Tag: Church

The Church that Follows the Free Man

On By TimIn Church, John 04Leave a comment

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen! I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit that leads to eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this is the saying true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap a crop for which you did not labor. And you have benefited from their labor.”

John 4:34–38

It’s interesting how discussions go. This was part of our small group Bible study earlier this week. The discussions around it were intriguing and eye-opening. Hopefully, you will gather some encouragement from it, too.

This part of the Scriptures is where Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman. It is after His encounter with her that His friends were encouraging Jesus to eat. He said He had food they didn’t know about. He heard their murmuring and He answered them as above.

Now, I am going to tell you that Charlie Kirk lived to do the same as Jesus, His Father’s will. He would be at it until the work was complete. Charlie was taken home this last week, signifying his work is finished. He now enjoys the rewards of it.

The rewards of the work are not going to heaven and escaping Hell. No, those are on top of that free gift that He has from the Holy Spirit.

Like Jesus having His life cut short, Charlie’s was, too.

Like those Jesus spoke to, we Christians today are going to get the same benefits. The fields are ripe. Charlie sowed much, and the harvest is here. It’s our turn. Jesus sends us all to reap a crop for which we did not labor.

Are you ready to do that?

I think there is a bit more here… Remember those two witnesses who will come during the Tribulation?

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit will wage war against them and overcome them and kill them. Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Those from every people and tribe and tongue and nation will see their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Revelation 11:7–9

Well, there seems to be a small bit of parallel, or maybe we all had a sneak-peak at the future as one might say.

When Mr. Kirk did what he did best, he prophesied. No, he didn’t predict future events. New Testament prophets speak God’s truth plainly and forthrightly. There is little argument that he did just that. He did it boldly, without fear, and without trepidation.

Yes, there are prophets in the church.

God has put these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:28

I consider this an ordered list of value. There are no apostles today, well, probably not. (Ask me about the apostle John one day.) Apostles were eyewitnesses to the life of Jesus. Which disqualifies virtually everyone alive today from being an apostle. The gifts of the Spirit are real, and as here, there is an amplified list elsewhere…

He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ,

Ephesians 4:11–12

These offices are for the equipping of the church. These exist until the church reaches maturity.

That was a bit of a diversion, but back to those two prophets in the future… And Charlie Kirk.

I think the parallel is the aftermath of what happened. There were plenty of people rejoicing over the death of Charlie. It almost resembles a precursor to the fallout that occurs after the two prophets are overcome.

Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Revelation 11:10

I tell you, last Wednesday… I expected God to raise Charlie up, just like he had those two prophets. He didn’t, yet it was expected.

Perhaps that was just a precursor to my small group study, and eventually to all that I write here. I think that what we encountered after Charlie was murdered was a small shadow of the attitudes of the masses of people in the future. These people celebrate the deaths of the two prophets. The outpouring of that kind of inhumanity is alive in an astonishing number of people even today. It’s like things are ramping up to that time, as the attitudes become firmly cemented in hearts. These are those who hate the Truth, so they eliminate those who are truth-tellers.

Back to revelation…

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:22

In the seven epistles Jesus gave to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, this phrase is used in all of them. Intriguingly, it is the closing line on the last four letters.

When considering the way Revelation is constructed, a chronological timeline of church history seems to be included in the seven epistles. Intriguingly, any other order and that chronology would not exist. Concerning the last four, these are present today. Thyatira would represent the Catholic era and the churches that are part of it today. Sardis represents the reformation era and the churches from that era. Likewise, Philadelphia, being the great awakening era, and Laodicia, bringing in today’s seeker-forward-style church. These types of churches make up the bulk of Christianity today.

Back to that last line, which is included as such in the last four letters.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:22

The appeal is for the free man to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The name Charles means free man. The word Kirk is an old Scottish word for church. Make of that what you will.

But when you consider that Charles James Kirk was taken out suddenly and unexpectedly, shocking the world. And that Charlie’s life could be summed up simply as he wanted men to be free and to be part of the body of Christ, His church. He lived up to his own name… While pointing to Jesus Christ.

I’ve already told you that Charlie means free man. And that Kirk is church. But James is the English form of Jacob. We know Jacob means heal catcher, but there is a different meaning in that name. It is the one who follows.

Considering his sudden removal, could Charlie’s sudden removal from earth announce the next thing for the church?

Is it the one that follows the free man following the church, or is it the free man that is the one who follows the church?

Let that sink in for a moment.

Kept from the Hour of Temptation

On By TimIn Rapture, Revelation 03Leave a comment

Because you have kept My word of patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the entire world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Revelation 3:10

There are two pertinent things that need to be clearly understood in Jesus’ words here.

First, the hour of temptation comes upon the entire Earth, there will be no place to escape it on Earth. And it will test those who dwell on Earth. The language indicates that every individual on the Earth will be tested.

Second, Jesus promises to keep the ones who believe in Him from that hour of temptation. Which means those kept from it are necessarily not on Earth.

The text clearly indicates that believers are relocated off of the Earth before trouble begins.

    The Truth About Idols

    On By TimIn 1 Timothy 03, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

    Without question, great is the mystery of godliness:
    God was revealed in the flesh,
    justified in the Spirit,
    seen by angels,
    preached to the Gentiles,
    believed on in the world,
    taken up into glory.

    1 Timothy 3:16

    Paul’s charge to his son in the faith Timothy is to reassure him that he knew how to conduct himself in the house of God. Amidst the instructions for overseers in the local church is this sentence which most think was a hymn or creed of those early Christians. It speaks of the mystery that we now know.

    God is revealed in the flesh. The speaks of the incarnation of Jesus. Not that God changed places, but that He is revealed in flesh. This speaks to the Son’s existence before His virgin birth. As Paul wrote in Philippians 2, He being in the form of God. He is the brightness of His glory and the express image of God (Hebrews 1:3.) The Son is Spirit being revealed in the flesh. Jesus taught us that God is Spirit (John 4:24.)

    That’s part of the mystery. It continues. Jesus was not justified in the flesh, but justified in the Spirit. That is attested to in His resurrection. When He came back from the dead in a new body, it proved there was no other entity that could lay hold on Him.

    He is preached to the Gentiles, basically the truth is being spread to all nations. He is believed on in the world. Many people are saved because He is preached. We know He is taken up into glory. He sits at the right hand of the Father, as God.

    Seen by Angels

    It is this idea that Jesus was seen by angels, that draws me in. Jesus being seen by the angels means they could identify Him as God readily. But does it entail that He is known by them before being manifest in the flesh?

    There seems to be testimony to that fact. It occurs in one of the earliest accounts of Jesus’ ministry in Israel.

    Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great crowd followed Him from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan. And those from Tyre and Sidon, a great crowd, when they heard what great things He did, came to Him. He told the disciples to have a small boat ready for Him because of the crowd, lest they should crush Him. For He had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed on Him to touch Him. When unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him, crying out, “You are the Son of God.” But He sternly ordered them not to make Him known.

    Mark 3:7–12

    If we take Mark’s Gospel chronologically here, this incident occurred before Jesus selected any of His inner-circle of twelve disciples.

    What is clear is that the people around Jesus are the time did not really know they were in the presence of God. Let alone that He is made flesh. Yet those unclean spirits know and testify to the fact right. They could apprehend the spiritual reality readily. But a question comes to mind. Where did they come from?

    So many details are not included. I think it safe to assume that Jesus was casting unclean spirits out of people. Those spirits identified Him immediately. And He commanded them to not reveal Who He is. Did the crowd present hear and what did they understand?

    I don’t know. I know there were spiritual beings present by witness of the text. Are there any indications that some of those were angels?

    The text lends itself to that idea. The Bible reveals that there are two kinds of unclean spirits, fallen angels and demons. Demons are the disembodied spirits from the progeny of some fallen angels, the Nephilim.

    The Disembodied Spirits Called Demons

    When men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair and took as wives any they chose.

    Genesis 6:1–2

    Way back toward the beginning of it all, Moses reveals that angels took wives. The language used is not pleasant, and it isn’t without controversy. The term Sons of God is used sparingly in the Tanakh. As it is used in other places, it always means angels. That is direct creations of God and this by that same title given to Adam in Luke 3:38. (There are other resources that delve into this concept, the tag cloud can help in that pursuit.)

    The progeny of the fallen angels and their taken human women were called Nephilim. They were the mighty men of old.

    The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

    Genesis 6:4

    It is my opinion that the corrupted human bloodlines from these strange flesh unions were the vast majority of people that died in the flood. That idea comes from the Septuagint translation where it says that Noah was perfect in his generations. The Greek word translated is where the English word generations comes. It reveals a relationship to Noah’s genetics.

    In fact, the entire incident of the ark hints that there were corrupted genetics in the human and animal kinds. God chose all the occupants of the ark. If Noah was perfect in his generations, it follows that the animals selected were perfect in theirs.

    Now, it becomes a bit clearer that there are many unclean spirits, and kinds such as fallen angel and the disembodied spirits of angel/human hybrids known as demons. It follows that the unclean spirits (both angelic and demon) would see God as He is and readily identify Him in the flesh.

    Before the Time

    There is another encounter Jesus had with unclean spirits that is important to understand. It reveals yet another concept.

    When He came to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two men possessed with demons, coming out of the tombs, extremely fierce, so that no one might pass by that way. Suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

    Matthew 8:28–29

    These unclean spirits are specifically identified as demons. They identify Jesus’ divinity readily. Yet it is those two questions. Apparently they knew of certain timings. And they knew of torment, and their consignment to it. One might ask, is there punishment spoken of in the Bible?

    It takes a bit of sleuthing to get it out of the Tanakh. So the first stop is the last book of the Torah, Deuteronomy. This particular Chester is full of details on the spiritual reality of Things.

    They made Him jealous with strange gods;
    with abominations they provoked Him to anger.
    They sacrificed to demons, not to God,
    to gods whom they knew not,
    to new gods that recently came along,
    whom your fathers did not fear.

    Deuteronomy 32:16–17

    Israel went to worship stage gods. These were actually demons. The Hebrew word is shedim, it appears only twice in the Bible.

    The Israelis sacrificed to the demons. The text says these were new gods that recently came along. It seems to indicate that these came after creation. This is especially clear as it follows Genesis 6 above.

    It bears mentioning that the mythological Golden Age hearkens back to the time when gods lived with humans. This would be before the flood. There is a stark difference between the mythological understanding and what God thinks of the days of Noah. There is a contemporary popular mantra announcing a new Golden Age. The Bible does tell us that the end days will be like the days of Noah. The gods will once again live with men.

    There is a definitive judgment coming. And this is what the demons were alluding to about Jesus coming to them before the time. Jeremiah prophesied the demise of those gods.

    Thus you shall say to them: The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.

    Jeremiah 10:11

    Remember, in the encounter above that those demons also alluded to torment. That is a reference to eternal fire. Jesus told us the how and what for in that.

    “Then He will say to those at the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

    Matthew 25:41

    Eternal fire is made for the devil and his angels. By the testimony of the demons in the vicinity of the Gerasenes, they knew of their fate in torment. It follows that eternal fire is for the devil, fallen angels, and demons.

    To come full circle, we are still before the time. The time comes in the judgment of the great day. The one reserved for all of the enemies of God, the Great White Throne of Revelation 20.

    Idol Talk

    This may shock the sensibilities of some. The idols of the Old Testament are real beings. They are not simple creations of carved wood and hammered metals. They are not figments of active imagination. They were and are real entities that take worship to themselves. They have a clear destination.

    The loftiness of man shall be humbled,
    and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low;
    the Lord alone will be exalted in that day;
    the idols He shall utterly abolish.

    Isaiah 2:17–18

    I know that many think idols are the creation of vivid imaginations. They are not. This truth gets further confused because of the allegorization of the idea of an idol. One that reinforces the notion that they are figments of the imagination which take us away from God.

    I think that this allegorization has led to many folks putting their guard down. In other words, the west has been trained not to see these things. That makes it harder to understand the stark reality of the enemies against us as a race.

    For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

    Ephesians 6:12

    The truths revealed in the Bible don’t always lend themselves to a personal application. Sometimes, that might obscure the reality. It then seems a bit silly to say that something like football or food becomes an idol for people. It may seem to lend itself that way, but the idols of the Old Testament are clearly real entities. Ones who do not want humans to flourish.

    Changing Allegiance

    The purpose for this lengthy article is to expose the reality. The hope is for the body of Christ to shake off the silly thinking that idols are imaginary things that keep us from God. The truth is these are real entities who have real power, that is if one extends it to them. When Jesus went to the cross, He removed the bondage. People can be free of these besetting and disabling influences in Jesus’ name.

    In the Tanakh, there is no sinners’ prayer. Though the invitation is there as a call to change one’s mind… To repent. The reality is that to leave idols is to change allegiance. To come to God is to change allegiance.

    Which leads to an important biblical principle. One that many do not quite grasp. The spirit world tends toward the legalistic. They cannot go where they do not have rights. From the beginning, this principle is laid out. Adam yielded rights to the dominion he was given by God.

    This point is personally extended and explained in the New Testament. One yields their members, thus giving rights and permissions to the unclean spirits. Jesus spoke of this in John 8. Paul shows all exactly what it is.

    Do not yield your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but yield yourselves to God, as those who are alive from the dead, and your bodies to God as instruments of righteousness.

    Romans 6:13

    God does not work in anyone until one lets Him do it. Ephesians 1:13 clearly demonstrates this principle. It is a truth that clobbers some fatalistic lies taught by some circles of Christianity. The Bible is clear, one serves who one yields to serve. That is why the Bible uses the term servants and slaves, as these have masters.

    I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for just as you have yielded your members as slaves to impurity and iniquity leading to more iniquity, even so now yield your members as slaves to righteousness unto holiness. For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. What fruit did you have then from the things of which you are now ashamed? The result of those things is death. But now, having been freed from sin and having become slaves of God, you have fruit unto holiness, and the end is eternal life.

    Romans 6:19–22

    The problem is that all have sinned. Universally, it is before anyone can know the requirements of the moral law. When that’s explained, the reality is all have missed the mark of perfection necessitated.

    The ugly underbelly of that is a person who sins yields themselves to a master. Sin brings more sin, which brings death. Death brings judgment.

    Jesus frees all from having to be bound to sin. When anyone repents and believes, God deposits His Spirit in that person freeing them from condemnation. The Spirit becomes a permanent presence and mark in them forever.

    Indwelling Unclean Spirits

    Another interweaving theme in the Bible suggests that the enemy counterfeits the things of God. It follows that those unclean spirits could also enter a person. There are many such cases detailed in the Scriptures. Consider what Jesus says about that from a different perspective.

    “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.”

    Matthew 12:43–45

    Even though the principle Jesus is teaching is not necessarily about demon possession. He is using that truth to explain the activities of those who questioned and mocked His divine authority. It is a stern warning against the real dangers of stubborn disbelief. The important consideration being taught is that rejecting Jesus lends one to be more open and vulnerable to the principalities and powers of the air.

    Think back to Jesus’ ministry, and the early days of the apostles. Possession of a person by indwelling unclean spirits was real. Jesus, the apostles, and even some others did cast demons out of folks. But did that problem just go away?

    From present reality, no. It certainly seems foreign to many in western Christianized nations. It is as if the enemy has subtly hidden himself and his tactics. The activity of unclean spirits recessed in a way to not really be detectable. In modern times, demon possession is really just fodder for ghost stories and scary movies.

    It did not just disappear. I see the evidence more frequently than I want to encounter it. And I’ve had personal encounters. I think there is a marked increase as the time quickly approaches. It is a last hurrah.

    There are some immediately discernible behavioral indicators of influence and even possession by unclean spirits. These behavioral indicators have increased exponentially in contemporary populations because of the late hour. So… How does this happen?

    It certainly does not without a person presenting themselves for the very purpose. Sometimes those rights and permissions are coerced by trauma, whether the trauma is purposed for that or not. Sometimes they are granted when one willfully ingests hallucinogenics into their body. It doesn’t matter if using those substances is legal or not. Others present themselves purposefully, knowing exactly what it is they are doing.

    The language I use is indeed nuanced for various reasons. Mainly, I am not yet led to write in further detail on the subject. The point is that there are real unclean spirits and they attempt to influence the world in the same ways they did at the time of Jesus.

    Humans are in a real spiritual war!

    The Turning Point

    There’s a reason why much of this has slipped under the proverbial radar. It is to avoid detection. But why?

    Well, that leads to one of my favorite things about what Jesus did at the cross.

    He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

    Colossians 2:14–15

    It was the law that empowered sin because it exposed sin in everyone. At the cross, Jesus took the handwriting, really He took the certificate of indebtedness to sin and destroyed it. In effect, freeing the entire race of humanity from the bondage of sin. The enemies had to go underground. In light of the truth that nobody is bound to yield themselves to their influences.

    It is the other part that is more important. He disarmed the authorities and powers. These unclean spirits really have no power, other than what anyone may be extended to them. Because Jesus removed the indebtedness, they have only whatever is willfully volunteered. The truth is that anything given can also be revoked by will. It is done in the name of Jesus Christ. It is by Him that folks are set free.

    Concluding Thoughts

    This is not meant to elicit fear. On the contrary, because Jesus died there is nothing to fear. As the introductory citation shows, His resurrection is proof of that.

    For those who are reading, it may be that God is revealing some things to you. You may have extended rights and privileges you no longer want to do. That is easy to fix. You can revoke them at any time in the name of Jesus.

    For those who have never really believed or changed allegiances, you can do that, too. Set your mind to serving God. Believe that Jesus did die. In so doing, demolished the certificate of indebtedness that shackled you. The proof is, He rose again. Believing that is what pleases God.

    And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

    Hebrews 11:6

    Covet the Greater Gifts

    On By TimIn 1 Corinthians 12, GiftsLeave a comment

    But earnestly covet the greater gifts.

    1 Corinthians 12:31

    Wait! I thought we were not supposed to covet.

    Here, Paul is telling the Corinthian church to covet something. They are to covet the greater gifts. One might ask what are the greater gifts?

    That could be a good question to ask here. But I think there is one far greater. That is, how often do any of us think about the gifts of the Spirit to even know which are the greater ones to covet?

    When speaking of gifts of the Spirit, I am most certain that the first one that comes to mind for most is going to be speaking in tongues. This is foremost in many conversations about the gifts the Spirit gives. But, if Paul is tanking those gifts in an ordinal way, it might be shocking to discover how Paul ranks tongues.

    God has put these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have the gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

    1 Corinthians 12:28–30

    Clearly, tongues lands as the last in the list. If the list is ordinal, tongue is the least desirable gift to covet. That fascinates me.

    I do not hold to Cessationism. I do not think the Spirit has stopped bestowing these gifts. The gift of apostles, some say is still available today. Others think apostles have to be eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus. It might seem impossible for today, but there are lots of accounts from Iran and China where people are meeting Jesus. Those ideas are fantastical, yes. And apostles were sent out to plant churches. I am uncertain here, and don’t think it is plausible that there are apostles around today, as these would have been taught by Jesus in person. Consider the importance of apostles to the early church… Having been taught personally by Jesus and then sent out Toolan churches.

    Setting aside that gift of apostles, look at the next. It’s the gift of prophets. Now prophets don’t predict things. They are not seers. Prophecy is not about predicting or laying out the future. It is simply relating the truth for what It is. To some, the way prophecy is delivered seems rude, curt, and impolite. It comes without ambiguities and subtleties. As one of my pastors called it… It is “forth-telling.” If the gifts are ranked, why would this one be second?

    Then there is the gift of teachers. Many know those with this gift. I am one that thinks it abounds. In fact the gifts are given individually but may be shared by many in any one congregation. When thinking of teachers, do you partake of teachings led by others in your local church?

    I think wanting and then using these gifts in a congregation makes it healthy and vibrant. What would it do to the faith of anyone who were eyewitnesses to a bona fide miracle?

    Paul said there is a gift of miracles, then healings and helps. Healings is basically self-explanatory. Helps is a bit more vague, but consider that hospitality, facilities, and the like. These are the people that setup and clean up. These hold doors, welcome folks, are ready to speak with anyone. They readily engage and encourage others.

    Then comes governments. ThatI makes me smile, because these are the leaders and decision makers that affect the entire congregation. In the ordinal rankings, this is second to last on this list. Could it be that this is God’s way of doing things?

    He does say that the older shall serve the younger; the strong protect the weak; and the first is last. But on any organizational chart, governments are at the top. In God’s way of doing things, they are necessary, but rank as far less desirable.

    Then there are tongues on the bottom.

    I know the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given me. Some are on this list. Others are not. There are even gifts that I’ve asked for and received. Yes, I can think of a few I’ve asked just for myself. But others were a desire to share them with the body of believers. It took me over 30 years of being a Christian to get to that point of wanting gifts from God, and asking for them. What opened my eyes was the first thing I remembered asking God to give me. I even like the way He revealed it to me. That is one of those anchor points of my faith just as much as my salvation and baptism are.

    My God is real! And He is lavish in giving. He gave His Son. He gave eternal life to any who would want it. And He gives a multitude of gifts.

    This list cited so far is not all inclusive. There are additional gifts listed in this chapter. That list contains one gift I covet over the others. I want it because I think it is of utmost importance in these dark days. Our lives are ever-increasingly crushed by evil. The Church needs people that can prophecy. It needs people that can teach. It also needs miracles and healings. There will always be plenty willing to pitch-in, lead a project, and speak.

    What would your church be like if there were regular workings by prophets, teachers, miracle-workers, and healers?

    Have you ever given a thought to be one of those in your church?

    The Morning Star and the Sun of Righteousness

    On By TimIn 2 Samuel 23, Day of the Lord1 Comment

    The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: He who rules over man justly, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning with no clouds, gleaming after the rain like grass from the land.

    2 Samuel 23:3–4

    This is a description of the ideal King. Moving on, let us focus on the simile that this King is like the light of the morning. The reference to the Person here also brings to mind a specific day. It foreshadows Jesus in the Millennial Kingdom as He rules the Earth from Jerusalem. This day is known as the Day of the Lord. Most focus on specific judgments, but there is far more to be understood. Just like any day, the elements establish a pattern. The Scriptures assume a similar pattern for the Day of the Lord.

    Dusk to Dark Night

    Consider that in Israel, a day begins at dusk, keep that in mind. Seizing the simile that the Coming King is like the sun, when He left Earth to go to heaven would seem an appropriate allusion to dusk and night. Peter helps to demonstrate that this would be one of those harbingers that announce the arrival of the last days.

    But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
    ‘In the last days it shall be,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes. And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

    Acts 2:14–21

    Peter cites Joel 2: 28-32. The greater context of Joel introduces us to a time called the day. It is the Day of Jehovah.

    Alas, for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and like devastation from the Almighty it comes.

    Joel 1:15

    The Israelis present understood the Scriptures. They understood what Peter was saying clearly. Devastation was upon the nation. The last days were here, specifically announcing the Last Day.

    We know the nation of Israel ceased to be around 70 AD when the temple was destroyed and Jerusalem besieged by Rome. It was not until the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 AD that resulted in a genocidal assault on Jewish populations around Jerusalem. Emperor Hadrian eventually erased the name Judaea from the map and replaced it with Syria Palaestina. Israel was gone, just as Joel foretold.

    Given what is written in Joel, it is clear the Day of the Lord had already begun. Keeping consistent with the pattern of the day, dusk turns to darkness of night. Malachi also educes the same idea. The day coming will bring devastation. Yet it would not leave believers without hope.

    Surely the day is coming, burning like an oven; all the proud, yes, all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming will burn them up, says the Lord of Hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. You will go out and grow up like calves from the stall. And you will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I do this, says the Lord of Hosts.

    Malachi 4:1–3

    Malachi tells us that the day is coming when all the unbelievers will be vanquished. The One saying this is the Lord of Hosts. The Lord of Hosts is Jesus and it specifically calls to the mind His return as He leads the armies of heaven.

    The Son Rises

    For believers on Earth, His coming will be like the rising sun. I think the reference is very important. The sunrise is reckoned here as the second coming of Jesus. There’s more to this…

    Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has He set a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; it rejoices as a strong man to run a race. Its going forth is from one end of the heavens, and its circuit extends to the other end, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

    Psalm 19:4–6

    The sunrise is likened to the coming of the Bridegroom. This is but another reference that points to the second coming of Jesus.

    “May all Your enemies perish like this, O Lord!
    But may those who love Him rise like the sun when it rises in full strength.”

    Judges 5:31a

    Again, the time when all God’s enemies perish is at the time the sun rises in full strength. It is at the second coming of Jesus as King. There is more to this correlation.

    Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord binds up the breach of His people and heals the wound from His blow.

    Isaiah 30:26

    So what to make of this?

    Considering the reference to the day, there are many parts of it. There’s the sunset. There’s the dark of night. There’s the dawn. There’s the sunrise. There’s the bright sun of the day.

    We have focused on the sunrise. There is a difference between dawn and sunrise. Dawn announces the sunrise. This is important to understand as the Scriptures use these terms. Clearly, sunrise and the Second Coming of Jesus are correlated.

    Why is this important?

    Morning Star

    Well, Peter helps us to understand.

    And we have a more reliable word of prophecy, which you would do well to follow, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

    2 Peter 1:19

    The dawning of the day happens before the sunrise. The Morning Star arises in the dawn to announce the coming sunrise.

    When Peter writes of the dawn of day, that is a reference to that Day, the Day of the Jehovah. We know that sunset brings dusk turning to darkness. Dawning announces the sunrise of the day. The event Peter is alluding to will announce the sunrise of the Day.

    Likewise, scholars believe the reference to the Morning Star as pointing to the second coming of Jesus. We know that the sunrise is the Second Coming of Jesus. But the Morning Star is given in the dawn to church-age believers.

    I Give the Morning Star

    Moving forward to Revelation, and specifically to Jesus’ epistle to the church of Thyatira. He rebukes the church with some strong words.

    “But I have a few things against you: You permit that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, but she did not repent. Look! I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

    Revelation 2:20–22

    Along with the rebuke, there is a specific promise given to those who do not change, they will be cast with the seductress into great tribulation. It is a precise phrase that many think points to the seven years known as Jacob’s Trouble.

    Yet Jesus promises something to those who still believe…

    And I will give him the morning star.

    Revelation 2:28

    A bit later, John reveals to us exactly Who Jesus says this Morning Star is.

    “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

    Revelation 22:16

    The Scriptures reference the Second Coming of Jesus as the sunrise (of the Day of the Lord.) For the unbelievers, it will be devastating. But for those living, they will rejoice and enter His kingdom. The previous citation above from Judges 5 also seems to hint at the resurrection at the end of the age. This is when the Israeli saints are given their inheritance. (To understand resurrection, see this post: The Surprising Way That Resurrection Proves Futurism and the Rapture Before the Hour of Testing)

    The Morning Star comes in the dawn. It announces the coming sunrise. It is the harbinger of the sunrise of the day, that Day.

    The Surprising Way That Resurrection Proves Futurism and the Rapture Before the Hour of Testing

    On By TimIn 1 Corinthians 15, Rapture, Resurrection3 Comments

    But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

    1 Corinthians 15:20–26

    In these verses, there are two resurrection events plainly described. Hints at others are veiled. Resurrections are specific events defined in the Bible. Most are easily identified by the word resurrection being used.

    Resurrection

    Resurrection, in essence, is basically coming back to life from being dead. It is a demonstration of the power of God. It is He Who gives life and has the power over death.As will be seen, it is Jesus Who is given this authority to exercise.

    The Bible mentions types of resurrections. One is a resurrection to life. Believers are resurrected into new bodies just as Jesus is. There is also a resurrection of judgment that occurs before the final judgment. There are also other resurrections back into these bodies like what happened to Lazarus. The primary focus here will be on the resurrection to life.

    Do not Marvel

    “Do not marvel at this. For the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

    John 5:28–29

    The thing that most don’t understand is that every human will be resurrected. They will all be resurrected by Jesus. It is clear as He says “all who are in the graves” will hear His voice and come out. Some will be resurrected to life, other to judgment. But all will hear His command. Remember these things as more is revealed.

    Now is Christ Risen

    In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul explains the importance of resurrection to Christianity. That brings us forward to the founding passage above where a brief outline of resurrection events is given. The first resurrection event mentioned is that of Jesus. This is not to be confused with what will later be encountered, what the Bible calls the first resurrection. Paul is using the resurrection of Jesus as a foundation for Christianity, calling it first fruits. He is the first to be raised in the new body. This is symbolic as the event came on very day of the Feast of First Fruits.

    The second of the two resurrections is then mentioned and coincides with His coming. It is intimately tied with His coming. Also in the text of our passage, we can deduce when this coming is and what it is for. The timing of the second resurrection according to verse 24 above is before the end. As it says about that resurrection with His coming… Then comes the end.

    This tells us that this particular resurrection event is yet future because it has not yet happened. Therefore the end has not yet come. This resurrection is before the time when He puts an end to all rule, authority, and power. It is at His coming back to Earth to establish His Kingdom of rule. This places the event at the end of a yet future period of time the Bible calls Jacob’s Trouble.

    Alas! for that day is great, so that no one is like it; it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

    Jeremiah 30:7

    It is a seven year period that is also called Daniel’s 70th Week. That week is given by God to and for Israel.

    “Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until the Prince Messiah shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of trouble. After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the troops of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall come with a flood. And until the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.”

    Daniel 9:25–27

    It may come as a shock and as will be shown, this is the resurrection promised to Israel and not the church.

    This period of time at the end is all very much centered on Israel. Daniel’s 70th week is the end of the Israeli age of 490 years as wash shown to him. 69 weeks of years have already passed, and Messiah was cut off. The temple and the city were destroyed. But one week of years remains.

    Jesus speaks of this time period in the Olivet Discourse. This happened because four of His disciples asked Him to expound on the end of the age and He did. This end of the age is these last seven Israel-centric years. I won’t include that here, but it can be found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

    The End or the Last Day

    This is the will of the Father who has sent Me, that of all whom He has given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

    John 6:39–40

    Most of us are familiar with these verses. There are some segments of Christianity that make a claim of exclusivity of this promise as applicable only to chosen believers. That is not true. These verses are Jesus demonstrating the power of God over death. He also says that all will be hear His voice and come out of the graves. Some will have eternal life, yes. That is only to those who see the Son. Which means to see Him as He is, God Who defeated death.

    The importance of Jesus and His authority over life will be witnessed twice more in John 6.

    Understand that when Jesus says last day, the Greek word for last is eschatē. It is from where we get the English word eschatology. Eschatology is the study of the end times. This witnesses of this to our text in 1 Corinthians speaks to something yet future. When Jesus is saying the last day to His intended audience, He is speaking of the end of the age. Watch how important the last day is the time of this resurrection.

    No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day

    John 6:44

    Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life. And I will raise him up on the last day

    John 6:54

    What is Jesus saying?

    First, we know that He is going to call all humans to resurrection, some to life and others to judgment. This will be on the last day. Second, consider this:

    Truly, truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has given to the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

    John 5:25–27

    The power of life and death belongs to God. Jesus claims that power as His own. Therefore, the passages in John 6 about resurrection are proclaiming that He is in fact God.

    Jesus gives us timing for this raising up. It is the last day or the end. I am saying it time the end of the Israeli age. Is that true?

    To help us understand, let’s consider the final two usages of the term last day by John. John records it twice more, once by Martha and another usage of it by Jesus.

    Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

    John 11:24

    Martha affirms the idea that the resurrection of life comes for believes at the last day.

    He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him. The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

    John 12:48

    We know the timing for the term the last day used in all of these passages is found back in John 5:28-29. It points to the hour of what we now see as two resurrection events, those to life and those to damnation. The hour and the last day are often used as collective terms for the entire end times.

    The Sharp Edges Blur

    “But every man in his own order.” There is an order to things. “Christ the first fruits.” He comes first. “Afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

    Does that mean Jesus only comes once… Or is this a pattern?

    And from which reference point do we measure once and is defined by context?

    There is much controversy. Some say that a Jesus only has one second coming. That is there cannot be a coming for Israel and a coming for the church. It is my contention and understanding that every person will experience on more coming of Jesus. Here is what I mean.

    Jesus promised to the believer to come to them and receive them to Himself. I believe He fulfills this to everyone. The saint that passes before the end of times won’t miss Jesus coming to them and receiving them to Himself. Likewise those alive at the end, He likewise returns to gather them.

    From an individual perspective, Jesus comes to all once more. From a collective human experience Jesus comes again many countless times.

    The text also seems to indicate that there are layers to last day. It would be incorrect to consider it constructively a singular expression coving just one moment in time. It is both and, it requires context for clarity.

    It follows that there are layers to this second resurrection. We’ve encountered two… The resurrection of the Jewish saints and the end of the Jewish age after the completion of Daniel’s 70th week. The resurrection of life Jesus is speaking to in John 6 is a promise to Jewish believers. It occurs at the end of the age. This is the end of the Israeli age of 490 years.

    There is also be another resurrection to judgment for those who reject Jesus. This occurs at the last day, by necessity the end of a different age.

    It gets messy to nail down dogmatically.

    Now, not intending to be controversial… But the Gospels are often misapplied. Many think because they are in the New Testament, they apply to the church. But that is not the case, the church had not yet come into existence. The words and actions of Jesus then were to and for Israel. Yes, we church saints can and do benefit from them. But they are primarily Jewish in nature and audience. Grasping that helps to understand many things.

    That said, the last day points to the things at the end of the age. It is many layered.

    The Resurrection Events in the Last Day

    We know the those at His coming resurrection occurs at the coming of Jesus. This is His physical return to Earth when He protects Israel and vanquishes her enemies. This is the competed promise to the Jewish folks in John 5 and 6. It is also the fulfillment of the promise given to Daniel and others.

    “And at that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.

    Daniel 12:1–2

    Clearly, we also see that the resurrection events described in the last day match what Daniel received. They are also patterned here:

    Come, let us return to the Lord, for He has torn, and He will heal us. He has struck, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us. On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain;
    like the spring rains He will water the earth.

    Hosea 6:1–3

    These were the promise of resurrection given by the prophets. It would come in the last days.

    Daniel aligns with how Jesus speaks of resurrection in the last day. He shows the two-fold nature which hints at the layered aspect of it.

    The Third Day

    I find the mention of two days rather intriguing. If we consider elsewhere that God says to Him a thousand years is like a day. It’s been about 2,000 years since Israel as a nation was abandoned and forgotten. Hosea instructed the Israelis to return to the Lord, and it follows that the resurrection of these Israeli saints would come on the third day. That is the 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom.

    Is it coincidence that resurrection comes on the third day?

    As I mellow in age, I see that Scripture is often a pattern. One to match to reality. Jesus rose on the third day. These Jewish believers will be raised up by God on the third day. I can see the pattern.

    Do with that what you wish. I don’t think it is insignificant. I’ve learned that no detail in the Bible is insignificant. If it appears strange, it’s important to look deeper into it.

    What we know is that His second coming, it will be Jewish saints raised as the Jewish nation receives the Messiah they abandoned.

    All of this comes at the end of a period of time unprecedented in disaster. This period of time has another name in the New Testament.

    The Hour of Temptation

    Because you have kept My word of patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the entire world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

    Revelation 3:10

    We have already referenced John’s Revelation. When one approaches the book of Revelation, one important note to understand is given at the outset. John was instructed to write about things you have seen, the things which are, and the things which will take place. Chapters 2 and 3 are the things which are part. Chapter 4 begins the things which will take place.

    With that understanding, the hour of temptation points to that which will take place. The promise Jesus gives to the church of Philadelphia is to keep them from the hour, not to keep them through it. That’s an important distinction to understand.

    Daniel’s 70th week is not for the church.

    This is shown clearly in Daniel 12 and Hosea 6 as previously cited. One can also clearly see it in Jeremiah 30. I hope you read these and more on your own. Daniel’s 70th week is not a time where God randomly judges folks arbitrarily or throws wrath at them. This period of time has a very specific purpose. It is a test that the church of Philadelphia has already passed simply deducing they are kept from it.

    What is the test?

    I know your works. Look! I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it. For you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

    Revelation 3:8

    This is a good report of those who have not denied His name. It indicates the nature of the testing. Would you deny Jesus?

    There are only two viable answers, people either will be for Jesus or they will deny Him. That is not a test for the church nor any believer alive today.

    The Martyrs

    The test has two major outcomes. Those that do not believe will be destroyed by God. There is no escaping that. Those that believe will most likely be martyred. There will be some that remain alive when Jesus comes and will enter the Millennial Kingdom.

    The martyrs are resurrected.

    I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and the authority to judge was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness of Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

    Revelation 20:4

    This part of John’s revelation points to the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. The text tells us that there is a resurrection commensurate with that. It is fitting that this would also be a fulfillment of the resurrection promised by the prophets to the Israelis. Why?

    The martyrs died in the time of Jacob’s Trouble which is Daniel’s 70th Week. Those names relate solely to Israel. They would be primarily Jewish believers. These folks will also reign with Jesus along with the previous resurrected saints.

    The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who takes part in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

    Revelation 20:5–6

    First resurrection is a resurrection to life. It is the first one mentioned in the Revelation of John. It is not the first resurrection meaning none others come before.

    Again, I am not trying to be controversial. This is where the text leads. Jacob… Another name for Israel will be saved out of Jacob’s Trouble. It is not the church.

    I think there is another pattern established on this. Here is why. We know that there will be elect folks who survived Jacob’s Trouble who are ushered into the Millennium. These will be joined by resurrected saints who will reign with Jesus. Keep this in mind.

    The Resurrection at the End of the Millenium

    Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. From His face the earth and the heavens fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. Books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their works as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one by his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

    Revelation 20:11–15

    I think the language in this passage tells us that there is something different about this resurrection. It’s not really called that outright. But what is clear is that those that did not participate in the prior resurrections will be brought to life. This bringing to life ends in condemnation. That is, to those who rejected Jesus and will experience the second death.

    This is the last day. The next thing that comes after all of this is the new heaven and new earth. It also is the conclusion of resurrections discussed in 1 Corinthians 15 there are no more.

    The Rapture

    The first task in using this word is to do some disgronification. That means I want to clear up the backward notion many have over the word. They say it is not in the Bible as if that somehow negates the entire idea.

    I use the word rapture deliberately. It immediately reveals those who scoff, mock, and scorn. It is said that doctrine divides. And this one certainly does. Much noise and misinformation exists surrounding the word.

    The word rapture is a proper description of the event described in the Bible. The word in English means a violent taking and carrying away. Violent in this manner conveys the sense of surprise and quickness.

    The English word rapture comes from a Latin word rapio. Which means to seize or snatch from one place to another. It comes into English via the Latin Vulgate translation of the Greek word harpazo. Harpazo is what is usually translated into English as snatched or carried away in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

    To those who mock, scoff, and/or scorn at the word… You are responsible for your own triggers. We see you.

    A Mystery

    Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible will put on incorruption, and this mortal will put on immortality.

    1 Corinthians 15:51–53

    In all the talk of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul discusses our need for a new body. I have touched on that idea recently in this post. Paul goes into great detail as to why a change to a new body is needed. The conclusion is that these corruptible bodies must put on the incorruptible.

    Paul then unveils a mystery. The Biblical meaning of mystery is not like the English definition. When the New Testament calls something a mystery, it is saying what is revealed was once hidden… But not anymore. What Paul is describing is no longer mysterious.

    Since the birth of the church, it is a unified body. The church is a chaste virgin bride of Jesus Christ. She is not Israel, the promiscuous divorced wife of God. In the church, there is no distinction between Israelis and Gentiles. All are equal and equally welcome. The church is one body.

    Unlike Jesus addressing Jewish folk, Paul is addressing the church, and by extension church age believers. He is telling these believers that not all of them are going to die. When Jesus comes, there will be an immediate change in the body. It will happen so fast as to be imperceptible Corruptible bodies will be made incorruptible. Before our instant change, the dead will be resurrected in like incorruptibility.

    This rapture is not a resurrection event like the rest we have seen. But like other resurrection events, it comes at the end of something. This would be the end of the church age. It also fits the pattern of believes at the end of Jacob’s trouble being ushered into the millennium with resurrected saints.

    The rapture of the church includes a resurrection but is foundationally a relocation event. If this is so… How do we know?

    Before we move on, I think it is worth noting that the word mystery connects many things together in and for the church-age believers. Church itself was a mystery now revealed. The things for the church are necessarily going to be patterned in Israel.

    The Trumpet of Assembly

    Change happens in the twinkling of an eye… Instantaneously… At the last trumpet that sounds. People are whisked away to a new location.

    That last trumpet presents a stone of stumbling to some. (I was there in that. I know.) The mention of this trumpet is not to be confused with the last trumpet blown on Yom Tehurah (the Feast of Trumpets. It is not connected at all to any Jewish feasts, though it may fit a pattern.) It is certainly is not connected with the any of the trumpet judgments in Revelation.

    I speak of patterns. There is one in Exodus that fits clearly. When we consider a biblical explanation for a thing, it’s sometimes important to look at first mention of a word. This idea was reinforced when I began to look at the meeting of Israel with God outlined in the exodus. It was quite a surprise to discover that the word trumpet is first mentioned there in the Old Testament.

    In Exodus 19 it is clearly demonstrated that the trumpet is a call to assembly. Paul would have known this. It is the reference for his writing. Like that call to assembly was for the people of Israel, this trumpet call of Hod is to assembly for the people of the church. In fact by definition, it’s the last call to assembly for the church.

    Let’s look at the first usage of the word trumpet in the Bible in Exodus 19.

    The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothes, and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. You shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves so that you not go up onto the mountain or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death. No hand will touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through, whether it be beast or man. He shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

    Exodus 19:10–13

    Not that it pertains to the subject at hand, it is interesting that the Israelis were given two days to be sanctified. On the third day they were called to assemble. Think of what it says in one of Peter’s epistles, 1,000 years is like a day to the Lord. Is it a pattern given to us that like Israel was given two days to be sanctified with washing and then called to assemble on the third day?

    Does it have application to a mystery body hidden at the time which would have two days (2,000 years) to be sanctified, then being called to assembly by God on the third day?

    Not that it fits exactly… Without atomic clocks, how does one definitively know the exact moment a day starts?

    Using Bible references… Is it at the exact moment the sun disappears on the horizon, is it the start of twilight, or when twilight fades to black?

    It is another reference to the third day connected with resurrection. I don’t believe in coincidences. Nor do I believe prophecy is for the church. But there is definitely a pattern demonstrated here. And it caught me quite off guard when studying for this. (That is not a bad thing.)

    The Assembly

    So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day. Do not go near your wives.” So on the third day, in the morning, there was thunder and lightning, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet. All the people who were in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely covered in smoke because the Lord had descended upon it in fire, and the smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.

    Exodus 19:14–19

    As already attested to, so much here makes my mind explode. There are patterns that seem to apply to our age apart from Israel. God came down in a cloud (of smoke.) The sanctification involved washing. The people were brought out of the camp at the sound of the trumpet to meet with God.

    That long trumpet blast is God’s call to assembly. Moses was given instruction by God to give to the people. And when they heard the blast they were to assemble. The trumpet call here resulted in a relocation event from the campy to the mountain.

    Is this prophecy being patterned?

    The trumpet call of God is to assemble the people. As this is patterned once by Israel, it seems to hint at something more. If it is that, it is not a pattern that points to the second coming of Jesus Christ. How can we tell?

    This is for the mixed-multitude people of God. it is not God coming down to judge them. It is a good thing, not a time to mourn.

    Our Hope

    For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Will it not even be you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

    1 Thessalonians 2:19

    To this end may He establish your hearts to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

    1 Thessalonians 3:13

    The crowning jewel for the believer is to be with Him at His coming. For church age believers, this can only happen by prior intervention. We don’t meet Him at His coming. We are already in his presence when it happens. That is because we come with Him.

    On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is to the east of Jerusalem. And from east to west the Mount of Olives will be split in two halves by a very great valley so that one half moves to the north and the other to the south. And you will flee to my mountain valley, for the mountain valley will reach to Azal. You will flee just like you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come and all His holy ones with you.

    Zechariah 14:4–5

    Jesus comes with His holy ones. This is not just angels, nor is it just humans. It is all inclusive to the hosts of heaven. And I am going to tell you, if you are believer now… You are part of the host of heaven. Jesus comes with all of the inhabitants of heaven… All His holy ones.

    (For background on that read this: The Divine Council in the Tanakh. Then this: Sons of God in the New Testament.)

    It’s Relocation

    The call of assembly is not a resurrection. It is a relocation event that by necessity includes a resurrection. Just as the definition of the word rapture entails, it is a quick relocation. People are instantly moved from Earth to heaven to be where Jesus is.

    The corruptible bodies will have to be changed in an instant for those alive. And those who have passed before are likewise raised incorruptible.

    The word harpazo is not the same as resurrection. It is better understood as a sudden relocation. In Acts 8:39, Phillip was suddenly relocated by the Spirit of the Lord. In the same way, when the word rapture is used, think suddenly relocation.

    This is the facilitative relocating of believers to heaven so that they may return with Him at His coming. and remove a restraining pressure on evil.

    Putting it All Together

    But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and arose again, so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

    1 Thessalonians 4:13–14

    Paul is going to give a framework of how things are going to happen. Pay close attention. Read it all together. Note the apparent concern of dead saints not having the same experience. Paul is assuring the Thessalonians that God will also bring those with Him.

    I think when reading the epistles to the Thessalonians, it wasn’t necessarily the rapture they were focused on. It is the Second Coming of Jesus. It is their hope, joy, and crown of rejoicing. That is the goal, the victory… To be counted a part of all His holy ones that come with Him when He vanquishes His enemies.

    For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are asleep.

    1 Thessalonians 4:15

    Think back to what Paul wrote of the mystery of the sudden change to all believers who will be relocated. That is what he is referencing here. Specifically that those who have passed on already will be included.

    For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

    1 Thessalonians 4:16

    Jesus comes with a shout. Remember His promise that those in the graves would hear His voice and come out?

    He will have the voice of the archangel signifying ultimate authority. And there will be the trumpet call of God.

    This is the call to the people to assemble before God. Those in the graves are called first, and the people assemble before the presence of God in the clouds. It was patterned at Sinai when God descended in the cloud of smoke with a trumpet blast and all Israel came to Him. In like fashion, this church body will be called to assembly in whole and in order.

    Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall be forever with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

    1 Thessalonians 4:17–18

    The body of Christ is relocated to His presence forever.

    Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.

    1 Thessalonians 5:1–3

    Since the body of Christ has been relocated, there is no need for a chronology of events that lead to a specific time, the day of the Lord. The rapture does not start Daniel’s 70th week, though it is necessary for the body of saints to be relocated. This is a framework for what is going to happen.

    The coming as a thief in the night is not about the rapture. It is a reference to those during Jacob’s Trouble who deny Jesus. At His return will come as a total surprise. They will not know until it happens.

    When they say… Destruction will come upon them… They shall not escape. There are the three witnesses that this is not for the body of Christ. The body will not be there.

    But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

    1 Thessalonians 5:4–5

    We are not darkened in mind like unbelievers. We will not be overtaken by this day.

    Concluding Thoughts

    As long as this is, it is not definitive. My goal is to help provide a framework for thinking. First, that there are yet future events in store for the nation of Israel and the world as a whole.

    There are also future events for the church saints.

    Paul also provides definitive proof that the church and Israel are not the same. They do not have overlapping programs. God was never finished with Israel, but set them aside for a time. He will again come to them when they call to His Anointed One. They cannot do that if the Holy Spirit working in the church is in the way.

    Now you know what restrains him that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working. Only He who is now restraining him will do so until He is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness of His presence, even him, whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all deception of unrighteousness among those who perish, because they did not receive the love for the truth that they might be saved.

    2 Thessalonians 2:6–10

    I also hope that your mind has been expanded to look at the patterns given in Scriptures. There are many patterns encountered that demonstrate how some seeming unrelated Scriptures interweave these patterns and enlighten understanding.

    Resurrection ends one thing. After the end of on thing another begins. Resurrection is connected to the third day.

    Jesus is risen and He is coming again!

    Paneas and the Church

    On By TimIn Church, Matthew 16Leave a comment

    He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
    Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
    Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

    Matthew 16:15–18

    Peter’s declaration is the truth. It is a truth that is revealed to people by the Father. It is the truth that changes the world. It is the truth that changes people.

    Blessed are you Simon… I tell you that you are Peter. Putting these two phrases together helps to see the significance. It is here that Jesus gives a new name to Simon. By this very thing, Jesus is once again demonstrating that He is God. We have to refer back to Genesis for the first occurrence.

    No longer will your name be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

    Genesis 17:5

    God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. It signifies a few things. In Abram’s situation, the Hebrew letter heh, was added. Because the Hebrew letters connote significant meaning, heh conveys the idea of spirit of breath. Abram had that inserted into his name. It becomes a sort of prophecy to God putting His Spirit in believers. In the same way, Sarai’s name was changed.

    We also know that there are other places where people’s names have been changed. Daniel has his name changed, as well as his friends’ names when they were assimilated into Babylon.

    When Jesus changes Peter’s name, we must think back to these things. That God changes names, Jesus is showing that He is God. The name change show Peter to be assimilated into a new culture. Peter is connected to the promises of God, and like Abraham, he serves God by making Him known to the world. Abraham was an integral part of the promise of God, as was Sarah. And now we see Peter, too in the same way. In that moment, Peter overcame.

    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except he who receives it.

    Revelation 2:17

    The believer is granted a new name. One that shows such has been assimilated into a new culture. One that says this one is an integral part of the promises of God.

    Of course, Revelation is speaking of a future time. In the present, the moment we believe, each of us is given a new name. We are called Christian. The new name also includes a new identity as a child of God, and joint-heir with Jesus Himself. We are part of a new culture.

    You Are Petros

    When Jesus gives that name to Peter, and then declares He will build His church, there is a play on words. In the underlying Greek, Peter (Petros) is a name that means stone or pebble.

    When Jesus says “on this rock” (ho petra) He is NOT speaking about Peter. Though the words are almost the same, there are differences. One is masculine and the other feminine. In English, this distinction is insignificant at best. But in other languages, the genders of the nouns and the verbs associated with them must match. Peter (stone; Petros; masculine) is not the same as rock (petra; feminine.)

    “On this rock” is a reference to bedrock or massive rock formations like the mountain that towered by them. This isn’t a declaration that Peter is the first pope. Nor is it a declaration that Peter is the stand-in for Jesus on Earth.

    No. It is on the bedrock truth, that Jesus is the living Son of God and that is the foundation of the church He will build. This Son of God is living as opposed to the disembodied spirits and others remanded to the netherworld.

    The Gates of Hell

    The Gates of Hell will not withstand the onslaught of the truth.

    In all practical purposes, Jesus is saying the church is not defensive… Waiting for the enemy’s attack. We have the upper hand. Jesus has prevailed. We are the conquerors who take enemy territory. That means we reclaim real ground and help rescue people from fires of perdition.

    But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God while you are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, which leads to eternal life.

    Jude 20–23

    Jesus is calling each of us into battle. The idea is to grow to maturity in the faith. The moment you became a believer is when you entered real spiritual warfare. Your testimony in Jesus reminds the fallen of their shame.

    Fallen angels and demons have no blood, no life in a body, and no Kinsman Redeemer. Therefore, angels and demons have part in resurrection.

    Binding and Loosing

    I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

    Matthew 16:19

    The previous citation in Jude introduced us to the authority and responsibility we have. You’ve probably been taught that these things are only given to leaders. That would be a mistake to continue to think that. I am going to cite another portion of Jesus’ last words before His assumption.

    When He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.”

    John 20:22–23

    When Jesus breathed the Spirit on the apostles, it came with great responsibility. A pattern develops, that a believer does exercise the power of binding and loosing. (My stomach just bunches at that thought, I have explored a very similar idea.)

    We believers have the authority and ability to save souls!

    That means how we treat others for what they do or don’t do to us is heavy with meaning. We can hold anger over a person and bind them. That unforgiving anger can fester. When it does, it means that was given rights. The end result binds the heart that holds resentment. It lives rent-free in the mind.

    This idea is sobering. We easily become aware of the striking reality. Each believer can bind or loose. That means whatever we permit will have rights. What we loose, won’t gain foothold. (Tuck that into your mind.)

    Then He commanded His disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

    Matthew 16:20

    It may seem odd to us for Jesus to want some secrecy. This is yet another subtle hint that He is indeed God. He is controlling the timing of what must happen. He was not keeping truth or salvation away from anyone, but that the time was not yet right.

    Surprisingly, this is not done. Your bibles may have a topical division that seems to end this encounter with that statement. Jesus has more to say on this subject, and we will continue to examine it.

    The Rapture (Part 7) – The Last Trump

    On By TimIn 1 Corinthians 15, RaptureLeave a comment

    As we continue to explore the Rapture and the many aspects of it, in part 4 we learned that the text in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 has a military style. The underlying Greek words hint at military-style orders being given. It is with that in mind that we shall explore the idea of the last trump.

    Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

    1 Corinthians 15:51–52 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    The Moedim

    The idea of the last trump has been connected by some to a particular Jewish Feast Day, Yom
    Tehurah (or the day of blowing.) This is an appointed time, one of seven feasts (Hebrew: moedim) of Israel established in Leviticus 23. Yom Tehurah is a day known for trumpet blasts, specifically using the shofar. On this day, there is even a specific trumpet blast titled “the last trump.” It is a note that is held for as long as the blower can blow.

    And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: Concerning the feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My appointed feasts.

    Leviticus 23:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    The seven feasts (more information can be found here) are arranged on the Jewish calendar. There are three spring feasts: Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits. There are three fall feasts: Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and Feast of Booths. There is one late spring feast between the two groups, it is Shavuot (The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.)

    I group them that way for a particular reason. The feasts are likened to the Menorah which has seven candlesticks, three on either side of the middle.

    It is without question that Jesus fulfilled the spring feasts. Some say He even fulfilled the fourth. With that in mind, it is easy to understand why some think that the Feast of Trumpets is going to be the feast fulfilled by the rapture.

    The Trumpet

    With our English translations, it is difficult to find the precision in Hebrew. Both Hebrew words shofar and khatzotzerah are translated to the English word trumpet. Both words tend to be blurred together. There is a distinction, and it is that Which needs to be explored.

    And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Make for yourself two silver trumpets. Of a hammered work you will make them, and you will use them for summoning of the assembly and directing the breaking up of the camps.

    Numbers 10:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Here we encounter the Hebrew word khatzotzerah. It is translated as trumpet. These silver trumpets had specific uses. They are not musical instruments but have specific purposes. They were used to call the assembly together. They announced the time to begin breaking camp to journey on. They were used militarily and for other various purposes.

    When they blow both of them, all the assembly will assemble themselves to you at the door of the tent of meeting. If they blow only one, then the leaders, who are heads of the thousands of Israel, will gather themselves to you.

    Numbers 10:3–4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    This is the call to assembly. When two are blown simultaneously, the entire assembly meets. When one is blown, the leaders assemble.

    When you blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east will set out. When you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south will set out. They will blow an alarm for their setting out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you will blow, but you will not sound an alarm.

    Numbers 10:5–7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    This is the call to break camp. There was a specific order to breaking camp. The alarm blown on the trumpet signaled the camps in cardinal directions, east, south, west, and north. The signal used was different than that used to call an assembly. And the final blow of the trumpets would mean the entire congregation is on the move.

    The sons of Aaron, the priests, will blow the trumpets, and they will be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations.

    Numbers 10:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    These trumpets were under the control of the High Priest. They were to be blown only by priests (sons of Aaron.) This is the primary distinction between the use of the shofar and the use of the silver trumpet.

    And if you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses you, then you will blow an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.

    Numbers 10:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    That confirms that these trumpets are used to sound alarm for remembrance when enemies approached. The use of this alarm comes with a specific promise from God.

    Also in the day of your gladness, and at your appointed days, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings that they may be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.

    Numbers 10:10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    These trumpets were also used in the celebration of the Jewish feasts. They were blown in glad tidings, at the beginning of months. They were blown over burnt offerings and peace offerings. They were also clearly used during the feast days.

    In the way the silver trumpets are used, they can be associated with a typification of prayer.

    The Shofar at the Feast of Trumpets

    The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath, a memorial with the blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.

    Leviticus 23:23–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    The idea presented in the phrase blowing of trumpets is literally a blast or blowing. It is the Hebrew word tehurah. The word trumpet is assumed. Tehurah means blowing similar to blasting out a note.

    As in the citation from Numbers 10, the silver trumpets are blown (Hebrew taqa,) not blasted. Except for when the alarm is blown in verses five and six. There we have both words used taqa tehurah (blow an alarm or blow a blast.) In that sense, it is instruction on how to blow a particular signal.

    In Leviticus 23 it is the idea of blasting that assumes the use of a shofar (ram’s horn.) That is the trumpet used on that day. It’s a day of blowing trumpet blasts.

    We can already see a distinction in the usage given in the law.

    But I don’t think that the trumpet used for assembling the body of Christ is either of these.

    The Last Trump

    In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

    1 Corinthians 15:52 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    It’s the last trump. Let’s examine the companion passage from 1 Thessalonians. Chronologically, this was written before Paul wrote the first epistle to the Corinthians.

    For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

    1 Thessalonians 4:16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    It’s the trumpet call of God. It is not the trumpet call of the shofar, nor those of the Aaronic priesthood. Like the latter, it is a summoning for the body of Christ to come together in assembly, both dead and alive. It is like the blowing of the silver trumpets, but this trumpet is singular. It is not like the blasts of the shofar on the Feast of Trumpets, the last of which signaled the close of that feast.

    Also, note that this is the trump of God. It is not the trump of Gabriel or any other angel. Therefore it cannot be connected to the trumpets of the angels in Revelation 8 through 11. Simply put, there is no connection between the last trump and the seventh trumpet. The dates of the writing of the two books are separated by almost 40 years. That seventh trumpet could not be the context of what Paul was declaring in either epistle. It had not yet been revealed.

    The last trump must have meant something of significance to the Christians to whom Paul addressed. It is the last call to assembly for the body of Christ. All Spirit-baptized believers are called to assemble, in the clouds.

    Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall be forever with the Lord.

    1 Thessalonians 4:17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    This is a powerful idea to the early believers. In the wilderness, the blasting of the silver trumpets indicated the congregation was moving. Each cardinal direction would have been given a blast to begin moving. The final blast indicated the entire congregation was assembled and on the move. That is most likely the idea conveyed by Paul. Therefore, the last trump at the time of the rapture will indicate that the entire body of Christ is called up together: both the living and the dead.

    The Rapture (Part 5) – The Mystery

    On By TimIn 1 Corinthians 15, RaptureLeave a comment

    Now that we understand who the rapture is for in part 1, what the rapture is in part 2, and in part 3 how it will happen; we discover that a change is necessary for those raptured to enter the kingdom of God. These flesh and blood bodies cannot enter there. This is an important thing to consider.

    A Mystery

    Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

    1 Corinthians 15:51 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Paul tells us a mystery. This word can have some unintended baggage in English. In English, it means something we cannot know. The word in Greek is musterion. It simply means something that has not been known or revealed heretofore. That is, this idea has been hidden until Paul revealed it. That tells us that Jesus didn’t teach it. Some do try to shoehorn the rapture into the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24.) It isn’t there. It wasn’t revealed until Paul taught it.

    The Scriptures do define the usage of this word clearly.

    You may have heard of the administration of the grace of God which was given me for you, how by revelation He made known to me the mystery, as I have written briefly already, by which, when you read it, you may understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel.

    Ephesians 3:2–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Paul is telling us these mysteries were not revealed in the Tanakh. They are revealed in the New Testament apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit. These mysteries are new truths.

    To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the incomprehensible riches of Christ, and to reveal for all people what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ, so that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He completed in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

    Ephesians 3:8–12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    This tells us that there is a purpose to hiding these truths in the Tanakh only to be revealed later. It is the things Jesus did, the Spirit indwelling believers making them a new man. It is this instant transformation of the body of Christ into His glorious Kingdom.

    Each in this body is also tasked with making these things known to other humans, yes… But also, the unseen powers that work in this world. It is by the works of Jesus that we can access the presence of God directly now.

    I have been made a servant of it according to the commission of God, which has been given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, even the mystery which has been hidden from past ages and generations, but now is revealed to His saints. To them God would make known what is the glorious riches of this mystery among the nations. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present them perfect in Christ Jesus.

    Colossians 1:25–28 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    It is Christ in us, the hope of glory. That is the rapture. It is this sure destiny for the church saint.

    It is also for this reason that the second coming and the rapture are not the same things. The second coming was revealed in the Tanakh. In fact, there is much more spoken of in the Tanakh than in the New Testament. The mystery of the rapture is revealed for the first time in the New Testament.

    The Rapture (Part 4) – How It Will Happen

    On By TimIn 1 Thessalonians 04, Rapture1 Comment

    The previous post helped us to understand the myriad of ideas people attempt to use to debunk the rapture. Though it was not exhaustive, hopefully, it provided enough of an impetus for your own study. We also discussed some parts of the Olivet Discourse and Jesus’ teaching.

    Let’s now explore how it will happen.

    For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall be forever with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

    1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    I find that verse self-explanatory. It serves to stand by itself. There are other references that may bring some light to what is here.

    The first point is the use of familiar military practices. Paul uses these as they would be familiar to Romans who understood the chain of command.

    The Lord Himself Will Descend.

    First, Jesus leaves His current place. Where is His current place?

    To answer that, we are going to use the book of Hebrews. This book speaks to Jesus as being better than the rudiments of the law given to Israel in every way.

    God, who at various times and in diverse ways spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the world. He is the brightness of His glory, the express image of Himself, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. He was made so much better than the angels as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

    Hebrews 1:1–4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Did you catch the location there?

    Let’s move forward.

    Previously when He said, “You did not desire sacrifices and offerings. You have had no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin,” which are offered in accordance with the law, then He said, “See, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

    Hebrews 10:8–10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    In speaking about Jesus as High Priest and performing all of His work. The law served as a teacher, instructing in types and shadows yet pointing right to Jesus. It is the old covenant with its sacrifices and offerings that is complete in Jesus. It served its purpose by instruction. Jesus removes it to establish the better way.

    But every priest stands daily ministering and repetitively offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time He has been waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool. For by one offering He has forever perfected those who are sanctified.

    Hebrews 10:11–14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    He offered one sacrifice for sins forever. Then the Bible says something profound… He sat down. The significance of that is important on its own. The work of the High Priest was never finished until then. For our purposes, the location of where Jesus sat down is important. It is at the right hand of the Father. That is where He is.

    Jesus announced the fact to those who tried Him.

    From now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.

    Luke 22:69 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    This is exactly how Mark closes his Gospel.

    After the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God.

    Mark 16:19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Paul also provides a witness to attest to His ministry now.

    Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes, who is risen, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

    Romans 8:34 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    There are some other references. I will leave those for you to discover.

    It is an important idea to grasp. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. There is also a significance to Him leaving that place that is revealed earlier. Look at the account of Stephen right before he is stoned. What is the significance of Jesus standing?

    When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

    Acts 7:54–56 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Jesus is no longer seated. It is thought that Stephen seeing Jesus standing is the precursor to His return.

    Personally, it is my belief that Jesus is fulfilling His promise to every believer to come and receive them to Himself. I understand that may be conjecture, but it is the promise with which we began this journey, as discussed earlier.

    Jesus is going to leave His current place at the right hand of the Father.

    With a Shout.

    The Greek word used here is keleuma. It is a summons to carry out a procedure sort of like a battle cry. It is a military term. Paul is using the very familiar practices of the Roman army as a pictorial lesson in the sequence. Jesus, the Lord of Hosts leaves His abode and gives a command. This is much like the commander leaving his tent and shouting a command to a subcommander.

    With the Voice of the Archangel.

    The sub-commander repeats the command.

    The Greek word used here archaggelos (archangel) is used twice in the New Testament. Both times it is preceded by a definitive article denoting the presence of a title. The second occurrence is here, and we are given a name to identify the archangel.

    Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil in a dispute about the body of Moses, did not dare to pronounce upon him a railing judgment. But he said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

    Jude 9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Some of Michael’s duties are given to us in Scripture. One of those is as the guardian of Israelis.

    “And at that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book.

    Daniel 12:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    It is Michael who serves as the subcommander here.

    With the Trumpet Call of God.

    This is the Greek salpinx, or trumpet call of God. As continuing the military theme, this word is also used as war trumpet. It is the bugler that transmits the command to the troops with the trumpet.

    If the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle?

    1 Corinthians 14:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Paul referenced that word elsewhere. This shows the clear sounds a bugler must make to ensure the command is transmitted clearly to be understood. In the context of that verse, Paul is speaking about the use of tongues and the clarity, the idea is the distinction in the sounds made. This trumpet will be clear.

    I also want to provide some other references as to what this may be. The first is in Hebrews. It is important and lends itself to our discussion. Hebrews 12 will reference first-born, a term that has significance in the rapture.

    You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and storm, and to the sound of a trumpet and to a voice speaking words, such that those who heard them begged that the word not be spoken to them anymore.

    Hebrews 12:18–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    This references the giving of the law to Israel at Mount Sinai in the Exodus (Exodus 18.) The account tells of how the trumpet sounds became louder and louder. The people feared approaching God. The writer of Hebrews uses this as an antitype to another mountain, Mount Zion. He calls it the city of the Living God, New Jerusalem. Specific language references the innumerable company of angels, and to the church of the firstborn. That is us, Spirit-baptized believers.

    In part 2, we discussed the end of the earthly ministry of the church. Revelation 4 was briefly discussed. After Jesus finishes His letters to the seven churches, John is caught up to heaven and the word church is absent from the rest of the book until the very end.

    After this I looked. And there was an open door in heaven. The first voice I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit. And there was a throne set in heaven with One sitting on the throne!

    Revelation 4:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    John heard a voice like a trumpet. That is the same Greek word salpinx. Though this was a voice like a trumpet and not just a trumpet call.

    The important thing is John heard the command, come up here. Immediately John was in the sprit and in the presence of God. John’s experience serves as a type of Rapture. He is called up and immediately in the presence of the Lord.

    The Dead in Christ Will Rise First

    This is the concern of the Thessalonians. They knew of the rapture but had questions of those who preceded them in death not benefiting from the rapture.

    But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and arose again, so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are asleep.

    1 Thessalonians 4:13–15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Those who are asleep in Jesus, rise first. These church saints benefit before the alive believers can benefit.

    We Who Are Alive and Remain Shall be Caught up Together with Them in the Clouds to Meet the Lord in the Air.

    The Spirit-baptized church saints are caught up together with the previously asleep church saints that are resurrected. We meet the Lord in the air together. Jesus never sets foot on the earth. He comes in the clouds; we meet Him in the clouds.

    All of this happens very fast. Just as John was caught up and immediately in the presence of God, so shall the rapture be.

    In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

    1 Corinthians 15:52 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    As Paul wrote of the rapture in a later epistle, he shows some of the same sequential order. There is a trumpet sound, the dead are resurrected first, then those alive are raised.

    Just as previously stated, this event will be as the angels described in Acts 1.

    They said, “Men of Galilee, why stand looking toward heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you to heaven, will come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

    Acts 1:11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    Acts 1 gives a description of exactly how Jesus left the saints and would be the model for Him to come in like manner to the saints.

    When He had spoken these things, while they looked, He was taken up. And a cloud received Him from their sight.

    Acts 1:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    We Shall be Forever with the Lord.

    But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels; to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven; to God, the Judge of all; and to the spirits of the righteous ones made perfect; and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant; and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than that of Abel.

    Hebrews 12:22–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    I love that description of who we are in Jesus. It is immovable and forever.

    Comfort One Another with These Words.

    The Thessalonians were told to comfort one another. They were assured. None of the church saints who preceded them in death would miss out on the rapture. They would all benefit. And the sequence would occur in the blink of an eye.

    Concluding Thoughts.

    There is a sequential order of the rapture that is revealed. Those alive are changed immediately. But not before those who are dead in Christ. All of these happen because Jesus rose as Firstfruits. Firstfruits that benefit His body, the church.

    There is also a sequence of end-times events that are revealed here and elsewhere. It is fitting that we understand the church had a beginning and it will have an end. The rapture fits in as one of the pieces to understanding. The coming Kingdom is a Jewish kingdom that we fit in because of the Messiah Jesus Christ.

    But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For He “has put all things under His feet.” But when He says, “all things are put under Him,” it is revealed that He, who has put all things under Him, is the exception. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

    1 Corinthians 15:20–28 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

    This serves as a witness to another greater sequence of events. The end of the ministry of the church at the rapture. Yet that is not the end but the seeming beginning of it. The end is yet in the future when He will deliver the Kingdom to God. That doesn’t occur until He reigns. And He reigns until all enemies are under His feet.

    Next, we will explore the idea of the mystery of the rapture.