We are going to begin a study on a very important and controversial subject among many believers. We believe that after this study is completed we will have a clearer understanding of the subject called the Natzal, otherwise known as the “Rapture” in Christian eschatology. So why are we studying the Natzal (Rapture) in Tanak Foundations? Because this teaching is rooted within the Tanak (“old testament”) and not just a “new testament” concept. Everything that is taught in the Gospels and Epistles had to be proven within the Tanak (Acts 17.10-11). So, if the Natzal is a concept in the “new testament” it can be found in the Tanak (Rom 1.1-4).
The word “natzal” means “to pluck up” (Zech 3.2) and to “save” or “deliver” (Exo 3.22, 12.36). It is related to the Hebrew word “metzal” which means “to pluck up” or a “radical departure” (“Rosh Ha Shanah and the Messianic Kingdom To Come” by Joseph Good, p. 126). So, we are going to take a detailed look into the concept of the resurrection of the dead, its timing, the other names the natzal goes by in the Scriptures and how does it all fit together within the confines of Jewish eschatology and biblical prophecy.
Even though this event is known by many Hebraic names, we will refer to it many times as simply the “rapture” for simplicity. That is the name most people are familiar with but it does not appear in Scripture. We will go over the biblical names it is known by throughout this study and we will see that it is a major theme in the Bible. Some refer to the rapture as simply “The Gathering” based on 2 Thes 2.1-3 in Hebrew thought. It is a biblical term. We will be referring to a video source called “The Gathering” by Hatikva Ministries. Other sources will be used as well.
Within the world of the believer, whether it be the Christian world, the Messianic world, the Two-House and Sacred Name world, there is so much confusion about this doctrine. Some say it isn’t even biblical and others say it happens before, during or after the “tribulation” (“birth-pains”). The problem is they are reading the Scriptures from a context that they brought with them once they believed and are not looking at this doctrine through a Jewish eschatological mindset. As a result, they are reading the Scriptures and not noticing all the biblical references to it.
We will then begin with Christianity and what do they say about this doctrine. There is always a danger when you try to bring out something that we will inject into the teaching something that is our own opinions, biases and insights. There is a time and place for that but we want to present these concepts as “neutral” as we can and not what others believe. If you go to Wikipedia and look up “The Rapture” you will see Christian terminology. We should be careful with Wikipedia because sometimes it has errors in their presentation. On the other hand, what we are going to show seems reliable. So, let’s look at some definitions.
The first term from the Christian standpoint is the term “Rapture.” It is defined as “an event that occurs during the Tribulation at the same time as the resurrection of the righteous. There is tremendous controversy as when this event will occur during the tribulation.” The second definition to look at is the “Tribulation.” It is defined as “a seven year period that preceded the Millennium. It concludes with the coming of the Messiah. Much of Christianity believes that the first three and a half years are a period of false peace. The second three and a half years are a period of the wrath of God.”
The third definition is “Anti-Christ.” It is defined as “an evil ruler who is empowered by Satan. As the Messiah is to God, the anti-Christ is to Satan. Anti-Christ will rule a Revised Roman Empire from Europe. He will make war against the Christian saints. He will take over Jerusalem and put a statue in the Temple known as the Abomination of Desolation. He will kill the Two Prophets (witnesses) of God and make war with Israel who reject him. Israel flees into the wilderness and are protected by God. He has a religious leader known as the False Prophet with him. The non-believers in Jesus are judged and slain.”
Another term is “Second Coming” and is defined as “Christianity views the Second Coming of the Messiah at the end of the seven year tribulation where he comes out of the east from Heaven like a streak of lightning with all of the raptured and resurrected saints. He touches down on the top of the Mount of Olives where he had ascended to Heaven following his resurrection. An earthquake follows his touching down causing the mountain to split in half. The believers take refuge in the valley created by the earthquake. The Messiah defeats the Anti-Christ and casts him and his False Prophet into a lake of fire. Satan is bound for a thousand years.”
The next term we will look at is the term “Millennium.” It is defined as “The Messiah will reign for a thousand years over the earth. He shares this reign with the saints. At the end of the thousand years, Satan is released for a short period and stages a last rebellion against Jesus. They are defeated. Satan is cast into the lake of fire and the lost brought to their final judgment. The world goes into the New Heaven and New Earth.”
We are going to look at the rapture in certain phases. We will look at the Christian views and the controversies (pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, etc). What we will be able to establish is that these views are flawed and that is why there is so much confusion. Then we will develop the culture, the language, the land and the people who who will define the context for us. Once these steps are taken the controversies will disappear. The corrected information base will give us the information that will allow the Scriptures themselves to settle any issues.
We are also going to look at key passages used by Christianity. What we will be dealing with at first will be coming from a Christian viewpoint. We will be using terminology that we would not normally use. For instance, we will refer to “Jesus” instead of Yeshua. We will use “Rapture” instead of “Natzal” or “gathering.” We will also use “Anti-Christ” instead of False Messiah and so on. Keep that in mind as we proceed. We want to look at what Christianity says itself about these different items.
The key Christian passage supporting the rapture is 1 Thes 4.13-18. Again, we are going to go into the definitions we have already given from Wikipedia. Let’s define “Rapture” in a Christian context. In the study of the origin of words, “rapture” is derived from Middle French “rapture” via the medieval Latin “raptura” (seizure, rape, kidnapping), which derives from the Latin “Raptus” (a carrying off). In Greek, the Koine Greek of 1 Thes 4.17 uses the verb form “harpagiso metha” which means “We shall be caught up” or “taken away” with the connotation that this is a sudden event. The dictionary form of this Greek verb is “harpazo.” This is also seen in such texts as Acts 8.39; 2 Cor 12.2-4 and Rev 12.5.
The Latin Vulgate translates the Greek “harpagiso metha” as “rapiemur” from the verb “rapio” meaning “to catch up” or “take away.” Harpazo is where “rapture” comes from and it is number 726 in Strong’s Concordance and it has the following meanings: (1) to seize, carry off by force; (2) to seize or claim for one’s self eagerly; (3) to snatch out or take out of the way.
We will pick up here in Part 2.
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