3. They just can't
forgive themselves
4. Applying the
"partial Rapture theory" to 1Thess. 4:13-18
5. The "Bimah Seat of
Christ"
Short Reveiw of (part one). What did we
learn?
Before we get started I would like to do a
"short review" by making a short list of a few
things that we have learned from (part one) of this
article. Sadly many have never learned these foundational
truths.
1. Grace is God's
"unmerited favor." Salvation is a
"gift" (Rom. 3:24, 6:23). It must be
received by faith apart from the works of the Law (Gal. 2:16).
Therefore Man is justified by grace through
faith in Christ alone (Rom. 3:20; Eph.
2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7).
2. The believer has received
the righteousness of God through Christ (Rom. 3:22, 4:5,
5:18, 5:21; 1Cor. 1:21; 2Cor.
5:21; Phil 3:9). This allows the believer to stand before a
Holy God without condemnation (Rom. 8:1,2). God can never reject His own
righteousness which comes through faith in His Son (2Cor. 5:21). Therefore
the believer can never be rejected by God, since they can never lose the
righteousness of Christ, which is confirmed by the sealing of the Holy
Spirit (Eph. 1:13).
3. The believer has received
"eternal redemption" (not temporal nor conditional)
through the blood of Christ (Heb. 9:12). The believers
"salvation" is eternal and for keeps (Heb.
9:12). Jesus only needed to die "once for sin for all
time" (Heb. 10: 10-14). The believer is fully justified
through faith in Christ (Rom. 3:24, 5:1-9,
8:30; 1Cor. 6:11; Gal. 2:16).
5. Those who are in
Christ have received God's "wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and
redemption, which is God's doing only, and not the
believers doing (1Cor. 1:30). Salvation is all God's work from the
beginning to the end (Eph. 2:10; Phil 1:6).
6. The Holy Spirit
only "abided" with the Old Testament believer (John
14:17), but He did not "indwell" them. On the day of
Pentecost the Holy Spirit finally came. The
believer can never lose the "sealing of the Holy
Spirit" since He remains with the believer forever based upon the
complete, perfect, and finished work of Christ. This eternal work of
Chirst allowed the Holy Spirit to be sent from heaven for the purpose of
permanently indwelling the believer (John 14:16).
The indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit empowers the believer
so that they can live for Christ while they live here upon the
earth in their natural corruptible bodies (Gal. 5:16).
7. The believer can never
lose their position as a child of God in Christ, since
the believer is baptized, indwelt, and sealed by the Holy Spirit "for the day
of redemption" (2Cor 1:21,22; Eph. 1:13;
4:30). This happens at the instant of their conversion to
christ, which places them into the body of Christ (1Cor. 12:13). The
Holy Spirit bears witness with the believers spirit that they are indeed
the children of God (Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:6).
And the dead "in
Christ" shall rise first!
This short phrase "In
Christ" is a very important phrase which "hinges" off
of the foundational doctrinal truths of Justification,
sanctification, redemption, and
grace which Paul the apostle teaches throughout the
New Testament epistles, and of which are "inseparable" from the phrase
itself. This phrase is used in reference to the believer who
has already been "Justified, sanctified, and
redeemed by the grace of God, which comes through faith in Christ Jesus (Eph.
2:8-10).
Therefore when a Christian understands
these "foundational doctrinal truths", they then possess the
"the key" which will unlock the door to
the divine scriptural teaching on the "security of the believer" who is
in Christ. This phrase "In
Christ" then takes on a new precious meaning for the
Christian. As a result all the "fear and
confusion" which surrounds those who teach that a believer can "lose
their salvation, or miss the Rapture" (partial Rapture theory) due to
sin in their lives simply goes flying right out the window into
"oblivion"
never to return!
The first time that this phrase "in
Christ" can be found is in the book of Acts 24:24 which says:
"But some days later, Felix arrived with Drusilla, and his
wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him speak
about faith in Christ Jesus.
You can see here that In this text the
phrase "In Christ Jesus" is
being used in relationship to the apostle Paul "speaking about" faith
in Christ Jesus to those whom he was with. In the
epistles the Paul uses this phrase "In Christ" in
relationship to the believers who have "already" put their faith and
trust in Christ (the church). For instance, Paul opens up the
book of Philippians saying "Paul and Timothy,
bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints
"in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi..........etc." The apostle Paul opens up a number of His epistles this way
(1Cor; Eph; Col; 2Tim).
The apostle Paul could only use this
phrase "In Christ" in His epistles based upon
the "whole revelation" of New Testament
doctrine which was revealed to him by God (Gal. 1:11,12). This
phrase "hinges" off of Paul's divine teaching of justification,
sanctification, redemption, and grace which are taught in the Pauline letters to
the church. This is foundational for the believers faith in
Christ.
The "KJV Bible" records this
phrase "in Christ" as being used 79 times out
of 78 verses in the New Testament. This phrase and the teaching which
surrounds it is found no where in the Old Testament. The last
time that it is mentioned in the Bible in all the translations is in 1Peter
5:14 "Peace be to you who are In
Christ." It is not used in 2 Peter;
1,2,3 John; or Jude.
And it is found no where in the book of
Revelation, which is Jewish in content.
This phrase "in Christ" can
be found any where from 79 to 90 times or so in the Bible depending on what
version you use. It is found no where in the gospels, which is appropriate
since the gospels are the "life and ministry of Christ to the nation of
Israel under the Law" (Gal. 4:4,5 ). Therefore the body of
Christ does not get their New Testament
"doctrinal teaching" from the gospels. Jesus taught from the Old Testament prophets. In the gospels We
see the examples of Christ and his life as well as other important
teaching, such as Christ's second advent to the earth.
Church doctrine is a "new administration of
faith" Eph. 1:10, 3:9; 1Tim 1:4). The teaching
on the resurrection/Rapture is taught by
the apostle Paul in his epistles. The church was a
"Mystery" (Eph. 3:3-12) that was not revealed until much later after
Pentecost (birth of the church).
Listen to what Dr. Dwight
Pentecost has to say on this subject from His book "Thy Kingdom
Come" Chapter 17 page
184.
(quote) "Chronologically speaking,
there is a 400-year gap between Malachi and Matthew. Logically and
thematically, however, there is no gap at all
(meaning that the Law still continued from Malachi to Matthew despite
this gap of time). The New Testament
immediately takes up where the Old Testament prophets left
off. In fact, "technically" the New Testament does not begin with Matthew, but with the book of
Acts.
The Gospels demonstrate that God's program
still continued with the nation Israel.
Israel was still under the Law, and everything continued
as it had during the prophetic period (Old Testament). The message
was directed to the "lost sheep of the house
of Israel, and excluded the Gentiles (Matt. 10:5,6).
The Law, in fact, was
not abolished at the birth of Christ, but rather His death; and the
message of the Gospels concerns the
fulfillment of all that the prophets
predicted. Thus there is an unbroken continuity between the
prophets and the Gospels (end
quote).
In light of what was quoted above concerning
the gospels. It is understandable why so many are confused when it
comes to the resurrection program for the
"church." Many go to the gospels in order to try
and apply all the "second advent" texts scriptures
to the church. This is wrong! The church is
not the subject of the gospels. The
church was a "Mystery" not yet revealed (Eph. 3:1-20; Col.
1:25-27). The focus and subject of the gospels is all about "The life
and ministry of Christ to His people Israel under the Law" (Matt.
5:5,6 15:24). Christ offered His people Israel the promised
kingdom, but they rejected the official offer by rejecting
Him! (Matt. 27:25; Luke 19:14). Therefore the kingdom was not established, but was "put on
hold" until a future time.
In Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21
Jesus is teaching His disciples about the events that will unfold
during the tribulation period, which are heralding the second advent of Christ
the Messiah to the earth. These "second advent texts" in
the gospels are NOT teaching about the Rapture
event. Many will use Luke 21:36 which says: "But
keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that
you may be found worthy to escape all these things
that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of
Man."
This text is a "Tribulation
text" which is speaking to Israel and to those Jews who will be
alive during the tribulation period, and who will be witnessing these
terrible judgments, which Jesus just got done expounding upon. When
Jesus says "pray
in order that they might be found worthy to escape all
these things.", He was addressing His disciples (not the church), and
also that generation of Jews who will be experiencing those tribulation
judgments at that time. This scripture here in Luke is in context
with Matt. 24:13 "But the
one who endures to the end, it is he who will
be saved."
Both texts in
Matthew and Luke are talking about the same
thing. The "One who endures to the end, it
is he who will be saved" is talking about those Jews who
will have "survived to the end of the tribulation
period." This is made very clear in Daniel 12:12 which says:
"How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to
the 1,335 days!" Why? Because the Messiah is going to
show up, and thus those Jews who survived the tribulation period will be
able to "Stand before the Son of
Man" as Luke 21:36 states.
The text in Luke is a classic example of
people "misquoting" out of context to make an application to the body of
Christ. They use these scriptures because they think a
believer can miss the Rapture, or lose their salvation. As a matter
of fact they will use the text in Luke 21:13 in order to show
how you "can miss the resurrection" due to your
"unwatchfulness, unprayerful attitude, etc." Again
these people are taking scriptures which apply to Israel out of context, and
they are trying to apply them to the church. You cannot do this without
totally destroying the context of these scriptures. Sadly many don't care
about the context of scripture any more. They just want something to
"hang their hat on!"
Examining
the text of 1Thessalonians
(4:13-18).
I am sorry that it has take this long to get to
this scripture text of 1Thessalonians chapter four. But it was vital
and necessary to to lay a "foundation of scriptural truth" for those who
will be reading (part 1) and (part 2) in this article. This ground work of
scriptures that I have laid will give them greater understanding of the passage
of 1Thess. 4:13-18. This study will help many who
are confused on the teachings of the "security of the
believer", and will also help those who have been taught that a
believer can "miss the Rapture" (partial Rapture
theory) due to sin in their lives. This article has been written
specifically for those believers who are struggling with these two
issues.
(13). "But we do not want you to be uniformed,
brethren , about those who are asleep (dead), that you may not grieve, as do the
rest who have no hope. (14). For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so God will bring "with Him" those who
have fallen asleep in Jesus (in Christ).
(15). For this we say to you by the word of the
lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord,
shall not precede those who have fallen asleep (died).
(16). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and
the "dead in Christ" shall rise first.
(17). Then we who are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the
Lord."
(18) Therefore comfort one another with these
words.
Question: Who is Jesus bringing with
Him when he returns in the air?
Answer: The
spirits of those who have already died "in Jesus" (in Christ) 1Thess.
4:14
Question: How in the world did they
get there? And why were they allowed entry into heaven?
Answer: They got there through the process of
"death" (they died), and they were allowed entry into
heaven at the time of their death because they had believed the
gospel of Jesus Christ ( 1Thess. 4:14; Rom. 10:9,10, 13).
Question: So these spirits of the
dead saints in Christ who are returning with Jesus were allowed to
enter heaven by grace through faith? (Eph.
2:8,9).
Answer:
Absolutely! Paul the apostle says: "Because by the works of the Law
shall no flesh be justified in His sight" (Rom. 3:20).
Question: Why are these disembodied
spirits of the church saints returning with Jesus?
Answer: They are returning with Jesus in order to get their
resurrected bodies because it is God's resurrection
program for His completed bride, the church.
Question: These spirits of those dead
saints who are returning with Jesus. Are they getting new resurrected
bodies because they earned or merited them?
Answer: NO! They
are getting glorified bodies because Christ was raised from the dead (1Cor.
15:11-20). There spirits were already saved which is shown by the
fact that they were already in heaven and are seen returning with
Christ. There bodies are the only thing that needs to be
redeemed (1Cor. 15;50-58; Eph. 4:30).
Question: Therefore does the
death, burial, and resurrection of Christ "testify" to the fact that His
work was sufficient enough to perfect these saints salvation, and
thus give them a glorified body at the time of His appearing apart from
works?
Answer:
YES! According to scripture no one can
"earn or merit" eternal life, nor enter
heaven by their works (Eph. 2:8,9). These saints who are returning
with Jesus had already entered heaven by grace through faith
"Before" the resurrection had taken place.
How could they have
possibly "earned or merited" their new resurrected
bodies at the time of the resurrection/ Rapture, since they were already
dead?
Question: When Christ appears then.
Do those who are alive "in Christ" have to "earn or
merit" the Rapture which also transforms their corruptible bodies
into new resurrected bodies?
Answer: NO! The
living saints who are caught up alive will receive their glorified bodies the
same way as the "dead in Christ" will have received their glorified
bodies "by grace through faith in Christ alone!" 1Thess. 4:17
says that the "dead in Christ" and the "living in Christ" are both caught up
"together" to meet the Lord in the Air. The
spirits of Both the "dead in Christ", and the "living in Christ" have already
been made righteous "prior" to the resurrection
event.
Question: Does the Christians
"obedience" or "lack of obedience" to Christ have anything to
do with "guaranting" or "disqualifying"
a believer in Christ of
there resurrected glorified body when Christ appears?
Answer: Absolutely not! The "Dead
in Christ" mentioned in 1Thess. 4:14 had already received
"God's righteousness" through faith in
Christ before they died. Otherwise they would have
never entered into heaven, and therefore they
wouldn't be returning with
Jesus in 1Thess. 4:14. The same is required of the living saints.
God doesn't have a "double standard."
Question: Based on these scriptural facts that
we have reviewed. When Christ appears, are those saints then
who are alive and "in Christ" going to qualify and be allowed to
partake in the resurrection program? Will they
be "caught up" in glorified bodies into the
presence of the Lord based on the same scriptural rules and guide
lines that the "already dead in Christ" had to be qualified with in
order for them to partake in the resurrection?
Answer: YES! God doesn't flip flop, nor does He
change His rules at the last moment for the "redemption of
man." Whether a saint in Christ is "already
dead", or whether they are "still
alive" when Christ appears. Both have to be saved
by "grace through faith in Christ alone" in order to be able
to enter into the presence of God in their glorified bodies. You
cannot be called a saint unless Christ is in
you!
Question: Is there any
other additional demands or criteria such as "good behavior,
faithfulness, watching, praying, cleaning your garment, keeping oil in your
lamp, looking for His appearing (Which some teach), or any other religious
conduct or duty that is mentioned in this text of 1Thess.
4:13-18, other than being "in Christ?"
Answer: Absolutely not!
Paul the apostle says in verse (14). For "if we
believe" that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring
"with Him" those who have fallen asleep in Jesus (in
Christ). Paul says right here in this verse that in order to participate
in the resurrection event, one must "believe that Jesus died and arose
again." Do you see any "good works" being demanded here in the
text? That's right! I don't either! All I see is the
"righteousness of Christ" that the believer possesses (in Christ)
(2Cor. 5:21).
Question: Is God going
to require "good works and merited favor" for
the purpose of giving a glorified body to those saints who
are alive when He appears? Or is God going to
give to those saints in Christ who are alive when He appears a
glorified body based on His righteousness which they already
possess?
Answer: They will get a glorified body based ONLY on
God's righteousness which they possess in Christ. Romans chapter
8 verses 9, 10, 11 gives us the answer to this
important question.
(9). However you are NOT in the
flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit
of God "dwells in you." But if anyone does
"not have" the Spirit of Christ, he does
NOT belong to Him."
(10). And if Christ is IN YOU,
though the body is dead because of sin, YET the spirit is alive
because of "RIGHTEOUSNESS."
(11). But if the Spirit of Him who raised Christ Jesus
from the dead "dwells in you", He who raised
Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your "mortal
bodies" through His Spirit who indwells
you."
Do you know what
folks! I could stop writing this article right now after
what Paul has just stated! Paul the apostle makes absolutely
clear here in this text that the believer is going to get their glorified
bodies based solely upon the fact that their "spirit" has been made
righteous by the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. The apostle Paul
mentions "NOTHING" about "good
works or merited favor" from God. But he
emphatically states that those who have the "indwelling"
of God's Holy Spirit will receive their glorified bodies (Rom.
8:11). Add this scripture to Eph.
1:13, and Eph. 4:30, and you don't
need anymore explaning!
Eph. 1:13 "In Him, you also, after
listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your
salvation - having also believed,
"YOU WERE SEALED" in
Him with the Holy Spirit of
promise."
Eph. 4:30 " And do not grieve the
Holy Spirit of God, by whom YOU WERE SEALED "For the day
of redemption" ( the resurrection of the body and its glorification).
Question: Don't you think that if there were
other important rules and guide lines which the church
saints needed to know in order to qualify in the resurrection/Rapture,
that God would have inspired the apostle Paul to list them right here in this
most important text of 1thess. 4:13-18? Don't you think that God
should have prompted and inspired the apostle Paul to write at least
one chapter if not several chapters on such an important
teaching?
Answer:
ABSOLUTELY! But He didn't! Which means then that
there was NO additional
requirements!
Do you know what all this means
folks! It means
that this event in 1Thess. 4:13-18 is NOT a "merited"
event gained by the Christians good moral conduct and holy
living. Stop and think about this! Our Christian
brothers and sisters in Christ who have already died,
and who will be returning with Jesus were NOT allowed
entry into the presence of God by their Christian moral conduct and holy
living, BUT by grace through faith in Christ alone they
entered into heaven! Likewise those saints
in Christ who will be alive at the time of His appearing
will be under the same scriptural requirements for being allowed to
enter into the presence of God, which is by grace
through faith in Christ alone. Therefore they
have "every right" to recieve a glorified body at
this time!
Now tell
me! How in world can God
discriminate
against any believer "in Christ"
who has received "God's righteousness" by grace through faith
in His Son (Rom. 3:22; 2Cor. 5:21). How then can God deny any
believer from participating in the resurrection/ Rapture due to
the "Lack of good works", since they have already received Christ by
"faith" (Eph. 2:8,9), at which time they were
sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13)? That's right, HE
CAN'T! If God
were to deny the believer, then He would be rejecting "His
own righteousness" which the "Dead in Christ" and the "Living in
Christ" have both received through faith in Christ! This can never happen
because God would rejecting His own divine
righteousness.
Question: Is the righteousness of God
through Christ, which the believer receives by
faith "enough" to satisfy God.?
Answer: Yes!
Romans 8:10 "And if
Christ is in you though the body is dead because of
sin, yet the spirit is alive because of
righteousness" (God's righteousness through
Christ).
Question: How do we receive the
"righteousness of God?"
Answer: Rom. 3:22 "Even "The
righeousness of God" through "faith in Jesus Christ" for all those
who believe......etc."
2Cor. 5:17 "If any
man "be in Christ" he is a
new creation, The "old things" (Sin and its penalty)
passed away; behold, new things have
come."
Gal. 6:15
"For neither is circumcision anything (keeping
the Law), nor uncircumcision (not keeping the Law), But
a NEW CREATION."
Eph. 2:10 "For "WE" (the believer) are
"His worksmanship" CREATED IN CHRIST
JESUS................etc."
Question: How do we become a
"new creation" in Christ.
Answer: By
receiving the simple gospel of Jesus Christ "by faith"
(Rom. 10:9,10).
Question: Once again, How do we
receive the "righteousness of God?"
Answer: Rom. 3:22 "Even "the
righteousness of God" through "faith in Jesus
Christ" for all those who
believe......etc."
The Godly conduct of a
Christian, or the "lack of their Godly conduct." Whether
they were carnal in their walk in Christ (1Cor. 5:1-5), or
whether they were "spiritual" in their walk in Christ is NOT
the the determining factor as to whether or not a
Christian will get a "glorified body" at the time of
the resurrection/Rapture. According to the apostle Paul in
1Thess. 4:14. The only important factor
which determines whether "anyone" gets a
glorified body at the time of the resurrection is that "one must believe that
Jesus died and rose again" 1Thess. 4:14. This means
then that they have "the sealing of the Holy Spirit" (Eph.
1:13, 4:30).
Question: Why would
God let the "dead in Christ" enter into heaven (in
spirit) at the moment of their physical death based solely on the fact that
they were saved "by grace through faith" apart from works (Eph.
2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7), sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13,
4:30)? And then at Christ's appearing demand "works
and good merit" from the living saints "in
Christ" just just because these living saints happen to
be alive when Christ appears. It isn't the saints fault that they happened
to be alive at the time of Christ's appearing, BUT that
doesn't matter to God does
it! If God can make the rules on salvation then He
can break them right? So now
God is going to demand that which Christ destroyed, which was sin and
death under the Law (Gal. 2:18-21), and nullify the "grace of God" (Gal.
2:21), and thus God is going to "rebuild and reinstate the
Law" at the time of Christ's appearing for the purpose of
forcing the living saints (not the dead) in Christ to have to
merit and earn their right" to participate in the
resurrection program of God, just so they can get their glorified
bodies! Does this sound like Something God would do!
Are you kidding
me! God is
not mocked! (Gal. 6:7)
Nor is He a liar!
(Titus 1:2)
Listen! The righteousness of Christ can bring "redemption
to the physical body" ONLY if the
spirit of that person is saved through the righteousness
of Christ. For the spirit does not need
the body in order to live eternally,
BUT the "physical body" needs the righteous
spirit of that saint in order to live eternally.
LISTEN TO ME
CAREFULLY! The "spirit" can
live without the body, BUT the body "cannot live"
without the "spirit." So why should Christ when He
comes even bother with taking the bodies of the living saints? Why doesn't
Jesus just take the spirit of the living saints who
have received the righteousness of God through Christ by faith (Rom. 3:22),
and just yank them right out of their bodies and forget
about the flesh, since the spirit can live
without the body?
And
for another reason! Why should Christ
when He appears even bother then with raising the dead bodies of those
saints who He is bringing with him at the time of His appearing, and who are
already alive in Christ, in
spirit? For they were already found righteous by
their faith in Christ, and therefore were allowed to enter
into the presence of God at the moment of their death. Why
raise their dead bodies? They don't
need them! No living saint in Christ at the present time
has to die in order to get eternal life.
They already have
it! (John 5:24).
MY POINT IS
THIS FOLKS! The resurrection/Rapture
is NOT a "works merited event." It has
nothing to do with saving the spirit of anyone.
The spirits of the dead saints who are coming with Jesus have
"already been made righteous" by faith in Christ as well
as the spirits of the living saints when Christ appears. This one
event is not about saving mans soul. It is only about
glorifying the saints body (1Cor. 15:50-58; Eph. 4:30). The
resurrection "is" the Rapture, and the Rapture
"is" the resurrection. Therefore we are only talking
about "one resurrection." There is only
"one spiritually identified group" in this text of 1Thess. 4:13-18 who
are being raised. It is the "dead saints" and the "living
saints" who are in Christ. They make up the
"whole complete body of Christ." Both are caught up together
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1Thess. 4:17).
Therefore Jesus
is coming for "one purpose, and one purpose only!" He is simply
coming in order to give the "already righteous saints"
who are dead in Christ, and who are coming with Him a new body (1Thess.
4:14). And He is also coming in order to give the
"already righteous saints" who are still alive in
Christ a new body (1Thess. 4:17). They did not
"earn" their new bodies by the "works of their
flesh" which is "perishable and corruptible" (1Cor. 15:50-55).
BUT they are receiving their new glorified bodies
ONLY because their
spirits were made righteous by the
righteousness of God through Christ prior to the event (Rom. 8:10).
God is going to quicken that perishable and corruptible
body and transform it into a body which is "imperishable and
incorruptible" (1Cor. 15:50-58). Those
spirits of those dead saints, and those spirits of the living saints have to
occupy that body in order for that body to "Live
forever!" All God is doing at the time of the
resurrection/Rapture is giving new resurrected bodies to the "dead" and the
"living" in Christ.
They
just can't forgive themselves, even though Christ has!
Those who teach that the believer in Christ
can miss the Rapture, or lose their salvation are people who are all
hung up on the whole issure of
"SIN." Either their own sin in their own
lives, which they cannot forgive themselves for. Or the sin in other so
called "professing Christians" lives whom they observe failing over and
over again. Whatever their reasons! Scripture emphatically
teaches that Jesus has already paid "the debt or
penalty" for all of our sins and has "nailed it to the
cross" (Col 2:13:14). They just cannot forgive
themsleves, and therefore they don't believe that God should forgive them
either.
This is why this false teaching of "losing your
salvation, and missing the Rapture" due to sin appeals so much to these
people. Their reasoning is that "God needs
to thrust them into the terrible horrors of the tribulation period so they
can be purged and judged for their failures, and
shortcomings." This makes sense to them since they are
in a state of "self condmenation." This terrible cycle could be completely stopped if they would just
"TRUST" what the word of God already clearly
states. Jesus has already died for all sin for all
time! (Heb. 10:10-14). Question:
Since the penalty for all sin was paid for by Christ. What penalty
for sin do those who are in Christ have to pay for? That's right!
NONE!
God is at this present time
is in the process of completing His bride (the church). When the body of
Christ is therefore completed, then the "age of grace will close"
with the resurrection of ALL the saints who are "in
Christ", dead or alive! The reason for ending the age of grace is
so that God can "restart" His prophetic
program with Israel, which involves "judgment and
warth" (tribulation period / Jacob's trouble). The church saints in Christ are not destined for wrath of
judgment of any kind (Rom. 5:9, 8:1,2; 1Thess. 5:9).
Appyling
the "partial Rapture theory" to 1Thess.
4:13-18
Since we have now answered some
important questions. We will now "apply" the
"partial Rapture theory" to this text in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18.
What will happen when we do this is that it will "reveal" how
unscriptural this teaching really is. Once people see the falsehood of
the "partial Rapture theory", in that it is grossly
flawed with all kinds of "loop holes" theologically. They will then
see that it is impossible for any believer to lose their salvation,
since both teachings are fueled by "good works
and merited favor", or the lack of
it. This teaching "throws a monkey wrench"
into the work of Christ!
The partial Rapture theory is built upon nothing
more than the false teaching that one can lose their salvation. All
those who support this false teaching of a "partial resurrection" of the
church saints are usually people who believe one can forfeit their
salvation through disobedience and
sin in their lives. The scriptures that
we have already examined show very clearly that this is a false doctrine which
is not supported, nor taught in the New Testament epistles by the apostle
Paul. God's word was divinely inspired by God (2Tim 3:16,17).
Therefore God cannot contradict Himself.
It is people who bring "confusion and contradiction" to God's word
by their use of "perverted interpretations" which are built
upon their "lack of insight and spiritual
understanding" of the word of God. There are a number of
reasons for this, of which one may very well be that they don't possess the Holy
Spirit who teaches and guides the believer into "All
truth" (John 16:13-15). If this is the case? Then
they have never been saved by grace through faith, since they don't possess the
Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9).
In order go to continue I need to ask the same
3 questions once again, that I asked
earlier.
Question: How many groups of church
saints (categorically identified) do you see in this
resurrection/Rapture text of 1Thess. 4:13-18.
Answer:
That's right, Only two!
Question: What is the difference
between them categorically?
Answer: They
consist of those who have already died in Christ (1Tess.
4;14). And those who are alive in Christ at the time of His
appearing (1Thess. 4:17). So there are two groups "the living"
and "the dead."
Now listen carefully!
Question: How many groups of church
saints can be "spiritually identified" in this resurrection/Rapture
text?
Answer:
That' right! Only one. And who is this one
spiritual group? That's right! It is the
dead in Christ, and the living
in Christ who make up the "one body of
Christ." The church is "one in Christ" by the
indwelling of God's Holy Spirit "For
by one Spirit we were
"ALL" baptized into one body"
(1Cor. 12:13).
The apostle Paul also teaches the following: "There
is one body (the body of Christ) and one
Spirit, just as also you were called
in one hope (the blessed hope /
Titus 2:13) of your calling. one Lord,
one faith, one
baptism, one God and Father
of all who is over all and
through all and in all" (Eph. 4:-6).
As you can see
the scriptures teach clearly that the believer is "baptized
into"one body" by the Holy Spirit" (1Cor. 12:13; Eph.
4:4-6). This position in Christ which the believer has received was not
attained by their works (Eph. 2:8-10), but this position was received as a
gift by grace through faith in Christ alone, which sealed them with the
Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). And thus the Holy Spirit has placed them
into the "one body of Christ" (1Cor.
12:13).
The text of 1Thess. 4:13-18 is
clearly speaking of only "one spiritual body" of
believers. This can be confirmed easily by the phrase "in
Christ" which identifies them. Though there are "two
categories" of saints identified as "the dead
", and "the living", yet they
are still only one body spiritually.
These saints did not attain their position in Christ through good
works, and merited favor. They are only
participating in God's resurrection program because of their
"spiritual identity" as being one "in
Christ." No one can be "in
Christ" unless the Holy Spirit indwells them (Rom. 8:9;
Eph. 1:13).
Since the "partial Rapture theory" is built
upon "good works and merited favor" in order to qualify
for the resurrection event. We then have to "reconstruct" the text of
1Thess 4:13-18 by using the framework of "works" which causes us to
have to create 4 additional categories of people
"outside" of the scriptures context. Then we have
to interject them back into the text itself. Of course you will
shortly see how this destroys the scripture passage which is built upon
"grace" and not upon mans "works or merited
favor." You cannot mix Law with grace! God's word is
clear about this!
Thus the reconstructing of 1Thess.
4:13-18 is necessary for the purpose of being able to
"apply the rules" of this teaching of the partial
Rapture theory to each new category of people that this theory creates by
its own theological demands and doctrinal structure. The partial Rapture theory requires this reconstruction of the
text, since this false teaching is driven by "Good works, and
merited favor." God's spiritual guide
lines and requirement for mans salvation is only by grace through faith in
Christ, apart from works (Titus 3:4-7).
These spiritual guide lines from the word of God
therefore must apply to both the "dead" and to the
"living." To those who are alive at the time of Christ's
appearing, and to those who are already dead at the time of Christ's
appearing. No category of people are exempt. Whether a saint is
transported into the presence of God through the process
of "death", or transported into the presence
of God by being "snatched up alive" at the time of
Christ's appearing. Which ever takes place first. Either way, both are taken into the presence of God only
because they possess the righteousness of God through Christ by faith
alone! The dead and the living in Christ fall under the same
scriptural guide lines for being able to stand in the
presence of God.
Here are the 4 categories of
people that the "partial Rapture theory" creates
when applying it to 1Thess. 4:13-18 text in the context of
"good works and merited favor."
group 1. Those church
saints who are dead in Christ, and who's spirits are
returning with Jesus (1Thess. 4:14) at the time of His
appearing in order to get their glorified bodies, and
who also earned their right to participate in the
resurrection/Rapture event based on "their good works and
merited favor" during their life on earth. (Not supported in
the text, nor anywhere else in scripture)
group 2. Those church saints
who are dead in Christ, but their spirit's could not
return with Jesus because they did not produce enough
"good works" which would have given them
"merited favor" with God while they were alive on
the earth, and thus they would
have earned them their right to participate in
the resurrection/Rapture event. Therefore they were left behind in heaven
to be disembodied. (Not supported in the text, nor anywhere else in the New
Testament epistles)
group 3. Those church
saints in Christ who are alive bodily at the time of His
appearing (1Thess. 4:17), who therefore earned
their right to participate in the resurrection at the time of Christ's
appearing based on their "good works and merited
favor" with God (Not supported in the text, nor
anywhere else in the New Testament epistles)
group 4. Those church saints in Christ who are
alive bodily at the time of His appearing, but who did not
earn the privilege nor the right to participate in
the resurrection of the living saints at the time of the
resurrection/Rapture program. Their "Lack of good works and
merited favor" prevented them from partaking in this
event. Therefore they were left behind to go through the tribulation
period in order to be "purged and purified", and thus die a terrible
death for the punishment of their sins. (Not supported in the text,
nor anywhere else in the New Testament epistles)
You can see here how the partial Rapture theory has
totally distorted, perverted, and destroyed the context of
1Thess. 4:13-18.
Christ has already paid the full price for all sin! I have listed
many scriptures showing this throughout this study. Therefore
"No purging" by the tribulation
period is needed for the sins of any believer in
Christ. The bimah seat of Christ is for the purpose of
burning up the believers deeds done in the power of their flesh.
This is the ONLY purging of fire that is seen in scripture
in relationship to the church saints. Not only that! But this
purging is not for the purpose of cleansing the believer
of sin. Christ has already cleansed us when we trusted in Him (1Cor.
6:11). This purging by fire which takes place at the "Bimah" is
solely for the purpose of burning up those deeds which were done in the
power of the flesh by the Christian, whether carnal, or spiritual (1Cor.
3:11-15; 2Cor. 5:10).
Question: Therefore what sin or sins do Christians
need to suffer for?
Answer: NONE! Jesus
has already paid the full penalty for ALL SIN
which was "Death"
(Rom. 6:23). No where in scripture does it ever teach that
"man is purified and justified by his suffering for his own sins!
This is a "works salvation" which tramples all over the
grace of God!
Question: According to the partial Rapture
theory. What is now going to happen to those disembodied
spirit's of the church saints who were not allowed to come with Jesus from
heaven (1Thess. 4:14)? And who denied to participate in the
resurrection since they didn't qualify for the event due to their
"lack of good works and merited
favor" during their life upon the earth?
Answer: Nothing is going to happen to them! Why? Because the
partial Rapture theory's "disembodied spirits" do not
exist!
Do you see how confusing and contradictory to the
teachings of the apostle Paul this "partial Rapture theory"
is! It creates more chaos and tremendous theological problems and adds
"new revelation and teaching" to the already inspired and completed
word of God. The Holy Spirit inspired scriptures (2Tim.
3:16) has never entertained the idea of a
"partial Rapture theory" in God's word. The apostle Paul who wrote
by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit did not write about, nor did he ever
mention one word of this teaching in scripture. Not one word!
He was totally silent!
The partial Rapture theory therefore
"divides" the body of Christ into "four
different groups" by placing them back under the Law
of "works and merited favor" for the sole purpose
of "qualifying the living saints" to be allowed
entry into the presence of God. This is totally
unscriptural! The apostle Paul teaches just the opposite! The
church can never return back under the Law, since she has been
sanctified once and for all by grace through faith (Heb.
10:10-14).
This "partial Rapture theory" and its teaching has
been created in the minds of those who
lack basic knowledge of important doctrinal
and foundational truths such as "Justification, sanctification, redemption,
the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and grace", which are vitally
important for understanding the Biblical sound teaching of the "security
of the believer" and the "resurrection program of God."
In order for God to support this false teaching of the
"partial Rapture theory" He would have to "rewrite" the Bible
since "sin" and "faith", or the
lack of it is the whole issue here. Not just in the New Testament,
but in the Old Testament as well. Abraham lived before the
Law was given, and yet scripture says that Abraham was
justified by faith apart from works (Rom. 4:1-5). The
scriptural criteria for the salvation of man never changes from God's
perspective. His rules apply to the dead as well as to the living (Rom.
3:20; Eph. 2:8-10). As the old saying goes "What is good
for the goose, is good for the gander" God and the Holy
Spirit do NOT flipflop on their doctrinal teachings in
scripture, nor do they bend the rules! If they did! Then the word of
God could not be trusted!
Do you understand now why these "4 categories
of people" had to be created and added to the text of 1Thess.
4:13-18? They had to be added because as you apply this teaching of the
"partial Rapture theory" to this resurrection passage here in 1Thess.
4:13-18. It demands and
forces one to "add to the context" the
teaching of "good works and merited favor."
Adding to the scriptures carries a "Curse" (Rev.
22:18). This goes totally against the teachings of the apostle
Paul which are built upon unmerited favor (grace). The
partial Rapture theory "blows a hole wide open in the
apostle Paul's teaching, and theology!" This can never be since the
apostle Paul wrote by divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2Tim. 3:16,17).
It is either by "grace", or
"works" Folks! The Rapture
"is" the resurrection, and the resurrection
"is" the Rapture! This one event is about
completing the bride of Christ, ending the church age, and thus giving eternal
bodies to the dead in Christ, and to the
living in Christ at the time of Christ's
appearing. The saint's of God need glorified bodies in order to
be compatible for the eternal state!
God cannot take home an incomplete bride. If He did, then
the body of Christ would be dismembered. The age of grace has to close
with the completion of the body of Christ here on earth. According to the
partial Rapture theory and its teaching. Those disembodied
Church saints who would have been left in heaven at the time of
Christ's appearing due to their lack of good works and merited favor would
be disqualified from partaking in the Bimah seat of
Christ. Why? because scripture shows clearly that
the C\church (the bride of Christ) has to be complete and in her
glorified body state in order to be given her rewards at the Bimah seat of
Christ, which takes place at the time the resurrection (1Cor.
3:11-15, 15:50-58; 2Cor. 5:10). Therefore no church saint
in Christ can be left out!
There is no teaching in the New Testament epistles
which gives the "partial Rapture theory" a scriptural foundation to
build on. It is therefore impossible to apply the partial
Rapture theory "scripturally, rationally, or theologically to God's
resurrection program. This theory is based totally on "good
works, and merited favor" which is not a guaranteed assurance for
the believer, since the Christians walk and performance can be
negatively influenced by the weakness of the flesh, which draws the
Christian to partake in temptation and sin.
Therefore how would a Christian know
"when" they have sinned one too many times, and
thus they have crossed the point of no return? How would
they know when they were disqualified? What "spiritual gauge"
do they have in their possession that can measure "the
amount" of sin which could disqualify them, or the
"less amount" of sin which would qualify them? How
much sin can you commit before you can lose your salvation, or miss the
Rapture?
Do you think that God Would leave His children unequipped,
destitute, and without a definite solution for such a serious matter?
Surely He would have disclosed a "spiritual
mechanism" within the word of God for the benefit of those
whom He says He loves! Surely the Holy Spirit would have inspired
the apostle Paul to write extensively on this subject of great importance in
order to spare the saints from destruction!
The fact of the matter is folks", "THERE IS NO WAY
TO KNOW" from the word of God when a believer has crossed over
the line due to sin. Do you know why?
Because there is no line to cross,
because salvation is by grace through faith apart from works. There
is no amount of sin that can forfeit the believers
salvation! There is "no sin" whatsoever which
can disqualify a church saint of God from participating in the
resurrection program. There is "no
sin" left undone which Christ has not already paid for in full
at the cross! There is "no sin"
greater, nor more powerful than the shed
blood of Jesus Christ! As
the old hymn says: "Jesus paid it all, all
to Him I owe. Sin had left a
crimson stain, He
washed it white as snow."
HALLELUJAH!
The resurrection according to the scripture in 1Thess. 4:13-18 is
for "all those who are in Christ." The ONLY
mechanism for gauging sin which God has seen fit to give to man was the
"mechanism of
the cross" where Christ shed His eternal blood for ALL
SIN for ALL TIME , forever, and
forever, and forever into eternity!
This teaching of "earning the right" to get ones glorified body, and to
participate in the resurrection program of God is all based on the justification
of man by his works! Sorry folks! "It doesn't
"WORK" that way!
After these things Rev.
4:1 (after the church age is over) Then
What?
"The Bema Seat of
Christ" (Rev.
4:10)
The "Bimah seat of Christ"
is for the purpose of what? It is for the purpose of
"Examining" the Christians
"works" in order to see if a reward can be given.
What method does God use in order to examine the believers works?
Scripture says that at the time of the "Bimah" God will
put the Christians "works" on the altar in heaven and test it
with "FIRE" (1Cor. 3:11-15). The fire of God
will be "the first and final test"
of the believers works in order to "separate" the deeds which
were done by the believer in the power of the
Holy Spirit, from the deeds which were done
in the power of the believers flesh" (Gal.
5:16-23).
The examination of the Christians life
before the "Bimah seat of Christ" will reveal how
"faithful", or how "unfaithful" the Christians walk was "in
Christ." The "abundance" of rewards
given, or the "lack" of rewards given will reveal openly
before God, and to everyone present how faithful, or how unfaithful
the Christian was in their service to Christ during their life on earth.
Listen carefully!
God is the "only One" who can examine a Christian
properly, honestly, and without discrimination. He alone is the only One
who can judge our motives and actions, since He is the only One who
can "look upon the heart of man." No one can participate in
the "Bimah seat of Christ" unless they are a
believer. Why? because the "Bimah" takes place
immediately following the resurrection event and not
prior to it, which means that "NO ONE" can participate
in the resurrection based on their good works. Secondly,
the "Bimah" takes place in heaven
and NOT on the earth. Therefore you have
to be saved in order to partake in the Bema seat of Christ, since
it is the next event following the resurrection.
It is impossible for any believer in
Christ to miss the resurrection program of God. If only part of the church
was resurrected, then those who were left behind could never be
examined by the Lord, since they missed the Bimah seat of
Christ. The "only people" who
will be left behind at the time of the resurrection will be those who have
NOT trusted in Christ, which means then that they do
not poessess Christ who would have "Sealed them with the Holy
Spirit" at the time they believed (Eph. 1:13, 4:30), but they failed
to do so!
There is only "One" Bimah seat
of Christ mentioned in scripture for the church (1Cor. 3:11-15;
2Cor. 5:10). This event takes place in heaven "one
time" for ALL the church saints (from
Pentecost to the close of the church age). The "Bimah" is never
taught in scripture by the apostle Paul as ever being "repeated" again
for the church. Therefore it cannot take place until
"ALL" of the "church" is present. This means
that the church age MUST END, and all the
saints in Christ must be resurrected
at ONE TIME, whether dead
or alive, faithful or unfaithful. Not one can be left behind, since the
judgment seat of Christ is the next event. Listen to what the apostle Paul has
to say!
1Cor. 5:10 "For WE (collectively) must ALL (the whole body of Christ) appear before the judgment seat
of Christ, that "each
one"
(every individual believer in
Christ) may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according
to what he has done, whether good or bad."
Who is Paul the apostle speaking to
and addressing in this text above? That's right!
"the church." Paul is not just teaching the church
saints at Corinth, but his letter to the Corinthians is also his
instruction and teaching to the "Whole body of
Christ. How do we know this? We know this by the fact
that Paul says this himself in 1Cor. 1:2 "To the
church of God which is at Corinth, to those who "have
been" (past perfect tense) sanctified in Christ
Jesus, saints by calling,
with all who in every place (the whole
body of Christ) call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and
ours."
Question: Is there any further
evidence in 1Cor. 5:10 that reveals that the "Judgment seat of
Christ" is an event which includes the "whole body of
Christ", and not only part of the body of
Christ?
Answer: Yes!
Paul says "For we must
all appear before the "judgment seat of
Christ......." Now look at this sentence! I want you to notice
something very important and profound in this text that many have
missed! Notice that the phrase "judgment seat of
Christ" is in the "singular form" and
NOT in the "plural
form." What does this
mean? It means this my friend! That the "Judgment seat
of Christ" is only going to take place ONE
TIME! and ONE TIME ONLY for the
church. And the ONLY time that this event
can possibly take place for the church saints in Christ, whether dead, or
alive is at the time of His appearing, which is the the close of the church
age/resurrection (1Thess. 4:13-18).
If Paul was teaching that the body of Christ
was to experience "multiples" of the "judgment seat
of Christ", then he would have written to the church the
following: "For we must all appear before
the "judgment SEATS (Plural) of Christ.
Now Paul was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. If God had
"judgment SEATS" (plural) in mind for the church,
which would mean "more than one judgment seat", then the Holy Spirit
would have inspired the apostle Paul to write this text in the
"plural form" in stead of the "singular
form." Paul didn't make a mistake here, nor did the Holy
Spirit make a mistake who was directing Paul's teaching in his epistles which he
wrote to the Church.
Secondly, Paul the apostle
would have never used the terms "WE" in the
"collective form", nor the term "ALL" in the
"completed form" in reference to the body Christ if he was
teaching that there would be "multiples" of the Bimah seat of
Christ. Why? Because Paul used the term
"Seat" in the singular form. The following is how
Paul the apostle should have phrased this sentence if he had "Multiples"
of the judgment seat of Christ in mind. "For "SOME OF
US" must appear before the judgment SEATS
of Christ....etc." Therefore just language itself
"Contradicts" the teaching that some will miss the
resurrection!
Question: How in the
world can the "Bimah seat of Christ" take place for the
church if their are members of the body of Christ missing due to having
been denied their glorified bodies due to sin, which Christ was suppose to have
already payed for in full at the cross? According to the "partial Rapture"
people these saints will be left behind in order to be purged
and purified for their sinful deeds during the tribulation period?
Answer It is impossible
for any church saint to be left behind! Scripture has
already made absolutely clear here that the "whole body of Christ"
must all be present at the judgment seat
of Christ to be examined by God for the deeds which were done in
the body (2Cor. 5:10). But these people who teach you
can "lose your salvation" and "miss the resurrection/Rapture" just
won't accept the scriptures which are overwhelmingly clear! The whole
problem with these people is this!
1. They have become their own "examiner
and judge!" of their own deeds "apart" from
Christ who is to examine them Himself at the "Bimah seat of
Christ", and who is the
only righteous judge" (2Tim 4:8).
2. They have become their own
"Justifier" of their own lives by becoming
"Judaizers" in their thinking (Gal. 2:16-21) by trying to put the
church back "under the Law" in order to earn or merit their
glorified body, and thus entry into heaven, which is only by "grace through
faith in Christ alone" (Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7).
3. Finally! They have become their
Own Bimah seat of........."put your name here".........)
because they alone are determining whether or not their deeds are
"good enough" to get them a glorified
body." By doing this they have
"trampled" all over the righteousness of God through
Christ (Rom. 3:22, 8:10; 2Cor. 5:21) which they supposedly are
suppose to possess. And they have disregarded as
"insufficient" God's righteousness which every believer
possesses through Christ!
1 Peter
2:24 "And
He Himself bore "OUR SINS" in His
body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live
to righteousness..........etc."
You can see here how the "partial Rapture
theory" is totally destroyed by the teaching of the "Bimah seat of
Christ" alone by the apostle Paul. This means that the Church
CANNOT be partially resurrected at the time of Christ's
appearing, and then the other part of church go into the tribulation
period. What I have just shown here is just another
important clue which shows that there will NOT be
one church saint in Christ left behind at the time of
the resurrection. Paul used "We,
all, eachone, " along with the
"singular form" of "Seat",
and NOT the plural form
"Seats." It is totally impossible scripturally,
and theologically for any church saint to be left behind. The
"Bimah seat of Christ" is a one time event, which is
seen in Revelation 4:10
as having already taken place.
Rev. 4:10 says: "The
twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the
throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and
will cast their crowns before the
throne......etc." As you can see in
this text. The Bimah seat of Christ has already taken place,
which is seen by the fact that the church saints are "Casting their crowns" before the feet of
Jesus." This term "Crowns" here in Revelation 4:10 is the
Greek word "Stephanos" which means "Victor's
Crowns." These are the crowns that the church saints won during the
church age, and which were given at the time of the "Judgment seat of
Christ."
I want to share with you some things from the book
"Things To Come" by Dr. Dwight Pentecost. He has a
whole section on this topic of the "Twenty-four
elders." I will share just a little with you
below.
(quote page 255 / 256). "The number
"Twenty-four", which represents the entire priesthood (1Chron.
24:1-4, 19), as it was divided for purposes of representation by David,
suggests that this the church. While Israel was called to a priestly
function (Ex. 19:6), that nation never entered into this chief function
because of their sin.
To the tribulation saints the promise is
given in that they shall minister as priests in the millennium (Rev.
20:6). However, at the beginning of the tribulation period Israel
"has not" been restored to the place of a priestly
nation, for they must await the millennial age for the
realization of that privilege.
The tribulation saints, likewise, must wait
until the millennial age for their realization of it. The church is
the "only" body definitely constituted a priesthood
that could fulfill the function of priests ministering under the High
Priest (1Peter 2:5, 9).
(quote page 256 / 257). "The "Crowns" suggest that they represent
the church. These
Twenty-four are "not" wearing monarch's crowns
(diadema ), but "Victor's crowns" (Greek -
Stephanos), which had been won in a
conflict (Eph. 6:10-17; 1Tim. 1:18, 6:12;
2Tim. 4:7 scripture my emphasis).
They therefore have been both resurrected, for a
"spirit" would not be wearing a crown, and then
judged, for "they could not
receive a crown as a reward" apart from judgment. Further,
the judgment must have only recently
taken place, for they are seen in the "act" of casting
their crowns at Christ's feet (Rev. 4:10). (End quote).
Continuing:
Therefore "not one
believer" in Christ can be left behind at the time of the
resurrection (1Thess. 4:14-18). Otherwise the body of Christ would be
"dismembered and incomplete", which would defeat God's purpose for
sending Christ in the first place at the time of the resurrection
event! There is no other prophetic time slot in-which the
"Bimah seat of Christ" can take place, except at the
"close" of the Church age!
Christ's "message to the seven churches" comes to a
conclusion in Revelation 3:22. Then the opening
of Revelation chapter 4:1 it says;" After
these things."
Question: After
what things? What is being shown
here is the "close of the church age" by the simple fact
that there is no more letters to the churches. John the apostle says
"After these things I
looked", and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I
had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up
here", and I will show you what must take place After these
things."
This phrase "After
these things" is repeated twice in Rev. 4:1. This is
important because it shows the "unfolding" of
events in chronological order. The apostle John goes on to describe
what he sees. In Rev. 4:4 he sees "24
thrones; and upon the thrones he saw 24 elders. In Rev. 4:10 John sees
the 24 elders falling
down before Christ worshiping Him, and casting
their crowns (Stephanos "Victor's crown) before
the throne.
Paul the apostle teaches in the New Testament
epistles that the church saints will have opportunities to win crowns while
serving Christ during their life on earth. We will not be discussing these
crowns since this is not the thrust of this article. The only important
thing here to see is that the church saints are already in heaven in
Rev. 4:1, and they are casting their "crowns"
(Greek -Stephanos /
Victor's crown / Rewards) at the feet of Jesus who is sitting on the
throne.
The Conclusion
We have seen throughout this study over and
over again that the Raputure is the resurrection, and the resurrection is the
Rapture. They are "one and the same event." We have seen from
scripture that there is only one group "spiritually
identified" in 1Thess. 4;13-18 who will be participating in this
resurrection event. This group is called "The Body of Christ." There is
just "One" body of Christ and it is the Holy Spirit's
job at the moment of every believers conversion Christ to "Seal the
believer" (Eph. 1:13, 4:30), and baptize the believer with the Holy
Spirit who places them "into" the body of Christ
"For by one Spirit we were ALL baptized into one body" (1Cor.
12:13).
No one can be called a "carnal Christian" unless they
are "a Christian." Likewise the same can be
said of the "faithful Christian." Yes Christians can
walk in the flesh (Gal. 5:16-23) and can live carnal lives, but they
will suffer the loss of rewards at the "Bimah seat of Christ ( 2Cor.
5:8-10). The only rewards a believer will lose will be the ones
they "could have won" while they were busy walking
in the power of the flesh! This goes for the "faithful believer" as well
as the "unfaithful believer."
The Carnal Christian will obviously have less
rewards due to the lack of faithfulness to the
Lord. There is no question about that! But the lack of their faithfulness
doesn't "exempt" nor
"invalidate" what little amount of rewards they
might have won. Listen people! God doesn't take any
rewards away from any of us, "WE
DO!" All God does is places the believers works
on the altar and tests it "with fire" in order to
see if a reward can be given. Do you know what this means? What
this means folks is this! That it is solely up to every
individual believer to decide how they want to live! Waste your
precious time here on earth by walking in the flesh as a
Christian! And watch the majority of your Christian life go
up in smoke at the Bimah seat of Christ. Use your time wisely for
faithful service to the Lord. Then you will have many rewards.
The choice is up to each one of
us!
Therefore those works of the flesh will be burned up at
the Bimah seat of Christ "but he himself shall be saved, yet so as
through fire (1Cor. 3:11-15). The only reason why any believer
could stand in the presence of God at the time of the "judgment seat of Christ"
is because they were found "righteous" by the righteousness of God through
Christ. The apostle Paul says "We all" must
appear before the Bimah seat of Christ" (2Cor. 5:10). Every Christian
has deeds that were done in the power of their flesh which
will not stand the test of "fire", whether they
were carnal in their walk, or whether they were faithful in their walk with
Christ.
Every believer has the power of the Holy Spirit to walk
in obedience to Christ each moment of every day. But the truth
of the fact is this. That there is no Christian, at no time
whatsoever during the church age, who has walked 100% of the time in their
Christian life by the power of the Holy Spirit. All of us have deeds
which we have done in the power of the flesh, which will be
burned up at the judment seat of Christ. The question however for each one
of us "in Christ", whether carnal or faithful is this! "How many rewards will each one of us have to
cast at the feet of Jesus (Rev.
4:10) after the "Bimah seat of Christ" is
finished!
Pretty sobering isn't
it!
Closing this study
I don't need to share alot here at this point because I
think that the scriptures have made it emphatically clear that each and
every believer in Christ is NOT under Law,
but under GRACE!
Listens folks! God has given us "His vey
best." Jesus
is "all you need" in order to qualify for the
resurrection. Whether the believer is already dead in Christ, or
whether they are alive at the time of His appearing. There is only
going to be "ONE BIMAH SEAT OF CHRIST."
And if you are "in Christ" by
believing the gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation (Eph. 2:8-10).
Then you are "Sealed with the Holy
Spirit" for the day of
Redemption," (Eph. 1:13, 4:30).
"For the word of God is living and
active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far
as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow,
and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
(Heb. 4:12)
Trust the word of God "ONCE AND FOR
ALL", which has been presented in this article. And let Jesus set you free from all your
guilt of sin and self condemnation. "For in
Him (Jesus
Christ) you have been made
complete......etc." (Colossians
2:9)
God bless you all!
In Christ
Tom Gaston