Question: Some Christians teach that there are several Raptures, or catching up to Heaven of the Believers in Jesus Christ. How do you explain this? 7/6/9
Answer:
The Bible indicates that there are several raptures for different groups of people. It also indicates that there are “ranks” in the raptures.
Jesus’ ascension into Heaven 40 days after His resurrection from the dead was the first of the “firstfruits” raptures. The name “firstfruits” is symbolic of both the first ranks of raptures which occurred in Jesus’ case around the Jewish season known as the feast of firstfruits, or the ripening of the first crops in the fields such as early wheat, green grapes and early vegetables. At the same time that Jesus arose from the dead at the time of Jesus’ resurrection, Matthew 27:51-53 states: “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom: and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the graves after his resurrection, they went into the holy city (Jerusalem) and appeared to many.”
It seems that the mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead also caused other saints to arise from the dead in their new “glorified bodies”. These glorified bodies can never die, become ill or decompose.
The Bible says that right after Jesus died on the cross for our sins He spent three days and three nights in hell, in the “bowels of the earth”, preaching to those who had been obedient to the Jewish law. These are known as the Old Testament “saints”. Ephesians 7-10 states: “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: ‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men’ (Psa 68:18).
“Now this,, ‘He ascended’ - what does it mean, but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? (Job 3:13, 20:17). He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. (John 20:17, Acts 1:9-11).
Counting the resurrection of these old testament saints who arose with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ we can say that this was another of the resurrections. We still are awaiting the next, or third rank of resurrections which will occur when The trumpet is blown in the “Come up here” discussed in Revelation 4:1.
This soon-to-occur third Rapture and resurrection of dead saints also is included as the first resurrection of the church saints, known as “firstfruits”. These are the Believers in Jesus Christ who have lived dedicated lives for the Lord Jesus who have been filled with His Holy Spirit and were diligent in their work for the Lord’s cause. These have had a burden for the salvation of others, praying earnestly for their salvation, giving of their time and money for the cause of Christ. These could be said to be extraordinary saints, dedicated to the Lord in all of their ways.
The remainder of the Christians who “have called upon the Name of the Lord” but who have not been interested in developing their spiritual standing with the Lord are to be taken in the fourth resurrection and rapture of Believers. They largely have led lives focused on their own needs, rather than the needs of others as Christians are commanded to do. This latter group of Believers will be required to suffer much of the tribulation, or “seventieth week of Daniel” during which they will become totally focused on the will of the Lord, refusing to serve the Antichrist and refusing the “mark of the beast” in their foreheads or right hand.
This fourth rapture and resurrection will occur just before the wrath of God falls upon the earth against those who have killed and destroyed many of the people upon the earth because of their hatred for God and of all things and people related to Jesus Christ.
Jesus and His life are the gold standards for "readiness" for the third Rapture, or what also is known as “the great snatch”. At this time both the living sanctified saints as well as the saints who have died during the church age shall be taken to Heaven to serve the Lord forever.
We use the word “saint” to represent all of the dedicated and devoted Believers in Christ Jesus. The title “saint” does not necessarily mean those who have been beatified by specific church organizations. Instead, as in the book of Acts, all dedicated believers were called “saints”.
The Bible affirms repeatedly that, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32. "Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved."
That is a promise of salvation, not necessarily of being in the first ranks of the "saved". The Bible is very clear that there are "ranks". How could it be otherwise? Our achievements in terms of rewards are for those tasks for which we have allowed ourselves spiritually to be prepared. Some are more eager learners, Bible students and achievers than are others. This is true in all aspects of life, both here and in the afterlife.
Paul declared in I Corinthians 3: 11-17, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear, for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire: and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
“If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
It is believed that the “fire” which tests our lives include the trials and temptations which we overcome in this life. Christians who have succumbed to the temptations of this life without sooner or later achieving spiritual victory through confession, repentance and the spiritual application of the blood of Jesus sacrificed for our sins will of necessity be subjected to the trials of the tribulation. During this incredibly evil time they better may see just how terrible Satan and his crew are.
During this 7-year period they will have another opportunity to resist evil and to stand up for the cause of Jesus Christ. During the frightful days of the tribulation many will be subjected to a martyr’s death for their faith. The book of the Revelation discusses decapitation for those who refuse to serve the Antichrist. This period will be likened to a “trial by fire.”
Clearly we are not all held to the same standard of achievement, but spiritual requirements are geared to ability with what one has been given. Jesus said, Luke 12:48, "To whom much is given, much is required."
According to this, a completely sincere, dedicated and loving believer with mental retardation would receive a much greater reward than would a brilliant scientist who in this life was lukewarm in his devotion to the Lord, Holy Spirit guidance and to God's inspiration.. In spiritual matters, things are not necessarily what they appear to be from a human perspective. However, the unchangeable variable is the requirement that we accept the sacrifice of Jesus, The Lamb of God, for our sins.
We repeatedly are warned that sooner or later we all shall face God, the judge of the universe. To the last person, we shall understand that God's judgments are fair, on that day when each of us must give an account for our life's choices after receiving His freely offered salvation. Not one of us will be able truthfully to cry about His judgment, "Unfair!".
The admonition of I Peter 4:18 is a sobering thought, "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
It's a good policy to try to lead our lives as close to the gold standard, Jesus' example, as we can, rather than trying to justify ungodliness and walking as far to the edge of the precipice as is possible. Just squeaking by is not a good choice. Why would anyone choose to take that risk?
Your comments or question
David’s Life
Question: David is given as an example of “A man after God’s own heart”. He committed many terrible sins against man and God. How can he then be called so? 7/6/9
It probably needs to be repeated that the main point in David's case, as should be in ours also, was that he recognized his sins and repented remorsefully, accepting full responsibility and requesting help in not repeating those sins. That is why God called him, "A man after my own heart". Yes, he committed many mistakes. Yes, it mattered to God. Yes, he repented. Yes, God forgave him. Yes, God strengthened him in not continuing with those sins.
It was not because of all of David's terrible sins that he was "A man after God's own heart", but David was so labeled because he recognized his sins, acknowledged them and repented before God in abject sorrow.
Unfortunately, even though David repented with all of his heart and God forgave him, there were still terrible prices to pay for those sins. The act of forgiveness could not undo the consequences of the sins. The computer's "undo" button is wonderful.. Too bad that we haven't an "undo" button for our lives.
As the prophet Nathan prophesied when he confronted David about his sin against Uriah, the sword never left David's house, leaving a bloody trail through David's progeny throughout the years and over the generations. David had to face the loss of several of his greatly cherished children. His first son Absalom whom David loved with all of his heart, killed his half-brother Amnon for raping their sister Tamar. Then Absalom later betrayed David and usurped his kingdom before Absalom was killed.
Absalom’s death occurred while fleeing David’s forces and Absalom’s beautiful, thick and long lair caught in the branches of an oak tree. His mule proceeded on, leaving him hanging by his hair. Joab thrust 3 darts into Absalom and Joab’s soldiers thrust him through with their swords. When David received the news he mourned grievously, heartbroken, crying in abject sorrow, II Samuel 18:33 NKJV. “O my son Absalom - my son, my son Absalom - if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”
David's concubines were forced to live "as widows" for the rest of their lives.
After David's death David's otherwise next-in-line-to-rule son (had Solomon not superseded David), Adonijah, was killed by Solomon. Adonijah was killed because of his request to marry the beautiful virgin Abishag who had been placed in David's bed in the futile attempt to "warm him" before he died.
Seventy thousand of David's people were destroyed by the death angel even though David already had repented of his sin of taking a census after he was warned not to do that. David was not allowed to build the temple as was his most cherished wish because of his legacy as a "bloody man". David’s label as a “bloody man” was not because he had fought so many successful wars with multitudes dying, but because of his killing such innocent people as Uriah the Hittite. Uriah was Bathsheba’s husband, slain to cover David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba. This adultery resulted in Bathsheba’s pregnancy which would be difficult to explain in Uriah’s absence, faithfully fighting David’s wars.
However, David’s order to Solomon just before he died, not to allow Joab's soul "to go to the grave in peace" after David had promised Joab that he would not kill him, was not evil. David kept his promise to Joab not to execute him. Joab had killed not only Abner but others who should not have been killed. Joab's murders added to David's label as a “bloody man”. David spared Joab's life until David died, but Solomon meted out the punishment that Joab rightfully deserved. Capital punishment was vigorously applied not only in Israel but also in every other country. Everyone knew the probable consequences of the crime of murder before they committed the crime.
Avarice and greed were hallmarks of many of David’s descendants who became rulers of both Israel and Judah after they were separated into two countries. Many of these descendants of David, who were also rulers, caused the deaths of each others in repeated, bitter wars between them in the coming centuries. Most of their reigns were shot through with disobedience to the commands of the Lord, until the nation of Israel passed from history as a nation altogether and Judah was dispersed around the world in the great Diaspora. The revival of the country of Judah, now called Israel, in the last days, was prophesied by the major prophets in the Old Testament, as a sign that their Messiah Yeshua would soon return to rule over the world.
Because David was “a man after God’s own heart” the anticipated redeemer of Israel and of the whole world, Jesus Christ, came “from the loins” of David. If Jesus is not the coming Messiah and redeemer, then there can be no Messiah for Israel. The Messiah must be proven to be a descendent of David. There is no other individual since the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD who can prove lineage back to David, “a man after God’s own heart” The records were destroyed with the destruction of Herod’s temple, never to be reconstituted in this age. All of the past records that we now have appear in the Old Testament, leading up to Yesua, Jesus Christ our redeemer.
No human living today can prove direct descendence from David. The Messiah and Redeemer is Jesus, or else there can be no Messiah. ###
Scriptures: Relevant to Whom?
Question: I have been told that the Bible must divided according to the groups of people to whom it was written, e.g. Jews versus Gentiles. The scriptures in one section are not relevant to those in the other groups. Therefore, since Paul was Apostle to the Gentiles the scriptures written by him are not relevant to the Jews. The other Apostles preached to the Jews, and their epistles are for Jews only and not to the Gentiles. The book of Hebrews, epistles written by Apostles other than Paul, and The Revelation were wrotten only for the Jewish people, They do not apply to Gentiles. Is this correct? 7/7/9
Answer: (brackets mine).
It is patently false that Paul preached only to the Gentiles and that his writings are only for them, not to Jewish people. There are many proofs that Paul never ceased preaching to both Jews and to Gentiles. The same is true for all of the other Apostles. In reviewing the New Testament we find that Paul’s custom when he entered a new city, first of all, was to search for Jews by attending the Jewish synagogue. His practice was frequently to preach primarily in the synagogues of these different cities. Included below are excerpts from the book of Acts which outlines this practice, until the end of Paul’s life.
Additionally, since the authorship of the book of “Hebrews” is not identified within the document, we cannot, without further proofs, identify who the author was. With modern day computer technology “Hebrews” now has been thoroughly studied using advanced computer software for analysis. Using this software; writing style, sentence structure, words and their usage, etc. were compared with the other books of the New Testament. Conclusion: the strongest possibility supports Paul as actually being the author of Hebrews. The closest comparison of the different elements of composition were more like Paul’s known samples than those of any of the other authors of New Testament books.
Because you erroneously conclude that the book was not written by Paul you state that the book of “Hebrews” is not relevant to Gentile Believers.. Not only is it incorrect to take a baseline stance that all scriptures are not for all people, but you quite likely are mistaken in your assumption that Paul did not write “Hebrews” under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Following are excerpts from the book of “Acts” which definitively prove that Paul continued to preach to the Jews throughout all od his missionary journeys:
See Acts 13:4-42. “(v5)...when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews....(v14)...They came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day....(v42)...when the Jews went out of the synagogue the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them on the next Sabbath....(v43)...when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul....” After this Paul and Barnabas decided to take the gospel also to the Gentiles, but they never ceased preaching also to the Jews in the different cites they entered throughout both Asia and Europe. Paul continued to preach to the Jews. also, if not primarily to them, throughout his life.
Acts 14:1, “...in Iconium...they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke to that great multitude....”
Acts 16:1, “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but the father was Greek.” (Note: Jewishness traditionally was determined by the fact of motherhood, not fatherhood. There was no question of parentage with the mother who births the infant, but fatherhood could not immediately be determined until during the past two decades with DNA studies. This technology historically has never been available until this 20th century The same is true for invitro implantation, allowing a surrogate mother to bear another couple’s genetic fetus.)
Acts 17:1-4 "...They came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews, Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them and for three Sabbaths, reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ......and some of them were persuaded;...."
Acts 18:1-26, "...(Paul) went to Corinth...he found a certain Jew named Aquila,......he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks....Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all of his household....Then all of the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat....(v19) "And he (Paul) came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews....(v24) Now a certain Jew named Apollas born at Alexandria...mighty in the Scriptures came to Ephesus...began to speak boldly in the synagogue..."
In Acts 19:8 Paul is still preaching to the Jews: "And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God."
A couple of years before his death when Paul was taken to Rome for trial his first contacts in Rome were Jews who said, Acts 28:22, "But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect (note: Christian) we know that it is spoken against everywhere....many (both Jews and Gentiles) came to his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening."
The simple truth is that ALL of the Apostles were ministers of the gospel, both to the Jews and to the Gentiles!!!!! All of both the Old Testament and New Testament writings are for all peoples of all times!
The Apostle Peter was the first to take the gospel to the Gentiles, to Cornelius' house, according to clear instructions from God, described in Acts chapter 10. Peter continued to teach not only to Jews but also Gentiles throughout his life.
Peter became the first Pontiff of Rome, supposedly composed of mostly Gentiles. but also of Jews who had accepted Yeshua as their Messiah. Historically, Peter’s bones are buried in the Basilica of St. Peter’s church in the Vatican in Rome, where the bones were discovered centuries later. Examination of the bones showed that they corresponded to historical accounts of Peter’s crucifixion in an upside-down-manner, according to Peter’s request.
Because of his denials of Jesus during Jesus’ crucifixion Peter considered himself unworthy of the same position as had Jesus been when He was on the cross. Further archeological evidence from Rome does not support any other individual of apostolic times as having been crucified in an upside-down position, other than for the evidence in Peter’s bones. Because of Peter’s known history, how can it possibly be said truthfully that Peter’s writings are only for Jewish people and not to the Gentiles? Such an incredible position can be refuted out-of-hand as patently false, false, false!
The apostle Thomas took the gospel not only to Jews but also to Gentiles. History records him as being a preacher of the gospel to the Gentiles in India. The other Apostles are recorded in history as spreading throughout the world preaching Christ to ALL; Jews and Gentiles.
In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul states, "ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man (and woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." NKJV.
There can NEVER be a separation of scriptures, some which relate to Jews, and some which relate to Gentiles only. ALL of the Scriptures are relevant to ALL people.
You are greatly mistaken when you take the position you have endorsed that the Bible must be divided into sections, some directed to one group of people and other Scriptures directed only to other groups. It is my hope that you will discard this false doctrine, so that as Paul recorded to Timothy, “...that the man (and woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
There is not a single Scripture that can be cited to support your position without considerable twisting and distortion of its original meaning. We are told to reject the religious ideas of men which are not provable by Scripture, no matter how attractive they may seem.
We are required to accept all of the Scriptures as instruction from God. Those writings that did not meet the conditions of accuracy and Holy Spirit inspiration from God have been excluded from Holy Canon. We can trust God to have controlled the publication of His inspired word so that true and relative writings have been included in the Bible. Everything that we need to know for our salvation and spiritual maturation.is found in these writings in the Bible, none of which should be dismissed by any group of Believers, whether of Gentile or of Jewish background. We don't want to be guilty of denying Christians of any part of God's Holy Word, all of which is applicable to all people.
We are required as Christians to stand up for the truth. All of God's Word is truth, directed to every single person on Earth, irrespective of their state of origin. We err greatly if we choose to consider selectively only specific portions of the Word as applicable to ourselves.
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