Revelation, the Apocalypse of John, is the last book in the Bible, and for many, it’s the most difficult. Through the ages, followers of Yeshua have taken the Revelation football and run with it in just about every conceivable direction. This second part of our series on the end times, features D. Thomas Lancaster, author of the forthcoming End of Days Torah Club study track, and together we’ll discuss the various approaches Christian interpreters have used to try to decipher the book of Revelation. We’ll pull the curtain back a little bit to reveal what we can expect this fall as our Torah Club students encounter a Jewish approach to interpreting John’s apocalyptic visions.

👉 Takeaways

► Critique of Traditional Interpretive Paradigms: There are four main Christian interpretive views of Revelation—Historicist, Idealist, Futurist, and Preterist. Jacob and Daniel discuss the strengths and limitations of each of the interpretive paradigms and present an alternative perspective based on Jewish apocalyptic interpretations of Bible prophecy.

► The "Elasticity" of Biblical Prophecy: Jewish eschatology suggests that biblical prophecy can have "elasticity" or different potential outcomes based on the people's response. This means prophecies can be fulfilled in multiple ways or reappear in different historical contexts.

► Revelation's Relevance across Time ("What Was, What Is, What Will Be"): The "End of Days" study track will emphasize reading Revelation through Jewish eyes, understanding "what was" (events already transpired for the original readers), "what is" (current spiritual realities), and "what will be" (future fulfillments). This allows for both historical context and future expectation without forcing the text to be a rigid predictive chart.

► Practical Call to Faithfulness: Ultimately, the core message of Revelation, across generations, is a call to steadfastness and clinging to the testimony of Yeshua and God's commandments, despite societal pressures, persecution, and fear of martyrdom. It reassures believers that the "real kingdom is coming," and their actions in the present will determine their place in that future reality.

👉 Resources

Torah Club
https://torahclub.org

End of Days: Torah Club Study Track
https://endofdays.org

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

For decades, eagle-eyed prophecy aficionados have scoured the headlines and the Scriptures hoping to find clues as to where we’re at on God’s prophetic timeline and how much longer we’ll have to wait before the glorious return of our Master, Yeshua. But does the Bible really predict Apache helicopters, Patriot missiles, the Chernobyl disaster, and nuclear weapons? In this, the first of a multi-part series on the end times, this podcast episode features a discussion with D. Thomas Lancaster, author of the forthcoming End of Days Torah Club study track. Jacob and Daniel explore some of the apocalyptic imagery in the Bible to find out what’s really going on behind the veil.

👉 Takeaways

► The First Rule for Interpreting Revelation: Understand the text in its historical context. The book of Revelation was written to real people at a real time in history. Our understanding of its future application comes after we first understand what it meant in their time.

► Apocalypse Means Unveiling: Explore how apocalyptic texts reveal the spiritual forces influencing physical world events. Instead of looking for direct correlations with modern occurrences, learn about the spiritual power behind what you observe.

► Develop a Robust Prophetic Framework: A Jewish apocalyptic understanding creates a robust, biblical, and resilient framework for interpreting end-times prophecies, as highlighted by the End of Days Torah Club study track. This approach provides a reliable anchor for your faith, independent of current headlines, offering a stronger foundation than sensational interpretations.

🔖 Chapters

(00:00) Starting frameworks for understanding Bible prophecy
(09:07) Chernobyl, Wormwood, and nuclear disasters
(19:05) The Fifth Trumpet and Apache helicopters
(30:57) Zechariah 5 and nuclear bombs
(40:46) Who is the Beast of Revelation?
(46:50) Babylon and the Roman Catholic Church
(51:36) Did Jeremiah foresee modern smart missiles?
(56:15) Is broadcast television required for the end of days?
(59:05) What is the mark of the Beast?

👉 Resources

Torah Club
https://torahclub.org

End of Days: Torah Club Study Track
https://endofdays.org

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Messianic Jewish musicians utilize their craft to express their faith in Yeshua in distinctly Jewish ways. Shai Sol is one such musician who brings a distinctive Israeli sound to the Messianic Jewish music world. Her musical journey began early, sparked by a childhood introduction to the darbukha. This path eventually led her to compete on the Israeli reality TV series HaKochav HaBah, where she famously and courageously revealed her discipleship to Jesus, making quite a splash. This episode explores the development of her unique sound, her extensive experience with the band MIQEDEM, her collaborations with other Israeli artists, and the passion she has to draw her audience closer to God.

👉 Takeaways
► Music as a Vehicle for the Gospel: Shai Sol emphasizes that music is a powerful gift from God that can be used to share the gospel and bring people closer to God, even in secular spaces.

► Normalizing Messianic Judaism in Israel: Normalizing Messianic Jewish faith in Israeli society is a challenging endeavor. By speaking openly and confidently about Messianic beliefs, Yeshua-believers in Israel aim to break down taboos and anxieties surrounding Messianic Judaism, making it more accessible and understood.

► The Power of Vulnerability and Authenticity: Shai Sol was influenced by artists who are open and honest about their spiritual journeys and struggles in their music. She believes that sharing vulnerabilities allows others to relate and potentially find God or answers to their questions through the music.

► God’s Provision and Trust: The meaning behind Shai Sol’s song “Same Story” reflects a deep trust in God’s provision. The song serves as a reminder that just as God cares for nature, He also takes care of personal worries and concerns, even when solutions aren’t immediately visible.

► Vision for Supporting Messianic Artists: Shai Sol has a strong vision for the future of Messianic Jewish music and sees the long term need to develop a Messianic record label that similar artists can call "home."

🔖 Chapters
(00:00) Meet Shai Sol
(3:27) Musical Beginnings
(7:51) Becoming a Messianic Jewish Family
(12:13) Becoming an Openly Messianic Musician
(20:59) HaKachav HaBa Competition
(27:18) Collaborations
(32:04) Musical Influencers
(36:57) Musical Inspiration
(47:58) Future Outlook

👉 Resources
Support Shai Sol Music

Shai Sol on Youtube

Shai Sol on Spotify

Song: Refa Na – Collaboration with Yair Levi

Shai on Facebook

Shai on Instagram

MIQEDEM Music Band

Other Musicians
Sakhnini Brothers, Barry Sakharof, Aviv Gefen, Eviatar Banai, Emanuel Roro

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.