Judah, Israel and the Church
Study why Judah, Israel, and the Church must be distinguished when reading prophecy and the end-times Scriptures.
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In short
This study presents Jacob’s dream as a picture of the rapture of the church. It connects Genesis 28 with 1 Thessalonians 4, the meaning of messengers or angels, Jacob’s trouble, and the need to be ready for Jesus Christ before the dark period begins.
This study is for
- Readers who want to study the rapture through Jacob’s dream.
- Believers interested in the connection between Genesis, 1 Thessalonians, and end-time prophecy.
- People who want to understand why being ready for Jesus Christ matters before Jacob’s trouble.
Questions answered in this study
- How can Jacob’s dream picture the rapture of the church?
- What is the connection between Genesis 28 and 1 Thessalonians 4?
- Why does the study connect angels, messengers, and changed believers?
- Why does Jacob witness the event without participating in it?
- Why does the study warn readers to become born again before it is too late?
What Jabob Saw Was the Rapture of the Church Back to contents ↑
Key verses: Genesis 28:10-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
“And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;”
Genesis 28:10-13 (KJB)
“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 4:16-18 (KJB)
Most of us are aware of the dream that Jacob had about the account above without making the connection to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. This is probably due to the fact that in the ladder account angels are mentioned. However, did you know that angels also can be human messengers?
The word 'Angels' (Strong's h4397) in this text is the Hebrew word mălʼâk, which is described as: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher): - ambassador, angel, king, messenger. So, here we see either heavenly beings and/or (specific) human beings.
Humans Taking the Form of Angels? Back to contents ↑
Key verses: Matthew 22:30; 1 Corinthians 15:52; Revelations 7:4-8
Jesus in Mark 16:16 gives his disciples the commission to preach the gospel to every creature, so in that sense all Christians, who take this commission serious, are messengers.
In Matthew, Jesus says that at the resurrection we will be changed and become as angels.
“For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
Matthew 22:30 (KJB)
Furthermore, Paul in 1 Corinthians mentions that we will be changed at the twhinkling of the eye:
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
1 Corinthians 15:52 (KJB)
With all these references in mind we make the bold statement that what Jacob saw was the rapture of the church. God at the top of the ladder was Jesus Christ. The angels coming down potentially represent the 144.000 that are spoken of in Revelations which evangelize the world after the rapture takes place.
The Sun Was Set Back to contents ↑
Key verse: Genesis 28:11
“And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.”
Genesis 28:11 (KJB)
Note that this verse states that the sun was set, which indicated the beginning of a dark period where God woudn't present in his life.
Jacob Doesn’t Participate Back to contents ↑
Note that Jacob only witnesses the rapture, but doesn’t participate himself. Jacob, as we shall see later, is called Isreal when he returns from his time of slavery. Therefore this prophesy seems to depict that the main body of Israel will not take part in the rapture but stays behind. The next part of the story shows 20 years of slave labor as can be seen in the diagram below:
Why 20 Years of Turmoil and not 7? Back to contents ↑
Key verses: Daniel 9:24-27; Zechariah 11:10-14
As explained in this article: The Time is Short, we think that mainstream Christianity erroneously beliefs that the 70th week of Daniel miraculously takes place in the end times, leaving a large gap. It is far more likely that the 70th week of Daniel depicts the time that Jesus walked the earth.
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Daniel 9:24-27 (KJB)
Here is an excerpt of the article:
While many think that the last week of Daniel is still to come and talks about the antichrist, if you read it carefully you will discover that this is spoken of about Jesus Christ Himself, as words ‘confirm the covenant’ indicate When Christ died after 3.5 years of ministry which started with the baptizing in the Jordan, He caused the sacrifice in the Temple to cease, which was marked by the renting of the veil of the Holy of Holies.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Daniel 9:27 (KJB)
Zechariah 11:10-14 also hints in this direction:
“And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.”
Zechariah 11:10-14 (KJB)
Now, you might think, what does this matter? Well, such things obviously don't matter when you are not in the situation, however, when you are in, it matters a lot. Having a misconseption of about a third of the real time could break you when you are in the midst of it and the time of 7 years has long past.
Jacob Returns and Wrestles With God Back to contents ↑
Key verses: Genesis 32:24-28
“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
Genesis 32:24-28 (KJB)
After Jacob wrestles with God, he receives a new name. From now on Jacob will be called Israel. Here we see Jacob as the father of all the people of Isreal in the flesh. Read more on the relationship between Judah, Israel and the Church
Until the Breaking of the Day Back to contents ↑
Key verse: Genesis 32:24
“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”
Genesis 32:24 (KJB)
Only after 20 years after the sun was set, there is mention again of the breaking of the day. Only after 20 years God's presence returns again, but not without a wrestle. The point we want to bring home is that it is better to be part of the group of people that will be raptured. If you want to know how to become a born again believer, read this article: How to Become Born Again.
The Time is Short Back to contents ↑
We believe that the time before this will be happen is very short, as can be read in this article: The Time is Short. Please give your life to Christ before it is too late!
Frequently asked questions
Why does this study connect Jacob’s dream with the rapture?
The study connects Jacob’s dream with the rapture because Genesis 28 shows a heavenly ladder, messengers ascending and descending, and the Lord standing above it. The study compares this picture with 1 Thessalonians 4, where the Lord descends and believers are caught up.
Are the angels in Jacob’s dream only heavenly beings?
The study notes that the Hebrew word can also mean messenger. This opens the possibility that the scene can picture heavenly beings, human messengers, or changed believers who serve God’s purpose.
Why does the study say Jacob does not participate?
Jacob is shown as a witness of the scene rather than one who goes up the ladder. The study uses this as a prophetic picture that the main body of Israel remains for a later period while the church is gathered.
Why does the study mention 20 years instead of 7?
The study argues that the common view of a future seven-year period may be incomplete, and connects Jacob’s 20 years of labor and return with a longer picture of turmoil before restoration.
What should readers do with this teaching?
The practical warning is to be ready for Jesus Christ. The study urges readers to become born again and not wait until the time of trouble has begun.
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