There are two questions being answered here:
1) Where are the physically dead in Christ?
A: They are in Heaven, on the good side of the gulf. YHVH, is the God of the living, not the dead. No one's soul and spirit is 6 feet under laying in the ground right now. After physical death we get temporarily judged. To the Good or bad side of the gulf. No one is burning in the lake of fire now either. The Great White Throne Judgment is not even until after the Millennium. Christ 1,000-year reign on Earth. Unbeliever are on the bad side of the gulf.
2) What is to become of us who are alive when Christ comes back?
A: The first resurrection, with the cloud of witnesses. Moreover, Christ brings them physically dead with HIM. They are resurrected first naturally because they are there, and they are coming here! This is the first resurrection gathered back to Christ. Anything else? Is false teaching.
The beginning subject; (I Thessalonians 4:13-14) "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
The last trumpet is of course number 7. This is why we are to study, learn, then share the awesome book of Revelation. Revelation means to uncover/unveil, as it is revealed to the saints.
What you will see is ALL of Scripture is consistent with Christ coming with the clouds. Many more besides what is listed here. And of course, we always need a second witness/cross reference. Not some one verse private interpretation. Which is what the rapture/pre trib rapture doctrine is exactly.
The rapture theory was invented by a 13 year old girl named Margaret MacDonald (sick and all evidence suggests she was possessed) in 1830. Two preachers there took her false dream and ran with it. Which has turned out to be a nightmare, and will be a nightmare come true for many if they continue to believe in this theory of a doctrine. Being set straight-up to believe and worship satan as Christ/God when he comes for the 3 woe trumpets. They simply do not know what is to come. We are to be sealed with the truth. Seal = knowledge and understanding of the events before they happen being protected from satan. Examples; (Hebrews 12:1) "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
An OT reference? concerning satan wanting to be GOD over the people, and be God, and claim to be God.
(Isaiah 14:14) "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
(satan wanted to be God over all God's creation--the people. This of course at satan's rebellion in the first Heaven age from Heaven (3 Heaven and Earth ages for another study). All the same timing, all the same event here below:
I Corinthians 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
The last trump is the furthest out trump. That of course is the 7th trumpet. The last of the 3 woe trumps. The woe trumps are 5, 6, and 7. (Revelation 8:13-9:1; 9:13; 11:15).
I Thessalonians 4:17, air = to blow breath of life. Because it's the first resurrection! They are figures of speech. Obviously so, as no one will literally suspend forever in the clouds in the air with other believers with Christ forever. How is that possible when the rest of scripture is inconsistent to that? Christ is coming here for the Millennium then the eternity. TO EARTH. NOT FOREVER IN THE CLOUDS. (Revelation 21). "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth." (Matthew 5:5).
Other references of many; (Daniel 7:13) "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."
(Revelation 1:7) "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
(Mark 13:24-26) "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory."
In closing, the subject in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 does not even end there (hence the clause in verse 5:1). In chapter 5 we're told what it will be like when Christ comes back. They will be saying, "peace and safety." On account of satan's message of world peace and lying temporary promises of the things of the World. Christ comes as a thief in the night there, unexpectedly to them because they did not stay on watch.
Paul tells us we should completely know this. That is the order of events.
(I Thessalonians 5:1-3) "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Coming up we will also do I Thessalonians 4:16 and the midnight cry there in combination with Matthew 25:6 (at midnight there was a cry made). Referring to when Christ comes, the angel cries out. Hence Christ coming like a thief in the night. Christ says He comes back between 2nd and 3rd watch. That is between 9pm and 3am. Hence the midnight cry. First watch = 9pm to midnight. Second watch = midnight to 3am.
Preview: (Luke 12:37-38) "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
Amen †
No comments:
Post a Comment
Questions and Comments