The central event of the end times is the Second Coming of Yeshua. He will descend from heaven leading angelic armies and release the fire of God to destroy the wicked. The souls of those who are part of the first resurrection will come with Him and receive their new bodies. Yeshua will enter Jerusalem in glory to start the millennial kingdom on earth.
At that time another special event will take place, popularly called, the “rapture.” There are three primary reasons for this event:
- Receive a Resurrection Body – Along with those who are part of the first resurrection, those dedicated believers on earth still alive must also receive a new body. Instead of dying, they will undergo an instant transformation in which their bodies will be changed to a resurrection body (I Corinthians 15:51-52).
- Escape Destruction of Wicked – Similar to the reason why the angels pulled Lot’s family out of Sodom before the destruction, so will some of the angels in Yeshua’s army be assigned to go pull the righteous “out of the way” before the coming fire (Matthew 24:31).
- Welcome Yeshua into Jerusalem – Crowds of people will welcome Yeshua back into Jerusalem with shouts of “Hosanna.” In order to welcome Him, the saints will meet Him in the air on His way down. To be lifted and transported into the air, they will obviously need a transformed body (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).
In Heaven or on Earth?
Some ask whether the “transformed-transported” saints will be in heaven or earth. The answer is – both. With a human body, one can stay on the earth, but not in heaven. The spirits of the saints who have gone to heaven can stay there but not return to earth. However, a resurrected or transformed body can stay in both, and travel between the two.
There are two fundamentally different ways of viewing this transformed-transported event. Is the primary purpose of God to remove human beings from the earth to live in a non-earthly body forever in heaven? Or is it to establish the kingdom of God on earth by uniting heaven and earth together in perfect harmony (Ephesians 1:10)? We believe the latter to be true. That’s why we pray daily, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” – (Matthew 6:10).
Asher serves as president of Tikkun Global family of ministries and congregations, dedicated to the dual restoration of Israel and the Church. He is founder of the Revive Israel five-fold ministry team, and oversees both Ahavat Yeshua and Tiferet Yeshua congregations in Israel.
He and his wife Betty share a passion for personal prayer and devotion, local evangelism and discipleship in Hebrew, and unity of the Body of believers worldwide.
Asher was raised in a conservative Jewish home and holds degrees from Harvard University, Baltimore Hebrew College and Messiah Biblical Institute. He has authored numerous books, tracts and articles.