More Rapture Typology

TheDayApproaching

Friends, I have more pre-tribulation rapture typology to share with you today.  
It seems the Lord really wants us to know this so I will faithfully pass on what I have learned.  I just want you to know I’m not writing about the rapture in an effort to prove who’s right or wrong.  Rather, it’s all about the Lord Jesus Christ as He is the only One who is right all the time and because He’s such an amazing God, He’s revealed everything to us in His Word.  God truly does not want His children to be in the dark about what He is going to do.

Before I begin, if you have not read “Types and Shadows“, I would encourage you to do so as what I am sharing today will make more sense if you have an understanding of Bible typology.  You also need to have understanding of the prophecy of “seventy weeks” pertaining to Israel in Daniel 9:24.  Based on this passage in Daniel, Bible prophecy scholars agree that 69 of these 70 weeks have been fulfilled and the final week (seven years) will be fulfilled during what is called the tribulation.  Now with that background laid out, let us move on to the study.
Today’s beautiful rapture “picture” is found in the story of Rachel and Leah.  Jacob is a “shadow” of Jesus, Rachel is a “shadow” of Israel and Leah is a “shadow” of the church.  Now read the following passage with this understanding of the typology portrayed.

Genesis 29:16-31 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

Do you see it?  I will break it down for you.

Jesus’ first love is towards Israel as shown in Jacob’s love for Rachel and it is very important for those of us in the church to always remember this.  Now notice the two sets of sevens in this passage.  The use of the number seven shows us it is pertaining to things in the final seven years on earth.  Also, whenever we have things repeating or in twos they teach us of things in Jesus’ first and second coming.  So in Jesus’ first coming He did all the work on the cross to purchase the salvation for Israel (His bride) that will take place in the final seven years, but He was given Leah (the church) as His bride first.  And in the final seven years prior to His second coming He will work to gain Israel, His beloved.

Now look at these next two verses as here is where we find the pre-tribulation typology.

Genesis 29:27-28 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

Jacob’s duty was to fulfill one week with Leah, which is typology of the final week (seven years) in Daniels prophecy and after he fulfilled one week with Leah (the church), he was given Rachel (Israel) but still had to work another seven years for her; which are the seven years Jesus will work to save Israel during the tribulation while the church is with Him in Heaven!  Again, this all ties in perfectly with what we read in the New Testament about Israel being the beloved of God and He will yet save them.

Romans 11:25-29 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

At this time, Israel is partially blind to the gospel for the benefit of the Gentiles as we read in the above passage which agrees with Genesis 29:31 

“And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.”  

Presently, it is the church who is spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and many souls are being “born again” into the Kingdom of God.  God has opened the womb of the church (Leah), but Israel (Rachel) is still barren and will remain barren until their eyes are opened to the truth that Jesus is indeed their long awaited Messiah.  God has not forgotten them and we know from Scripture that Israel will finally see the truth sometime during the final seven years.

So we now have our second pre-tribulation witness in the Bible; Enoch was the first one we looked at “In The Twinkling of an Eye“, and now Leah.  And since a minimum of two witnesses in the Bible are needed in order for something to be established, we now know it is established and that is good enough for me!

Matthew 18:16b …that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

2 Corinthians 13:1b …In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

It has only been a year since the Lord began to open my eyes of understanding to Bible typology through the ministry of Pastor Mike Hoggard, and I thank God for it.  The Bible is so much more than a historical account; God truly does reveal doctrine and details of future things to us through all those Bible stories we have grown to love.

It is my prayer that you would gain understanding of typology in the Bible.  Ask the Lord to open your eyes to the riches and depth of His Word.  He will not disappoint you!

Until That Day…