Revelation, the Apocalypse of John, is the last book in the Bible, and for many, it’s the most difficult. Through the ages, followers of Yeshua have taken the Revelation football and run with it in just about every conceivable direction. This second part of our series on the end times, features D. Thomas Lancaster, author of the forthcoming End of Days Torah Club study track, and together we’ll discuss the various approaches Christian interpreters have used to try to decipher the book of Revelation. We’ll pull the curtain back a little bit to reveal what we can expect this fall as our Torah Club students encounter a Jewish approach to interpreting John’s apocalyptic visions.

👉 Takeaways

►  Critique of Traditional Interpretive Paradigms: There are four main Christian interpretive views of Revelation—Historicist, Idealist, Futurist, and Preterist. Jacob and Daniel discuss the strengths and limitations of each of the interpretive paradigms and present an alternative perspective based on Jewish apocalyptic interpretations of Bible prophecy. 

►  The "Elasticity" of Biblical Prophecy: Jewish eschatology suggests that biblical prophecy can have "elasticity" or different potential outcomes based on the people's response. This means prophecies can be fulfilled in multiple ways or reappear in different historical contexts.

►  Revelation's Relevance across Time ("What Was, What Is, What Will Be"): The "End of Days" study track will emphasize reading Revelation through Jewish eyes, understanding "what was" (events already transpired for the original readers), "what is" (current spiritual realities), and "what will be" (future fulfillments). This allows for both historical context and future expectation without forcing the text to be a rigid predictive chart.

►  Practical Call to Faithfulness: Ultimately, the core message of Revelation, across generations, is a call to steadfastness and clinging to the testimony of Yeshua and God's commandments, despite societal pressures, persecution, and fear of martyrdom. It reassures believers that the "real kingdom is coming," and their actions in the present will determine their place in that future reality.

👉  Resources

Torah Club
 https://torahclub.org

End of Days: Torah Club Study Track
 https://endofdays.org

77 – What Everyone Gets Wrong About Revelation | D. Thomas Lancaster

From 88 Reasons for 1988 to the Thief in the Night films and the Left Behind franchise, the sudden disappearance of the church immediately before a seven-year tribulation has been a popular belief among Evangelicals. But is this idea truly biblical? Will the church be raptured? If so, will it happen pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib? Who exactly will be left behind? On this episode of Messiah Podcast, the third in our multi-part series on the End of Days with D. Thomas Lancaster, we delve into the prophets of Israel to discover the true source for the Rapture, the blast of the shofar, and the ingathering of the exiles. Join us as we uncover how it all fits together in a Jewish reading of biblical prophecy.

👉 Takeaways

►  The Rapture Is a Biblical idea: Jewish eschatology very firmly believes in a rapture that will take place at the end of days in conjunction with the resurrection of the dead. However, the identity of who is being raptured and to where is their destination is quite different from the modern Christian versions.

►  The Most Frequently Repeated Prophecy: It may come as a surprise that the most oft-repeated prophecy of the Hebrew Bible is not the coming of the Messiah but the rapture of the scattered souls of Israel. In Jewish eschatology this is known as the ingathering of the exiles. Paul understands the prophets to include Gentiles from the nations among those who are brought to Jerusalem.

►  The Rapture Is a Primary Job of the Messiah: In Jewish eschatology, the ingathering of the exiles is one of the most important jobs of the Messiah. 

👉  Resources

Torah Club
 https://torahclub.org

End of Days: Torah Club Study Track
 https://endofdays.org


 ✡️  What is Messiah Podcast?  ✝️ 

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God’s prophetic promises to Israel. https://ffoz.org  

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today. https://ffoz.org/friends 

Messiah Podcast theme music provided with permission by Joshua Aaron Music “Cover the Sea” Copyright WorshipinIsrael.com songs 2020. All rights reserved.

78 – Did Jesus Believe in the Rapture? | D. Thomas Lancaster

In the final episode of our series on the end of days, we delve into the age-old question: Are we living in the last generation? Join Jacob Fronczak and Daniel Lancaster as they explore historical and contemporary signs, from the ingathering of Israel’s exiles to the global technology revolution, that suggest we might be on the brink of a new era. Discover how eschatology drives discipleship and what it means to live with the expectation of the Messiah’s imminent return. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges our understanding of prophecy and the times we live in. 

👉 Takeaways

►  Historical Patterns of Expectation: Throughout history, many generations have believed they were living in the end times, often interpreting contemporary events as signs of the Messiah’s imminent return. This pattern highlights the enduring human tendency to seek meaning in current events through the lens of prophecy.
►  Eight Reasons: Daniel Lancaster proposes eight reasons why this is the last generation that will see Messiah’s return. These reasons span the fulfillment of biblical prophecy to events taking place around the globe.
►  Eschatology and Discipleship: The belief in the imminent return of the Messiah is not just a theological stance but a call to action, driving individuals to live with integrity, study scripture, and pursue wisdom as part of their discipleship journey.

🔖  Chapters

(0:00) Is This the Last Generation before Jesus’ Return?
(2:33) The Millerists and the Great Disappointment
(10:31) Jonah and the Nature of Prophecy
(12:52) Paul’s Reason for the Delayed Redemption
(18:39) Did We Miss It?
(29:11) Gnosticism: Contrasting Physical and Spiritual Worlds
(32:26) Reason 1: Ingathering of the Exiles
(35:22) Reason 2. Establishment of a Jewish State in Their Homeland
(36:55) Reason 3. God’s Miraculous War-time Interventions
(38:23) Reason 4. Global Technology Revolution
(40:01) Reason 5. Global Scope of Anti-Zionism and Jew Hate
(41:30) Reason 6. World Population Peak
(43:10) Reason 7. The Atomic Threat of Global Annihilation
(45:15) Reason 8. Culmination of Human History
(47:10)) Discipleship Internalizes “The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand”
(53:58) Preparing for His Return

👉  Resources

Torah Club
 https://torahclub.org

End of Days: Torah Club Study Track
 https://endofdays.org

79 – Are We Living In the End of Days? | D. Thomas Lancaster

On Messiah Podcast, Jesus is Jewish, and that changes everything. Tune in to learn the teaching and kingdom message of Jesus from a Messianic Jewish perspective. We interview thinkers: scholars, pastors, Messianic rabbis, and others who are doing significant work in areas that relate to a Messianic Jewish reading of the Bible. Messiah Podcast is brought to you by Messiah Magazine, a publication of First Fruits of Zion.

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