It is the moment when their responsibility to endure in mortal bodies concludes. It is also the event Paul repeatedly presents as their immediate hope. The alternative interpretation therefore seems to skip over the very event most relevant to Paul’s exhortation. It directs the Church’s attention to a later stage of Christ’s coming after the believers’ present need for sanctification has already ended. The context of 1 Thessalonians points in the opposite direction. Paul speaks to Church saints who are waiting for Christ, expecting deliverance from wrath, anticipating entrance into His presence and finding comfort in the promised gathering of the dead and living in Christ. Conclusion After examining the relevant data, it should be clear that the phrase “with all his saints” does not require 1 Thessalonians 3:13 to refer exclusively to the Second Coming proper. The larger context of the letter strongly supports the pretribulation Rapture at the opening of Christ’s Parousia. The pastoral logic concerns believers being established in holiness until the endpoint of their present Church Age course. First Thessalonians 4:14 explicitly teaches that Christ brings departed saints with Him at the Rapture. Verses 15-17 use parousia terminology while describing the catching away of the Church. The Greek preposition translated “with” does not demand a descent to the earth. The phrase “all his saints” fits the complete gathering of dead and living believers at the Rapture. The repeated chapter-ending pattern consistently directs the Church toward the Lord’s coming, with chapter 4 providing the clearest explanation of what that coming means for Church saints. Christ will certainly return visibly to the earth with His glorified people at the end of the Tribulation. That is the climactic conclusion of His Parousia. But in the immediate pastoral and prophetic context of 1 Thessalonians 3:13, Paul appears to have the opening stage in view: the pretribulation Rapture, when the Lord descends from heaven, brings those who sleep in Jesus, raises the dead in Christ and catches up the living saints to meet Him in the air. Marantha! [1] Walter Bauer, Frederick William Danker, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000, pp. 636-37, s.v. “μετά.” [2] Adolf Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East: The New Testament Illustrated by Recently Discovered Texts of the Graeco-Roman World, trans. Lionel R. M. Strachan, rev. ed., London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1927, pp. 368-73. [3] James Hope Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament: Illustrated from the Papyri and Other Non-Literary Sources, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1930, pp. 497-98, s.v. “παρουσία.” [4] Erik Peterson, “ἀπάντησις,” in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Kittel, trans. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, vol. 1, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964, pp. 380-81.

(From the study "Understanding The Distinction Between Israel And The Church") It is somewhat common in scripture for a prophecy to, in the course of a single line, or even in the space of a comma, jump from one fulfillment event to another, being hundreds or even thousands of years apart. This is a common occurrence in Bible prophecy due to the hidden nature of the Church Age in prophetic God’s program. Between the “mountain peaks” of Bible prophecy is the “valley” of the Church Age, which was hidden from view to the Old Testament prophets. Their prophecies often discuss events fulfilled at Christ’s First Coming and seemingly flow right into events that will take place at His Second Coming (two prophetic "mountain peak" events). Through the benefit of hindsight, we can now see that they skip over the several thousand years we’ve experienced so far in the Church Age. If while initially reading them, you didn’t already know there was a mystery gap period (the Church Age) inserted in between, you’d think they were all continuous and uninterrupted prophecies. A prime example of this is the clear gap between Zechariah 9:9 and 9:10. Verse 9 is a clear prophecy related to Jesus’ First Coming, describing His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem several days prior to His crucifixion. Verse 10 then immediately moves to a Second Coming context, prophetically describing the glorious return of Christ as the conquering Messiah who will defeat His enemies and establish His Millennial reign on earth. Verse 9: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Verse 10: And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. -Zechariah 9:9-10 From an Old Testament perspective prior to Christ, one would be hard-pressed to recognize a prophetic gap that separates these two verses. No such gap is obvious in the text. But by virtue of hindsight, the gap becomes clear. Between the events of Christ’s two comings lies the Church Age, a mystery intercalation in God’s program. Scholar Warren Wiersbe writes: The entire age of the church fits between Zechariah 9:9 and 9:10, just as it does between Isaiah 9:6 and 7 and after the comma in Isaiah 61:2. [1] As Wiersbe notes, this prophetic gap is also obvious in Isaiah 9:6-7. Note how clearly the beginning of Verse 6 refers to the First Coming, but then immediately shifts to Second Coming events. Verse 6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Verse 7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. -Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah’s prophecy of a child being born and a son being given obviously refers to Jesus’ incarnation at His First Coming. But then the passage immediately transitions to a Second Coming context in everything that follows. While Wiersbe suggests that the transition takes place between the two verses, we must point out that the government has never yet been upon Jesus’ shoulder. This will not take place until He establishes His earthly reign following His Second Coming. Jesus has also never been called “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” by the Jewish nation to which He was sent and to whom this prophecy was given. This will not occur until all of Israel is brought to faith around the time of the Second Coming and establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. Therefore, the gap is actually located in Verse 6 between the phrases "unto us a son is given" and "and the government shall be upon his shoulder." Verse 7 then continues to describe the establishment of Christ's earthly reign in the Millennial Kingdom, which follows the Second Coming. So, again, without the benefit of hindsight, it would seem as if these prophecies flow together. But because we can look back on them with the clarity of New Testament revelation, it becomes obvious that a mystery time-gap separates them. Wiersbe also mentions Isaiah 61:2, possibly the most classic example of this “hidden gap” phenomena in all of scripture. Jesus Christ Himself interpreted this for us in Luke 4:16-19. This passage records how at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus stood up in the synagogue when it was His turn to read, and opened to the book of the prophet Isaiah. He proceeded to read Isaiah 61:1-2, proclaiming His mission at His First Coming. He finishes with His mandate: “To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” What you probably wouldn’t realize without going back to Isaiah to read the original prophecy, is that Jesus stopped reading right in the middle of the sentence! The rest reads, “and the day of vengeance of our God…” Jesus stopped reading at the comma that preceded “and the day of vengeance of our God…” He left that last segment out. Why? Because we now understand that after that comma, the prophecy jumped from the time of the Messiah’s First Coming to some several thousand years or more into the future – past the present time in which we are now living, to the time of His Second Coming. The “day of vengeance” was not part of His mission during His First Coming, but it will be fulfilled at His Second Coming. So, in the original prophecy in Isaiah, we see that one comma separated several thousand years of history (to date), but this gap would have been unknown and undetectable to the original readers. We need to recognize that the Church was a mystery entity hidden throughout the Old Testament. Some have illustrated this concept as a series of mountain peaks, separated by a valley that lay in between. The first mountain peak represents the events of the First Coming of the Messiah, and the next taller mountain peaks represent the events of the Second Coming and then the Millennial Kingdom that immediately follows. In between the first two peaks sits a valley encompassing the Church Age, which was below the line of vision for the prophets. They could see the mountain peaks in the distance, and from their view, they seemed to follow each other sequentially without gaps or interruptions. But from their vantage point, they couldn’t tell that between the mountains was a valley. In other words, they couldn’t know that there was a two thousand-or-more-year Church Age that separated the events they saw. All of these things were beneath their line of sight. This truth is taught consistently in the scriptures, as we see from the words of Jesus Himself in Matthew 13. Jesus’s disciples asked Him why He spoke in parables. His response alluded to this coming “valley,” or period of time we now call the church, as being a time which the Old Testament prophets could not see. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them [the unbelieving] it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. -Matthew 13:10-17 In other words, due to God's foreknowledge of Israel's national unbelief, there was a mystery age inserted in between the two mountain peaks that the prophets were not permitted to foresee. Knowing that the nation of Israel would reject His Messiah, God had planned a hidden age that was not disclosed until later on in Jesus’s earthly ministry. When it became clear that the nation would reject Him as their King, it was only then that Jesus began to reveal this truth of a mystery age that would occur prior to the introduction of His Kingdom. This is taught also in 1 Peter. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: -1 Peter 1:10 Peter states that the prophets did not have the full disclosure of the salvation that would occur during the Church Age. They were given prophecies of the First Coming, which portrayed the Messiah as the “Suffering Servant.” They were given prophecies of the Second Coming, which portrayed the Messiah as the “Conquering King” who would introduce the Kingdom reign. While the prophets were shown these distinct “mountain peaks” of prophecy, they were unable to see the “valley” of the Church Age that lay between them. Therefore, they could not fully understand how the hazy and seemingly-contradictory prophesies of the Old Testament would come to pass. But when Israel as a nation rejected her Messiah at His First Coming, the Kingdom Age was postponed, and God introduced His mystery plan for a new entity called the Church! Although the Church began with the Jewish followers of Jesus as they received this New Covenant Spirit outpouring on Pentecost, this outpouring was soon extended to the Gentiles (Acts 10 and following), as this mystery hidden Church Age was inaugurated. The hidden nature of the Church Age is evident in the disciples’ confusion regarding what would “come next” after Jesus's resurrection. To the Jewish mind, the Church was an unknown and unexpected entity. It was completely concealed. As Jews, the disciples instead looked forward to the Messianic Age that was promised, in which their Messiah would rule on earth as a descendant of David. This is made clear for us in the following exchange between Jesus and His disciples. And, [Jesus] being assembled together with them [the disciples], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he [Jesus] said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. -Acts 1:4-8 Here, following Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection, the disciples were still confused as to what was to follow. They had it in their minds that the next thing to transpire was Jesus, as the Messiah, introducing the earthly Messianic Kingdom. They had no concept that His true purpose – hidden in the Old Testament – was His bride the Church, the centerpiece of His plan from the beginning (Revelation 13:8)! When they asked Him if Israel’s restoration through the Messianic Kingdom was to follow, Jesus essentially brushed off their question, letting them know that the earthly Kingdom was irrelevant for them at that moment. Christ didn’t deny that such a Kingdom would one day come, but it wasn’t the focus at that time. Instead, their true identity and purpose was far greater: to participate in the formation of the Church – the body and bride of Christ – which would introduce the spiritual aspects of the New Covenant. This idea of an intervening period of a Church Age that would unite Jew and Gentile as one in the body of Christ was a totally unexpected possibility for them. This truth, however, is most clearly revealed in the writings of Paul, who more than any other was given the privilege of expounding upon the doctrine of the Church, which he consistently referred to as a “mystery.” That word in Greek is mystērion (Strong’s # G3466), and has a slightly different meaning than our same word does in English. In the Greek New Testament, mystērion is a term normally used to refer to “that which has been kept secret by God in the past, but which He has now chosen to reveal.” [2] We see this in Paul's letter to the Romans: Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [mystērion], which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: -Romans 16:25-26 Paul states that the gospel of Jesus Christ, which would be made available to all nations (a description of the Church Age) was a mystery that was kept secret since the world began – but had not yet been made manifest (or revealed). He also teaches this truth in his Epistle to the Ephesians: Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery [mystērion] of Christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: -Ephesians 3:4-5 Paul teaches that the Church (comprised of Jews and Gentiles becoming one body in Christ through the gospel) was a mystery that was not made known to earlier generations. It was only now revealed through the apostles and prophets of the Church Age. Later in this letter, Paul refers to the bride of Christ (the Church) in this same way. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery [mystērion]: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. -Ephesians 5:31-32 The very existence of the Church was a great mystery that was unknown to previous audiences. The Church Age is an intercalation in God's dealings with Israel. It is a mystery that was hidden. Once again, Paul confirms this in his letter to the Colossians: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery [mystērion] which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: -Colossians 1:25-27 In conclusion, we can recognize the pervasive teaching of the dispensational, hidden nature of the Church (and the Church Age) throughout the Old Testament. Between the “mountain peaks” of prophetic revelation laid a valley called the Church Age that was undisclosed to the Old Testament prophets. God's prophetic plan allowed for the insertion of an intervening gap of time in which the death and resurrection of the Messiah, as well as the subsequent Church Age could occur. In this way, we can appreciate how God foreknew humanity's need of redemption and the eventual failure of the nation of Israel at the initial coming of her Messiah. None of this was a last-minute surprise to God. His plan was multidimensional, and seamlessly accounted for these eventualities! Only He could have put together such a plan! [1] Warren W. Wiersbe, “Zechariah” in The Bible Exposition Commentary: The Prophets, Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2002, pp. 447-476. [2] Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, ed. Stephen D. Renn, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2005, p. 659.

One of the most common inconsistencies in modern Christian eschatology (more specifically, within the pre-tribulational/dispensational camp) is the attempt to affirm both the imminence of the (pre-trib) Rapture (the supernatural catching away of the Church from earth to heaven by Jesus) and the existence of signs that precede it. Many will quickly say, “I believe Jesus could come at any moment,” while also claiming that the Church must first observe so-called "end-time signs" like apostasy, globalism, technology, wars, Israel’s political developments, a rebuilt temple, or some alleged “prophetic convergence” before the Rapture can occur. Many of these adocates have prophecy ministries largely built on convincing you that those "signs" are happening presently, and therefore we are now predictably close to the Rapture. But those two ideas of imminence and signs-watching cannot logically coexist. Definitionally, if a predicted sign must occur before the Rapture, then the Rapture is not imminent. Conversely, if the Rapture is truly imminent, then no predicted sign can stand between the Church and Christ’s coming. An imminent coming means an "any-moment" coming according to the standard definition of the word itself. Imminence does not merely mean that we do not know the exact day or hour. Almost every eschatological view could affirm that. A posttribulationist could say, “I do not know the precise day or hour of Christ’s return.” A prewrath advocate could say the same. But historic pretribulational imminence means more than uncertainty about the exact date. It means Christ may come at any moment, with no necessary event, sign, prophecy, or condition required first. The event is always possible. Nothing must happen before it. Bible scholar Renald Showers gives an excellent overview of the scriptural usage of the term “imminence.” The English word “imminent” comes from the Latin verb “immineo, imminere,” which means to “overhand” or “project.” In light of this, the English word “imminent” means “hanging over one’s head, ready to befall or overtake one; close at hand in its incidence.” Thus, an imminent event is one that is always hanging overhead, and is constantly ready to befall or overtake a person. Other things may happen before the imminent event, but nothing must take place before it happens. If something else must take place before an event can happen, that event is not imminent. The necessity of something else taking place first destroys the concept of imminency. [1] To the dismay of modern prophecy teachers who rely on hype and sensationalism for audience retention and monetization, this is the long-standing definition of imminence by Dispensationalists, and is based on the actual dictionary meaning of the word itself. That is why sign-watching and imminence are definitionally contradictory. If one were to claim, “The Rapture cannot happen until this sign occurs,” then Christ cannot come at any moment. The believer is not truly waiting for Christ; he is waiting for the sign. This is not a minor disagreement over terminology. It changes the posture of the Church and fundamentally alters the instruction given to us, most notably by Jesus Himself, and then subsequently by the New Testament authors . The consistent biblical command is always for believers to look for Christ Himself, not to search the headlines for imagined prophetic prerequisites or convergences. This basic understanding is so fundamental to the pre-trib doctrine, that it is essentially baked into the idea of a pre-trib Rapture to begin with. Another scholar, Wayne A. Brindle, writes: The term “imminence” (or imminency) as applied to the rapture of the church means that Christ may return at any moment for His church, and no biblically predicted event must necessarily precede it. Those who believe that Christ will return for His church before the Tribulation normally hold that the rapture is imminent – that it may occur at any time and that it is the next predicted event in God’s prophetic timetable. [2] So the Rapture is something that can occur at any time. No prophesied event must precede it. If this is biblically true, then logically, the pre-trib rapture is established. Any other view violates this teaching of imminency, since the Rapture could not be expected until after the occurrence of certain prophesied events and could not therefore be considered imminent. But not only is imminence basic to the concept of the pre-trib Rapture, but we should recognize that the very Greek word (harpazó) that underlies our English word “rapture” fundamentally conveys the nuance of imminence by definition. One Bible commentary aptly brings out this often-overlooked subtlety: Harpazo conveys the idea of force suddenly exercised, and also well rendered by the English verb to snatch (to seize, take or grasp something [or someone] abruptly or hastily with emphasis on the idea of suddenness or quickness). Harpazo was used of rescuing one from a situation of threatening danger as in ‘snatching them out of the fire’ (see Jude 1:23). [3] The idea of being suddenly yanked out of impending danger is only consistent with imminence, and imminence is only consistent with a pre-trib Rapture. Therefore, one might even go as far as to state that by definition, the Rapture is pretribulational because imminence is implied in its very meaning. Based on this, the pretribulational/dispensational position insists that the Church’s hope is Christ’s any-moment coming. The Rapture is not introduced in scripture as an event preceded by visible signs. It is presented as sudden, unexpected, and possible to occur in every generation and at every moment of the Church Age. No signs are required in order to expect the Rapture as imminent. And signs are incompatible with imminence. This is obvious since our understanding of imminence itself comes not only from Jesus, but the New Testament authors, who all wrote of this expectation back in the first century. In other words, the Rapture was already to be expected as "any moment" nearly two thousand years ago. And if this is true, then there's yet another nail in the coffin of the date-setters who would like to convince us that the Rapture has only become imminent recently, due to the supposed appearance of signs. But if Paul and others were declaring the imminence of the Rapture as current back in the first century, then it is obvious that they were not awaiting future signs. Several examples can be quickly noted. Paul tells the Thessalonians nearly two thousand years ago “to wait for his Son from heaven” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). He does not tell them to wait for apostasy, a treaty, a temple, wars, digital currency, or geopolitical movements. He doesn't even tell them to await the restoration of Israel as a nation. Another example of imminence is found in Titus 2:13, which says that believers are to be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Again, the object of expectation is Christ Himself, not for some alleged signs that scripture nowhere instructs us to await. A deeper look into imminence in scripture is found in this article. This does not mean the Bible says nothing about future signs. It certainly does. The question is not whether biblical signs exist. The question is: signs when, signs for whom, signs of what, and signs in relation to which event? Dispensational interpretation requires careful distinctions. Many prophetic signs relate to Israel, the nations, the Tribulation, and the Second Coming proper (the climactic ending of the Lord's Second Advent). But signs that occur within the Tribulation or anywhere in the judgment phase of the broad Day of the Lord are not Rapture signs for the Church. They do not actually offer us any real predictability. To turn them into Rapture signs is to confuse categories and undermine imminence. And if we are so easily able to bypass imminence by looking for Tribulation signs, then in what way is the Rapture actually imminent? Matthew 24 is probably the most common passage misused by sign-watchers and date-setters. Jesus speaks of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, false christs, persecution, the abomination of desolation, cosmic disturbances, and then His visible coming in glory. But the context of these signs is not the Church waiting for the Rapture. The disciples ask about the destruction of the temple, the sign of His coming, and the end of the age. Jesus gives signs connected to Israel, Jerusalem, the temple, Judea, the Sabbath, and the visible coming of the Son of Man at the end of the Tribulation. These signs identify the nearness of the Second Coming proper (the physical coming at the end of the Tribulation), not the Rapture. In other words, these signs are events that occur within the broad period of the Day of the Lord, giving understanding to those at that time of how close they are to its climax. This is why Matthew 24:32-33 says, “when ye shall see all these things, know that it [the end of the Tribulation] is near, even at the doors.” The people who see “all these things” are those living in the period when these tribulational signs are unfolding. The often-misinterpreted fig tree section then summarizes the sequence of signs just described, comparing the predictability of summer once the signs of the seasonal budding of a fig tree are underway to the predictability of Christ’s visible return once the Day of the Lord signs are underway. But then Jesus completely shifts His context in Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man.” He now shifts from answering the disciples' "signs" question to now answering their question about the timing. From that point onward, the emphasis changes from identifiable signs to unpredictability, suddenness, and watchfulness. In other words, instead of focusing on the completely predictable climax of that eschatological period, He now moves to discuss the complete unpredictability of the absolute beginning point of that period. Instead of focusing on the signs in the broad Day of the Lord that lead up to its narrow, climactic finale, He now shifts to focus on the suddenness and signlessness of the time immediately prior to the broad Day's absolute beginning. So the "sequence of signs" section has to do with signs after the Rapture that lead up to the ending of the Tribulation. Meanwhile, the “no man knows the day or hour” section concerns the unpredictable arrival of the broader Day of the Lord period as a whole, which begins with the Rapture. This distinction is crucial. The Second Coming proper is signaled by events inside the broad Day. The Rapture is not. There are no signs leading up to the Rapture, which occurs at the opening of the broad period of the Day of the Lord. They are simultaneous events, which is why both the Rapture and the beginning of that Day are both described as being imminent in scripture. Both the Lord's personal coming as well as the Day's coming are described using imminence language. Both are compared to the unpredictable, sudden arrival of a thief. Logically, they can only both be considered imminent if they occur simultaneously, which is an overlooked point in the Bible prophecy community and is the subject of my book The Missing Key. For an overview of this topic of the dual imminence of the Rapture and broad Day, see this article. So the Rapture is signless, but once it occurs, that's when the signs do begin. This judgment period of the broad Day leads into Daniel’s seventieth week, which has a measurable chronology expressed both here in Matthew 24 and in Daniel 9:27. The signs allow those on the earth during that time to understand where they are in the timing sequence. For example, once the great abomination of desolation sign occurs, Israel will be able to know that the Lord's physical coming at the end of the Tribulation is around three and a half years away. But to the contrary, the Church is never told to calculate the Rapture from those signs. The Rapture precedes this time period, and we are never instructed to attempt to bypass imminence by pretending we can infer the closeness of the Day of the Lord through alleged signs-watching. This is not a scriptural instruction nor practice. In fact, as we have seen thus far, it is contra-biblical. One cannot watch for both Jesus and signs. If signs are expected first, then Jesus is not imminent. Another misunderstood aspect of this debate involves the consistent exhortations toward eschatological “watchfulness.” Sign-watchers often say, “Jesus told us to watch, so we must watch the signs.” But that is not what "watch" means in eschatological passages. In fact, it requires the opposite understanding since "watchfulness" for the Lord's return is typically paired with an imminence context. Watching means spiritual alertness, readiness, sobriety, and faithfulness in light of the Lord’s possible any-moment return. It does not mean decoding current events. So the entire point of the need for continual watchfulness is due to the fact that the Lord can return at any moment completely suddenly and without signs. Watchfulness is often linked with the thief analogy (Matthew 24:36-44 et al.). When Jesus compares His coming to a thief in the night, the point is not that believers should watch for clues that the thief is near. The point is precisely the opposite: the thief by definition comes unexpectedly. There are no signs that pertain to the suprise arrival of a thief. The homeowner does not know when the thief will come. Therefore, he must always be ready. To say, “watching means watching for signs,” actually destroys the thief imagery. If signs announce the thief’s arrival, then the coming is not thief-like! Jesus' "watchfulness" commands are also routinely paired with the equivalent imagery of the suprise arrival of a master of the house (Luke 12:35-50, et al.). The instruction is for the servants to be constantly watching for the unknown time of the master's coming. But if prerequisite signs must appear first, then the servants do not need to be ready until those signs appear. But just like the thief example, Jesus’ point here also is that the master will come at an unexpected hour. The command to watch is a command to live in perpetual readiness for Him, not to postpone expectancy until signs arrive. Hebrews 10:25 is another passage often misused: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Some argue this proves the Church will see signs showing the Day is near. But the entire point of the admonition takes for granted that the original recipients could already “see the day approaching” in the first century prior to any so-called modern signs. The writer was not saying, “One future day, when modern prophetic signs appear and are discussed on YouTube, then begin assembling more faithfully.” No! He was instructing the direct opposite. He was telling first-century believers to persevere because the Day was already drawing near two thousand years ago without even one so-called modern sign. That language of "drawing near" is imminence language, not date-setting language. The same is true of Romans 13:11-12: “now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” Paul was able to say that the Day of the Lord was "at hand" (imminence language) back in the first century without modern Israel, global digital currency, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence, or any of the modern developments prophecy teachers often cite. Therefore, Paul was not teaching that observable end-time signs allow believers to know the Rapture is now near in a way it was not near before. He was saying that with every passing moment, believers move closer to the consummation of their salvation, which could take place at any moment. The nearness is based on imminence and the passage of time, not on headline fulfillment. Another passage frequently cited is 1 Timothy 4:1: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith.” Sign-watchers argue that this apostasy is a sign to the Church before the Rapture. But Paul does not say this apostasy is a measurable prophetic countdown to the Rapture. He says “some” will depart from the faith. That was already happening in the apostolic era and he never associates it with being a sign only related to the time immediately prior to the Rapture. False teaching, doctrinal defection, and spiritual deception have characterized the entire Church Age. Further, Paul provided no threshold or metric that can be objectively assessed in order to determine when the apostasy has reached a sufficient level to be considered as this sign! Therefore, even if he intended it to be understood as such, we have no objective way to apply it as a sign. Obviously, it cannot then be effectively used as one. Further, we must question the entire presumption that this passage (and similar ones) refer to eschatology just because they include phrases like "the latter times" and "the last days." These are not phrases that scripture uses exclusively of the times connected to the eschatological Day of the Lord. In fact, the New Testament repeatedly teaches that the “last days” began in the apostolic era and encompass the entire Church Age, not merely the final years immediately before the Rapture. Hebrews 1:2 says God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,” Peter applied Joel’s “last days” prophecy to Pentecost in Acts 2:16-17, and John plainly declared, “it is the last time” (1 John 2:18). Likewise, Paul said the “ends of the world are come” upon first-century believers (1 Corinthians 10:11). This means characteristics associated with the last days (such as apostasy, false teaching, scoffers, and spiritual decline) are expected characteristics of the entire Church Age, not unique signs identifying the final generation before the Rapture. Therefore, these conditions cannot function as prophetic countdown markers that nullify imminence. So then apostasy is a basic characteristic of the Church Age, not a prerequisite sign that must appear before the Rapture. Apostasy may intensify. It may become more visible. But no one can define how much apostasy is enough to satisfy the alleged sign. Is it 30 percent? 60 percent? 90 percent? Once again, scripture gives no measurable threshold. Obviously then, if the sign cannot be objectively measured, it cannot function as a prophetic indicator of Rapture nearness. And if it must occur before the Rapture, imminence is gone. 2 Timothy 3 (another passage often missapplied by signs-watchers) is used in a way similar to 1 Timothy 4:1. Paul says, “in the last days perilous times shall come,” followed by a description of moral and religious corruption. But Paul then tells Timothy, “from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5). That means Timothy himself would encounter these people back in the first century. Paul was not describing a condition irrelevant until a far-off terminal generation before the Rapture. He was warning Timothy about conditions already operative in the Church Age in his day. These last-days characteristics are not Rapture prerequisites. They are moral realities of the present evil age. Second Peter 3 and Jude are also often cited because they speak of scoffers in the last days. But again, both Peter and Jude simply address realities already or soon to be present among their readers. In another place, Jude says certain men had already crept in unawares (Jude 1:4). Similarly, John says many antichrists had already come, proving that it was already “the last time” (1 John 2:18). Scoffing, apostasy, and false teaching prove that we are in the last days broadly (the entire Church Age), not that the Rapture has suddenly become near in a way it was not near before. The regathering of Israel is another important issue. Dispensationalists rightly recognize that Israel’s national existence is prophetically significant. Based on a multitude of scriptures (Matthew 24:15-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Revelation 12, et al.) a future Tribulation scenario requires a Jewish presence in the land, a temple context, and Jerusalem as the focal point of end-time events. Therefore, some use Israel as a sort of barometer for measuring our closeness to the Rapture. But while Israel’s modern presence in the land may be a prophetic point of interest, or even a partial fulfillment, it is not directly related to the timing of the Rapture. Israel's presence in the land is not a prerequisite to the Rapture unless Scripture explicitly says the Church cannot be raptured until Israel is nationally restored. It does not, and such an idea would contradict the actual teaching: imminence. All of the prophetic excitement around Israel is legitimate until it gets turned into a Rapture timing predictor. The supposition that the Rapture is now predictably near is only inference and opinion. Not only doesn't scripture teach this idea, but it necessarily would contradict imminence. Israel being in the land also cannot make the Rapture "more imminent" than before, since imminence is not a concept that can "increase" or "decrease." Definitionally, imminence already means the event is one hundred percent expected at any time. Since the word "imminent" is a non-gradable adjective, it cannot vary in intensity or degree. It is an absolute or complete descriptor, much like the adjectives "dead," "perfect," or "married." One can no sooner say "the Rapture is more imminent than before" than "my dog is more dead than before." By very definition then, imminence is not "on the accelerator," as some prophecy "teachers" have laughably claimed. The same principle applies to a rebuilt temple, red heifers, priestly garments, or preparations for temple worship. These may be interesting because the Tribulation involves a temple context, but the Rapture does not require the Church to see the temple rebuilt first. If the temple must be rebuilt before the Rapture, then the Rapture is not imminent. If the Rapture is imminent, then temple developments cannot be required signs. The plain fact is the Bible does not tell us how long Israel can be in the land before the Rapture happens. Back in 1980, Bible scholar Ray Stedman rightly stated: There is not a word in Scripture of how long Israel will be back in the land before the Lord returns. The fact that something fulfills a predicted event does not in any way set up a calendar that says we are very, very close to the return of the Lord. ... No one knows, and there is not a word or hint in Scripture of how long Israel will be back in the land. It may be hundreds of years before the Lord returns. Scripture does not say. [4] Technology arguments are also speculative. Some say the Rapture must be near because technology now exists for the mark of the beast, global surveillance, digital currency, or the worldwide viewing of the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11. But the Bible never says smartphones, livestreaming, biometric IDs, or digital currency must exist before the Rapture. Those are modern inferences only. They may help us imagine how Tribulation events could unfold, but they are not biblical prerequisites. This distinction is extremely important: prophetic points of interest are not the same as prophetic signs. A point of interest may help us understand possible future mechanisms. A sign is a biblically predicted event that must occur before another event. The Rapture has no such signs. Therefore, technological developments may be interesting, but they do not prove it is near. They offer us no predictability and therefore do not function as signs. Some signs-watchers also appeal to Luke 21:28: “when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” They take this as an instruction to the Church to watch for signs and "your redemption" to refer to the Rapture. But again, Jesus's reference to “these things” are the events of the Tribulation discourse that He had just explicitly detailed (as was noted earlier in our mention of the parallel Matthew 24 discourse). It is not the Church but the people in the judgment phase of the broad Day of the Lord who see "these things" begin to happen, and can therefore know that the climactic visible return of Christ and Kingdom deliverance is next to occur. It does not turn Tribulation signs into Church Age Rapture signs since these signs are not present until after the Church is removed. Others appeal to Jesus’ rebuke of the unbelieving Pharisees in Matthew 16:1-3: “Can ye not discern the signs of the times?” But in context, Jesus was rebuking Israel’s leaders for failing to recognize the prophesied signs of His First Coming, which Israel (not the Church) was expected to be aware of. Why were they expected to be aware of these things? Because they were given a precise prophetic "countdown to the Messiah" in the Daniel 9:25 prophecy. In addition to that, they were also given hundreds of specific messianic prophecies in the Hebrew scriptures that would help them recognize Him when He arrived. So, unlike the Church and the Rapture, Israel was expected to anticipate the timing of the messianic First Coming since they were actually given signs and a countdown. The Church was given neither. In fact, we were promised the direct opposite: "Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 24:44). It is an embarrassingly sloppy category error to take a rebuke concerning the wicked Pharisees' failure to recognize Messiah’s First Coming and turn it into a mandate for godly Christians to watch modern headlines for Rapture timing indicators. The “season” argument is perhaps the most popular attempt to merge signs with imminence. Many will appeal to passages such as 1 Thessalonians 5:1 (“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you”) and argue that while no one knows the exact “day or hour,” believers can still recognize a general prophetic season through observable signs. But this reasoning quickly collapses under the slightest bit of scrutiny. It turns out that this is the direct opposite of what Paul was actually saying in 1 Thessalonians 5. Rather than suggesting that the Thessalonians required no further instruction about the times and seasons because they already knew of certain prophetic signs, Paul’s point is actually the opposite: they had no need for additional explanation regarding the timing because the doctrine of imminence had already been made sufficiently clear to them through prior teaching – particularly through the teachings of Jesus found, for example, in the latter portion of the Olivet Discourse. As noted earlier, beginning in verse 36 of Matthew 24, Jesus discussed the total suddenness, signlessness, and unpredictability (imminence) of the beginning of the broad period of His coming (parousia). When the similarities between 1 Thessalonians 5 and Matthew 24:36ff are noted, it becomes obvious that Paul was drawing on this teaching by Jesus in his own teaching on the imminence of the Day of the Lord. This is clear in light of his usage of many of the same idioms seen in the latter half of the Olivet Discourse (the unpredictable coming of the thief in the night, the sudden onset of judgment out of a context of routine normalcy, the simultaneous removal of the righteous and outpouring of judgment on the wicked who are left, et al.). Since the entire point of the latter half of Jesus's discourse was entirely predicated on imminence, then it is obvious why Paul's Thessalonian readers would not need further elaboration from him on the issue of the timing. But this insight of the similarities between 1 Thessalonians 5 and the latter half of the Olivet Discourse is not needed in order to arrive at this conclusion. Simple reading comprehension will suffice. Paul's point is not easily mistakable. After referring to the Thessalonians not needing further commentary on the "times and the seasons" in verse 1, he then explicitly states in verse 2 why this is not needed: "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." In other words, the Thessalonians' full awareness of the unpredictability of the timing was precisely why they needed no further explanation. Thus, it is difficult to understand how signs-watchers can so carelessly interpret this verse to mean the opposite. The proper “season” of expectancy therefore is not a future sign-based window, but the entire Church Age itself. The Church has lived in the "season" of imminence ever since the Church Age began. High watch days, feast-day speculation, and Rapture windows commit the same error. Whether one points to Pentecost, Trumpets, eclipses, blood moons, geopolitical meetings, or numerical patterns, the result is the same: expectation and attention is shifted from Christ Himself to a proposed timing clue. This is not biblical watchfulness; in fact, it blatantly violates biblical watchfulness. It is sanctified date-setting speculation by people who, like the rest of us, truly have no actual clue about the timing of the Rapture. Some of these practices may avoid predicting the exact day, but still violate imminence since the entire premise of imminence is unpredictability; while the entire premise of signs-watching is predictability. Others are worse, implying that some days are more prophetically likely for the Rapture to happen than others. For example, a "high watch day" by definition is a specific day on which date-setters do believe the Rapture is likely or definite to happen. But Jesus' instruction was always the direct opposite: "for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). His promise was to come on a day we cannot predict; not a day we can predict. The New Testament does not present the Rapture as more likely on one day than another (an idea incompatible with imminence). It presents Christ as always possible. That's what creates the logical force of imminence. The believer is to live ready now. Not after a treaty, or after a temple, or after apostasy reaches some undefined level, or after technology develops, or after Israel achieves certain things. It is possible now! Is there an actual purpose behind Jesus's establishing of the doctrine of imminence? The spiritual purpose of imminence is not curiosity but consecration. Imminence produces holiness, watchfulness, comfort, endurance, and evangelistic urgency. 1 John 3:2-3 connects the hope of seeing Christ with spiritual purification: “every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” The blessed hope is meant to cleanse the believer’s life, not feed prophetic sensationalism or provide so-called "prophecy teachers" with gainful employment through the YouTube monetization of false hype. Sign-watching is not edifying, but rather is spiritually dangerous. It can create excitement, but it produces the wrong kind of excitement. It generates a temporary thrill in direct disobedience to the clear teaching of the Lord. It causes people to "watch" unbiblically. It trains Christians to live by the news cycle instead of the true blessed hope. It encourages believers to be more excited about certain days than other days. It also produces repeated disappointment when alleged signs fail to lead to the Rapture. After enough failed “convergences,” believers either become cynical or double down on speculation, venturing further into horrible interpretive practices. Neither is healthy. It is also an awful witness to the world, bringing continual compounded shame and reproach on the Word of God and on His Church after each failed prediction. A consistent pretribulational dispensational approach must therefore distinguish between three categories: First, there are signs for Israel and the nations that relate to the Tribulation and Second Coming proper. Second, there are general Church Age characteristics, such as apostasy, false teaching, moral decline, persecution, and scoffing. Third, there are modern prophetic points of interest that may help us imagine how future prophecy could unfold but do not function as biblical signs. Only the first category contains true prophetic signs, and those signs do not precede the Rapture of the Church, neither can they provide any timing predictors. The second category describes the expected characteristics of the present age but does not measure Rapture nearness. The third category may be interesting but is speculative, non-authoritative, and not intended to function in a predictive manner. So then, the contradiction is both simple and unavoidable. If specific signs must occur before the Rapture can take place, then the Rapture is not truly imminent. And if the Rapture is truly imminent, then no signs can be required before it. These two propositions cannot be harmonized without redefining the word "imminent" itself. One cannot consistently claim that “Christ could come today” while simultaneously insisting that Christ cannot come until apostasy reaches a certain level, a temple is rebuilt, digital infrastructure is established, or geopolitical alignments fall into place. That is a direct contradiction between mutually exclusive ideas. The biblical position is both simpler and far more consistent. We have one simple instruction: watch (meaning be ready) for Jesus at all times. The Church is not called to watch for signs, but for the Savior Himself. Certainly, apostasy may continue to spread, the world may grow increasingly hostile to truth, technology may continue advancing, and Israel may remain central within God’s prophetic program. Yet, none of those developments function as prophetic prerequisites that must occur before Christ can come for His Church, nor can they offer timing insights. The expectancy taught throughout the New Testament was not limited to one final generation living within a unique prophetic “window,” but was the constant posture of believers throughout the entire Church Age. Christ could have come in the first century, in the tenth century, before the modern regathering of Israel, before the rise of modern technology, or before any of the developments many today treat as necessary prophetic indicators. And for that very reason, He could still come today. That is imminence! And once imminence is properly defined, sign-watching cannot be smuggled into it like a piece of unbiblical contraband by those attempting to monetize eschatology. What we know about the Rapture from scripture is quite clear: The Rapture is certain in occurrence, uncertain in timing, and signless in expectation. The believer’s command is not to begin looking for Christ once you see some signs. The command is to watch at all times. Be ready at all times. Be faithful at all times. Be holy at all times. Be comforted at all times. Be looking for Him at all times. Because He can come at all times! The blessed hope is not a prophetic puzzle. The blessed hope is a Person! And He is still coming soon! Maranatha! [1] Renald Showers, Maranatha: Our Lord, Come! Bellmawr, NJ: Friends of Israel, 1995, p. 127. [2] Wayne A. Brindle, “Imminence” in The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, eds. Tim Lahaye and Ed Hindson, Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2004, p. 144. [3] 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Commentary, PreceptAustin.org. (https://www.preceptaustin.org/1thessalonians_417-18 - Retrieved 10/24/23) [4] Ray C. Stedman, transcript of spoken message “Are These the Last Days?” given June 8, 1980, RayStedman.org. (https://www.raystedman.org/thematic-studies/prophecy/are-these-the-last-days - Retrieved 11/28/22)

(From the study "Should Christians Support Israel?") Oil painting by Alex Levin, https://artlevin.com So far in "Part 1" and "Part 2" of this article series, we have already demonstrated from scripture that Israel’s first worldwide regathering in unbelief must be the modern regathering in the current State of Israel. We have witnessed this return over the past century or so. But in order to recognize even more fully just how much modern Israel really is a part of God’s plan, we will now focus our attention on several Biblical characteristics of this regathering. Doing so will enable us to appreciate this with precise detail. So, we will shift our focus back to the first regathering that we have witnessed in recent times involving the modern Jewish State. Israel's First Worldwide Regathering Will be Through Persecution and For Judgment A key prophetic aspect that we need to be aware of regarding the current State of Israel and their present-day regathering has to do with the way in which this regathering has occurred. The Bible even gives us the specifics on the stimulus for this regathering. It tells us that they will be regathered through the means of being “fished” and “hunted” – or in other words, through persecution. This is outlined for us in Jeremiah 16:15-16. But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers [or fishermen], saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. -Jeremiah 16:15-16 Here, Jeremiah predicts a worldwide regathering of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel through the means of persecution. In Verse 16, this means of persecution is metaphorically described as involving “fishermen” and “hunters” whose actions will essentially chase the Jewish people back to their land. These pursuers, said to be sent by God, have been used to force the Jewish people to return back to their land in preparation for the events of judgment that will result in their final restoration. In an article entitled “Is the Modern State of Israel Prophetically Significant?” author and scholar Randall Price concludes: The modern history of Israel reveals that persecution has been the leading cause of the Jewish return to the Land. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries czarist pogroms and Polish economic discrimination in Eastern Europe motivated the creation of the Zionist Movement. During the Second World War, the attempted genocide of Jews during the Nazi holocaust encouraged international sympathy for the Jewish plight and led to the creation of the State of Israel. The Arab-Israel war of 1948-49 then forced Jews from Arab lands and later Soviet repression forced over a million Jews to immigrate to Israel. Over fifty years Israel has had to fight five major wars with its Arab neighbors for its survival and wage an on-going war of attrition with the Palestinians that during last decade Jews has resulted in a growing hostility in the international community toward Israel and provoked a renewed anti-Semitism in Europe. These "fishermen" and "hunters" continue to drive otherwise complacent Jews from the Diaspora to find safe haven in the Jewish State. If this modern history of events has occurred as these prophetic texts have predicted, how can we not say that the modern State of Israel is prophetically significant? [1] Israel Will Be Regathered to the Land in Stages Those who deny the prophetic significance of the modern return of the Jewish people often point out that the return has been only partial (meaning it has included only part of the Jewish people returning to only part of the land). In addition, some also object by saying the return is secular, and not spiritual in nature. However, we should understand that these objections are invalidated by scripture (as we've already shown in the previous two articles of this series). It is a misconception and a non-scriptural idea to expect that all of the Jewish people would return to the land immediately, all at once, when the process of national regathering began. It’s also a misconception that the regathering would be only spiritual in nature. To the contrary, as we’ve seen in the first two articles, the Bible prophetically reveals that the regathering would take place in two stages – a regathering before the Tribulation and a regathering before the Millennium. Furthermore, this is also clearly depicted in Ezekiel’s well-known vision of Israel’s restoration. Recorded in Ezekiel Chapter 37, this vision uses the imagery of a valley of dry bones (referring to Israel’s state of physical and spiritual deadness) that slowly and through several stages begin to experience restoration to life. It portrays a progressive physical restoration that ultimately ends in spiritual restoration. Professor Michael Rydelnik writes: The bones come to life in stages: first sinews on the bones, then flesh, then skin, and finally, breath of life (Ezekiel 37:6-10). Then God told Ezekiel that "these bones are the whole house of Israel" (Verse 11) and their restoration is a picture of the way God will bring them "back to the Land of Israel" (Verse 12). [2] Through this vision, we can recognize a prophetic pattern that reveals sequential stages of restoration: first a progressive physical regathering to the land, followed by a spiritual regathering to the Lord. Since this first regathering takes place in spiritual unbelief, then of course we should expect it to be a regathering characterized by secular and political means. That is exactly what we observe with the modern re-establishment of the secular Jewish State. So, this is not a reason to deny the prophetic significance of the modern regathering. Clearly, the opposite is true. Scripture requires it to be this way. Additionally, we would totally expect that a regathering of this nature (secular and political) would only result in a partial physical regathering. Total restoration cannot take place without a spiritual movement. Further, since this regathering is partial, it leaves the remainder of the Jewish population still living outside of the land. This is a necessity since the Bible teaches two regatherings. If the initial regathering was total, then how could there be a second one? There would be no Jews remaining to be regathered. So, again, this idea of a partial regathering is not unscriptural. Rather, it is a Biblical requirement. But even with the initial regathering being only partial, it still remains in perfect harmony with the prophesied pattern of a worldwide regathering. Geographically, we can see that Jews have returned from “the four corners of the earth,” just as Scripture anticipated. Randall Price concludes: The second regathering, then, which would follow a time of worldwide Jewish persecution in the Tribulation will result not only in Israel’s seeking deliverance physically but also spiritually in a time of national repentance (Luke 21:25-28). Therefore, just as the Jewish dispersion occurred in successive stages over time (722 B.C., 586 B.C., A.D. 70, A.D. 115, et. al), so the Jewish regathering can be seen to occur in stages modern and future (before the Tribulation, e.g. 1897, 1948, 1967, and at the end of the Tribulation). If the regathering is in stages, and the first regathering of the Jewish people to their Land is the historic modern regathering, how can we not say that the modern State of Israel is prophetically significant? [3] Modern Israel Parallels the Israel Expected to Exist During the End-Times In his article, Price observes that historically, Christians embracing a futurist and a consistent literal view of eschatology fully expected that at some point in history, the following would occur: the Jewish people would have to return to their ancient homeland, “the land of Israel” they would have to regain their national status as “the people of Israel” they would again be in an adversarial position with the Gentile nations Interestingly, all of these expectations have currently been fulfilled! Why did futurists and literalists always expect these conditions to come about? The simple answer is that they are all required by clear scriptural prophecies describing Israel in the end-times. Anyone who reads these prophecies from a literal perspective (and does not try to allegorize or spiritualize them away) could recognize the requirement of their future literal fulfillment. The prophecy of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel Chapters 38-39 is a good example. Price notes: Set in an eschatological context (Ezekiel 33-48), the text specifically states that its fulfillment "will come about in the last days" (38:16). At this time "the people of Israel" are described as living in "the cities of Israel" in "the Land of Israel" (38:14, 18-19; 39:9). According to Ezekiel 37:25 this Land is "the land that I (God) gave to Jacob (Israel) My servant, in which your fathers lived." Ezekiel 38:8 also states that the Jewish People who had retuned to the Land had been "gathered from many nations" (a worldwide regathering). The regathering of Jews from exile in 538 B.C. had only been from one nation (Babylon). Only in our modern period have we witnessed a regathering of Jews to Israel from "many nations" in accord with this prophecy. Ezekiel’s Gog and Magog prophecy also speaks of "the mountains of Israel" (39:2, 4, 17). This mountainous region that extends the length of the country did not become a part of the modern State until after the Six Day War of 1967. Only then could this region again be properly called "the mountains of Israel." Before this date it was under a succession of foreign rulers until wrested from Jordan (who last controlled it from 1948-1967). This is in harmony with Ezekiel 38:8, 12 which states that this mountainous land, before being restored to Israel, had been under "the sword" (foreign dominion). The text further states that the Land had been "a continual waste." History affirms that under foreign domination, and especially under the 400 years of Ottoman Turkish domination, the once fertile mountain region (particularly in the north) had been denuded and had eroded into a wasteland. [4] As Price notes, some have attempted to claim that the restoration being spoken of was the one that occurred in the 530s BC as the captive Jews were allowed to return to Israel after seventy years of Babylonian exile. However, a careful reading of this prophecy eliminates that return as being the fulfillment spoken of, as it was only a migration from one nation (Babylon). The prophecy requires the return to be worldwide, from “many nations.” Only in modern times have we witnessed a regathering of this kind. The many points of similarity between the conditions required by Ezekiel 38 and those of the modern regathering make it clear that this is the one intended. Price concludes: Therefore, Ezekiel 38-39 demonstrates that an Israel with the conditions presently experienced by the modern State was predicted to exist before final prophetic fulfillment would be possible. Other texts also reveal that the Israel of the end time will have conditions that parallel those existing in the modern Jewish State. Daniel 9:27 depicts Israel in the Land, in possession of the Land, and in the city of Jerusalem when the seventieth week of Daniel starts. It also speaks of a "covenant" being made between the Jewish leadership ("the many") and a foreign leader ("the prince that shall come," verse 26). In order for any covenant to be legally binding and enforceable, both parties must be recognized entities that have the authority and power to fulfill the terms of the agreement. Since this verse implies that the covenant has something to do with the restoration of the Temple and the sacrificial system, it is understood that the Jewish leaders have a control in the city that qualifies them as partners in the contract. Matthew 24:16 likewise implies that Jewish law (the Sabbath) is being observed in the Land, another factor that indicates Jewish control of the city or at least freedom from foreign rule that would restrict the free exercise of the Jewish religion. Today, the modern Jewish State fulfills all of these conditions, including having sovereignty (whether fully exercised or not) over the Temple Mount. If the modern State of Israel parallels the Israel of the end times, how can we not say that the modern State of Israel is prophetically significant? [5] After examining all of this evidence, our overall conclusion is simple: the creation of the modern Jewish State in 1948 has the prophetic significance of beginning the process of the regathering of Israel from the nations (the first regathering in unbelief in preparation for end-times judgment), which will be followed by a further regathering (the second regathering in faith) after the Tribulation, in preparation for the time of Israel’s full physical and spiritual restoration in the Millennial Kingdom. This is the result of a plain, literal reading of scripture, and it aligns perfectly with what we can observe in real time as we've watched the nation of Israel emerge back onto the world scene. So then in conclusion, if modern Israel is prophetically significant, and we know that God’s plan is to ultimately use this process to bring them to national salvation, then it should be clear what the attitude of the Bible-believing Christian should be towards Israel as well as the Jewish people. Our viewpoint towards them should mirror the mind of God – He still loves them, has plans for their future, and ultimately will get them back! Our attitudes as Christians should be in line with this. [1] Randall Price, “Is the Modern State of Israel Prophetically Significant?” Pre-Trib.org. (https://www.pre-trib.org/articles/dr-randall-price/message/is-the-modern-state-of-israel-prophetically-significant/read - Retrieved 11/10/20) [2] Michael Rydelnik, Understanding the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Chicago: Moody Press, 2004, p. 119. [3] Price. [4] Ibid. [5] Ibid.

In "Part 1", "Part 2", and "Part 3" of this article series, we began to examine the typological treasures hidden in the wedding rituals of the ancient Hebrews, which God instituted. It is astonishing to recognize that everything that God has said about His marriage to His bride, the Church, was anticipated thousands of years earlier in the institution of these customs. That fact is a profound piece of evidence that the author of the Bible is not bound to the constraints of time as we are. Rather, it is profound proof of His reality, and demonstrates His origin to be from outside of time. The Hebrew wedding involved a number of important rituals typologically correlating with the marriage of Christ and the Church. We are investigating seventeen of them in these articles. While these are not necessarily in strict order, they do follow the general process of the ancient Hebrew wedding. Let’s continue our examination of these astonishing parallels. 14.) Kallah – The Bride On the wedding day, the bridegroom – and especially the bride (kallah) – would be elaborately clothed. From ancient times, Jewish couples would be treated like royalty on this day. The bride and groom were both given bridal crowns to wear. [1] Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. -Song of Solomon 3:11 So, even from this ancient account in the Song of Solomon, we recognize that it was customary for the bride and groom to wear crowns on the day of their wedding. The wedding day is the bride’s special day, and she is treated accordingly. It is also a very ancient custom for a Jewish bride to sit on a “throne” at her reception. [2] From ancient to modern times, every Jewish bride is bedecked like a queen. The Jewish Midrash speaks of twenty-four adornments mentioned in Isaiah 3:18-24 that were customary for the ancient Hebrew brides to be beautified with on their wedding day. [3] Everything was done to make the bride as lovely as possible for this special day. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. -Isaiah 61:10 The bridal imagery in the following excerpt from Ezekiel 16 is also indicative of the majestic preparation and adornment of the ancient Hebrew brides, describing the marriage between God and Israel. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God. -Ezekiel 16:8-14 So, we understand that on her wedding day, an ancient Hebrew bride was treated like she was a queen at her coronation. One of the most exciting of the wedding preparations for the bride is choosing her wedding dress. As in most modern cultures, the traditional color of the wedding gown for the ancient Hebrews has always been white, denoting purity from sin. [4] [5] Concerning Christ and His bride the Church, we find the same bridal imagery described. We find that both Christ and the Church will be wearing crowns. The following passage from Revelation 14 describes the Bridegroom, Christ, coming out of the bridal chamber to visit judgment upon the earth – and He is wearing a crown. 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. -Revelation 14:14 The Church is also promised a crown at this time. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. -2 Timothy 4:8 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. -1 Peter 5:4 We also find that like the ancient Hebrew couple on their wedding day, the description of the Church’s future is portrayed as being royal. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; -1 Peter 2:9-10 The following passage tells us of the royal nature of the Bridegroom, Christ. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. -Revelation 19:16 So, the identity of the Bridegroom is that of the highest royalty conceivable. If the Church is His bride, then the Church is going to be the bride of the most royal and magnificent wedding that has ever taken place. The Church is marrying the pinnacle of royalty! Like the Hebrew brides, the Church will also sit on a throne. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. -Revelation 3:21 We also find that the bride, the Church, is given her white wedding dress. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. -Revelation 19:7-8 Key Parallel: The ancient Hebrew couple being wed was treated like royalty on their wedding day. They sat on “thrones” at their reception. They were dressed in magnificent wedding apparel and were given crowns. The bride was bedecked in a beautiful white wedding gown. The bride of Christ, the Church, is also royalty, as she will be married to the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” This will be a royal wedding of the highest magnitude! She will wear a crown, be seated on a throne, and have on a white wedding gown. 15.) Chuppah – Concealed in the Wedding Chamber Upon their arrival at the father’s house, the bridegroom would take his bride to the wedding chamber (chuppah – Strong’s # H2646) in the cheder (Strong’s # H2315), or the room he had prepared (Psalm 19:5, Joel 2:16). [6] These terms chuppah and cheder may be used interchangeably, but for our purposes here, we will define chuppah as the wedding chamber in which the marriage would be consummated through physical union. The tradition of the chuppah is one that has changed and evolved significantly over time, but is still in use today in a modern form in contemporary Jewish weddings. Today, the tradition of the chuppah is represented by a canopy under which the bride and groom stand during the wedding ceremony (often in the form of a cloth upheld by four poles). [7] [8] But in ancient times, it was in this chamber that the couple would spend seven days hidden away while the wedding celebration continued for that entire week (Judges 14:12). This is referred to as the “seven days of the chuppah.” [9] There, in the privacy of the chuppah, the bride and groom entered into physical union for the first time. The bridegroom’s best man would wait outside the door of the wedding chamber. When the marriage was consummated through their intimate union, the bridegroom would tell the best man through the door, and he would go and announce it to the assembled guests. Now you understand John the Baptist in John 3:29: He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom [or the best man], which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. -John 3:29 Upon hearing the good news, the wedding guests remained in the groom’s father’s house for the next seven days, celebrating with a great wedding feast. [10] The modern practice of yichud is the custom of the married couple enjoying a short period of privacy after the ceremony. [11] This custom also seems to look back to the ancient practice of having seven days concealed in the chuppah. The Shiv’at Y’mei Mishteh, or Seven Days of Feasting, are said to have been ordained by Moses, and are a custom that is thought to go back to patriarchal times. These feasting days serve as a focal point for communal rejoicing and for the couple to begin their married life together while in the lap of the community. This practice is still observed by traditional Jews today. In modern Jewish practice, during the Seven Days of Feasting, the bride and groom do not work, nor may they be involved in business transactions of any kind. They only eat, drink, and rejoice with each other. Each day, close relatives or friends host the married couple for a festive meal, which is punctuated by singing and rejoicing. [12] This modern practice is taken from the ancient Hebrew wedding tradition of the seven days of concealment in the chuppah, while the wedding guests celebrated in the father’s house for the entire week. Like the ancient Hebrew brides, Scripture seems to describe a bridal week for the Church in which we will be in the wedding chamber with our Bridegroom, Jesus. Biblical eschatology (or the study of the end times) describes a final seven-year period of time that is connected with the Jewish people specifically (Daniel 9). This chapter in Daniel describes time in periods of “weeks,” which is a common Hebraic expression for a period of seven (in this case, years). This time period is also described thoroughly in Revelation, and some refer to it as the Tribulation. This final seven-year “week” of time, especially the last half of it (called the “Great Tribulation” by Jesus in Matthew 24:21), is a time of unparalleled distress, and is characterized by the wrath or indignation of God. Pre-Tribulational eschatology, (which turns out to be the eschatological perspective that best aligns with the typology of the Jewish wedding) asserts that Scripture teaches that the Rapture, or catching away of the Church, will happen prior to this seven-year period. So, according to that pattern, while the Jewish people’s final “week” is taking place on earth, Jesus and His bride, the Church, will celebrate their marriage “week” in our heavenly chuppah, hidden away from view! Though the Church was unknown to the Old Testament audience, we seem to find some prophetic allusions that may refer to the heavenly chuppah in the following passages. And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? ... Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet [chuppah]. -Joel 2:11, 15-16 The theme of the Lord coming out of His chambers to visit judgment on the earth is spoken of here, referring prophetically to the “Day of the Lord.” It then speaks of a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and a bride from her chuppah. It's difficult to imagine this passage referring to any group other than the Church when it describes a bride coming out of her chuppah. Passages later in Scripture describe the Lord, whom the New Testament calls the Bridegroom, returning with His bride, the Church, at the Second Coming. Let’s examine another prophetic Old Testament passage that points to a select group of God’s people avoiding the Tribulation in the Day of the Lord by being concealed. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger. -Zephaniah 2:3 We know from later New Testament passages that the Church is not appointed to God’s Tribulation wrath, and will be kept from that time period altogether – making the Church a likely candidate for this group of people. The following passage written by Paul to the Church identifies this same period of the “Day of the Lord,” and specifically identifies the Church as being exempt from it. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. … But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. … For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, -1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4, 9 Some feel that these Old Testament passages may refer to the remnant of Israel being hidden in the wilderness before the Second Coming. While this is certainly a possibility (and the Old Testament does seem to refer to this in other instances), we believe there are some reasons why this is not the case in the passages presented. Instead, it would seem to refer to the Church being hidden away as the pure, righteous bride that is exempted from the wrath of the Bridegroom. Let’s quickly examine this before moving on. One of the most glaring reasons why the group being hidden cannot be Israel, is because the passages are clear in describing these hidden ones as a righteous group who is exempted from the wrath. To the contrary, Israel at this time can hardly be considered righteous, which is the very reason why she must enter and endure the Tribulation. One of the purposes of the Tribulation is to drive the Jews to repentance, so that toward the end of it there will be a remnant who finally cries out unto Jesus Christ, finally acknowledging Him as their Messiah, which then prompts His return to save them from destruction. This hardly fits in with the narrative of a righteous group playing the role of a pure virgin bride being hidden away from the wrath. The Old Testament is clear that Israel up until that point was playing the role of the harlot unfaithful wife, not the unmarried pure virgin bride. Meanwhile, the New Testament clearly depicts the Church as the righteous and pure virgin bride of Christ who will avoid the coming wrath. If the Jews were the “hidden group” referenced by these passages, then how could they be called righteous before entering the chuppah, when we are told in passages such as Zechariah 13:8-9 that it will require the refining fire of the Tribulation to produce the righteousness of the Jewish remnant at the end of the Tribulation? But one of the main purposes of the Tribulation is to drive Israel to repentance. They were not righteous until the judgments drove them toward repentance. In fact, their repentance and turning to their true Messiah turns out to be a pre-condition for Christ’s return to earth (the Second Coming) with His bride to set up His Millennial reign. I [God speaking] will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. -Hosea 5:15 Note: This word “early” actually means “earnestly.” [13] So, we’ve taken a brief detour through eschatology to explore and understand this aspect of end times prophecy that fits in (from a timing perspective) with the typology of the Jewish wedding rituals, and seems to clearly reveal the Church as that righteous bride being hidden away before the time of trouble, who then returns with her Bridegroom when it is passed. Before moving on to the next point, let’s do a quick review of the key parallels involving the chuppah. Key Parallel: The ancient Hebrew brides were “abducted” by their bridegrooms, and carried by procession to the father’s house. Upon arrival at the father’s house, the ancient Hebrew bridegrooms would take their brides into the privacy of the wedding chamber – the chuppah – for seven days. In the privacy of the chuppah, they would consummate the marriage through intimate union. The bride would then stay concealed in the chuppah for the remainder of the week, as the guests celebrated. The bride of Christ will be raptured, or lifted up off the earth to be carried away to our heavenly wedding chamber where we will spend “one week” (seven years), concealed and hidden away with our Bridegroom. While the bride of Christ is in the bridal chamber with Jesus, the rest of the world will face seven years of Tribulation. 16.) Mishteh – The Wedding Feast After seven days in the wedding chamber, the ancient Hebrew bride and bridegroom would emerge and participate in a wedding feast (mishteh – Strong’s # H4960) with their guests. The bride’s veil would be removed so that everyone could see her, and she would be presented to the guests and to the community. The end of this feast would conclude the wedding celebration. [14] In like manner, following the seven years in our heavenly chuppah while the Tribulation is taking place on earth, Jesus Christ will return to earth (the Second Coming) with His unveiled bride, the Church, to vanquish His enemies, establish His Kingdom, and also celebrate with a marriage supper. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. -Revelation 19:9, 11-14 Here in Revelation 19, we see that following the seven-year Tribulation, Jesus will return at His Second Coming with His unveiled bride to earth to execute judgment on earth and then participate in the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” We know His bride is with Him, as we see her described as being “clothed in fine linen, white and clean,” which was the description of the bride given only a few verses earlier in Verse 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. -Revelation 19:8 As mentioned earlier, we also find Old Testament prophetic mention of Christ at His Second Coming being described as a bridegroom coming out of his bridal chamber, bringing His bride with Him. Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet [chuppah]. -Joel 2:15-16 Key Parallel: The ancient Hebrew bridal couple would emerge after seven days hidden away in the chuppah and participate in a wedding feast with their guests. After the seven years in the heavenly chuppah, Jesus Christ will come out of His wedding chamber as a Bridegroom, bringing His bride the Church with Him – to also celebrate with a marriage supper. 17.) Yachad - A New Life Together The Hebrew word yachad meaning “togetherness” or “unitedness” (Strong’s # H3162), is an ideal description for the just-married couple as they begin their new life together as one. [15] The Old Testament describes this togetherness as follows. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. -Genesis 2:24 Since the very beginning of the Biblical tradition, the thought regarding the marital union was always one of unity and togetherness. The two people become one, through marriage. Following the seven-day marriage celebration, and marriage feast, the bridegroom and his bride would go to the home that the bridegroom had previously prepared. They would begin their new life together as husband and wife. As a future married couple, Christ and the Church will also be brought together as one. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, actually quotes the passage we just looked at from Genesis and applies it to Christ and the Church. Notice how Paul first describes the unity and togetherness of Christ and the Church, and then reveals that the Genesis 2:24 passage’s deeper meaning is to act as a type of Christ and the Church. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. -Ephesians 5:25-32 At the end of the final seven-year “week,” just as the bridegroom and his bride would leave the marriage supper to go to the home the bridegroom had prepared, so Jesus and His bride will depart for their new home, the New Jerusalem (though this may be post-Millennial). And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. -Revelation 21:2-4 The New Jerusalem was beautifully adorned as a bride, John said, because it will be the eternal home of Christ’s bride. The author of Hebrews told us that the patriarchs looked for a city whose builder and maker was God, and that a heavenly city was being prepared (Hebrews 11:10, 16). He goes on to say that the Church is seeking the “heavenly Jerusalem” and “the city to come” (Hebrews 12:22 and 13:14). The Scriptures noted throughout this study make it clear that the bride is the Church and that the city called the new Jerusalem is being prepared for the bride of Christ. The bride of Christ will then be with her Bridegroom for all of eternity. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. -1 Thessalonians 4:17b Key Parallel: After the marriage week and the feast, the ancient Hebrew couples would begin their new lives together in the home that the bridegroom had prepared. They would exhibit togetherness and unity – being considered “one” through marital union. The relationship between Christ and the Church is one of togetherness and unity. We are considered part of His body, and we are to cleave together as one. Following the final “week” on earth and subsequent marriage feast, Christ and His bride will finish out the Millennium and then continue into the Eternal State together forever. Conclusion As we close out our four-part article series on this topic, keep in mind all of the incredible typological parallels between the ancient Hebrew wedding traditions and the marriage of Jesus Christ and His bride, the Church. In this series, we aimed at representing the key parallels, but we certainly acknowledge that many additional wedding subtleties are also embedded within the Biblical text – possibly some waiting to yet be discovered! From the pattern of the ancient Hebrew wedding practices, we see that, like the bridegroom of ancient times, Jesus came to the home of His future bride for the betrothal, established a covenant with His bride, sealed it with a glass of wine, paid for the bride price with His blood, sanctified her, and sent His bride gifts of the Holy Spirit. We, the betrothed (Christ’s Church) currently await the return of our Bridegroom to abduct us away to the wedding chamber (at the Rapture) to spend seven years hidden away with Him (while the Tribulation occurs on earth). We will then celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and following the Millennial reign on earth, depart with our Bridegroom to our eternal home, the New Jerusalem! Our present task at hand is all about readiness! Just like the ancient Hebrew brides waited and prepared during the long betrothal period for their bridegroom’s return, we must also wait and prepare for the soon return of our Bridegroom, Christ! Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. -Revelation 19:7-9 [1] Emil G. Hirsch, Frank Knight Sanders, and Kaufmann Kohler, Jewish Encyclopedia, entry “Crown,” JewishEncyclopedia.com. (http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4778-crown - Retrieved 5/15/18) [2] Aryeh Kaplan, Made in Heaven: A Jewish Wedding Guide, Brooklyn, NY: Moznaim Pub., 1983, p. 91. [3] Ibid., p. 59. [4] Ibid., p. 60. [5] Yehuda Shurpin, “Why Do Jewish Brides Wear White? Isn’t It a Non-Jewish Thing?” Chabad.org. (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3136016/jewish/Why-Do-Jewish-Brides-Wear-White-Isnt-It-a-Non-Jewish-Thing.htm - Retrieved 5/15/18) [6] Avi Ben Mordechai, Signs in the Heavens, Millennium 7000 Communications, Int’l, 1996, p. 277. [7] Eliezer Segal, “The Huppah: From Eden to Today,” Feb. 14, 1992, in Jewish Free Press. (http://people.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Shokel/920214_Huppah.html - Retrieved 5/13/18) [8] Kaplan, p. 133. [9] Kaufmann Kohler, Jewish Encyclopedia, entry “Huppah,” JewishEncyclopedia.com. (http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7941-huppah - Retrieved 5/13/18) [10] The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, ed. Isaac Landman, New York: Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Co., Inc., 1948, pp. 5, 10, 373, 399, 504. [11] Kaplan, p. 206. [12] Michael Kaufman, “After the Wedding Ceremony,” My Jewish Learning. (https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/after-the-wedding-ceremony/ - Retrieved 5/13/18) [13] Benson Commentary, entry “Hosea 5:15,” BibleHub.com. (http://biblehub.com/commentaries/hosea/5-15.htm - Retrieved 02/05/18) [14] The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, pp. 5, 504. [15] Strong’s Concordance, entry “3162, yachad,” BibleHub.com. (http://biblehub.com/hebrew/3162.htm - Retrieved 5/22/18)

In our "Part 1" and "Part 2" of this article series, we began to examine the typological treasures hidden in the wedding rituals of the ancient Hebrews, which God instituted. It is astonishing to recognize that everything that God has said about His marriage to His bride, the Church, was anticipated thousands of years earlier in the institution of these customs. That fact is a profound piece of evidence that the author of the Bible is not bound to the constraints of time as we are. Rather, it is profound proof of His reality, and demonstrates His origin to be from outside of time. The Hebrew wedding involved a number of important rituals typologically correlating with the marriage of Christ and the Church. We are investigating seventeen of them in these articles. While these are not necessarily in strict order, they do follow the general process of the ancient Hebrew wedding. Let’s continue our examination of these astonishing parallels. 9.) Mkudeshet – The Betrothed Bride After the marriage covenant was established, the bridegroom left his bride at her home and returned to his father’s house, where he remained separated from his bride for a period of time. A typical betrothal period would last about twelve months, but could be up to two years. [1] [2] Interestingly, scripture compares a thousand years to one day to help convey God’s perception of time. We have been without our Bridegroom for almost two thousand years (since 33 AD). Notice how the following passage tells us that to God, a thousand years is like a day, and notice the context – His return. Also, notice how the Church – the bride – is addressed as “beloved.” And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. -2 Peter 3:4-8 This period of separation would allow the bride time to gather her trousseau and prepare for married life. [3] During this time, she prepared herself for the marriage. She likely had saved up money all her life for this time. She would purchase expensive perfumes, cosmetics, and clothing and keep herself well prepared should the bridegroom return. Because she did not know exactly when he would return, she had to be in a state of constant preparation and readiness! During this betrothal period while she awaited his return, she is referred to as a mkudeshet – one who is betrothed, sanctified, and dedicated to another. [4] This is how we, the Church and bride of Christ are supposed to await our Bridegroom’s return. Paul talks about our betrothal separation period in the following passage. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. -2 Corinthians 11:2 Key Parallel: The ancient Hebrew brides would await the return of their bridegrooms over a betrothal period of about one to two years. The bride was separated and dedicated to her bridegroom throughout this period. During this time, they would make all preparations for the inexact time of his return and be ready to leave with him when he arrived. As Christ’s bride, the Church has endured nearly two thousand years awaiting her Bridegroom. During this time, she is told to stay separated and dedicated to Christ only, and eagerly await His return. Now is our time to make the necessary preparations, as we will have to be ready to depart with Him immediately at the Rapture – the catching away of the Church. Since we don’t know exactly when this will occur, we must remain ready at all times! 10.) Cheder – The Bride Chamber Concerning the pre-wedding preparations made by the bridegroom, much would need to be completed before it would be time to receive his bride. Once back at his father’s house, he would begin the task of the construction of the cheder – the bride chamber, typically as a room added onto his father’s house. The bridegroom would normally leave the bride by promising that he was going back to his father’s house to prepare a place for her, and that he would then return to receive her at an inexact time in the future (typically about one to two years). [5] The construction is examined and approved only by the father. When the father was satisfied with the construction, he would give his son permission to go and receive his bride. Therefore, the timing of the bridegroom’s return was inexact and unknown, especially to the bride. She would just have to be ready on an ongoing basis. In like manner, Jesus, before His crucifixion, made the promise of a bridegroom to His disciples who would soon become the foundation of His future Church. He had been warning the disciples of His coming departure and death, and gave them a comforting promise. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. -John 14:1-3 This was Jesus’ first promise of what the disciples would later learn to recognize as what we call the Rapture, and He presented it using the phraseology of a Bridegroom. The word “mansion” here in Greek refers to a lodging, a dwelling-place, or a room (mone – Strong’s # G3438). [6] Concerning the timing of His return, just as any Jewish bride, the Church does not know the exact time. His return is simply imminent, and we must maintain constant readiness. So, Jesus, as a Bridegroom, is promising His bride that He will prepare a room (or bride chamber) in His Father’s house, for us to consummate the marriage with Him. And we must remain ready for the unknown hour of his return! Key Parallel: Once the bridegroom returned back to his father’s house, the construction of the bride chamber would be initiated. This room would typically be added onto the father’s house. The bridegroom would have left his future bride by promising that he was going to prepare the bride chamber for her and would be back to receive her at the appointed time. Jesus, in like manner, declared His intention to make this very preparation during our long betrothal period while we, His bride, await His return to receive us. He promised that He would return to receive us at the appointed time. 11.) Mikvah – Baptism The bride would also be required to partake in a cleansing bath (mikvah). Mikvah is in effect, the Hebrew word used for baptism, referring to a reservoir of water. To this day, a conservative Jewish bride cannot marry without a mikvah. [7] This ritual purification indicates a separation from a former way to a new way. In the case of marriage, it indicates leaving an old life for a new life with your spouse. In like manner, Jesus commanded us to be baptized both in the physical sense, by immersion in water in His name, but also promised a Comforter that would come. He let us know that this Comforter was His very own Spirit called the Holy Ghost, which the believer would become spiritually “baptized” into. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. -Acts 2:38 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: -Luke 3:16 Although there are many other passages that discuss both Spirit and water baptism, we recognize that the two above verses are representative of the New Testament commands regarding baptism. Jesus spoke of a new birth experience that incorporated elements of both Spirit and water baptism (John 3). Jesus, through the writings of the Apostle Paul, declares the following saying, concerning His bride. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, -Ephesians 5:25-26 Key Parallel: The ancient Hebrew brides, as well as many modern Jewish brides, were required to cleanse themselves in a purifying ritual mikvah prior to the wedding. Jesus commanded His bride, the Church, to be cleansed in the waters of baptism, but also to be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 12.) Shoshvinin – The Wedding Procession One of the important preparations for the wedding is choosing the members of the wedding procession or party (shoshvinin). The wedding party would include the best man, the maid or matron of honor, the ushers or male attendants, and the bridesmaids or female virgin attendants. In ancient times, an individual member of the wedding party was known as a shoshvin. [8] [9] In addition to the wedding party, there would also typically be a large number of guests that would attend. The guests could include members of the family and those in the community. Scripture gives us some indication as to the identity of at least one of the shoshvinin in the heavenly marriage between Christ and the church. John the Baptist, one of the last Old Testament Jewish saints, identified himself as the “friend of the Bridegroom” (John 3:29), or in modern terms, the “best man.” He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. -John 3:29 In other words, John the Baptist does not claim to be part of the bride. We understand this further by Jesus’ statement in Matthew 11:11. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. -Matthew 11:11 So, Jesus made it clear that there was coming a group, of which John was not a part, of whom even the least would be greater. We understand later that this is due to the Holy Spirit endowment in each member of the Church. Jesus therefore, makes a clear distinction between Old Testament saints and the Church. John was one of the last Old Testament saints, and was not a part of the Church. Instead, John (knowing this) identified himself as the “best man.” What about the wedding guests? To speculate on who they might be, we must ask the question, “who else will be in heaven that is not part of the bride?” The most likely candidate group is the Old Testament saints. The souls of the Old Testament saints (though yet unresurrected) will be in heaven. [10] So, it is possible that the wedding guests may be the souls of the Old Testament saints. They are the friends of the Bridegroom, who are likely also among the ones invited as guests to the later marriage supper upon receiving their resurrection bodies (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 8:11). Key Parallel: In ancient times, any typical wedding party would have a best man, as well as a number of male and female attendants for the bridegroom and bride. There would be a large number of guests from the families and surrounding community who would attend and celebrate the wedding. Scripture describes John the Baptist – one of the last Old Testament saints – as the “best man.” We can then make an educated guess as to the identity of the other wedding guests. Jesus called John the greatest man of the Old Testament period, and therefore it makes sense why he is the “best man.” So then if he were the greatest of the Old Testament saints, it would make sense that the souls of the other Old Testament saints would be the wedding guests. 13.) Nesuin – The Taking of the Bride When the marriage chamber was ready, the father inspected it, and if it was suitable, he would tell his son the bridegroom that he could go receive his bride! This was typically done by a procession consisting of the bridegroom in festive attire and accompanied by his male escorts, called minyan – Strong’s # H4510 (Judges 14:11, Jeremiah 7:34). [11] The bridegroom and his procession would often approach at night, conducting a torch-lit procession to the home of the bride. [12] Although the bride was expecting her groom to come for her, she did not know the exact time of his coming. To maintain her readiness, she may keep an oil lamp lit through the night. As the procession approached the home of the bride, at a distance, a shofar (a ram’s horn trumpet) would be blown, and there would be shouts to alert the bride that “the bridegroom cometh!” [13] [14] She would be prepared and ready, and would use these last moments to gather her belongings and be ready to immediately leave with her bridegroom. We see something similar in Song of Solomon. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. -Song of Solomon 2:10 The arrival of the groom at the bride’s house signaled his intention of “taking her to wife.” This act of “taking” or in a sense romantically abducting the bride was referred to as nesuin, which literally means “taking.” [15] And that’s the romantic part – all Hebrew brides were “stolen.” The Jews had a special understanding of a woman’s heart. What a thrill for her, to be “abducted” and carried off into the night, not by a stranger, but by one who loved her so much that he had paid a high price and made great preparation for her! The bride is escorted by procession back to the bridegroom’s father’s house in a bridal litter or palanquin called an aperion in Hebrew (Strong’s # H668). This aperion is mentioned in Song of Solomon 3:9-10. King Solomon has made for himself a palanquin [aperion] From the (cedar) wood of Lebanon. He made its posts of silver, Its back of gold, Its seat of purple cloth, The interior lovingly and intricately wrought By the daughters of Jerusalem. -Song of Solomon 3:9-10 (AMP) After the groom and his wedding procession received his bride together with her female attendants (virgin bridesmaids – Psalm 45:13-15; Matthew 25:1-13), the enlarged wedding party would then return from the bride’s home back to the groom’s father’s house (Genesis 24:67). [16] Just as the bridegroom would come for the bride at any time, often at night, and with a shout and sound of the shofar, in like manner, the Lord will return as a Bridegroom for the Church. And just as the taking of the bride was accomplished by a procession of the groom and male escorts from the groom’s father’s house to the home of the bride, so the taking of the Church will be accomplished by the Bridegroom, Christ, along with a procession of angels from the “Father’s house” in heaven. Paul talks about this nesuin or “taking of the Church” in 1 Thessalonians. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. -1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Let’s also recall the “Bridegroom’s promise” of Jesus in John 14. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. -John 14:3 Key Parallel: At the time appointed by the bridegroom’s father, a procession would be conducted to go and abduct the bride! Often, this would be done at night, by the light of torches. The bridegroom, flanked by his attendants, would approach the bride’s home. As he drew near, shofars would be sounded, and they would shout to alert her that he was coming! Upon arrival, the bride would be taken by the procession, lifted up and placed in a bridal litter, and brought back to the bridegroom’s father’s house amidst great rejoicing. At the time appointed of the Father, Jesus – our Bridegroom – will appear at a time unknown to us (maybe at midnight) with a shout, a trumpet, and a procession of angels to lift us up and “rapture” us out of this world and bring us back to His Father’s house for the wedding ceremony! [1] Avi Ben Mordechai, Signs in the Heavens, Millennium 7000 Communications, Int’l, 1996, p. 270. [2] The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, ed. Isaac Landman, New York: Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Co. Inc., 1948, p. 372. [3] Ibid. [4] Judaism 101, entry “Marriage,” JewFAQ.org. (http://www.jewfaq.org/marriage.htm - Retrieved 5/28/18) [5] The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, p. 372. [6] “G3438 - monē - Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV),” Blue Letter Bible. (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g3438 - Retrieved 5/11/18) [7] “Mikveh Before the Wedding,” My Jewish Learning. (https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/mikveh-a-spiritual-preparation-for-marriage/ - Retrieved 4/18/18) [8] Aryeh Kaplan, Made in Heaven: A Jewish Wedding Guide, Brooklyn, NY: Moznaim Pub., 1983, p. 62. [9] 1 Maccabees 9:37-39, (GNT), Bible Gateway. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Maccabees+9&version=GNT - Retrieved 4/20/18) [10] Tony Garland, A Commentary on the Book of Revelation, “20.5.1. Order of Resurrection,” Bible Study Tools. (https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/revelation-20/order-of-resurrection.html - Retrieved 5/4/18) [11] 1 Maccabees 9:37-39, (GNT), Bible Gateway. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Maccabees+9&version=GNT) [12] The Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. III, ed. James Orr, Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1957, p. 1998. [13] Richard Booker, Here Comes The Bride: Jewish Wedding Customs And The Messiah, Houston, TX: Sounds of the Trumpet, 1995, p. 9. [14] Avi Ben Mordechai, Signs in the Heavens, Millennium 7000 Communications, Int’l, 1996, p. 277. [15] Moses Mielziner, The Jewish Law of Marriage and Divorce in Ancient And Modern Times, Cincinnati, OH: Bloch, 1884, p. 83. [16] Roland de Vaux, Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions, Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997, p. 34.

In our "Part 1" of this article series, we began to examine the typological treasures hidden in the wedding rituals of the ancient Hebrews, which God instituted. It is astonishing to recognize that everything that God has said about His marriage to His bride, the Church, was anticipated thousands of years earlier in the institution of these customs. That fact is a profound piece of evidence that the author of the Bible is not bound to the constraints of time as we are. Rather, it is profound proof of His reality, and demonstrates His origin to be from outside of time. The Hebrew wedding involved a number of important rituals typologically correlating with the marriage of Christ and the Church. We are investigating seventeen of them in these articles. While these are not necessarily in strict order, they do follow the general process of the ancient Hebrew wedding. Let’s continue our examination of these astonishing parallels. 5.) The Ketubah – The Marriage Covenant Once the bride price was paid, and the bride had accepted, the marriage covenant (ketubah) was established. The ketubah included documentation of the mohar, dowry, and the mutual obligations between the bridegroom and bride. [1] The ketubah also details the husband’s obligation to provide his wife with the necessities she needs – food, clothing, shelter, etc. These are obligations originally demanded in the Torah (Exodus 21:10). [2] Additionally, the ketubah lays out the financial resources and possessions each person brings into the relationship, the responsibilities of each family to the other, and finally the penalties to be paid should either side break off the covenant. [3] We understand that the Old Covenant, or giving of the Mosaic Law to Israel on Sinai, was a marriage covenant or ketubah. So then, we understand that the New Covenant (or New Testament – the B’rit Chadashah) acts as the ketubah for Christ’s bride the Church. Let's examine how. Jesus Himself sets the conditions for the marriage: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. -John 15:10-13 Jesus speaks of the required obligations: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. -John 13:34 Jesus outlines His commitment to the relationship: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. -Matthew 28:20 These are only a few of the many elements contained within the New Testament – our betrothal contract – that Jesus gave to His bride. Key Parallel: The ketubah was the marriage contract that contained details regarding the mutual obligations of the bridegroom and bride. As a Bridegroom, Christ gave the Church a legal document containing all of the provisions of the New Covenant – the contract detailing our marriage relationship with Him. 6.) Kiddushin – Sanctification From the establishment of the ketubah and forward, the man and woman were regarded legally as husband and wife, although the marriage ceremony had not yet been performed and therefore the marriage could not yet be consummated (Malachi 2:14; Matthew 1:18-19). [4] At this time, the bride was declared to be consecrated or sanctified – set apart – exclusively for her bridegroom. This is reflected in one of the Hebrew words for betrothal – kiddushin, which literally means sanctification or consecration. [5] [6] In the same manner, the Church has been declared as being consecrated, sanctified, and set apart exclusively for Christ. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. -Ephesians 5:25-27 Key Parallel: From the time the marriage was covenanted at the establishment of the ketubah, the woman was considered consecrated, sanctified, and set apart only for her bridegroom. The Church, as the bride, is declared to be sanctified, cleansed, and set apart exclusively for her bridegroom Christ. 7.) Kesef – Bought With A Price Within the Hebrew tradition, being “bought” is not thought of as though the woman was being purchased like property, but rather the transaction is meant to confer a “change of status.” There are two ways of purchasing something in Jewish law: by cash (kesef) or by barter (chaliphin). When something is purchased by barter, what has transpired is simply an exchange of property. However, when a transaction is made for cash, the transaction can also affect a change of status. The Talmud records emphatically that a woman cannot be married through a barter transaction, because this would imply a change in ownership, and would give the woman the status of a chattel (a possession, or personal property). [7] However, for a cash (kesef) transaction, one does not actually have to use cash. Any article of value can be used, such as a coin, a ring, a jewel, etc., and it must be given for its monetary value and not as barter. The bridegroom is changing the bride’s status from that of a single woman to that of a married one. The money is merely a legal consideration that makes the woman’s new status binding. [8] Jewish tradition teaches that in God’s marriage to Israel in the Old Testament, the wealth of the Egyptians was the “cash” used to seal the betrothal upon the exodus from slavery (Exodus 12:36). Here too, God was not “buying” the Israelites, but transforming their status to that of the Chosen People. [9] So, during the betrothal period, the Hebrew brides were considered to be “bought with a price” (the bride price, or mohar). [10] In like manner, the Church is considered “bought with a price,” that price being the perfect blood of the atoning death of Christ. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. -1 Corinthians 6:20 Key Parallel: The ancient Hebrew brides were considered “bought” with the mohar – the bride price – once the ketubah was agreed upon. The Church, as the bride of Christ, is considered “bought with a price,” that price being the spotless, sinless blood of our Bridegroom Christ. 8.) Mattan – Love Gifts During the betrothal period, it was common for the bridegroom to present his future bride with special gifts (mattan), displaying his appreciation for her. They were also intended to help her remember him while he was away during the long betrothal period. [11] Ask me never so much dowry and gift [mattan – Strong’s # H4976], and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. -Genesis 34:12 In like manner, Jesus presented His bride, the Church, with a number of unique gifts only applicable to her. Some of the gifts that Jesus gave us are the nine Gifts of the Spirit that are accessible only to those who are filled with His Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). These gifts given to the Church are of a supernatural nature, reminding us of the supernatural marriage to be performed one day with a supernatural Bridegroom. Key Parallel: During the long betrothal separation, the ancient Hebrew bridegrooms would present their future brides with special gifts that showed his affection for her. They would help her to remember him while he was away making preparations for the wedding. Jesus, our Bridegroom, left His bride the Church a number of supernatural gifts that only she has access to. These gifts help us operate in the Spirit during the long betrothal absence, and will stay with us until He comes for us again. [1] Aryeh Kaplan, Made in Heaven: A Jewish Wedding Guide, Brooklyn, NY: Moznaim Pub., 1983, pp. 95-99. [2] Ibid., pp. 113-114. [3] Avi Ben Mordechai, Signs in the Heavens, Millennium 7000 Communications, Int’l, 1996, p. 272. [4] The Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. III, ed. Isidore Singer, New York: Funk and Wagnalls Co., 1907, pp. 126, 127. [5] George F. Moore, Judaism, Vol. II, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1946, p. 121. [6] Kaplan, p. 173. [7] Kaplan, pp. 45-46. [8] Ibid. [9] Ibid, p. 46. [10] Richard Booker, Here Comes The Bride: Jewish Wedding Customs And The Messiah, Houston, TX: Sounds of the Trumpet, 1995, p. 7. [11] Louis M. Epstein, The Jewish Marriage Contract, New York: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1927, pp. 78-79.

(From the study "The Identity Of The Nephilim") In this article, we will undertake an examination of the Hebrew word “Nephilim” that we see used several times in the Bible, in order to gain a basic understanding of who these beings were. There are two passages in the Bible that explicitly mention the Nephilim by that name. However, there are a multitude of passages that refer to the greater subject of the Nephilim – many often being overlooked by those who are unfamiliar with this topic. But the two passages in which the Hebrew word Nephilim explicitly appear are Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33. Let’s take a look at the first of those two – Genesis 6:4. The context of this passage is the time before the Flood of Noah, in which the wickedness of the pre-Flood world is being described. Genesis 6:1-4 reads: And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants [many versions simply say “Nephilim”] in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. -Genesis 6:1-4 In the King James Version, as well as certain other English Bibles, we find this Hebrew word “Nephilim” loosely translated as “giants.” However, because it’s unknown for certain what this Hebrew word means, some English Bibles have left it untranslated, simply carrying over the Hebrew and transliterating it into English – yielding the word “Nephilim.” The second mention of Nephilim in the Bible is found in Numbers 13:33, as the Israelites were getting ready to enter into the Promised Land of Canaan. However, many of the spies Moses sent to search out the land returned with the conclusion that they were unable to conquer it. To support this conclusion, they referenced the giant inhabitants of the land, whom they called Nephilim, and descendants of the Nephilim. The spies reported feeling like grasshoppers in comparison to this evil race of giants. Numbers 13:32-33 reads: And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants [Nephilim], the sons of Anak, which come of the giants [Nephilim]: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. -Numbers 13:32-33 Let’s now explore the possible meaning of the word Nephilim. This term is often translated as “those who fall,” “the fallen,” or “those who descended from heaven to earth.” However, Dr. Michael Heiser, an adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies at Liberty University who holds a PhD in Hebrew and Semitic studies, disagrees with this interpretation. In his critique of an author who defined Nephilim as “those who fall,” Heiser explains: Sitchin assumes "Nephilim" comes from the Hebrew word "naphal" which usually means "to fall." He then forces the meaning "to come down" onto the word, creating his "to come down from above" translation. In the form we find it in the Hebrew Bible, if the word Nephilim came from Hebrew naphal, it would not be spelled as we find it. The form Nephilim cannot mean "fallen ones" (the spelling would then be nephulim). Likewise, Nephilim does not mean "those who fall" or "those who fall away" (that would be nophelim). The only way in Hebrew to get Nephilim from naphal by the rules of Hebrew morphology (word formation) would be to presume a noun spelled naphil and then pluralize it. I say "presume" since this noun does not exist in biblical Hebrew – unless one counts Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33, the two occurrences of Nephilim – but that would be assuming what one is trying to prove! However, in Aramaic, the noun naphil(a) does exist. It means "giant," making it easy to see why the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) translated Nephilim as gigantes ("giant") … It is most likely that Nephilim is an Aramaic term imported into Hebrew during the final editing of the Hebrew Bible in Babylon (where Aramaic was the lingua franca) and then the ending was corrected to Hebrew rules of word formation. [1] Based on Heiser's explanation, it would seem clear that the word “Nephilim” is a term originating from Aramaic, meaning “giant,” which was brought into Hebrew and given the “-im” ending, indicating plurality. The translators of the King James Version seem to have been aware of this, as they translated Nephilim as “giants” and did not call them “the fallen,” or anything similar. In addition, the majority of ancient Bible versions – including the Septuagint, Theodotion’s translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, the Latin Vulgate, the Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum Onkelos, and Targum Neofiti – all interpret the word to mean “giants.” [2] Of course, we understand that the term “giant” refers to a man of extraordinary size and strength. We may therefore conclude that the evidence clearly shows that the Hebrew word Nephilim referred to giants. [1] Michael Heiser, “The Nephilim,” SitchinIsWrong.com. (https://sitchiniswrong.com/nephilim/nephilim.htm - Retrieved 4/10/21) [2] Jacques Van Ruiten, Primaeval History Interpreted: The Rewriting of Genesis I-II in the Book of Jubilees, Brill, 2000, p. 189.

It may startle you to discover the treasures hidden in the wedding rituals of the ancient Hebrews, which God instituted. It is astonishing to recognize that everything that God has said about His marriage to His bride, the Church, was anticipated thousands of years earlier in the institution of these customs. That fact is a profound piece of evidence that the author of the Bible is not bound to the constraints of time as we are. Rather, it is profound proof of His reality, and demonstrates His origin to be from outside of time. These insights we will examine also demonstrate the integration of the Bible, which is another proof that demonstrates its Author to be from outside time. Because the Bible is composed of sixty-six books, written by over forty authors who mostly didn’t know each other, over an almost two thousand-year time span, to then discover that it is thoroughly integrated down to the subtle nuances is a proof of its extra-dimensional origin. Furthermore, the fact that its human authors could not have understood the true depth of meaning behind the “types and shadows” embedded into their inspired writings is a fact that echoes its inspiration from outside time. This content of this multi-part article series should continue to amaze you concerning God’s precision in that regard. Not only does this provide a profound awareness regarding our prophetic perspective, but it also demonstrates the incredible love and affection with which God views us. At face value, most of these insights are not obvious to the modern reader. However, by becoming in touch with the Hebraic roots of the Bible, we can better comprehend the depth of anticipatory design embedded into both the Biblical record and the ancient Hebrew culture. All through the Gospels, Jesus relied on the ancient Jewish wedding pattern for many of His parables (Matthew 22:1-14; 25:1-13), climaxing in His Bridegroom’s promise in the Upper Room in John 14. We will explore these references within this study in order to recognize the full importance of these allusions. Unfortunately, many of us miss seeing the full depth of meaning by our modern unfamiliarity with the model of ancient Jewish wedding rituals. The Hebrew wedding involved a number of important rituals typologically correlating with the marriage of Christ and the Church. We will investigate seventeen of them in these articles. The following are not necessarily in strict order, yet they follow the general process of the ancient Hebrew wedding. Let’s begin to examine these astonishing parallels. 1.) Erusin - Betrothal The first step in a Hebrew marriage was betrothal (erusin). [1] Betrothal involved the establishment of an engagement covenant (te’naim), leading up to the marriage covenant (ketubah), as initiated by a prospective bridegroom (chatan). The ketubah is the final document that stipulates all expectations and conditions for the marriage between the husband and wife. [2] Jesus explicitly refers to Himself as the Bridegroom in the following passage in Mark. And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. -Mark 2:18-20 So, Jesus identifies Himself as the Bridegroom. The following verse tells us that, like every Jewish bridegroom, Jesus came from His Father’s house and travelled to the home of his bride (kallah). I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: -John 16:28a So, Jesus emphasized that He as the Bridegroom had come to earth, from His Father’s house, to find Himself a bride. We see from the above passage in Mark, and others, that He makes it clear He will at some point leave, and later return for His bride, as was the normal betrothal custom. It was normal for the bridegroom to often take the initiative in establishing a marriage covenant. Key Parallel: In ancient Jewish culture, in order to initiate betrothal, the prospective bridegroom would travel from his father’s house to the house of the prospective bride. In like manner, Jesus left His Father’s house in heaven and “travelled” to earth (through the Incarnation), the home of His prospective bride, the Church. 2.) The Mohar – The Bride Price Upon arrival at the home of the young woman, the prospective bridegroom would negotiate with the woman’s father as to the bride price (mohar – Strong’s # H4119) he must pay to “purchase” his bride, as was the custom (Genesis 24:53; 34:12; Exodus 22:15-16; 1 Samuel 18:25; Hosea 3:2). [3] On a practical level, since the Father was losing a valuable member of his household (the bride), and had spent considerably to raise, feed, and house her since she was young, the mohar paid to the father was to help compensate him for these costs. Jesus understood – because as God, He established this tradition – that He could not simply obtain a wife without paying a price (a mohar) for His bride. The necessity of a mohar is one of the most overlooked reasons for His death. You must recognize that He died not only to be free from the law of marriage with Israel, but He died also in order to present a mohar to His bride, the Church. In order to understand this, you must recognize that you as a believer have been purchased (redeemed), as the aforementioned passage in Ephesians 1 describes. Until the redemption of the purchased possession [referring to us as Christians] … -Ephesians 1:14 So, as the bride, Christ has purchased us. We will discuss shortly what He used to pay for, or redeem us. But to understand the true depths of this, you need to see this from the cultural aspects of that time. In the ancient customs, it was not only necessary to simply present a mohar to the woman’s father, but you had to present a suitable mohar according to the woman’s social status (1 Samuel 18:23). For example, if you were marrying a commoner or a peasant woman, you may present sheep and chickens and goats to her father in order to demonstrate to him that you are capable of providing for her on the level in which she is used to living. However, if you were marrying royalty, you would present gifts such as silver and gold and costly garments. But yet, if you were marrying distinct royalty, in which the woman was able to trace her royal lineage back a certain number of generations, you may be required to present exotic gifts from around the world. You must meet her on her social level. [4] In order to properly understand the cross, you must recognize that the cross was meant to express to you your social status from God’s viewpoint. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed [purchased] with corruptible things, as silver and gold… -1 Peter 1:18 Jesus made it clear to you that the objects normally given to earthly royalty as a mohar were far beneath what He considers your status to be. Peter implies in Verse 18 that even valuable earthly items such as silver and gold would actually be an insult to present to His bride. So then, what did He use to purchase us? In order to express to us how unique and special we are to Him, He came up with something to present as a mohar that was unique only to Him. Something nobody else would be able to duplicate, which would express to us our true status in His eyes. The following verse (Verse 19), tells us: But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: -1 Peter 1:19 So, we understand that what He devised as a mohar for the Church was His own precious, sinless blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot! It was because of this purchased price, that Paul wrote the following to the Church. Know ye not that … ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. -1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Key Parallel: The prospective bridegroom would negotiate a mohar to pay the bride’s father in order to establish a marriage covenant whereby the woman would become his betrothed. The value of the mohar would be on par with the social status that the woman had. Jesus, through His death on the cross, paid the mohar that was needed (His own sinless blood) in order to atone for the sins of all mankind that began with Adam. He thereby purchased the Church as His betrothed with a mohar of incomparable value, indicating to her the true social status that she possesses in His sight. 3.) Shiluhin – The Dowry A dowry (shiluhin, or in later Talmudic terms, nedunya or nadan) is a transfer of parental property, gifts or money at the marriage of a daughter. A dowry contrasts with the related concept of a bride price or mohar. While a bride price or mohar is a payment by the groom to the bride’s parents, a dowry is the gift of wealth transferred from the bride’s family down to the bride. She would bring this gift with her into her new marriage. In other words, it was a wedding gift from the father to his daughter, the bride. [5] Upon leaving her father, the daughter received this shiluhin as a parting gift. This concept is mentioned in passages such as Genesis 24:59, 29:24, 29, and 1 Kings 9:16. In light of this definition of a dowry, consider the following passages, which seem to describe the Holy Spirit as the “dowry” being given to us from the Father. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. -John 14:16-18, 26 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you [speaking of the Holy Spirit]: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. -Luke 24:49 The Holy Spirit endowment is comparable to the modern practice of the bridegroom giving the bride an engagement ring as a type of down payment on the wedding. But in terms of the ancient Hebrew wedding practices, the Holy Spirit seems to also parallel the concept of the dowry, being that it comes from the Father and is given to the bride. Key Parallel: The father would present to his daughter, the bride, a dowry of value that she would bring with her into the marriage. The Father, God presented the Holy Spirit to the bride as a dowry that would seal her until the time of her redemption. 4.) Shiddukhin – The Proposal Shiddukhin can be defined as the early stage of the marriage process in which the man and woman consensually promise to marry each other in the future. [6] The Talmud refers to the marriage proposal as shiddukhin. [7] In ancient times, much of the negotiation of the ketubah was between the prospective bridegroom and the woman’s father. However, this could not be completed without the woman’s willing consent. The bridegroom would have to approach the woman in order to gain her agreement to marry. The betrothal could not be complete without the woman’s consent. [8] And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. -Genesis 24:58 As became customary, the man would pass a cup of wine to the woman, symbolizing covenant agreement. If the woman did not pick up the cup and drink, she was refusing him. But if she picked up the cup and drank from it, she was accepting his marriage proposal. [9] [10] After the bride accepted, the family would partake in a festive meal in celebration of the covenanted marriage. [11] Acceptance of the marriage to Jesus is a decision that can only be done with one’s willing consent. And just like the bride did not initially choose the groom, we did not choose Christ. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you… -John 15:16a So, like the ancient Hebrew brides, we simply consented to the marriage proposal. Regarding the drinking of the cup and the celebratory meal, let’s understand Jesus at the Last Supper speaking to His disciples. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. -1 Corinthians 11:25-26 In other words, Jesus was assuming the position of a Bridegroom, telling His bride-to-be that by the drinking of the cup, she is agreeing to His marriage proposal. He establishes this tradition of the Lord’s Supper meal to commemorate and celebrate the marriage. And just as the earthly bridegroom would leave after the bride’s agreement, in order to go prepare a place for her, and then later return, our heavenly Bridegroom instructed us to do this in remembrance of Him until He returns for us. So, you should recognize that participation in the tradition we call “communion” is in actuality a symbol of the acceptance of the marriage covenant with Jesus. Key Parallel: The ancient Jewish bridegrooms would obtain marital consent from the bride through the partaking of a drink of wine. The family would then celebrate the agreement with a festive meal. She did not choose him; he chose her, and she agreed. Jesus established the tradition of the Lord’s Supper for His bride the Church, indicating to her that through the drinking of the cup of wine, and the eating of the bread, she is commemorating her agreement to His marriage proposal. We did not choose Him; He chose us, and we agreed. [1] The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, ed. Isaac Landman, New York: Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Co. Inc., 1948, pp. 7, 372. [2] David R. Mace, Hebrew Marriage, New York: Philosophical Library, 1953, p. 167. [3] The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, p. 372. [4] Merrill Unger, The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Art. “Marriage – Marriage Customs,” ed. R.K. Harrison, Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1988, p. 818. [5] Louis Ginzberg and Julius H. Greenstone, Jewish Encyclopedia, entry “Dowry,” JewishEncyclopedia.com. (http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5297-dowry - Retrieved 3/10/18) [6] Batsheva Sherman, “Marriage in Halakhic Judaism” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Dec. 31, 1999, Jewish Women’s Archive. (https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/marriage - Retrieved 5/10/18) [7] Aryeh Kaplan, Made in Heaven: A Jewish Wedding Guide, Brooklyn, NY: Moznaim Pub., 1983, p. 22. [8] Ibid., p. 22-23. [9] The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, p. 373. [10] Avi Ben Mordechai, Signs in the Heavens, Millennium 7000 Communications, Int’l, 1996, p. 269. [11] Ibid., p. 273.

(From the study "Should Christians Support Israel?") In our modern times, it has become fashionable for those in political, academic, and media spheres to attack Israel's right to exist as a sovereign nation. Unfortunately, similar sentiments are often expressed in Christian circles. For instance, some have taken the position that due to Israel’s current state of unbelief, the attitude of the Christian towards them as a nation should be one of opposition ("unbelief" meaning they still have not accepted their true Messiah, Jesus Christ). Some have gone as far as to say that their current state of unbelief makes even the State of Israel’s national sovereignty illegitimate in God’s eyes. They claim that since Israel’s return to the land in the 1900s took place while in this state of unbelief, then that return is not in any way connected to Bible prophecy. From this train of thought, they often deny that the modern State of Israel has any significance at all in terms of Bible prophecy. What is the truth about this? Where does Israel fit into God’s future program for humanity and world events? Is the modern State of Israel prophetically significant? Does God have a future plan for national Israel? And if so, what does it include? Answering these questions will help us gain a perspective as to the proper attitude of a Bible-believing Christian towards Israel. As Christians today, one of the best ways we can gain further understanding concerning the proper perspective we should have towards Israel as a nation is by recognizing what the Bible has to say about their prophetic destiny. First, we will explore the topic of whether Israel’s current regathering from worldwide dispersion (or in other words, the establishment of the modern State of Israel in the 1900s) has any connection to Bible prophecy. The answers we uncover will logically guide our perceptions going forward. In other words, if we do find that the modern State of Israel has prophetic relevance, and we recognize what Scripture tells us about Israel’s future in God’s plan, then those understandings must logically guide how we as Christians think towards modern Israel. Israel's Two Worldwide Regatherings In order to recognize how prophetically significant the current State of Israel actually is according to Bible prophecy, we need to first have an understanding of what the Bible says about Israel’s regathering to their ancestral homeland. The Bible is full of these prophecies. In fact, Bible scholar Thomas Ice notes: Every Old Testament prophet, except Jonah, speaks of a permanent return to the Land of Israel by the Jews. [1] The Biblical focus on the people of Israel being permanently regathered to the land is a pervasive theme throughout the Old Testament. But one of the most ignored topics of Bible prophecy is the awareness that Scripture plainly declares that Israel will undergo two different regatherings from worldwide dispersion (or if you prefer, two distinct phases of worldwide regathering). Further, the Bible also declares that these two regatherings would take place under very different circumstances and for very different purposes. It turns out that these differences actually help us recognize just how significant the current State of Israel is within the Bible’s prophetic outline for Israel’s future. We will begin by first stating our proposition. We will then thoroughly demonstrate the reality of this proposition as being a clear Scriptural teaching throughout the remainder of this article and the one to follow. Our proposition is that the Bible contains a number of prophecies indicating that Israel would be regathered first in a state of unbelief in preparation for judgment (the judgment that culminates in the Tribulation), and that afterwards, they would then be regathered a second and final time in faith (this taking place after the Tribulation), in preparation for blessings to be received in the Millennial Kingdom. This is significant because many people overlook the distinction of these two regatherings and only recognize one regathering. Some only recognize or expect a regathering in faith – and because of this, they deny the prophetic significance of the current secular regathering (in unbelief) that has been taking place over the past hundred years or so. Let’s dive right into this and see for ourselves what the Bible has to say about it. The first thing to take note of is that from the very beginning of Israel's history, God had promised to scatter them among the nations worldwide if they refused to keep the terms of the Mosaic Covenant and later refused to recognize Him as Messiah when He visited them. For instance, Deuteronomy 28:64 says God would: Scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other... -Deuteronomy 28:64 From this passage, it’s clear that the dispersion would be global, as God had promised to scatter them from one end of the earth to the other. Predictions like this one are spoken of in a number of places throughout the Old Testament. Although the nation was somewhat scattered during the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions, in which many were brought captive into those lands, these events were only a local dispersion and cannot act as the ultimate fulfillment of these prophecies describing a worldwide dispersion. Instead, these prophecies of worldwide dispersion find clear fulfillment in the events of 70 AD and following. At this point in time, God brought discipline upon unbelieving Israel through the invasion of the Roman general Titus Vespasian, whose armies would level Jerusalem and the Temple in order to quell the Jewish uprisings of the late 60s AD. During this time, many Jews were killed or sold into slavery and removed from the land. Then, during the 130s AD, the Bar Kokhba revolt would result in most of the remaining Jewish population of Judea being killed, sold into foreign slavery, or forced to flee the land. The area of Jerusalem was renamed Aelia Capitolina by the Romans. For the last two thousand years, the Jews have found themselves in this worldwide dispersion without a home country (this dispersion referred to as the Diaspora) exactly as foretold by God through the writings of Moses in Deuteronomy, and in many other places. But just as Israel’s disciplinary dispersion is prophesied in the Old Testament, so is her eventual restoration. As we already stated, the Bible specifically predicts two worldwide regatherings for national Israel. First, there would be a regathering in unbelief when Israel returns to part of her original land promise – a return in preparation for the eventual judgment of the Tribulation, through which the nation will be brought to faith. But this regathering will be followed by another future regathering in faith, after the discipline of the Tribulation leads the Jewish remnant to cry out unto Christ in their time of trouble – prompting His response. After He returns to save this righteous remnant and destroy their enemies, He will then regather the global outcasts of Israel and bring them back to the land in preparation for blessings in the Kingdom Age. In this final regathering, Israel will be restored not only to part of her land, but to all of her land, according to the original boundaries promised by God to the Patriarchs and reiterated to Joshua in the Old Testament (Genesis 15:18 and Joshua 1:4). These boundaries have never yet been completely under Israel’s control, but they will be in this future Kingdom Age. But here’s a key point to recognize: We know that there are only two worldwide regatherings of Israel, and that this second and final one will occur after the Tribulation, prior to the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. We learn all of this from Isaiah 11:11-12. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. -Isaiah 11:11-12 The setting of this passage is clearly eschatological, referring to the final regathering in faith after the Tribulation as the Millennial Kingdom is being established. Verses 1-5 of this chapter describe the Second Coming of Christ in judgment to rule the earth. Verses 6-9 depict the peaceful conditions of restoration under the New Covenant, and Verse 10 introduces Israel’s national repentance and return to their true Messiah. Verses 11-12 (which we just read) continue this theme, helping us understand the context of this final worldwide regathering. You will see this clearly in the other parallel passages we will examine in Part 2. But let’s recognize the important marker given to us in Verse 11 – the phrase “the second time.” In light of what we just discussed, it becomes clear that if this final worldwide regathering is the “second one,” then that means there was an earlier worldwide regathering – “the first one”. The Hebrew-Christian scholar Arnold Fruchtenbaum explains this further. [Isaiah] is speaking of the final worldwide regathering in faith in preparation for blessing. Isaiah numbers the final worldwide gathering in faith in preparation for the Messianic Kingdom as the second one. In other words, the last one is only the second one. If the last one is the second one, how many can there be before that? Only one. The first one could not have been the return from Babylon since that was not an international regathering from the four corners of the world, only a migration from one country (Babylonia) to another (Judea). The Bible does not allow for several worldwide regatherings in unbelief; it allows for one worldwide regathering in unbelief, followed by the last one, the one in faith, which is the second one. This text only permits two worldwide regatherings from the four corners of the earth. [2] Let’s take note that this “second time” regathering as a time of repentance indicates that national Israel must have existed in a state of unbelief prior to this (cf. Zechariah 12:10-14; 14:4; Romans 11:25-27). If this was not the case, then there would be nothing for Israel to repent of! Therefore, the “first time” regathering, which must be identified as taking place before this, must have involved Israel's regathering to the Land in unbelief. If there are only two regatherings, then this “first time” regathering of the Jews to the Land of Israel must be the modern one we’ve witnessed over the past hundred years or so – and it certainly has been a return in unbelief. Further yet, since the Bible describes Israel dwelling “in the land” throughout the end-times, and if there are only two regatherings, then there cannot be another dispersion before the future “second time” regathering. Logically then, this requires that the modern State of Israel will remain in possession of the Land perpetually from now until the fulfillment of end time prophecy. Otherwise, there would be more than two worldwide regatherings. Although the first regathering has already been occurring within modern times, we of course can recognize that many Jewish people will remain scattered among the nations awaiting the future “second time” regathering, according to prophecy. In other words, there have to be Jews still in worldwide diaspora who do not return during the first regathering, in order for a final worldwide regathering to occur later on. Another way of putting it is there must be Jews living both in Israel and in the worldwide diaspora among the nations throughout the end times. That of course is what we see currently taking place. The first regathering has been gradual and partial. The final regathering will be a full regathering of all remnant Jews, and seems to be more of an immediate event. So, the logical conclusion of all of this requires us to accept that the modern return of Israel to the Land (even while in a state of unbelief) is a divinely ordained event – and therefore, the modern State of Israel must be part of God’s prophetic program. Clearly, it is part of God's plan to bring the nation of Israel to future repentance and spiritual restoration. Fruchtenbaum arrives at the same conclusion. Therefore, the present Jewish state is relevant to Bible prophecy. [3] And so, from this key passage in Isaiah 11 that tells us of this second and final regathering, we can recognize the logical conclusion we are brought to: the modern State of Israel is prophetically significant! [1] Mark Hitchcock and Thomas Ice, Breaking the Apocalypse Code, Costa Mesa, CA: Word for Today, 2007, pp. 136-137. [2] Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events, rev. ed., Tustin, CA: Ariel, 2003, pp. 102-103. [3] Ibid.