The Daily Word of Righteousness

The True Hope: "Rapture" or Resurrection?, #20

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:17)

We shall be caught up from the surface of the earth in an immortal body along with the saints of all ages to meet the Commander in Chief in the air, in the region from which Satan has poisoned the nations of the earth. We then shall descend with Him in the relentless fury of the cavalry charge of the Battle of Armageddon.

It is the author's point of view that only the Lord's victorious saints will take part in this resurrection, ascension, and violent installation of the Kingdom of God upon the earth. It appears to us that the multitude of churchgoers are nowhere near being spiritually or emotionally prepared for the onslaught of Armageddon.

Now the reader can see what we mean when we say that the doctrine of the "pre-tribulation rapture" of the believers is destructive of the Gospel teaching. The "rapture" teaching, the flying away to Paradise of untransformed believers, does not produce "a great people and a strong"—the army that made Habakkuk tremble.

So shall we ever be with the Lord. This is our hope.

The Lord Jesus is coming from Heaven, not to "steal His waiting bride away" but to establish His Kingdom in Jerusalem.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)

The victorious saints are coheirs with Christ. They always shall be with Him as He rules from Jerusalem throughout the thousand-year Kingdom Age. After that they shall be with Him as the new Jerusalem descends from Heaven and is established for eternity upon the new earth.

They are with the Lord today.

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4)

They shall be with the Lord during the Kingdom Age.

They shall be with the Lord when the new Jerusalem descends from the new sky.

They shall always be with the Lord.

Our deceased brothers and sisters who are "sleeping in Christ" will return with Him at His coming. We shall see them and have fellowship with them—all of us being in immortal bodies. We shall sing together the song of the redeemed. We shall enjoy the fellowship that is known only among the true saints.

At the signal from the Commander in Chief we all shall be caught up together to take our place with Him in the air in preparation for the establishing on the earth of the Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy, the kingdom in which the Father's will is always done.

We shall never be separated from the Lord Jesus again.

Let us comfort one another with these words.

To be continued.