Exodus - 17 - Exod. 6:1-8 - Five Cups and the Jewish Rapture

This lesson and the next will be awesome.  Our focus will be on Exod. 6:1-8.  It will unbelievable where this takes us.  We will be dealing with the reason why there are four cups of wine in the Passover meal called the Seder (Hebrew for order).  We will also deal with the 5^th cup.  Yes!  There is a debate among the rabbis in the Talmud about whether there should be four or five cups.  Shown below are links to articles from Jewish websites to show that this debate comes from the rabbis and it led to some amazing results.  Check them out …

Sefaria (Jewish site to access ancient Jewish literature like the Mishnah, the Midrasheem, the Babylonian Talmud, the Jerusalem Talmud, and the rest) - https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/31880?lang=bi

Aish (Jewish website – aish means “fire”) - https://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/81091867.html

Gemara (Jewish site focusing on the study of the Hebrew scriptures in their historical and contextual context) - https://thegemara.com/five-cups-of-wine-at-the-seder/index.html

The 5^th cup is connected to the text in Exod. 6:8 when we read, “I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the LORD." (Exo 6:8) But, when will Israel possess the land with the borders God promised?  They don’t now.  Today Israel does not come close to holding the territory God promised and about half of all Jews do not live in Israel.  We will see that after the battle against Gog of Magog in Ezekiel 38 and 39 that the first thing that must happen is that ALL Israel must be INGATHERED; they are to be gathered again in Israel never again to leave and there will be NO Jewish people remaining anywhere in the world except in the borders of Israel that God gave them.  You can read this yourself in Ezekiel 39.  All this happens after Elijah comes before the great day of the Lord when Messiah comes (Yeshua returns!).  Interestingly the 5^th cup is called the “Elijah Cup” by the rabbis. 

 

The last concept we will discuss is what is popularly known as the “rapture.”  As a Bible historian I was often concerned that most, if not all Christian teachers of the end times and the rapture, are so disconnected from our Jewish roots, the Bible in its historical context, and an understanding that there was NO New Testament in 50 A.D., the date estimated when Paul was in Thessalonica.  I actually dismissed the “rapture” and thought it was only a view, an opinion, a unique man made interpretation.  I was one who hoped it'd be true.  It just didn't stand the test of scholarly examination.  There were too many holes and not enough substance.  However, I am beginning to look at the “rapture” perhaps the way Paul might have known it.  We will take 1 Thess. 4:16-17 and study these verses in their historical context and in the context of that ancient Jewish culture.  Perhaps there is a “rapture.”  Perhaps the modern Christian end times gurus have it partially right.  Perhaps Paul is teaching those Gentile believers in Thessalonica about something very Jewish based upon the Hebrew scriptures.  Those Gentiles had no Bible, had no scripture, until they became “God Fearers” and attended the synagogue in Thessalonica.  Perhaps there is a connection between the “rapture” and the ingathering of Israel; the ingathering of elect of the Lord that might be called, “The Jewish Rapture.” 

Shown below are links to some interesting articles that will show that this is NOT made up by me, not my opinion.  It is a concept that might prove to be something to consider.  Perhaps we will be part of the INGATHERING of Israel since it says we’ve been grafted into the olive tree, Israel, and are joint heirs in the promises.  Perhaps.

The Torah and the Rapture - https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0da55621/files/uploaded/4ZW5Bbv3Tz2gNtsgeqkL_The%2520Torah%2520and%2520the%2520Rapture.pdf

1 Thess. 4:16-17 from a Rabbinic Perspective - https://hcommons.org/deposits/objects/hc:34782/datastreams/CONTENT/content

The Jewish Understanding of the Rapture - https://torahlifeministry.com/teachings/articles/29-the-rapture/109-the-jewish-understanding-of-the-rapture.html

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0