This week I’d like to look at the controversial question of Christ’s “imminent” return for the church, but from a different angle than most of you might have approached the subject before.

Today many of my peers believe that this event could have taken place at any point after the death and resurrection of Yeshua and that there is no “prophesied event” that needs to take place before this “rapture” of believers transpires. Here is how two of today’s highly respected evangelical prophecy teachers see the subject:

 A foundational aspect of the rapture, as taught in Scripture, is that it is imminent. By imminent we mean it could happen at any moment, and there is no prophesied event that has to take place first before the rapture can occur. It is the next event on the calendar. (Ed Hindson & Hitchcock, Can We Still Believe in the Rapture? (p. 123). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.)

Is Mr. Hindson & Mr. Hitchcock’s perspective on the subject accurate? To be fair, it’s a perspective shared by many respected expositors of the Bible.

To hopefully give you some additional insight into this question I want to look at the subject through the perspective of the apostle Peter. You know, I sometimes forget that the books of the Bible that comprise our New Testament are for the most part actually letters written by the apostles to specific members or groups of what became known as the “Christian” church. Often in my mind I lump them together as just a collection of books written to the church without considering the context and perspective of those to whom those letters or epistles were written.

Let me give you an example of why context is so important. How many of you can tell me what the words in the following picture mean?

The words don’t make much sense, do they? What if I told you that I was responsible for this graffiti? You’d probably say there was still not enough information for you to definitively determine its meaning.

But if I told you that my best friend, and the love of my life for 25 years now, is named Winnie, and that I use Win as a nick name for her, then those eight letters she sees every time she drives up our driveway makes a whole lot more sense to you, don’t they?

That’s context.

One Day with YHWH is as a Thousand Years
Well, today I hope to give you the context of a statement made by the apostle Peter that appears equally confusing. A statement that when understood in its given context, I believe, answers the title of today’s blog post: Did the apostle Peter believe in the imminence of Christ’s return?  Peter’s statement in question is found in 2 Peter 3:8.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

If you’ve read any commentary on this verse then you know that if you ask three different scholars about it you’d likely get four or five different interpretations.

Today, let’s explore this statement made by the apostle Peter in his epistle and its possible implications. But let’s start first by understanding who exactly the apostle Peter was addressing in these letters. This context we will then use as the foundation to better understand Peter’s view of the timing of Christ’s return and his fascinating statement about the relativity of time.

This is a rather lengthy blog post, but stick with me here because by the time we are done, I believe you’ll have a new appreciation for Peter’s perspective of end time events. Further you’ll see this perspective is congruent with how the apostles James and Paul understood the subject.

First let’s look at Paul’s view of Peter’s gospel mission:

But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) (Galatians 2:7-8)

In this  passage we can see that Paul’s evangelical purpose was directed to the gentiles while the thrust of Peter’s evangelical outreach was directed towards his Jewish brethren (a.k.a. the circumcision).  This bit of information gives us a valuable lens through which we can now approach Peter’s two epistles.

As we explore this subject I will be sharing portions of Peter’s epistle along with the related Old Testament Scriptures from which Peter is quoting or alluding. I think you’ll be surprised at how rich in Old Testament context Peter’s epistles are. Here is the opening verses from 1 Peter:

 Strangers and Elect

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:1-2)  

In this opening salutation Peter address his audience as “strangers” and “elect”. Who are the strangers and elect? Are these terms used for the Jewish people, the church, or gentiles? If Peter is an apostle to the Jewish people (as Paul claims) then these terms should find their origins in the Old Testament. Let’s take a look:

Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 23:9)
(Strangers = hebrew “ger” which means sojourner or a temporary inhabitant)

For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect,… (Isaiah 45:4)
(Elect – Hebrew “bachiyr” which means chosen or chosen one)

From these two opening verses we can’t draw any solid conclusions, but “strangers” and “elect” are terms used in the Old Testament to refer to the Jewish people.

Trial of Faith
Because this exploration of Peter’s epistles is ultimately about try to understand Peter’s eschatological world view, verse 7 is worth noting because it connects the faith of those Peter is addressing with the return of Yeshua. In other words, Peter is telling his audience that the end game here is Christ’s return.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7)  

The Salvation which the Prophets Enquired and Searched For
Notice in the next passage Peter reminds his readers that their faith will result in the salvation of their souls. A salvation which prophesied (in the Old Testament) and one which the (Old Testament) prophets looked for.

This indicates that Peter’s audience was familiar with the Old Testament prophecies which spoke of their (the Jewish people’s) salvation, an implication which would likely not apply to gentile believers.

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (1 Peter 1:9-10)

Peter then again confirms the eschatological context of his epistle in verse 13 with the following admonition:

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13)

Be Ye Holy
As we can see a picture is emerging here that seems to indicate that Peter’s epistle is written to people familiar with Torah and Prophets. The first definitive evidence though, that Peter is addressing his Jewish brethren in his epistle, comes from verse 16 where he states:

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16 ) 

Any time the New Testament states “it is written” we know that the Torah or Prophets are being referenced. In this case Peter is referencing Leviticus 19 and YHWH’s instructions to Moses:

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I YHWH your God am holy. (Leviticus 19:2)   

Traditions of Your Fathers
In the next passage Peter explains to this Jewish brethren that they were not redeemed with the “vain conversations” originating in the traditions of their fathers but rather in the blood of Yeshua.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1 Peter 1:18-20)  

As can be seen from this passage, Peter also explains that this salvation through Yeshua was predetermined before the foundation of the world and it’s in the comparative context of that vast expanse of time, that Peter explains to his Jewish readers that Yeshua’s blood atoned for their sins “in these last times”. In other words, Yeshua’s death and resurrection ushered in the “last times”.

To be sure, from our extremely short sighted view of history, it is hard for us to see the last two thousand years as the “last times” but keep in mind that YHWH’s salvation (Yeshua) was foreordained before the foundation of the world and indeed in this perspective, two thousand years is but the blink of an eye in our Creator’s eternal plan.

Don’t let Peter’s statements here be taken out of context as is often done by our Historicist and Preterist brethren. Peter’s “end times” statement must be understood within the comparative contexts of “before the foundation of the world”.  As we will soon see Peter clarifies his eschatological view of Christ’s return and these “last times”.

Before we get to that though, let’s leave no doubt about who Peter’s epistle is addressed to.

A Chosen Generation – A Peculiar People
In the next section Peter addresses his audience as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people – all terms found in the Old Testament used to describe the children of Israel.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  (1 Peter 2:9-12)  

The Old Testament context:

Ye are the children of YHWH your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.  For thou art an holy people unto YHWH thy God, and YHWH hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. (Deuteronomy 14:1-2)  

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6)  

Not a People
Now here is where it gets really interesting. As we’ve seen above, Peter is referencing Old Testament passages to draw his Jeiwish readers’ attention to specific aspects of their YHWH ordained destiny. The next few verse are really important because Peter is explaining to his Jewish audience the reality of their part in YHWH’s redemptive plan.

  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:10-12)

I’m not going to give you the entire passage in the Old Testament book of Hosea that Peter is quoting from here but I’d encourage you to read the real life allegorical account because it tells the story (through Hosea’s wife and children) of Israel’s rejection of their savior, their abasement, and their eventual restoration after a specific period of time.

… And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:22-23)

To give you an added sense of the importance of this verse to the Jewish people, here is apostle Paul in his famous letter to the Romans explaining the destiny of the Jewish people (within the overall context of YHWH’s plan for both Jewish and Gentile believers).

As he saith also in Osee [Hosesa], I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: (Romans 9:25-27)  

Strangers and Pilgrims
Just in case there was still some doubt about who Peter is addressing in his epistle the new few verses should put that doubt to rest:

Dearly beloved, I beseech as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  Having your manner of life honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12)

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:  Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: (1 Peter 4:3-4)   

Peter Predicted His Own Death
When you read chapter 1 of Peter’s 2^nd epistle, you see that Peter is reminding and encouraging his Jewish brethren to live their lives righteously, “to make their calling and election sure”. He tells them directly that he will not be with them much longer and that they must continue on without him, to make their lives count for Christ.

As you will see in the following passage it’s difficult to believe Peter understood that Christ’s return was imminent.

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:12-16)

 A 2^nd Epistle – A More Sure Word of Prophecy
Peter’s first epistle must have raised some eschatological questions because in chapter 3 of his second epiestl he put a finer point on his eschatological understanding. He opens with a call for his readers to remember the words of the prophets and apostles.

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (2 Peter 3:1-2) 

Peter Affirms That He was an Eyewitness of Christ’s Glory
When you read 2 Peter 1-2, it is clear that Peter is trying to counter those who had tried to cast doubt about Yeshua’s divine nature and his credentials as the promised Messiah. This is the reason he appealed to the prophets and the  other apostles. The former prophesied the events and the latter were eye witnesses to the fulfillment of those events.

These “false teachers” of chapter 2, like the “false prophets” of Israel’s yesteryear had brought in “damnable heresies” which has sown confusion and doubt among his Jewish brethren. As with many such heresies, the root of this evil was greed. These false teachers were simply using these “new” teachings to merchandize the members of the early church.

A Call to Persevere While Judgment Tarries
Now we get to the real heart of Peter’s teaching to his Jewish brethren on what to expect in the coming days before the Messiah Yeshua’s return.

Notice right off that Peter tells his readers that scoffers will appeal to the past as evidence that the status quo will continue into the future. Peter warns his brethren that this is a dangerous world view which the scoffers of Noah’s day lived to regret.

Peter explains that God’s judgment was not being withheld, because God was not or could not keep His word, but rather out of gracious longsuffering love for mankind he was withholding judgment until all who would receive his message had been added to the family of God. Before we read 2 Peter 3, for context’s sake, here is Peter’s introduction to the subject from the 3^rd chapter of his first epistle

Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  (1 Peter 3:18-20 )

God is Not Slack Concerning the Promises of His Coming
Now as you read 2 Peter 3, keep in mind the theme here of God’s patient “longsuffering” purpose towards mankind in general and the Jewish people in particular. This patience, remember, is in relation to His 2nd coming and the righteous judgment that it will bring:

  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water [Noah’s Flood], perished:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment [The 2^nd Coming of Christ] and perdition of ungodly men…

[Verse 8 omitted]

 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:3-13)

Notice here that Peter compares the longsuffering of YHWH before the flood to the period of time before the 2^nd coming of Christ. Both periods leading up to God’s judgment saw scoffers who questioned the promised reality of God’s coming eschatological judgment.

Key in here on Peter’s usage of the word “longsuffering” to describe the delay in fulfilling YHWH’s prophetic word. This is the 2^nd time Peter has used the word in the same context. Peter uses the word once more, but this time in reference to Paul’s explanation of the subject of God’s longsuffering nature towards Israel and the gentiles:

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;   (2 Peter 3;15)

Now I don’t know if Paul’s letter to the Romans is what Peter had in mind in the above verse but regardless which account Peter had in mind, Romans 9 provides us with a congruent view of Paul’s understanding of YHWH’s longsuffering nature towards the Jewish people. Notice this patience is directed not only towards the Jewish people but the Gentiles as well.

As you read this passage from Romans 9 once more, keep in mind that it also provides us with a valuable insight into how the apostle Paul understood the Old Testament book of Hosea as a prophecy concerning the Jewish people (and Gentiles) which spoke to their blindness during the period of time from the death and resurrection of Yeshua until their eventual restoration in the “last times”.

What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 

As he saith also in Osee [Hosea], I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. (Romans 9:22-26)  

Now to drive this point home, let’s go back for a moment to the words Peter wrote to his Jewish brethren from the 2^nd chapter of his first epistle:

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  (1 Peter 2:10-12)  

As we can see here, both Peter and Paul understood the metaphor of Hosea as a testimony to Israel’s judgment and eventual restoration after a period of testing, trial, and refinement. This period of time we now understand as the “times of the Gentiles” which Yeshua spoke about in Luke 21:

And they [the Jewish people] shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

Finally, just so there is no question in your mind about this period of testing of the Jewish people and its purpose in YHWH’s redemptive plan, Paul sums it up in this way:

I say then, Have they [Jewish people] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.  Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:  If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 

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. (Romans 11:11-25)  

One Day with YHWH is as a Thousand Years
For those paying attention I left out a very important verse when I quoted 2 Peter 3:3-13 above. That verse is at the heart of the question we are exploring in today’s blog post.

For the few of you who have persevered to this point, I probably don’t need to take you any further for you to understand what Peter was trying to say. Nearly all the pieces of the puzzle are there for you to figure out, all you have to do now is follow them to their natural conclusions.

Just like the message to my wife Winnie, Peter’s words to his Jewish brethren now make much more sense when understood in the context from which they originated. Before I give you the final pieces of the puzzle, let’s sum up some important points of context from Peter’s epistles:

1. Both epistles were written to the Jewish people
2. These epistles had an eschatological theme
3. The epistles drew heavily from an Old Testament context
4. The epistles spoke to the restoration of the Jewish people as prophesied in the Old Testament book of Hosea
5. Peter points his readers to the writing of Paul to confirm the purpose behind YHWH’s longsuffering delay of His return.

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water [Noah’s Flood], perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment [at Christ’s Return] and perdition of ungodly men.

 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:3-12)

 The Days of Hosea
Notice here that Peter’s statement of “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” is sandwiched between the scoffers’ question of “where is the promise of his coming” and Peter’s reassurance that “the Lord is not slack concerning his promise” but rather He is “longsuffering to us-ward”.

In other words, YHWH’s delay in coming to restore his people is due to His love towards the Jewish people and His unwillingness that any of those called should perish.

Do you see, Peter’s statement here is not an enigma nor is it some metaphysical statement about the relativity of time? It is a clear statement to the Jewish people, a statement that Peter unequivocally states that they should not be “ignorant” of.

The reason they should not be ignorant of this statement is because, it comes from one of their  most important prophetic books (in the Bible) which speaks to the Jewish people’s restoration. That book was the book of Hosea and as we have already seen, both Peter and Paul referenced it when discussing the current status of the Jewish people and their promised restoration. Here is an excerpt of those famous words. I encourage you to read all of Hosea to get the full flavor and context:

Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you,

 …I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled

… And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them. They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek YHWH; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them

… Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound:

therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. 

^… When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

Come, and let us return unto YHWH: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know YHWH: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.  But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

… I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.  Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee,

when I returned the captivity of my people.  (Hosea 5:1 – 6:11)  

Hosea’s Two Days are 2000 Years
As you can see from this context, It’s unlikely that Peter believed in the immnency of Christ’s return. He understood, that the period of time between Yeshua’s first and second coming was a period of time during which YHWH’s longsuffering purpose was worked out toward the Jewish people as well as the gentiles. Further, this period was linked to the “two days” of Hosea and his people’s promised restoration.

Now I know there will be some who try to set dates based upon this information, but frankly that is not possible or fruitful. Peter’s allusion to two days of Hosea provides no basis for us to calculate the day, hour, or frankly even the year of Yeshua’s return. The prophecy of Hosea simply states that Israel will be revived in “the third day”.

I believe it is enough for us to understand that we are living at the very end of the “two days” since Yeshua’s death and resurrection. That we have had the awesome privilege to witness the “dry bones” of Ezekiel 37 coming back together as the final century of those “two days” of Hosea runs its course.

As Yeshua’s return draws near, let’s intercede with YHWH on behalf of the Jewish people who have not yet turned their hearts towards Yeshua. Now is the time to be looking up, for our Salvation of Yahweh – our Yeshua draws near.

Maranatha!

Closing Notes – The Captivity of Israel
I know this post is rather long, but there is so much more to this subject that could or should be said. For now I want to bring your attention to just two more ideas in these passages related to this subject of Israel’s restoration and the coming of Yeshua.

Notice the closing words of Hosea 6, “when I return the captivity of my people”. This statement reminds the Jewish reader of the following promise from Deuteronomy 30:1-3 where it talks about Israel’s captivity and eventual return of YHWH.

And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither YHWH thy God hath driven thee,  And shalt return unto YHWH thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 

That then YHWH thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, (Deuteronomy 30:1-3)  

Early and Latter Rain
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the statement of Hoses 6:3 which follows the statement of Israel’s promised restoration in the “third day”. James in his epistle to the “twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” also makes reference to this “rain” in an eschatological context as does the prophet Joel. First the passage from Hosea:

I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

Come, and let us return unto YHWH: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know YHWH: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.  But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

… I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.  Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee,

when I returned the captivity of my people.  (Hosea 5:1 – 6:11)  

James and the Latter Rain

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting…

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.

Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 1:1; 5:7-8)

As you can see from this passage and the one in Hosea, Israel’s restoration by YHWH is connected to the early and latter rain. In Israel the rains typically come in spring and fall around the same time as the Biblical feast days.

Based upon the New Testament witness those spring rains of Yeshua’s first coming (when He became the Passover Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of world) have already taken place.

Now we wait for the fall rains when Yeshua will restore Israel and dwell (tabernacle) with mankind. My prayer is that the Jewish people will no longer have cause to remember the words of the prophet Jeremiah, but instead rejoice at the fulfillment of the words of Joel:

Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country:

Is not YHWH in Zion? is not her king in her?

Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?

The harvest is past, the summer is ended [the rains have come and gone], and we are not saved.  (Jeremiah 8:19-20 )

 

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in YHWH your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

… And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of YHWH your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am YHWH your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of YHWH come. 

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of YHWH shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as YHWH hath said, and in the remnant whom YHWH shall call.
(Joel 2:23-32)

 

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
(Matthew 23:37-39)  

 

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