We read in Jesus's longest prayer in John 17. For the reason Jesus was sent, He says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
There is one people of God, as stated in Ephesians 2:15-16.
Scripture does not teach that Israel and the Church are two peoples of God with two destinies. Our final destiny is Revelation 21:1-7. There is not one verse in the Bible that outright says we go or are taken to heaven. From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the entire Bible is about the Plan of God and the grace of God. From the beginning of creation. Revelation 3:14 to the end, Revelation 22:12-13.
Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The mystery is that the blessings of Abraham might come on all believers, Jew or Gentile, through Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:14. Jesus had to fulfill the covenant of the law to bring in the new covenant that was prophesied in Daniel 9:27.
The Bible has one theme, one covenant of grace, with one Church united in Christ, with Gentile salvation in view from the beginning. Jews were being saved back then, and today, in God's plan for ethnic Jews, not by giving them a separate destiny as a separate people of God, but by bringing them back to Jesus Christ through faith.
Given that t is written that there are saints in heaven and "around the the throne " and before the throne " and under the altar etc as found in the book revelation and there are the elders also etc etc yiur assertion that no one goes to heaven is a bit misplaced .
The Bride of Christ will meet the Lord "in the air " and be gone .Where? And having gone gives the spirit of antichrist and the antichrist the 'rope' that has been so longed for .
The Lord will come first FOR His bride and meet in the air then He will come WITH His bride to the earth and she will reign with Him there .
The Jews will be the head of the nations on earth (" not the tail") with the King of Kings the Lord reigning from Jerusalem on His fathers throne David .
There is much to learn and even the above is but scratching the service .
The snare long laid out by the enemy of man's souls that the J W's are the body that has primarily been its sowers .
It taking A truth of the return to the Earth and reigning with His bride but do not speak the whole truth as to Sallvation and the imperative " you must be born again" and that everyone in the kingdom of God must be born again or they will be cast out into outer darkness "for everything that offends will be cast out".
Has caught and deceived many a fish .
Twisting the scriptures to their own destruction .
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.
We read in Jesus's longest prayer in John 17. For the reason Jesus was sent, He says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
There is one people of God, as stated in Ephesians 2:15-16.
Scripture does not teach that Israel and the Church are two peoples of God with two destinies. Our final destiny is Revelation 21:1-7. There is not one verse in the Bible that outright says we go or are taken to heaven. From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the entire Bible is about the Plan of God and the grace of God. From the beginning of creation. Revelation 3:14 to the end, Revelation 22:12-13.
Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The mystery is that the blessings of Abraham might come on all believers, Jew or Gentile, through Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:14. Jesus had to fulfill the covenant of the law to bring in the new covenant that was prophesied in Daniel 9:27.
The Bible has one theme, one covenant of grace, with one Church united in Christ, with Gentile salvation in view from the beginning. Jews were being saved back then, and today, in God's plan for ethnic Jews, not by giving them a separate destiny as a separate people of God, but by bringing them back to Jesus Christ through faith.
See part 2.
The Bride of Christ will meet the Lord "in the air " and be gone .Where? And having gone gives the spirit of antichrist and the antichrist the 'rope' that has been so longed for .
The Lord will come first FOR His bride and meet in the air then He will come WITH His bride to the earth and she will reign with Him there .
The Jews will be the head of the nations on earth (" not the tail") with the King of Kings the Lord reigning from Jerusalem on His fathers throne David .
There is much to learn and even the above is but scratching the service .
The snare long laid out by the enemy of man's souls that the J W's are the body that has primarily been its sowers .
It taking A truth of the return to the Earth and reigning with His bride but do not speak the whole truth as to Sallvation and the imperative " you must be born again" and that everyone in the kingdom of God must be born again or they will be cast out into outer darkness "for everything that offends will be cast out".
Has caught and deceived many a fish .
Twisting the scriptures to their own destruction .
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
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?