One Torah For All

One Torah shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Exodus 12:49

"Behold,
I have told you in advance."

Chapter 11:
The Lesson of the First Advent

Baby

There are lessons in the first advent of Messiah that shine as a beacon of light into today, to caution those who would listen. If a person does not comprehend the significance of, and the warnings of, the first coming of Yeshua, it is doubtful that one can avoid the pitfalls into which so many fell during that time.

The first lesson one needs to understand, is the timing of the first coming. When Yeshua came the first time, it was at exactly the right moment in time. It was not too soon; nor was it too late.

Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of the time was come, YHWH sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

And again;

Romans 5:6b
In due time Messiah died for the unrighteous.

Since Yeshua came the first time at just the right moment in history, He will once again invade the time continuum, when He returns, at just the right time. It will not be too late, nor will it be too soon, but at the right time. It will be those who have fixed their hope on Him, who will not be disappointed.

One noteworthy comparison of the first coming with the second coming is that, as with the first coming, many were looking for the coming of Messiah. Most notably among these were the Pharisees (the religious leaders). Many of them had spent their lives searching the Scriptures, looking for clues about the coming of Messiah.

Matthew 2:4, 5
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Messiah should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

When the Pharisees were asked about a particular prophecy concerning the coming of Messiah they knew the answer. They pretty much had it all figured out. At least they thought so.

Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

The Pharisees, priests, scribes, and Sadducees, spent a lot of time examining the Scriptures. They were very knowledgeable about the events surrounding the coming of Messiah. They had it all figured out! However, Yeshua chastises them in John 5 because they completely missed the focus of the Scripture. It is not primarily to tell about future events, but rather it tells about the Savior. It is because they missed this that they missed His coming. They were not well enough acquainted with who was coming, as they were that Messiah was coming in this particular manner, and that His coming would follow this particular course of events. Most of their conjectures were wrong. This is why these students of the Scripture missed the coming of Messiah: because they were focused upon the event of His coming and not upon the Person who was coming. This further illustrates the truth that the “blessed hope” is a person, not an event. This lesson must be applied to today. The question must be asked, “Am I so focused upon an event; e.g., the event of the “rapture,” that I have shut my eyes to the person of Yeshua?”

It is true that many of the Pharisees came to know Yeshua after the resurrection and ascension (see Acts 6:7). However, the first coming of Messiah is in reference to salvation. The second coming, will be in reference to judgment (Hebrews 9:28). A person who misses the second coming, will not have another chance to accept Yeshua as his personal Savior.

If a person has his eyes and his hope fixed upon Yeshua, then it will not matter in what order the phenomena surrounding the Second Advent occur, for one will be ready, because he personally knows the Person who is coming. The true disciple already has his life focused upon Yeshua and lives for Him daily, so that, when He appears, he is already looking toward Him.