Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Rapture and Gematria
Although the Rosh Rebbe and I taught this lesson in the past, I want to provide information on the subject again because of recent questions on the subject and the lack of believers’ ability to respond accurately in a timely manner to such inquires. We must take individual responsibility for becoming at least conceptually aware of some of the basic tenets of Messianic Judaism, the Rapture being one of many. Let us start with some basics found encoded in the Jewish numbering system of Gematria.
Within the Messianic community, Christianity and even within this congregation there are many who either don’t believe in the doctrine of the “Rapture,” do believe or are undecided about it.
This I believe is the age of the “last days” mentioned in the Bible. Daniel 12:4 And 9 refers to the latter days this way:
Dan 12:4 “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
Dan 12:9 “And he said, ‘Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.’”
In this day and hour many are searching the scriptures (running to and fro) and knowledge is sprouting forth as never before. We live in a great time of revelation. YHVH is revealing awesome truths and knowledge to this generation. Even so, we must not abandon nor lose sight of the plain understanding of scripture; on the other hand we should not dismiss other methods of discovering deep truths and confirmation of YHVH’s Word.
I for one believe that YHVH had encoded heretofore-unknown messages through the Hebrew language of the Tanakh. Employing the method of Jewish Gematria is found many confirmations for many of the doctrines of the bible.
I previously taught the congregation about the hidden message in Isaiah 53 identifying Yahshua as the Messiah. Now I wish to examine the book of Ruth in the context of the Rapture.
Ruth is a prophetic picture of the coming Redeemer. Boaz and Ruth are the main characters in this book. Boaz portrays the part of the kinsman redeemer as the coming Messiah, and Ruth as the believers, and interestingly enough found in this book are four instances of the Hebrew word for “Rapture.”
But, before we start on this examination let me explain that I am indebted to Rabbi Yacov Rambsel who has led the way in “equidistant letter sequencing” and their decoding. Through his studies we have come to a deeper understanding of scripture.
For the purposes of this study I need to inform you that the Hebrew word for “rapture” is “natzal,” and if you wish to make your own study, you will need to have a Hebrew text. Then follow my instructions. In Ruth 1:8 beginning with the third letter in the sixth Hebrew word count every letter 60th letter from right to left and you will see that it will spell “natzal,” which means, to be snatched up, delivered, saved or rescued.
Next in Ruth 1:11 we begin counting with the third letter in the third word, counting every 75th letter from left to right we again spell “natzal
In Ruth 1:13 beginning with the second letter in the 12th word, counting every 18th letter from right to left we decode a phrase, “hain natzal” which means, Behold the rapture.”
In Ruth 1:14 we begin with the sixth letter in the third word and counting every 25th letter from left to right we again find “natzal.” Amazingly, these four combinations use the same letter “tzaddi”, which means saint to form the word, “natzal.” Is YHVH telling us that the Saints will be “raptured”?
Now, let’s look elsewhere in Scripture. The festivals have always been a great source of deeper biblical truths. The first Pentecost or better translated as Shavuot after Yahshua’s crucifixion occurred 50 days after Pesach beginning counting 49 days with the Feast of First Fruits. Every 50th year YHVH declared Israel to declare a Jubilee Year. The number 50 represents deliverance in Hebrew Gematria. “Yovel” is the Hebrew name of a Jubilee year when all debts are forgiven and slaves are set free. It is a time of joy and deliverance. All this could be a picture of the “rapture.” If the “Rapture” occurs they will be the first fruits of believers. They will be set free and forgiven all debts and it will be a time of deliverance and joy.
“Yovel” in Hebrew is also a silver trumpet. This may be another connection to the Rapture. It is blown to announce the ascending of YHVH’s people unto YHVH Elohim’s throne (Ex.19: 13). Or in ancient times ascend unto the mount of the Temple where YHVH resided.
In Modern Hebrew the word for “rapture” is “shilhuv” and hasn’t been used until recent times. Obviously YHVH all knowing would prepare His secrets for any eventually. So we see in Exodus 19:16, 17, that reads:
16 “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God…”
In the Hebrew text “on the third day in the morning…” is written b’yom hashlishi bihiot haboker. Every other letter in the Hebrew from left to right spells be’ shilhuv which is the ordinary term for “in the rapture” written in Modern Hebrew. Is this a picture of the Rapture? It fits the context! A trumpet, Moshe a type of Yahshua bringing the people, ascending to meet YHVH on His mount or Throne. Think about this also. It has been two thousand years since the advent of Yahshua and we are now in the third day. The time is very near!
In Hosea 6:1-3 has an oft-repeated prophecy of those that believe in a pre-millennial Rapture.
“Come, and let us return unto the L-rd: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind 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 the L-rd; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain rain unto the earth.”
Peter speaks of 1000 calendar years as being a day in YHVH’s sight, and many think the above verses as the “rapture” of believers before the Tribulation. It has been 2000 years since Yahshua’s advent and the third day as referring to the Messianic or Millennial Kingdom. Let us look to see if there are any key words encoded in this scripture.
In Hosea 6:2 in Hebrew is the phrase “in the third day… b’yom hashlishi. Taking every other letter from left to right starting with the letter shin to the far left in this phrase spells the letter “shilhuv, which in Modern Hebrew spells, “rapture.” Starting with the lamed in the word hashlishi of the same phrase and counting every 132nd letter from right to left spells, “natzal”, which is the ancient Hebrew word for “snatched up, rescued or saved.”
There is much more we could consider, for instance in the book of Esther, a book dealing with the rescue of the people from disaster, but I will leave that for some later time.
Let me leave you with one simple direct verse from Revelation.
In Revelation 10:6 it reads:
Rev 3:10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart