12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. ( 1 Corinthians 15:12) (or 13:12).
I have been doing a deep dive into some secular music that is in the old progressive rock and sadly one or two of these groups directly mention pagan gods in their music. This is something I will have to monitor carefully; as some songs seem not to have any elements of this; and of course individuals in bands and music styles change over time. I could use prayer of wisdom as I am learning guitar and have a musical ear; and wish to honor the Lord but not get caught in the trap of hypnotic trance and other oppressive elements of certain music. This is even possible with certain classical music but much of it of the Baroque artists gives glory to God.
We all are led astray when following our own flesh and its natural desires. As with anything else; Satan can tempt us and not only may but WILL fool ALL unregenerate men who will be following the pied piper to eventually fight against Christ at Armageddon even after hiding from Him in the sixth seal knnowing what they've don no doubt.
We need to guard as much in our individual lives as we do with those we associate with. According to 1 Timothy 6:7-8
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Obsessing over our material gains and creature comforts isn't healthy for us. Again; it is a balance with my coin collecting as I have been able to work meticulously with purchasing under cost but I don't plan to invest beyond a certain limit and not at the expense of opportunities to serve the Lord through service; witnessing; etc. This is why I don't hold onto too much and sell frequently (also I don't want too much at home if something gets stolen).
Job also said that the Lord gives and takes away (someone in college told me that).
Hello Simon. Your reference to Genesis 3:19 is correct, though when we consider the Hebrew word for 'dust' (as given in the KJV), it is 'aphar', and this includes dust, earth, ashes, powder, even rubbish. And then we have Abraham speaking in Genesis 18:27, "And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes". So even here, Abraham uses that word, aphar, to show that his body is truly of the earth ( 1 Corinthians 15:47), which the LORD God used to put together humankind, identifying him with the ground upon which he would walk, and into which his body would one day return.
So, these references could show that whether soil & dust is referred to, it must also include other substances and elements that comprise the earth, of which ash forms a part (as ash doesn't remain in that form for very long - it will integrate with the soil in which it is mixed). As much as a biblical pattern of dealing with the deceased is most preferable, it must be admitted that quite often that is not always possible, whether because of personal choice or constraints, or through dealings by others or beasts coming against the unfortunate. None of this should prevent the righteous soul from sharing in the resurrection, for not one of the Shepherd's sheep will be lost. GBU.
"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."
Paul declares that God will judge all men by Jesus Christ according to the revelation he preached, showing the authority and finality of his message.
2. Romans 16:25
"Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
Here Paul links his gospel with the revelation of the mystery, truth previously hidden but now made known through him ( Ephesians 3:1-9).
3. 2 Timothy 2:8
"Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel."
This emphasizes Christ's resurrection as the central truth of Paul's gospel - salvation apart from the law, received by grace through faith ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Summary:
These three verses - Romans 2:16, Romans 16:25, and 2 Timothy 2:8 - are the only explicit references where Paul calls it "my gospel" in the Bible.
They collectively highlight:
Judgment by Christ through Paul's message ( Rom 2:16).
The revelation of the hidden mystery ( Rom 16:25).
I assume you mean Jehovah's Witnesses when you said JW's, but I assure you I am not. I understand many believe in the rapture of the Church, but I do not. I can't say that it's wrong; that would just lead to debate. We can share our understanding in hopes of inspiring each other to seek the truth.
Revelation is filled with images and visions given to John. In my understanding, if we look at Revelation 7, where people from the tribes of Israel and all nations that cannot be numbered are described, verses 14-17 refer to a time after everything is over, when God wipes away all our tears.
This is similar to what we see in Matthew 17 when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the mountain, where they saw Jesus' transfiguration. Jesus said it was a vision in verse 9. My understanding is that it was a vision because if Moses and Elijah were really there, Jesus would not be called the Firstfruits of those who slept, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:20.
Looking at 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 it discusses the Lord's coming and the first resurrection. Paul also touches on this in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3. This coming is announced with a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God, as seen in Revelation 11.
In my view, in none of the verses regarding Jesus' second coming does it say He will carry the saints of the first resurrection back to heaven. My understanding is that all who are Christ's, when He returns, will be gathered to meet Him as He descends to earth, as described in Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:52, at the last trump, and Revelation 11:15-18. We will reign with Him on earth, Revelation 5:10.
There are only two resurrections of the dead in Scripture: the first, in Revelation 20:4-6, and the second, in Revelation 20:11-15. My understanding is that Jesus does not return to heaven after He comes back; if He does, that would mean three resurrections.
Paul's command (not a request) in 2 Timothy 2:15 - "rightly dividing the word of truth" - makes no sense if there is nothing to divide.
The Greek word translated "rightly divide" means to "cut straight" or "make a correct partition." Paul is instructing Timothy (and us) to handle God's Word carefully, recognizing distinctions God Himself has placed in it. The Bible is one unified revelation, but within it God deals with different people in different ways at different times (dispensations). For example:
Law vs. Grace: God gave Israel the Law through Moses ( Exodus 20), but through Paul He revealed salvation by grace apart from the Law ( Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16). If we blur these, we end up mixing works with grace.
Israel vs. the Church: Israel was promised an earthly kingdom ( Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 19:28), while the Body of Christ has a heavenly calling ( Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 3:20). If we confuse these, we misapply promises and commands not meant for us.
Gospel of the Kingdom vs. Gospel of Grace: (yes, there is more than one Gospel in the NT) Jesus and the 12 preached "the gospel of the kingdom" to Israel ( Matthew 4:23; Galatians 2:7-9), while Paul was given "the gospel of the grace of God" ( Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Both are true, but they serve different purposes in God's plan.
So Paul's point is: don't blend everything together as if it all applies in the same way to everyone. To "rightly divide" is to discern God's progressive revelation - prophecy vs. mystery, Israel's promises vs. the Church's hope, law vs. grace. If you don't divide, you end up in contradictions and confusion.
The question of whether Paul preached a different gospel than the other apostles must be handled with careful distinction. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul indeed affirms the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the heart of the gospel-truths that Peter and the other apostles also proclaimed. Verse 11 makes clear: "Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed." The core of salvation has always rested on Christ. In that sense, the content of the gospel concerning His person and work was the same.
However, the progressive revelation and the unique stewardship was given to Paul. Paul refers to "my gospel" ( Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8) and "the revelation of the mystery" hidden from ages past but now revealed ( Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:25-27). This mystery concerns the formation of the Body of Christ, composed of both Jew and Gentile without distinction, saved by grace through faith apart from works of the Law ( Ephesians 2:8-9). This was not the focus of Peter's message at Pentecost, where the emphasis was still the kingdom offer to Israel ( Acts 2-3), tied to repentance, baptism, and awaiting the promised restoration.
James, writing to the twelve tribes ( James 1:1), indeed addressed believing Jews struggling to live out their faith amid trial. His emphasis on works demonstrated the reality of faith within Israel's kingdom program. Paul, by contrast, ministered to Gentiles under the dispensation of grace, emphasizing justification apart from works ( Romans 3:28). The apparent tension between James 2 and Paul's letters resolves when we rightly divide the Word ( 2 Timothy 2:15), understanding different audiences and dispensational contexts.
I write with deep concern because God's Word makes it plain that without rightly dividing the word of truth ( 2 Timothy 2:15), one cannot come to a clear and saving knowledge of Christ in this present dispensation of grace. Right division is not an optional study method; it is God's command for how His Word is to be understood. Failure to make the distinction between Israel's prophetic program and the mystery revealed to Paul for the Body of Christ leads only to confusion, and confusion in the gospel is eternally dangerous.
Paul makes a bold statement in Galatians 1:11-12, declaring that the gospel he preached was "not after man," but received by direct revelation of Jesus Christ. This message, summarized in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. This alone is the gospel of salvation today. Yet if we blend this with Israel's gospel of the kingdom, which involved repentance, water baptism, and looking for the Messiah's earthly reign, we pervert the truth and trust in a message God is not offering in this age.
Paul warned soberly that any who preach another gospel are accursed ( Galatians 1:8-9). That is why right division is vital-it protects us from confusing law with grace, earthly promises with heavenly, and faith plus works with faith alone in Christ's finished work. God has only one gospel today, the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24). To miss this truth, or to mix it with another program, is to miss salvation itself.
I urge all to believe the message Christ gave to Paul for us. Trust completely in His finished work on the cross, apart from anything you can add. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works ( Ephesians 2:8-9). Without rightly dividing, the gospel becomes distorted, and distorted truth cannot save.
I appreciate your careful observations about James and the Law, but from a dispensational perspective we must carefully note both his audience and his program. James 1:1 makes it clear that his epistle is written "to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad." That identifies his readership as Israel, not the Body of Christ. Paul confirms this distinction in Galatians 2:9, where James, Peter, and John agreed to minister to "the circumcision," while Paul was sent to the Gentiles. This is a vital dispensational boundary marker.
You are right that James uses the Law to show the seriousness of sin and the impossibility of keeping it perfectly. Yet his emphasis on "works" still reflects Israel's prophetic, kingdom program, where faith and obedience were tied together under covenant expectations. For example, Jesus in Matthew 5-7 taught that righteousness for Israel's kingdom hope must be lived out, not just professed. James echoes that when he insists that faith without works is dead ( James 2:20). These "works" were not simply the fruit of faith in the Pauline sense, but the evidences of a faith that endured under trial and proved covenant loyalty.
Paul, on the other hand, reveals the mystery program where justification is by grace alone through faith alone apart from works ( Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-10). For the Body of Christ, works follow salvation as fruit, not as a condition of proving faith for covenant standing. James does not lay out the finished cross-work as the sole basis of justification the way Paul does in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, because his focus is not on the revelation of the mystery but on exhorting Israel's believing remnant to live consistently with their kingdom calling.
Thus, while James highlights the vitality of true faith, dispensationally we must recognize he writes within Israel's program, not Paul's. Both are inspired, but they address distinct audiences under different dispensations-how anyone misses this is beyond me.
Glad to see you up and around Lbooth1955; may the Lord give you complete healing post-surgery.
The Word of God is clear, as you shared from it, that we are truly forgiven of past and present sins, with Jesus' Blood availing to cover future sins as well. The verse you shared ( Hebrews 10:12) impressed me. Actually, going back a couple of verses, we read, "By the which will (i.e. Jesus' Will to proceed to the Cross) we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" ( Hebrews 10:10-12).
The comparison is given here: that of the continual monotonous offering of sacrifices by the high priest which could do no more than stay the Wrath of God from a sinful obstinate people; compared to the Sacrifice of His only Begotten Son Whose sacrifice was not only perfect and sufficient to deal with the sin that separates us from God, but that there was no need for any further form of redemptive work & recovery that could possibly add to it or be any better. In demonstration of God accepting such a Sacrifice, He raised His Son from the dead thus justifying those who are trusting Him for salvation ( Romans 4:24,25; 1 Corinthians 15:17), declaring us 'no longer guilty' nor worthy of eternal punishment. Onto Page 2.
Thank you. I agree, it is interesting, and some topics may never reveal the full truth. As Paul said, with milk and meat, we may not be ready to understand everything, 1 Corinthians 3:2. We share our understanding out of respect for each other, hoping to inspire prayer and study for the truth.
Can we understand Enoch being translated so he wouldn't see death? How does this fit with Romans 5:12, which says death passed upon all men because all have sinned; Romans 5:14, which states death reigned from Adam to Moses; and Hebrews 9:27, which says it is appointed unto men once to die?
Then there's Jesus saying in John 3:13, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven." I have my thoughts, but I keep them in my head. There are things God has not revealed, and we must accept this, as in Deuteronomy 29:29.
2 Corinthians 5:9, like Enoch, teaches us that it is by faith we must live, regardless of what we see. Paul confidently states that he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord. When are we absent from this body? Many believe it's when this body dies, but I feel this idea is influenced by Greek philosophy about the immortal soul.
To me, Scripture, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, says we are raised, not descending; it says we are changed, not rejoined. It says we are mortal and will put on immortality, that's something we did not have before. When we are resurrected, we put on immortality. This is our victory over death and the grave, given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I agree, we are to be overcomers. Revelation 3:5, Jesus said, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
Thanks for your reply. I understand many see this as comfort, similar to what you hear at a funeral when the preacher says Bob is with Jesus in heaven. Am I going to tell that loved one No, he is not? NO, but what is the actual truth?
Ecclesiastes 9:5, if we die, we know nothing. Psalms 115:17 I believe that if our spirit were alive in heaven, we would be praising the LORD. Our only hope of eternal life is in Jesus; this comes when we are resurrected, not before, 1 Corinthians 15:52-54.
Not to drag this out, I will say, if we all have an immortal spirit, there is no death and no true gift of eternal life because we already possess it. John 3:15, John 10:28, Romans 2:7, Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25. This is our promise. The others receive death; they will perish, John 3:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 2 Peter 2:12. The word perish is to destroy fully, permanent, absolute destruction. Revelation 21:8 their part, their punishment, and death will fit their sins, not burn for eternity.
Death is not a separation, as Greek philosophy puts it, which has influenced today's understanding.
Just something to consider about your post on what Paul was teaching, "deceased believers were already in Heaven and that at His Coming, Jesus would bring them with Him and their bodies buried in the earth would join with their spirits. So, the believers should be assured that God had not forgotten those who were in their graves at His Coming, since they were very much alive with Him & together would join with those living believers on Earth".
I would ask, are we mortal beings or immortal beings? Saying that believers are in heaven and very much alive is saying we are eternal beings, or that our spirit or soul is immortal. If we look at Ecclesiastes 12:7, this applies to all of mankind, whether they are believers or the evilest person who has ever lived. All spirits return to God.
James 2:26 says, "the body without the spirit is dead". Adam was not a living soul/being until God breathed into him the breath of life, Genesis 2:7. This is the spirit of life that God gives to all living, and the part of us that God communicates with us, Proverbs 20:27, 2 Corinthians 2:13, and when we die, there is no more communication; we wait for resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54, Paul clearly says we are mortal; it is we who are resurrected, not our bodies, our bodies return to dust.
Some use 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 as saying it means when we die, we are absent from the body and present with the Lord. The question we should ask is when we will be absent from this body. If we are open, the Scriptures tell us that it is when we are resurrected, that happens when Jesus returns, we will be gathered unto Jesus here on earth, and we shall ever be with our Lord. We meet Him in the air, welcoming Him back. The Greek word translated meet is apantesis, meaning a going-out to greet an arriving, emphasizing their importance, stressing welcome, honor, and accompaniment.
I agree, when Jesus returns, it will not be a secret, as all the Scriptures proclaim, it will be with the sound of the trumpet, the last trumpet, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Revelation 11:15. As you said, every eye shall see Him coming in the clouds, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-16.
The resurrection of the righteous, which is the first resurrection, will happen at Christ's return, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:4-6. Scripture does not say Jesus goes back to heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul is comforting them that those who are asleep/dead in Christ would not be left out of the return of Christ and the resurrection. Nowhere in these verses does it say we are taken to heaven.
If we read and study Scriptures with preconceived assumptions, it fogs the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 is about the return of Jesus and our gathering together unto Him on earth, at His coming. It says do not let man deceive you because Jesus will not return until two things happen. The falling away/apostasy, and the man of sin is revealed.
Revelation 19:20 is where the beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. In Revelation 17:14, they are the ones in the first resurrection who are in the battle of Armageddon with Jesus, and in Revelation 20:4 are the ones in the first resurrection who are being judged at the judgment seat of Christ, here on earth.
How much time does Scripture give the beast? In Revelation 13, the beast, whom people call the antichrist, from the time he rises, he is only given 3.5 years, not 7 years, Revelation 13:5. This is after the war in heaven where Michael and his angels overcome and cast Satan and his angels down to earth, this is when the restraints are lifted, not the removal of the Church.
The beast is only given 42 months, which is 3.5 years, to make war against the saints and to overcome them, Revelation 13:7. If the church is removed, whom will he make war against? The resurrection of the dead is divided into two:
The resurrection of the righteous, which is the first resurrection and will happen at Christ's return, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:4-6.
Resurrection for the rest of the dead, which is the second resurrection, and will happen after the 1000 years of Christ's reign, Revelation 20:7-15.
The ones in the first resurrection will reign with Christ, where, Daniel 7:27, 2 Timothy 2:12Revelation 20:6, Revelation 5:9-10. When Jesus returns, He does not go back to heaven.
We see in Revelation 20:4 thrones, and judgment was given to those in the first resurrection. This is on earth, and we see those who were beheaded and did not take the mark or worship the beast, and these lived and reigned with Christ on earth for the 1000 years.
last trumpet is the seventh trumpet, the same trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Jesus is coming to establish His kingdom on this earth.
It should be understood that the Bible clearly states that there are two comings of Jesus.
He came to die for the sins of mankind: this has been fulfilled.
Second Coming: coming to establish the kingdom of God/heaven. This is yet to happen. The resurrection of the righteous dead only happens at the second coming of Christ.
Day 27 January 27,2025 Matthew 5:14-16 KJV Being a Light West Angeles Church Consecration Calendar
I pray for boldness to reflect God's love and truth to others.
Matthew 5:14 KJV
My Interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY:
" Jesus Christ is life on earth how to live John 8:12 KJV
God's word la has to be done to all the world.
Matthew 5:15 KJV
My Interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY :
" To believe in Jesus Christ laws, rule amd rules to get what you want. To believe when you die you will go to heaven and not he'll. 1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV Romans 10:10 KJV
Jesus Christ is power and effectual. Example House of Prayer Luke 19:46 KJV. Candles lighted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I believe and God has done for me Ephesians 6:15 KJV giving me peace.
Offered your heart to God. God wants you to be married.
Words you say and believe to actions to be and get reality.
Ways you can be and get what you want-reality. are listen to God's voice amd word to obey, follow, "do it" in speaking , actions, attention of communications.
Example liked by God and preferred by Christian Church named titled disciple.
Disciple definition-Showing the holy bible as life.
Matthew 5:16 KJV
My Interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY:
" Light shine can also be the revelation of Jesus Christ given to youAlways performaning righteousness, holiness in actions "to do it" of God. To have faith, hope, love.". 1 John 1:2 KJV
I have working history of evangelism street outreach , open Leading Pulpit Prayer hour at Christian Church, Open Teaching Sunday School and Mid-Week bible study service showing Jesus Christ Is God written material inviting men Romans 10:9-10 KJV to all religions-Principle holy. Minister - John 1:14 and with accounting.
I understand many believe in the rapture, some say pre, mid, or post. In all three views, we are taken to heaven. I have not found any Scripture that explicitly states we are taken to heaven; it is an assumption, and it must be read where it is not written. I don't see the bride mentioned in the rapture doctrine; that's another discussion.
I see the coming of Jesus not as a secret event, but as one the world will witness. This is supported by Scripture: Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, and Revelation 19:11-16. This event occurs after the seventh angel sounds the last trumpet, Revelation 11:15. Then, we see the angel summoning the birds for the battle of Armageddon.
The ones in the first resurrection, Revelation 20:4-6, will be with Jesus during the battle, Revelation 17:12-14. Afterward, we observe the judgment of those in the first resurrection, Revelation 20:4.
A thought, over the past nearly 2000 years, believers in Christ, the body of Christ, the Church have faced beheading, burning at the stake, being placed on poles soaked in oil, lit as lamps along roads, among other horrible deaths. Why would the last of the Church be spared? We have been told we will face much tribulation, and if we endure, Matthew 24:9-13. The Great Tribulation and the wrath of God are not the same.
I hope you don't mind me asking just a few questions. I am trying to follow. I understand, as you have presented, the Church is raptured, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, and taken to heaven. You say, "Rightly dividing the scriptures and letting scripture interpret scripture". Where in these Scriptures does it say we are taken to heaven?
You say the rapture is before the seals, trumpets, and bowls; these three are the wrath of God. How does that agree with 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:52? Do you see the rapture as secret?
You say that after the rapture, the antichrist rises, and the 7-year tribulation starts, where only those not in the body of Christ and Israelites are left. How does that agree with 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, where Paul is comforting them not to worry that the coming of the Lord will not happen, before there is a falling away/apostasy, and the man of sin is revealed?
Will the Church/the body of Christ be in heaven or on earth during the 1000 years?
Is the great tribulation and the wrath of God the same thing?
Hello Cordellwbeesr, just to share with you my understanding of the relationship between God the Father and Jesus His Son. And to state, this is one of those impossible 'concepts' to understand, simply because we can only (and rightly) read and understand such things based on our ability with human limitatons. Many have tried to illustrate this 'strange' relationship using earthly imagery, such as using the three aspects of the sun or an egg, but even these fail to correctly show us the Truth of divine things.
What Jesus Himself declared to us should be strongly regarded; verses such as John 16:27,28 (Jesus came out from God - out from God's Being); John 17:5 (Jesus had all of God's Glory from the beginning); and John 1:1-14 (God took His Word and gave it flesh; and this was for the purpose of God's Love being shown in offering the perfect & only Sacrifice that could atone for our sins). And there are many other Scriptures that others have given you, which should show us that this Jesus was not just an ordinary human being born with human parents in sin, but was indeed the "second man, the Lord from Heaven" ( 1 Corinthians 15:47) and also called the "last Adam, a quickening (life-giving) spirit" ( 1 Corinthians 15:45).
Yes, Jesus came forth from the Person of God and given flesh for the purpose of being the only Sacrifice that could redeem us back to God. So how does Jesus have "free will" or even "prays to God". Remember, God gave His Word to be made human, so as a Human, Jesus encountered everything we have to face in life, and as a Human, the Glory He had ( John 17:5) had to be laid aside so that He could be like us, suffer and die (for God cannot die); see Philippians 2:5-11 (He was God's equal, He emptied Himself (Gk. kenosis) & took on humanity. Jesus now became God's Son in His Humanity, so He had free will and as a Son prayed to His Father. How can God pray to God, is often asked? These verses quoted should help you in knowing this Truth. GBU.
Brother Jesse has provided Scriptures to consider on this matter. I could offer Scriptures that would debate these points, but that would not answer your questions. This doctrine originated in 325 A.D. and was expanded over the next 150 years or so. You need to pray and study for your own conscience.
The majority support this doctrine, and some believe it is essential to be a Christian. Jesus is our Lord, and He gave His life to pay the penalty for sin so that we, through Him, can be reconciled to God. The wages of sin are death, Romans 6:23. Jesus' death on the cross paid this price.
Jesus had His own will, but was obedient and did the will of the Father, John 14:31, Luke 22:42, John 5:30, John 17:16, John 12:49.
The Chalcedonian Creed A.D. 451 states, "Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, in confusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of nature's being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved." Does Scripture support this?
God alone possesses immortality, 1 Timothy 6:16. Our faith rests on the death and resurrection of Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:12-17. God cannot die. Jesus was tempted in the same ways we are, Hebrews 4:14-16. God cannot be tempted, James 1:13.
The Bible will answer all questions we have if we are ready to receive the answer, Matthew 7:7, James 1:5, with prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit-not man.
Audience: Israel, under the covenants and promises.
Message: The long-promised kingdom, with Messiah reigning on David's throne, was "at hand."
Matthew 4:23 - "And Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom"
Matthew 10:5-7 - The Twelve were sent only to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" with this gospel.
Luke 22:29-30 - The apostles are promised to sit on twelve thrones judging Israel in that kingdom.
Acts 3:19-21 - Peter still offers the kingdom if Israel repents, showing this program was continuing post-cross.
This gospel was prophetic, rooted in promises made "since the world began" ( Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21).
2. The Gospel of the Grace of God (Paul's Gospel)
Audience: Jew and Gentile alike, apart from Israel's covenants.
Message: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for sins, offering free justification by faith.
Acts 20:24 - Paul calls it "the gospel of the grace of God."
Romans 16:25 - This gospel was "according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - The content: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul received it by direct revelation from Christ, not from the Twelve.
This gospel creates the Body of Christ ( 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 3:6), uniting Jew and Gentile in one new man.
3. Jews Responding to Both Programs
Some Jews believed Peter and the Eleven's message of the kingdom ( Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4). James writes to these scattered tribes ( James 1:1), exhorting them in kingdom-related works and endurance.
Other Jews believed Paul's gospel of grace and became part of the Body ( Rom. 11:13-14; 1 Cor. 9:20-22).
4. Dispensational Distinction
Kingdom Gospel = Israel's prophetic hope on earth.
Grace Gospel = Body of Christ's heavenly hope, revealed through Paul.
Both have Christ as center, but their scope and promises differ.
Revelation is difficult to discuss briefly, and I may have stumbled.
I tried to explain that Revelation isn't arranged in order like other books in the Bible, and I didn't do a good job. Jesus doesn't return until the seventh trumpet, the last trump, 1 Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 10:7.
I'm sorry, but I don't know much about Premillennialism, Amillennialism, or Postmillennialism. I haven't studied them, and I don't care for titles.
My understanding is that Jesus returns in Revelation 19:11-16, and the saints are resurrected, Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 20:4-6.
This is when the great tribulation ends, and God's wrath is poured out, Revelation 15:7, Revelation 16:1-17.
Next comes the battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19:17-21 which those in the first resurrection will participate, Revelation 17:14. Their Judgement is shown in Revelation 20:4. The beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire, and those who worshiped the beast and had the mark are either cast in then or during the white throne judgment, but their verdict was already given, Revelation 14:9-10.
Then the kingdom will be established, and there will be people left in the nations whom Satan, after he is released, will deceive.
The land of Israel will be restored, Ezekiel 11:17, Jeremiah 23:5-6, and members of the tribes of Israel that will be gathered from all the nations will inhabit that land during the 1000 years, Jeremiah 29:14. Other nations will, as seen in Zechariah 14:16-20, witness Jesus ruling with a rod of iron; there are other Scriptures about this time.
If you were to research this question online, you will find that the twinkling of an eye is often defined as occurring in about a billionth of a second, which is much faster than a blink or wink. In contrast, a typical blink lasts around 100 to 400 milliseconds.
I would say that the human eye cannot see anything that fast.
In 1 Corinthians 15:52, speaking of the rapture, it says, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. These are fascinating statements! In the Greek text, this word "moment" is ATOMA which is the word for atom. Here, in 1 Corinthians 15:52, Paul is describing the rapture of the church, and this gives us an indication on how fast this will happen.
Now, the twinkling of an eye is not the same as the blinking of an eye. We can actually see someone's eye blink. The twinkling of an eye is describing how fast the rapture will be. And the word moment (ATOMA) in this verse tells us that we can't even split the second that it's going to take for this to happen!
This verse also tells us that it's at the last trumpet. This is where some believe that the rapture will occur after the seventh trumpet blast in the book of Revelation. And that seventh trumpet blast introduces the Second Coming of Christ.
Again, and back in Revelation 1:7, we are told that every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him. So, at the Second Coming of Christ, everyone who is on this earth will see Him. This is taken from Zechariah 12:10.
So, every eye will see Christ at His Second Coming. But if the rapture takes place at the Second Coming of Christ, it would only be logical that all eyes will witness the rapture also. But how can this be when the rapture happens in a millisecond?
It makes sense that those who are on the earth will see Jesus coming back just the same as they saw Him ascending up because scripture gives us that. But how can anyone see something that happens in the "twinkling of an eye?"
No person with a naked eye can see a bullet travelling through the air after being fired from a gun. But even the speed of a bullet doesn't come anywhere close to the speed it talks about the rapture happening in 1 Corinthians 15:55. No human eye can see something happening so fast, one-billionth of a second.
So, the question would be, how can the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ happen together? Just a thought!
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10. Agreed, 2 Peter 3:10 speaks of the Day of the Lord coming unexpectedly with the major upheaval of the heavens and Earth, as does Paul, who possibly infers that there is a wider time frame or meaning regarding that Day ( 1 Corinthians 5:5 & 2 Corinthians 1:14). In any case, it involves all things associated with Jesus' Day of appearing. So here in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10, Paul iterates that that Day will come suddenly, thus it being a useless exercise to attempt placing it in a time frame, but as the Church is the children of God living in the light and not as those who live in darkness, that Day would not suddenly come upon them. Rather they should be comforted and fully clothed with the Spirit because God has not appointed them to His wrath (of verse 3) but to be saved from this through the Lord Jesus' (v9). If this saving from God's Wrath is to refer to His Wrath against man's sins, then there appears no reason for mentioning this in this context. His Wrath here is anger towards unbelievers at that time who will face His "sudden destruction". And to give further support to this meaning, we can look at 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul stating that the Church was "to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come".
Yes, Matthew chap 24 is about Jesus' Second Coming and particularly Matthew 24:29-31, that the powers of the heavens will be shaken, Jesus' appearing in the skies, the tribes of the earth mourning, and the gathering together of his Elect from all over the world. Some would assume that not only this scene is connected with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51,52, but also that the Elect referred to are all those in Christ. To Page 3.
Hi GiGi. In your post to bro. S. Spencer you asked concerning pre-tribulation Rapture, "If you or any other dispensationalist can give me Scriptural verses that explicitly, plainly, and directly say that Jesus will return twice, once for His church, and once more at the consummation of the age, I would appreciate that." Just starting a new thread on this as the other has become cumbersome.
I'd like to share with you some Scriptures that show to me that the Rapture of the Church is something distinct from Jesus' second Coming and it is the next thing to occur for Christ's Church. However, you asked for verses that explicitly communicate this, but as you have also found, there is no verse(s) that we know of that says something like, 'the following information is given to you in clear chronological order depicting the imminent return of Jesus Christ for His Church and then His coming again in judgement'. Not dissimilar to the old Trinity debate, where one asks to be convinced by showing him a verse where the Trinity is mentioned in the Bible. As we learn of the Triune God from many Scriptures that show His full revealed Nature without the word Trinity mentioned, so too we must bring in all the references that lead us to the belief of Christ's next appearance to the world.
For me, understanding this teaching must come, not from Darby or anyone else, but from the Word itself, from verses which I believe give support to those familiar passages found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (presenting a separate appearing of Christ for the Church as opposed to His second Coming to battle & then reign), and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (the mystery of the dead & living saints raised to an incorruptible state and very unlike Christ's second Coming to war and to reign, where this does not occur). Onto Page 2.
I agree that the Church, the Body of Christ, is not the bride; I do not agree that the bride metaphor is rooted in prophecy and tied to Israel. The New Jerusalem is the bride that is dressed in fine linen, pure and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints; Revelation 19:6-8. This is the city that Abraham looked for, Hebrews 11:8-10.
This bride, the New Jerusalem, will not descend until everything is fulfilled and all is made new. Revelation 21:1-3. Then, the marriage and the feast will mark the beginning of our eternity on the new earth with God and Jesus.
Revelation 19:7-9: Let us be glad, rejoice, and honor Him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he saith unto me, "These are the true sayings of God."
I also disagree with the teaching of the catching away or the rapture as being carried to heaven. You mention 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, but where does it say we are taken to heaven? This passage describes Jesus returning to earth at the last trump, Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, and Revelation 19:11-16.
Satan's schemes: Approval of men; retention of friends and "confidantes"
Continuing on this idea of the "confidante" we have a whole slew of sin and errors that we can embrace when given advice from family or long time friends in which we take to heart rather than searching the Scriptures on such matters. This; sadly had some influence on the demise of my own marriage when certain individuals divorced from their spouse themselves quite often supported my wife's decision to seek what she wanted over God's will for her life. Let us not assume for a moment this will not come from the church; gossip is a serious sin. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says that bad company corrupts good morals. I can attest this is true.
Women in particular need to grasp this; not to say men don't try to affirm their actions as well but women take to heart life altering decisions it seems more easily. Men usually if they go astray like to boast of their conquests; something no doubt also very repulsive; but they aren't necessarily as influenced; for instance to commit infidelity. That's how I see it anyway; I'm sure it happens though.
This friendship issue between men and women in church of course can lead to inappropriate crossings of boundaries if we aren't careful. Here I am focusing on discussions as something as serious as infidelity doesn't start off suddenly; for in that case if someone has impulsive behavior they may be just as quick as David did to repent. It doesn't excuse it but the focus here is how things start off in the process leading to bigger sins later.
A study of death and the proper approach to this subject.
Death is an enemy ( 1 Corinthians 15:26); but God aso states that He is the God of the living not the dead ( Matthew 22:32).
We read in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
It may seem like overstating the obvious here; but death for a believer; TRULY BORN AGAIN is a victory while for the unsaved is anything but. It may be true at funerals that relatives claim that their loved one is with the Lord; but for someone who is clearly saved should have a more demonstrative rejoicing in that regard than the world in their feigned attempt to convince everyone of the same fact when it is likely the person is suffering in hades.
I state this after seeing a reaction at a funeral for someone in our church the other week; apparently someone there was very uncomfortable hearing scriptures related to where we go as a believer after death. This is probably why many dumb down what should in reality be an atmosphere of joy. I am not saying that grief shouldn't occur but as Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
(Whew thought I lost all this work)...
All this discussion at the funeral led to this particular concept of sleep; but our Pastor does NOT believe in "soul sleep". We certainly rest from our works and for a while in His presence ( Rev. 6:11)
Paul is the only apostle who gives detailed revelation about the rapture-the catching away of the Body of Christ-a doctrine unique to his epistles and part of the "mystery" revealed to him by the risen Christ ( Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:1-9; 1 Corinthians 15:51). Here are the key passages and what Paul says:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - The Classic Rapture Passage
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air..."
(vv. 16-17, KJV)
Paul describes:
A resurrection of dead believers.
A snatching away (Greek: harpazo, Latin: rapturo) of the living believers.
A meeting in the air-not Christ coming to Earth (contrast with Second Coming).
A comforting hope unique to the Body of Christ (v. 18).
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 - A Mystery Revealed
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed... in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye"
Paul explains:
This was previously hidden-a mystery not found in prophecy.
There will be a transformation of living saints.
The event is instantaneous and involves receiving glorified bodies.
Philippians 3:20-21 - Our Heavenly Hope
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour... Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body"
Paul emphasizes:
Our hope is not earthly (kingdom), but heavenly.
Christ will give believers a glorified body like His own.
Summary:
Paul teaches that the rapture is a mystery revealed only to him for the Body of Christ. It is a pre-judgment event ( 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9), sudden, and distinct from Christ's return to Earth in judgment (as in Matthew 24 or Revelation). This catching away is the blessed hope ( Titus 2:13) for those saved by grace through faith apart from the Law ( Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Perhaps you will find what you're looking for in 1 Corinthians 15:35-54.
Paul discusses the great differences between our earthly bodies and our resurrected bodies.
God bless
I have been doing a deep dive into some secular music that is in the old progressive rock and sadly one or two of these groups directly mention pagan gods in their music. This is something I will have to monitor carefully; as some songs seem not to have any elements of this; and of course individuals in bands and music styles change over time. I could use prayer of wisdom as I am learning guitar and have a musical ear; and wish to honor the Lord but not get caught in the trap of hypnotic trance and other oppressive elements of certain music. This is even possible with certain classical music but much of it of the Baroque artists gives glory to God.
We all are led astray when following our own flesh and its natural desires. As with anything else; Satan can tempt us and not only may but WILL fool ALL unregenerate men who will be following the pied piper to eventually fight against Christ at Armageddon even after hiding from Him in the sixth seal knnowing what they've don no doubt.
We need to guard as much in our individual lives as we do with those we associate with. According to 1 Timothy 6:7-8
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Obsessing over our material gains and creature comforts isn't healthy for us. Again; it is a balance with my coin collecting as I have been able to work meticulously with purchasing under cost but I don't plan to invest beyond a certain limit and not at the expense of opportunities to serve the Lord through service; witnessing; etc. This is why I don't hold onto too much and sell frequently (also I don't want too much at home if something gets stolen).
Job also said that the Lord gives and takes away (someone in college told me that).
Agape; RP
So, these references could show that whether soil & dust is referred to, it must also include other substances and elements that comprise the earth, of which ash forms a part (as ash doesn't remain in that form for very long - it will integrate with the soil in which it is mixed). As much as a biblical pattern of dealing with the deceased is most preferable, it must be admitted that quite often that is not always possible, whether because of personal choice or constraints, or through dealings by others or beasts coming against the unfortunate. None of this should prevent the righteous soul from sharing in the resurrection, for not one of the Shepherd's sheep will be lost. GBU.
"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."
Paul declares that God will judge all men by Jesus Christ according to the revelation he preached, showing the authority and finality of his message.
2. Romans 16:25
"Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
Here Paul links his gospel with the revelation of the mystery, truth previously hidden but now made known through him ( Ephesians 3:1-9).
3. 2 Timothy 2:8
"Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel."
This emphasizes Christ's resurrection as the central truth of Paul's gospel - salvation apart from the law, received by grace through faith ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Summary:
These three verses - Romans 2:16, Romans 16:25, and 2 Timothy 2:8 - are the only explicit references where Paul calls it "my gospel" in the Bible.
They collectively highlight:
Judgment by Christ through Paul's message ( Rom 2:16).
The revelation of the hidden mystery ( Rom 16:25).
The risen Christ as its foundation ( 2 Tim 2:8).
I assume you mean Jehovah's Witnesses when you said JW's, but I assure you I am not. I understand many believe in the rapture of the Church, but I do not. I can't say that it's wrong; that would just lead to debate. We can share our understanding in hopes of inspiring each other to seek the truth.
Revelation is filled with images and visions given to John. In my understanding, if we look at Revelation 7, where people from the tribes of Israel and all nations that cannot be numbered are described, verses 14-17 refer to a time after everything is over, when God wipes away all our tears.
This is similar to what we see in Matthew 17 when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the mountain, where they saw Jesus' transfiguration. Jesus said it was a vision in verse 9. My understanding is that it was a vision because if Moses and Elijah were really there, Jesus would not be called the Firstfruits of those who slept, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:20.
Looking at 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 it discusses the Lord's coming and the first resurrection. Paul also touches on this in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3. This coming is announced with a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God, as seen in Revelation 11.
In my view, in none of the verses regarding Jesus' second coming does it say He will carry the saints of the first resurrection back to heaven. My understanding is that all who are Christ's, when He returns, will be gathered to meet Him as He descends to earth, as described in Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:52, at the last trump, and Revelation 11:15-18. We will reign with Him on earth, Revelation 5:10.
There are only two resurrections of the dead in Scripture: the first, in Revelation 20:4-6, and the second, in Revelation 20:11-15. My understanding is that Jesus does not return to heaven after He comes back; if He does, that would mean three resurrections.
God bless,
RLW
Paul's command (not a request) in 2 Timothy 2:15 - "rightly dividing the word of truth" - makes no sense if there is nothing to divide.
The Greek word translated "rightly divide" means to "cut straight" or "make a correct partition." Paul is instructing Timothy (and us) to handle God's Word carefully, recognizing distinctions God Himself has placed in it. The Bible is one unified revelation, but within it God deals with different people in different ways at different times (dispensations). For example:
Law vs. Grace: God gave Israel the Law through Moses ( Exodus 20), but through Paul He revealed salvation by grace apart from the Law ( Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16). If we blur these, we end up mixing works with grace.
Israel vs. the Church: Israel was promised an earthly kingdom ( Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 19:28), while the Body of Christ has a heavenly calling ( Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 3:20). If we confuse these, we misapply promises and commands not meant for us.
Gospel of the Kingdom vs. Gospel of Grace: (yes, there is more than one Gospel in the NT) Jesus and the 12 preached "the gospel of the kingdom" to Israel ( Matthew 4:23; Galatians 2:7-9), while Paul was given "the gospel of the grace of God" ( Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Both are true, but they serve different purposes in God's plan.
So Paul's point is: don't blend everything together as if it all applies in the same way to everyone. To "rightly divide" is to discern God's progressive revelation - prophecy vs. mystery, Israel's promises vs. the Church's hope, law vs. grace. If you don't divide, you end up in contradictions and confusion.
G&P
However, the progressive revelation and the unique stewardship was given to Paul. Paul refers to "my gospel" ( Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8) and "the revelation of the mystery" hidden from ages past but now revealed ( Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:25-27). This mystery concerns the formation of the Body of Christ, composed of both Jew and Gentile without distinction, saved by grace through faith apart from works of the Law ( Ephesians 2:8-9). This was not the focus of Peter's message at Pentecost, where the emphasis was still the kingdom offer to Israel ( Acts 2-3), tied to repentance, baptism, and awaiting the promised restoration.
James, writing to the twelve tribes ( James 1:1), indeed addressed believing Jews struggling to live out their faith amid trial. His emphasis on works demonstrated the reality of faith within Israel's kingdom program. Paul, by contrast, ministered to Gentiles under the dispensation of grace, emphasizing justification apart from works ( Romans 3:28). The apparent tension between James 2 and Paul's letters resolves when we rightly divide the Word ( 2 Timothy 2:15), understanding different audiences and dispensational contexts.
see pg2
I write with deep concern because God's Word makes it plain that without rightly dividing the word of truth ( 2 Timothy 2:15), one cannot come to a clear and saving knowledge of Christ in this present dispensation of grace. Right division is not an optional study method; it is God's command for how His Word is to be understood. Failure to make the distinction between Israel's prophetic program and the mystery revealed to Paul for the Body of Christ leads only to confusion, and confusion in the gospel is eternally dangerous.
Paul makes a bold statement in Galatians 1:11-12, declaring that the gospel he preached was "not after man," but received by direct revelation of Jesus Christ. This message, summarized in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. This alone is the gospel of salvation today. Yet if we blend this with Israel's gospel of the kingdom, which involved repentance, water baptism, and looking for the Messiah's earthly reign, we pervert the truth and trust in a message God is not offering in this age.
Paul warned soberly that any who preach another gospel are accursed ( Galatians 1:8-9). That is why right division is vital-it protects us from confusing law with grace, earthly promises with heavenly, and faith plus works with faith alone in Christ's finished work. God has only one gospel today, the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24). To miss this truth, or to mix it with another program, is to miss salvation itself.
I urge all to believe the message Christ gave to Paul for us. Trust completely in His finished work on the cross, apart from anything you can add. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works ( Ephesians 2:8-9). Without rightly dividing, the gospel becomes distorted, and distorted truth cannot save.
In Christ's grace...
I appreciate your careful observations about James and the Law, but from a dispensational perspective we must carefully note both his audience and his program. James 1:1 makes it clear that his epistle is written "to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad." That identifies his readership as Israel, not the Body of Christ. Paul confirms this distinction in Galatians 2:9, where James, Peter, and John agreed to minister to "the circumcision," while Paul was sent to the Gentiles. This is a vital dispensational boundary marker.
You are right that James uses the Law to show the seriousness of sin and the impossibility of keeping it perfectly. Yet his emphasis on "works" still reflects Israel's prophetic, kingdom program, where faith and obedience were tied together under covenant expectations. For example, Jesus in Matthew 5-7 taught that righteousness for Israel's kingdom hope must be lived out, not just professed. James echoes that when he insists that faith without works is dead ( James 2:20). These "works" were not simply the fruit of faith in the Pauline sense, but the evidences of a faith that endured under trial and proved covenant loyalty.
Paul, on the other hand, reveals the mystery program where justification is by grace alone through faith alone apart from works ( Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-10). For the Body of Christ, works follow salvation as fruit, not as a condition of proving faith for covenant standing. James does not lay out the finished cross-work as the sole basis of justification the way Paul does in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, because his focus is not on the revelation of the mystery but on exhorting Israel's believing remnant to live consistently with their kingdom calling.
Thus, while James highlights the vitality of true faith, dispensationally we must recognize he writes within Israel's program, not Paul's. Both are inspired, but they address distinct audiences under different dispensations-how anyone misses this is beyond me.
G&P
The Word of God is clear, as you shared from it, that we are truly forgiven of past and present sins, with Jesus' Blood availing to cover future sins as well. The verse you shared ( Hebrews 10:12) impressed me. Actually, going back a couple of verses, we read, "By the which will (i.e. Jesus' Will to proceed to the Cross) we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" ( Hebrews 10:10-12).
The comparison is given here: that of the continual monotonous offering of sacrifices by the high priest which could do no more than stay the Wrath of God from a sinful obstinate people; compared to the Sacrifice of His only Begotten Son Whose sacrifice was not only perfect and sufficient to deal with the sin that separates us from God, but that there was no need for any further form of redemptive work & recovery that could possibly add to it or be any better. In demonstration of God accepting such a Sacrifice, He raised His Son from the dead thus justifying those who are trusting Him for salvation ( Romans 4:24,25; 1 Corinthians 15:17), declaring us 'no longer guilty' nor worthy of eternal punishment. Onto Page 2.
Thank you. I agree, it is interesting, and some topics may never reveal the full truth. As Paul said, with milk and meat, we may not be ready to understand everything, 1 Corinthians 3:2. We share our understanding out of respect for each other, hoping to inspire prayer and study for the truth.
Can we understand Enoch being translated so he wouldn't see death? How does this fit with Romans 5:12, which says death passed upon all men because all have sinned; Romans 5:14, which states death reigned from Adam to Moses; and Hebrews 9:27, which says it is appointed unto men once to die?
Then there's Jesus saying in John 3:13, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven." I have my thoughts, but I keep them in my head. There are things God has not revealed, and we must accept this, as in Deuteronomy 29:29.
2 Corinthians 5:9, like Enoch, teaches us that it is by faith we must live, regardless of what we see. Paul confidently states that he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord. When are we absent from this body? Many believe it's when this body dies, but I feel this idea is influenced by Greek philosophy about the immortal soul.
To me, Scripture, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, says we are raised, not descending; it says we are changed, not rejoined. It says we are mortal and will put on immortality, that's something we did not have before. When we are resurrected, we put on immortality. This is our victory over death and the grave, given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I agree, we are to be overcomers. Revelation 3:5, Jesus said, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
God bless,
RLW
Thanks for your reply. I understand many see this as comfort, similar to what you hear at a funeral when the preacher says Bob is with Jesus in heaven. Am I going to tell that loved one No, he is not? NO, but what is the actual truth?
Ecclesiastes 9:5, if we die, we know nothing. Psalms 115:17 I believe that if our spirit were alive in heaven, we would be praising the LORD. Our only hope of eternal life is in Jesus; this comes when we are resurrected, not before, 1 Corinthians 15:52-54.
Not to drag this out, I will say, if we all have an immortal spirit, there is no death and no true gift of eternal life because we already possess it. John 3:15, John 10:28, Romans 2:7, Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25. This is our promise. The others receive death; they will perish, John 3:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 2 Peter 2:12. The word perish is to destroy fully, permanent, absolute destruction. Revelation 21:8 their part, their punishment, and death will fit their sins, not burn for eternity.
Death is not a separation, as Greek philosophy puts it, which has influenced today's understanding.
Thanks again, brother,
God bless,
RLW
Just something to consider about your post on what Paul was teaching, "deceased believers were already in Heaven and that at His Coming, Jesus would bring them with Him and their bodies buried in the earth would join with their spirits. So, the believers should be assured that God had not forgotten those who were in their graves at His Coming, since they were very much alive with Him & together would join with those living believers on Earth".
I would ask, are we mortal beings or immortal beings? Saying that believers are in heaven and very much alive is saying we are eternal beings, or that our spirit or soul is immortal. If we look at Ecclesiastes 12:7, this applies to all of mankind, whether they are believers or the evilest person who has ever lived. All spirits return to God.
James 2:26 says, "the body without the spirit is dead". Adam was not a living soul/being until God breathed into him the breath of life, Genesis 2:7. This is the spirit of life that God gives to all living, and the part of us that God communicates with us, Proverbs 20:27, 2 Corinthians 2:13, and when we die, there is no more communication; we wait for resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54, Paul clearly says we are mortal; it is we who are resurrected, not our bodies, our bodies return to dust.
Some use 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 as saying it means when we die, we are absent from the body and present with the Lord. The question we should ask is when we will be absent from this body. If we are open, the Scriptures tell us that it is when we are resurrected, that happens when Jesus returns, we will be gathered unto Jesus here on earth, and we shall ever be with our Lord. We meet Him in the air, welcoming Him back. The Greek word translated meet is apantesis, meaning a going-out to greet an arriving, emphasizing their importance, stressing welcome, honor, and accompaniment.
Thanks, brother,
God bless,
RLW
I agree, when Jesus returns, it will not be a secret, as all the Scriptures proclaim, it will be with the sound of the trumpet, the last trumpet, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Revelation 11:15. As you said, every eye shall see Him coming in the clouds, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-16.
The resurrection of the righteous, which is the first resurrection, will happen at Christ's return, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:4-6. Scripture does not say Jesus goes back to heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul is comforting them that those who are asleep/dead in Christ would not be left out of the return of Christ and the resurrection. Nowhere in these verses does it say we are taken to heaven.
If we read and study Scriptures with preconceived assumptions, it fogs the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 is about the return of Jesus and our gathering together unto Him on earth, at His coming. It says do not let man deceive you because Jesus will not return until two things happen. The falling away/apostasy, and the man of sin is revealed.
Revelation 19:20 is where the beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. In Revelation 17:14, they are the ones in the first resurrection who are in the battle of Armageddon with Jesus, and in Revelation 20:4 are the ones in the first resurrection who are being judged at the judgment seat of Christ, here on earth.
God bless,
RLW
Part 2
How much time does Scripture give the beast? In Revelation 13, the beast, whom people call the antichrist, from the time he rises, he is only given 3.5 years, not 7 years, Revelation 13:5. This is after the war in heaven where Michael and his angels overcome and cast Satan and his angels down to earth, this is when the restraints are lifted, not the removal of the Church.
The beast is only given 42 months, which is 3.5 years, to make war against the saints and to overcome them, Revelation 13:7. If the church is removed, whom will he make war against? The resurrection of the dead is divided into two:
The resurrection of the righteous, which is the first resurrection and will happen at Christ's return, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:4-6.
Resurrection for the rest of the dead, which is the second resurrection, and will happen after the 1000 years of Christ's reign, Revelation 20:7-15.
The ones in the first resurrection will reign with Christ, where, Daniel 7:27, 2 Timothy 2:12 Revelation 20:6, Revelation 5:9-10. When Jesus returns, He does not go back to heaven.
We see in Revelation 20:4 thrones, and judgment was given to those in the first resurrection. This is on earth, and we see those who were beheaded and did not take the mark or worship the beast, and these lived and reigned with Christ on earth for the 1000 years.
last trumpet is the seventh trumpet, the same trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Jesus is coming to establish His kingdom on this earth.
It should be understood that the Bible clearly states that there are two comings of Jesus.
He came to die for the sins of mankind: this has been fulfilled.
Second Coming: coming to establish the kingdom of God/heaven. This is yet to happen. The resurrection of the righteous dead only happens at the second coming of Christ.
See part 3.
I pray for boldness to reflect God's love and truth to others.
Matthew 5:14 KJV
My Interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY:
" Jesus Christ is life on earth how to live John 8:12 KJV
God's word la has to be done to all the world.
Matthew 5:15 KJV
My Interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY :
" To believe in Jesus Christ laws, rule amd rules to get what you want. To believe when you die you will go to heaven and not he'll. 1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV Romans 10:10 KJV
Jesus Christ is power and effectual. Example House of Prayer Luke 19:46 KJV. Candles lighted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I believe and God has done for me Ephesians 6:15 KJV giving me peace.
Offered your heart to God. God wants you to be married.
Words you say and believe to actions to be and get reality.
Ways you can be and get what you want-reality. are listen to God's voice amd word to obey, follow, "do it" in speaking , actions, attention of communications.
Example liked by God and preferred by Christian Church named titled disciple.
Disciple definition-Showing the holy bible as life.
Matthew 5:16 KJV
My Interpetation REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY:
" Light shine can also be the revelation of Jesus Christ given to youAlways performaning righteousness, holiness in actions "to do it" of God. To have faith, hope, love.". 1 John 1:2 KJV
I have working history of evangelism street outreach , open Leading Pulpit Prayer hour at Christian Church, Open Teaching Sunday School and Mid-Week bible study service showing Jesus Christ Is God written material inviting men Romans 10:9-10 KJV to all religions-Principle holy. Minister - John 1:14 and with accounting.
Word Spoken and Written by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
Thank you, this is my understanding.
I understand many believe in the rapture, some say pre, mid, or post. In all three views, we are taken to heaven. I have not found any Scripture that explicitly states we are taken to heaven; it is an assumption, and it must be read where it is not written. I don't see the bride mentioned in the rapture doctrine; that's another discussion.
I see the coming of Jesus not as a secret event, but as one the world will witness. This is supported by Scripture: Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, and Revelation 19:11-16. This event occurs after the seventh angel sounds the last trumpet, Revelation 11:15. Then, we see the angel summoning the birds for the battle of Armageddon.
The ones in the first resurrection, Revelation 20:4-6, will be with Jesus during the battle, Revelation 17:12-14. Afterward, we observe the judgment of those in the first resurrection, Revelation 20:4.
A thought, over the past nearly 2000 years, believers in Christ, the body of Christ, the Church have faced beheading, burning at the stake, being placed on poles soaked in oil, lit as lamps along roads, among other horrible deaths. Why would the last of the Church be spared? We have been told we will face much tribulation, and if we endure, Matthew 24:9-13. The Great Tribulation and the wrath of God are not the same.
God bless,
RLW
I hope you don't mind me asking just a few questions. I am trying to follow. I understand, as you have presented, the Church is raptured, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, and taken to heaven. You say, "Rightly dividing the scriptures and letting scripture interpret scripture". Where in these Scriptures does it say we are taken to heaven?
You say the rapture is before the seals, trumpets, and bowls; these three are the wrath of God. How does that agree with 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:52? Do you see the rapture as secret?
You say that after the rapture, the antichrist rises, and the 7-year tribulation starts, where only those not in the body of Christ and Israelites are left. How does that agree with 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, where Paul is comforting them not to worry that the coming of the Lord will not happen, before there is a falling away/apostasy, and the man of sin is revealed?
Will the Church/the body of Christ be in heaven or on earth during the 1000 years?
Is the great tribulation and the wrath of God the same thing?
Thank you, I hope I have quoted you correctly.
God bless,
RLW
What Jesus Himself declared to us should be strongly regarded; verses such as John 16:27,28 (Jesus came out from God - out from God's Being); John 17:5 (Jesus had all of God's Glory from the beginning); and John 1:1-14 (God took His Word and gave it flesh; and this was for the purpose of God's Love being shown in offering the perfect & only Sacrifice that could atone for our sins). And there are many other Scriptures that others have given you, which should show us that this Jesus was not just an ordinary human being born with human parents in sin, but was indeed the "second man, the Lord from Heaven" ( 1 Corinthians 15:47) and also called the "last Adam, a quickening (life-giving) spirit" ( 1 Corinthians 15:45).
Yes, Jesus came forth from the Person of God and given flesh for the purpose of being the only Sacrifice that could redeem us back to God. So how does Jesus have "free will" or even "prays to God". Remember, God gave His Word to be made human, so as a Human, Jesus encountered everything we have to face in life, and as a Human, the Glory He had ( John 17:5) had to be laid aside so that He could be like us, suffer and die (for God cannot die); see Philippians 2:5-11 (He was God's equal, He emptied Himself (Gk. kenosis) & took on humanity. Jesus now became God's Son in His Humanity, so He had free will and as a Son prayed to His Father. How can God pray to God, is often asked? These verses quoted should help you in knowing this Truth. GBU.
Brother Jesse has provided Scriptures to consider on this matter. I could offer Scriptures that would debate these points, but that would not answer your questions. This doctrine originated in 325 A.D. and was expanded over the next 150 years or so. You need to pray and study for your own conscience.
The majority support this doctrine, and some believe it is essential to be a Christian. Jesus is our Lord, and He gave His life to pay the penalty for sin so that we, through Him, can be reconciled to God. The wages of sin are death, Romans 6:23. Jesus' death on the cross paid this price.
Jesus had His own will, but was obedient and did the will of the Father, John 14:31, Luke 22:42, John 5:30, John 17:16, John 12:49.
The Chalcedonian Creed A.D. 451 states, "Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, in confusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of nature's being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved." Does Scripture support this?
God alone possesses immortality, 1 Timothy 6:16. Our faith rests on the death and resurrection of Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:12-17. God cannot die. Jesus was tempted in the same ways we are, Hebrews 4:14-16. God cannot be tempted, James 1:13.
The Bible will answer all questions we have if we are ready to receive the answer, Matthew 7:7, James 1:5, with prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit-not man.
God bless your study,
RLW
Here's a more detailed breakdown for you.
. The Gospel of the Kingdom
Audience: Israel, under the covenants and promises.
Message: The long-promised kingdom, with Messiah reigning on David's throne, was "at hand."
Matthew 4:23 - "And Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom"
Matthew 10:5-7 - The Twelve were sent only to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" with this gospel.
Luke 22:29-30 - The apostles are promised to sit on twelve thrones judging Israel in that kingdom.
Acts 3:19-21 - Peter still offers the kingdom if Israel repents, showing this program was continuing post-cross.
This gospel was prophetic, rooted in promises made "since the world began" ( Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21).
2. The Gospel of the Grace of God (Paul's Gospel)
Audience: Jew and Gentile alike, apart from Israel's covenants.
Message: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for sins, offering free justification by faith.
Acts 20:24 - Paul calls it "the gospel of the grace of God."
Romans 16:25 - This gospel was "according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - The content: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul received it by direct revelation from Christ, not from the Twelve.
This gospel creates the Body of Christ ( 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 3:6), uniting Jew and Gentile in one new man.
3. Jews Responding to Both Programs
Some Jews believed Peter and the Eleven's message of the kingdom ( Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4). James writes to these scattered tribes ( James 1:1), exhorting them in kingdom-related works and endurance.
Other Jews believed Paul's gospel of grace and became part of the Body ( Rom. 11:13-14; 1 Cor. 9:20-22).
4. Dispensational Distinction
Kingdom Gospel = Israel's prophetic hope on earth.
Grace Gospel = Body of Christ's heavenly hope, revealed through Paul.
Both have Christ as center, but their scope and promises differ.
see pg2
Revelation is difficult to discuss briefly, and I may have stumbled.
I tried to explain that Revelation isn't arranged in order like other books in the Bible, and I didn't do a good job. Jesus doesn't return until the seventh trumpet, the last trump, 1 Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 10:7.
I'm sorry, but I don't know much about Premillennialism, Amillennialism, or Postmillennialism. I haven't studied them, and I don't care for titles.
My understanding is that Jesus returns in Revelation 19:11-16, and the saints are resurrected, Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 20:4-6.
This is when the great tribulation ends, and God's wrath is poured out, Revelation 15:7, Revelation 16:1-17.
Next comes the battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19:17-21 which those in the first resurrection will participate, Revelation 17:14. Their Judgement is shown in Revelation 20:4. The beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire, and those who worshiped the beast and had the mark are either cast in then or during the white throne judgment, but their verdict was already given, Revelation 14:9-10.
Then the kingdom will be established, and there will be people left in the nations whom Satan, after he is released, will deceive.
The land of Israel will be restored, Ezekiel 11:17, Jeremiah 23:5-6, and members of the tribes of Israel that will be gathered from all the nations will inhabit that land during the 1000 years, Jeremiah 29:14. Other nations will, as seen in Zechariah 14:16-20, witness Jesus ruling with a rod of iron; there are other Scriptures about this time.
I hope this makes things clearer.
God bless,
RLW
(Part 1):
If you were to research this question online, you will find that the twinkling of an eye is often defined as occurring in about a billionth of a second, which is much faster than a blink or wink. In contrast, a typical blink lasts around 100 to 400 milliseconds.
I would say that the human eye cannot see anything that fast.
In 1 Corinthians 15:52, speaking of the rapture, it says, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. These are fascinating statements! In the Greek text, this word "moment" is ATOMA which is the word for atom. Here, in 1 Corinthians 15:52, Paul is describing the rapture of the church, and this gives us an indication on how fast this will happen.
Now, the twinkling of an eye is not the same as the blinking of an eye. We can actually see someone's eye blink. The twinkling of an eye is describing how fast the rapture will be. And the word moment (ATOMA) in this verse tells us that we can't even split the second that it's going to take for this to happen!
This verse also tells us that it's at the last trumpet. This is where some believe that the rapture will occur after the seventh trumpet blast in the book of Revelation. And that seventh trumpet blast introduces the Second Coming of Christ.
(Part 4):
Again, and back in Revelation 1:7, we are told that every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him. So, at the Second Coming of Christ, everyone who is on this earth will see Him. This is taken from Zechariah 12:10.
So, every eye will see Christ at His Second Coming. But if the rapture takes place at the Second Coming of Christ, it would only be logical that all eyes will witness the rapture also. But how can this be when the rapture happens in a millisecond?
It makes sense that those who are on the earth will see Jesus coming back just the same as they saw Him ascending up because scripture gives us that. But how can anyone see something that happens in the "twinkling of an eye?"
No person with a naked eye can see a bullet travelling through the air after being fired from a gun. But even the speed of a bullet doesn't come anywhere close to the speed it talks about the rapture happening in 1 Corinthians 15:55. No human eye can see something happening so fast, one-billionth of a second.
So, the question would be, how can the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ happen together? Just a thought!
Blessings to you all in Christ!
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10. Agreed, 2 Peter 3:10 speaks of the Day of the Lord coming unexpectedly with the major upheaval of the heavens and Earth, as does Paul, who possibly infers that there is a wider time frame or meaning regarding that Day ( 1 Corinthians 5:5 & 2 Corinthians 1:14). In any case, it involves all things associated with Jesus' Day of appearing. So here in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10, Paul iterates that that Day will come suddenly, thus it being a useless exercise to attempt placing it in a time frame, but as the Church is the children of God living in the light and not as those who live in darkness, that Day would not suddenly come upon them. Rather they should be comforted and fully clothed with the Spirit because God has not appointed them to His wrath (of verse 3) but to be saved from this through the Lord Jesus' (v9). If this saving from God's Wrath is to refer to His Wrath against man's sins, then there appears no reason for mentioning this in this context. His Wrath here is anger towards unbelievers at that time who will face His "sudden destruction". And to give further support to this meaning, we can look at 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul stating that the Church was "to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come".
Yes, Matthew chap 24 is about Jesus' Second Coming and particularly Matthew 24:29-31, that the powers of the heavens will be shaken, Jesus' appearing in the skies, the tribes of the earth mourning, and the gathering together of his Elect from all over the world. Some would assume that not only this scene is connected with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51,52, but also that the Elect referred to are all those in Christ. To Page 3.
I'd like to share with you some Scriptures that show to me that the Rapture of the Church is something distinct from Jesus' second Coming and it is the next thing to occur for Christ's Church. However, you asked for verses that explicitly communicate this, but as you have also found, there is no verse(s) that we know of that says something like, 'the following information is given to you in clear chronological order depicting the imminent return of Jesus Christ for His Church and then His coming again in judgement'. Not dissimilar to the old Trinity debate, where one asks to be convinced by showing him a verse where the Trinity is mentioned in the Bible. As we learn of the Triune God from many Scriptures that show His full revealed Nature without the word Trinity mentioned, so too we must bring in all the references that lead us to the belief of Christ's next appearance to the world.
For me, understanding this teaching must come, not from Darby or anyone else, but from the Word itself, from verses which I believe give support to those familiar passages found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (presenting a separate appearing of Christ for the Church as opposed to His second Coming to battle & then reign), and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (the mystery of the dead & living saints raised to an incorruptible state and very unlike Christ's second Coming to war and to reign, where this does not occur). Onto Page 2.
I agree that the Church, the Body of Christ, is not the bride; I do not agree that the bride metaphor is rooted in prophecy and tied to Israel. The New Jerusalem is the bride that is dressed in fine linen, pure and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints; Revelation 19:6-8. This is the city that Abraham looked for, Hebrews 11:8-10.
This bride, the New Jerusalem, will not descend until everything is fulfilled and all is made new. Revelation 21:1-3. Then, the marriage and the feast will mark the beginning of our eternity on the new earth with God and Jesus.
Revelation 19:7-9: Let us be glad, rejoice, and honor Him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he saith unto me, "These are the true sayings of God."
I also disagree with the teaching of the catching away or the rapture as being carried to heaven. You mention 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, but where does it say we are taken to heaven? This passage describes Jesus returning to earth at the last trump, Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, and Revelation 19:11-16.
God bless,
RLW
Continuing on this idea of the "confidante" we have a whole slew of sin and errors that we can embrace when given advice from family or long time friends in which we take to heart rather than searching the Scriptures on such matters. This; sadly had some influence on the demise of my own marriage when certain individuals divorced from their spouse themselves quite often supported my wife's decision to seek what she wanted over God's will for her life. Let us not assume for a moment this will not come from the church; gossip is a serious sin. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says that bad company corrupts good morals. I can attest this is true.
Women in particular need to grasp this; not to say men don't try to affirm their actions as well but women take to heart life altering decisions it seems more easily. Men usually if they go astray like to boast of their conquests; something no doubt also very repulsive; but they aren't necessarily as influenced; for instance to commit infidelity. That's how I see it anyway; I'm sure it happens though.
This friendship issue between men and women in church of course can lead to inappropriate crossings of boundaries if we aren't careful. Here I am focusing on discussions as something as serious as infidelity doesn't start off suddenly; for in that case if someone has impulsive behavior they may be just as quick as David did to repent. It doesn't excuse it but the focus here is how things start off in the process leading to bigger sins later.
Death is an enemy ( 1 Corinthians 15:26); but God aso states that He is the God of the living not the dead ( Matthew 22:32).
We read in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
It may seem like overstating the obvious here; but death for a believer; TRULY BORN AGAIN is a victory while for the unsaved is anything but. It may be true at funerals that relatives claim that their loved one is with the Lord; but for someone who is clearly saved should have a more demonstrative rejoicing in that regard than the world in their feigned attempt to convince everyone of the same fact when it is likely the person is suffering in hades.
I state this after seeing a reaction at a funeral for someone in our church the other week; apparently someone there was very uncomfortable hearing scriptures related to where we go as a believer after death. This is probably why many dumb down what should in reality be an atmosphere of joy. I am not saying that grief shouldn't occur but as Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
(Whew thought I lost all this work)...
All this discussion at the funeral led to this particular concept of sleep; but our Pastor does NOT believe in "soul sleep". We certainly rest from our works and for a while in His presence ( Rev. 6:11)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - The Classic Rapture Passage
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air..."
(vv. 16-17, KJV)
Paul describes:
A resurrection of dead believers.
A snatching away (Greek: harpazo, Latin: rapturo) of the living believers.
A meeting in the air-not Christ coming to Earth (contrast with Second Coming).
A comforting hope unique to the Body of Christ (v. 18).
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 - A Mystery Revealed
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed... in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye"
Paul explains:
This was previously hidden-a mystery not found in prophecy.
There will be a transformation of living saints.
The event is instantaneous and involves receiving glorified bodies.
Philippians 3:20-21 - Our Heavenly Hope
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour... Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body"
Paul emphasizes:
Our hope is not earthly (kingdom), but heavenly.
Christ will give believers a glorified body like His own.
Summary:
Paul teaches that the rapture is a mystery revealed only to him for the Body of Christ. It is a pre-judgment event ( 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9), sudden, and distinct from Christ's return to Earth in judgment (as in Matthew 24 or Revelation). This catching away is the blessed hope ( Titus 2:13) for those saved by grace through faith apart from the Law ( Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9).