Here follows the testimony of Kuli, a border collie, with perhaps some hints of a different perspective. "Kuli" is Hebrew for collie. He was dumped by the breeder on the side of a local road in the Ozark hills of Arkansas.
"I was about 6 months old when shoved out of the truck onto the side of the road. I guess I was the runt of the litter, unsaleable, and an extra mouth to feed with no prospects. I had no hope. I wandered up and down that road, crossed it, sat by the side... but no one took the slightest notice. No one stopped. I had no hope. After a long summer of ticks, fleas, and worms, cold fall nights were followed by 11 degree Fahrenheit frigid winter nights and cold rains. Food was what I could catch or steal. No water. No companionship, no bed but the woodland leaves, no direction, and no home. I was in "Trouble!"
"Trapped!"
"Then a blur, bouncing along in a cage carried by two strange people... a bumpy ride in a truck...a bed, food, water, soft kindly voices, several baths...a home, a new coat, a new name, a new life, new muscles that just wanted to "zoom" around my "Land."
"There is no word in border collie talk for "rapture!" But if you were to see me now, I think you would know what the word means---no translation necessary!"
Is it possible that "Kuli's rapture" might shed some light on Ephraim's?
In its' simplest form rapture means to be taken out of one life and put into another. Kuli was passed over from certain death to life. A new life began at Passover! Ephraim's Passover out of Egypt should have begun a new life, but alas, grumbling, complaining and a desire to return to Egypt replaced "rapture" (or what should have been rapture!). Kuli's Rapture Passover was not marked by any desire to return to his former life. He had ascended to his Master's/Mistress' Table. Kuli made "aliyah!" And if these are the crumbs from the Master's Table for Kuli... how much more is there for Ephraim, the rightful heir?
So if rapture is understood to be "aliyah", and not the escape from tribulation, then Ephraim can both experience Great Trouble and Great Rapture. Aliyah means simply to ascend to meet God. Escape from Trouble or Tribulation is a play on fear. Escape is not the issue! Meeting and knowing God is aliyah and rapture. Aliyah is about Home, Land, Blessing and Life. It is about Israel. If the Kingdom of God is earthward bound, perhaps you are headed in the wrong "rapture" direction. Aliyah means to travel to the Land and ascend to Mt. Zion, and finally to dwell in one's inheritance and with one's God. Such is Yahweh's plan for Ephraim.
But like Kuli, will Ephraim have to be trapped first? Will Ephraim come willingly, or will he have to be captured?
Kuli's rapture may give us some Hebraic insight into the true rapture, which is after all a Passover into new life and Ascent into His Presence.
No Aliyah, no Rapture? Must capture precede rapture and aliyah? Perhaps for the best to be possible for Ephraim capture will be necessary.
Yahweh's plan for His Israel is that He, the Land, and His People would be married. A Bridegroom, a Bride, and a Land would dwell in the most lovely intimacy. Rapture, Aliyah, and Zion would finally be full, undivided and complete for Ephraim and for all Israel. So for Ephraim to have Rapture, he must embark on the journey of Aliyah. Homeward bound and Rebound.
