Annette Rattray (17 Apr 2004)
"GOSHEN - A PICTURE OF THE RAPTURE AND TRIBULATION?"

Dear John and Doves,
 
Some recent posts have unsettled some folk.   I thought a longer version of something I posted on bravenet forum on 9th April 2003, might help to reassure some people.   God Bless you all, Annette
 
GOSHEN A PICTURE OF THE RAPTURE AND TRIBULATION.
First posted on Bravenet forum on 9th April 2003

A recent study of the Exodus from Egypt, indicates that "the time that the people of Israel dwelt in Egypt" was four hundred and thirty years. At the end of the four hundred and thirty years, "on that very day", all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:40

The phrase "on that very day" means that on that day, they also went down into Egypt - Goshen in particular. I had not realised that their Exodus from Egypt was prefigured by a previous Exodus into Egypt from Canaan and the famine that gripped it "on that very day". There they dwelt for 430 years until they were a great nation of people.

"Egypt" was on several occasions a refuge from stress and danger for God's servants - e.g. Abraham/Sarah - Naomi and family - Jacob/Mary and baby Jesus.

In looking back at the occasion of Jacob's coming into Egypt, I believe we have a lovely little 'picture/type' of what we call the "gathering together unto him", or rapture. (c/f 2 Thess. 2:1)

It is found in Genesis 46:27-31 -

"And the sons of Joseph which were born him in Egypt, were two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen.

And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him, and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say until him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me."

First of all the numbers given of those who travelled to the "place that Joseph had prepared for them" were seventy, plus the two who were born there = 72. I believe this is very significant. The 70 who went down into Goshen tie in with the same number of witnesses that Jesus sent out into the World.

Luke 10:1 "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come…"

Jesus appointed 70 specially called and "anointed" disciples to act as "forerunners" to go ahead of him, into every city and place, in which he was to come. The story of their success can be read in Luke 10:1-24.

Back to Goshen…

There were also the two who were born there. All 72 of them were of the seed of Jacob.

This number is also significant in that it is a base number and if multiplied by 2000 = 144,000. This is the number of the sealed 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes listed in Revelation 7. It appears to me from reading this chapter that nothing can harm the earth until these 144,000 are sealed. The wrath of the Lamb is suspended until this is accomplished, and I believe the 6th Seal is only released then, which I consider to be the 2nd half of the Tribulation and the beginning of the Great Tribulation.

Joseph, who is a type of Christ had gone ahead and through his actions had prepared this "special place" for them to come to, to escape the problems of the land of Canaan and its drought. Joseph who had been a forgotten "nobody" achieved recognition by the King, through his character and conduct, and was promoted to 2nd in command.

The picture of "Judah" being sent ahead to show the way into Goshen is that of a "fore-runner", who went to meet Joseph, who then "made ready his chariot" and went up to meet Israel his father and his family in Goshen.

"Goshen" means a 'heap or mound of earth', so they met in a high place, above the surrounding flat territory of Egypt. In this place they found rest and peace for themselves, and a place of pasture for their flocks and herds. It reminds me of Psalm 23 - "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his names' sake…"

Their arrival here in this place of rest, occurred EXACTLY on what later became known as Passover. 430 years later, as a Nation of people, "on the same day" they departed from Egypt and headed back to the promised land.

I do not know the significance of '430 years' (perhaps someone out there does), but the scriptures record that "Goshen" was safe from the plagues that afflicted the rest of Egypt. There were no 'flies' in Goshen - 'flies' are a type of the devil.

Going into Goshen therefore signifies -

  1. A time of movement from a place of drought, to one of plenty,


    2. It was the best of the land in Egypt. When there was no bread in Egypt we are told that Joseph nourished his father and their brethren. Gen.47:12-13. Bread speaks of the WORD OF GOD. They were to live off the fat of the land - Gen.45:18

  2. It was an elevated place - in the air.
  3. Pharoah instructed Joseph to provide "the means" to bring them to Goshen. They were Pharoah's wagons that brought them down to Goshen.
  4. They were not to bring their possessions for the best of all the land of Egypt was to be theirs. Gen. 45:20
  5. It was a time when Joseph who was believed dead, met his brethren.
  6. It was therefore a "type" of the resurrection. Joseph had been dead to them and they had been as if dead to Joseph.
  7. It was a time when the forerunner (Judah) brought them safely together.
  8. It was a place where they lived under the protection of Joseph and Pharoah. There were five of his brothers that were brought before Pharoah.
  9. Jacob was 130 years old when he came to Pharoah and he lived a further 17 years in Goshen.
  10. I guess in terms of Nationhood, it was an assembly point for a new kind of Kingdom/National identity.
  11. Goshen was a place already known to them, since Abraham and Sarah had already been down into Egypt.
  12. They came to Goshen in the 2nd year of the 7 bad years, of Joseph's dream.


    13. Gen. 45:5b-7 "…for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors."

    By the way, in spite of the above, there is no indication in scripture that all 7 of the bad years were fulfilled.

    NOTE: The chronology of Genesis 47 can be read two ways.

    1. The 1st year of "no bread" may in fact have been the year after Jacob and family came to Goshen. It is reasonable to expect that it would take a couple of years for the people to run out of their own resources. After all, the famine was expected, and provision had been made for it. This would make it the 3rd year of the famine. In this case the 7 bad years would be reduced to about 5, (see below) beyond which there is no further mention in this story.

    Joseph took all the money for Pharoah - Gen. 47:14

    A careful reading of Genesis 47 indicates that as the "1st year of no bread" (3rd year of famine?) progressed Joseph brought all the money in Egypt into Pharaoh's house (i.e. Kingdom). Genesis 47:14.

    He also gave them bread in exchange for all their cattle. Genesis 47:16-17 (end of "1st year of no bread").

    Joseph took all the land and made them slaves - Ge. 47:18

    In the "2nd year of no bread" (v. 18) (4th year of famine?) he took them as serfs/slaves and also their land for Pharoah. A fifth part of all their produce was to go to Pharaoh. (Double-tithe). Only the priests (special class) were exempt.

    Joseph took the land, and people as slaves from one end of Egypt to the other. 47:21

    Joseph gave them seed 47:23 to sow the land and a fifth of everything thereafter, became Pharoah's portion. (was this the 5th year of famine?).

    2. The second interpretation - The three year period outlined above, actually started at the beginning of the 7(?) bad years, which would reduce the whole period to half that anticipated originally, i.e. about 3+ years.

  13. 430 years later - It was the place where Jacob/Israel was hidden and safe during the Tribulation of the Plagues on Egypt.
At the end of their time in Goshen, we have the time of the Plagues/Tribulation in Egypt, and going out of Goshen therefore symbolises -
  1. A Nation going forth in power to possess their promised land.
  2. A time when the mid-night cry was heard and the first-born of Egypt not under "the blood" died. (?? Tares removed)
  3. A going forth under the direction and protection of the cloud by day, and the fire by night, and eventually to subdue the Nations before them.
CONCLUSION -

This picture of the rapture and tribulation is, I believe, an illustration of what Jesus said - John 14:1-4 "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."

Jesus didn't answer Thomas's question about how to get there, or where the place was. Instead he said - "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

Just as Joseph was the way into Goshen, (a land given to him by Pharoah for his brethren,) so Jesus is the way into our "spiritual Goshen" of safety during the Tribulation.

Instead of answering Thomas, Jesus went on to explain about the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who comes in three stages - (John 14:16-18)

"ABIDE WITH you" - (WITH) you

"for he dwelleth" - (BESIDE) you

"and shall be in you" - (INSIDE) you

"I will not leave you comfortless; I WILL COME TO YOU"

John 1:32:33 - And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is be which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."

Just as Judah was sent to Joseph as a "forerunner" so we have been promised a "forerunner" before the "Day of the Lord" comes.

Remember, Pharoah provided the wagons to bring Jacob into Goshen.

God will also provide the vehicle for his "seed" at the time of the rapture.

Part of that is provided in the special FILLING WITH THE BAPTISM OF FIRE of the Holy Spirit which is yet to be experienced by the Church.

We need to wait for that future Pentecost experience which will bring the "seed" to a fully grown place of maturity and harvest.