The Bridge
In music, especially Western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section that prepares for the return of the original material section. (Wikipedia)
Semi-Hypothetical Illustration
Suppose that long ago a powerful earthquake occurred which divided a land mass. It opened up a huge chasm which produced 2 separate land masses. A long bridge had to be built between the 2 areas. The bridge was very long and it stood for a very long time. One day there was another gigantic earthquake which brought the 2 separate land masses together again. The bridge was no longer needed to travel from one area to the other. In addition, the bridge was destroyed by the second earthquake. The piles in its foundation were destroyed. Its cables were gone. No sign of the bridge and its components could be seen. It was as if it never existed, though it had stood for centuries.
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Dan 9:24)
God determined and revealed to Daniel that He was going to use 70 prophetic weeks of years (490) to deal with His people Israel and to finish up man's time on this earth as its rulers. Jesus would then return to earth literally and set up His Millennial Kingdom.
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:...(Dan 9:25)
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:...(v26)
Amazingly, God tells Daniel (and therefore everyone who reads) that the long awaited Messiah will come (and something terrible will happen to Him) in 69 prophetic weeks (483 years) after a certain point: “from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem”. But I thought that 70 weeks were decreed to deal with God's people Israel. Why be so precise if we misplace an entire period of 7 years?
Many people of Jesus' day believed on Him. However, the official voice (the national leaders) of Israel refused to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. It seems that in about 30 AD God pushed “pause” on His dealings with Israel. This was in part because of Israel's official rejection of their King, Jesus, but God was also doing something else at the same time. God wanted to bring salvation to the Gentiles. This was a mystery in the Old Testament but hidden.
God split His time in dealing with Israel into the larger land mass of 69 weeks (483 years) and the smaller section of 1 week (7 years). He placed these two time sections far apart. Then He made a bridge, so to speak, to separate these time periods and to do some other works in the earth. One of those works is to, using the musical definition, create a bridge preparing for the return of the original plan. God will join the 69th week and the 70th week seamlessly.
There is a second thing He is doing. He is drawing together a people for Himself out of the Gentiles. It is upon this bridge of time that you and I are living in that God is calling Jews and Gentiles together to be a part of His body. Things were not like this in ancient times. They will not be like this in the near future, either. Since the time of Jesus, two thousand years ago, we have been in the Age of Grace. It seems like things have been like what we have known, forever.
You and I are living today in an anomaly. It is a bizarre, unnatural, unexpected, unanticipated pause in the affairs of men. It is an abnormal Heavenly insertion into the history of the human race. This was so much longer than anyone might have thought. It has been 2,000 years. I believe that this bridge is going to be taken away soon.
The whole world has been subject to the Gospel of the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. Your grandparents lived in this. Their great grandparents were subject to the invitation and requirements of the Gospel message. Think back to the founding of the United States. It was in force then. Think back to the Middle Ages. The Gospel of Jesus was offered to men back then. Think back to the times of the ancient Roman Empire. Actually, it began about 30 AD. So things were not always as they are today with regards to the open Door of the Grace of God. This special “bridge” of time started then. Though it seems like a very long time, someday it will come to an end. God will close the door to the Day of Grace and will join the 69th week and the 70th week together as if there were no bridge of time such we know today.
At this point in my Christian journey, this is what I understand to be in our near future. There will be a world wide catastrophic event, like an unprecedented earthquake, that will remove the bridge of the Church. The two land masses of God's dealing with His people ethnic Israel will be joined together. God will pick up where He left off in dealing with His first covenant people. It will be as though the past 2,000 years never existed. The “bridge” will be gone. The mostly Gentile Church will be gone from the earth. The people of God, Jew and Gentile, who were the body of Christ will be removed. God, Who had paused His dealings with Israel at the time of Christ will hit the play button. Like a video that has been on pause for a long time, the 70th week will start as if it never had been interrupted. (The one major exception is that now the name of Jesus is known and is required.)
God needs a Rapture. It does not matter what you or anyone thinks or wants. It does not matter what I think may be right. I do not have vote or voice in this matter. God needs to remove His Church Age people as if they never existed. The bridge of Grace will be gone. The 69th week will join the 70th week. God will finish His dealings with Israel and with the world. Then He will come and establish the Golden Age Millennial Kingdom with Jerusalem as the world capital. No wonder Satan hates the Jews and incites everyone against them.
The “bridge” is going to be removed soon like scaffolding. The Door of God's invitation will soon be shut forever. It was not like this in ancient times. It will not be like this forever. Put your trust in Jesus' person and His work today.
Jan. 21, 2024