ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES: PROGRESSIVE RESURRECTION E. L. Johns © 1991 According to the Scriptures, will there be a "rapture" (catching up) of the saved to meet Christ in the air when He returns? Some teach that there will be no rapture. Others teach that there will be a rapture -- but there are varying theories as to the details. GENERAL RAPTURE OF THE SAVED -- ? All of the saved (living and dead) will be caught out of the world (raptured) BEFORE the Tribulation. SPLIT RAPTURE -- ? Only the FAITHFUL living saved, along with the dead saved, will be raptured (before the Tribulation), leaving the UNFAITHFUL living saved on the earth to suffer in the Tribulation until they die. PROGRESSIVE RESURRECTION -- ? But what do the Scriptures teach? At the coming of Christ in the air, the saved dead will be resurrected and the FAITHFUL LIVING SAVED will be translated and, together, will be caught up (raptured) to meet Christ in the air. This is spoken to the church at Corinth: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." (I Corinthians 15:51) This is spoken to the church at Thessalonica: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) THIS IS NOT SPOKEN TO ALL SAVED! The Old Testament saints will NOT be in the rapture (Job 19:23-27). Job said that he will see Christ when He stands upon the earth at the latter day. Daniel is told that he will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation: “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13) The first resurrection is "progressive" in that the UNFAITHFUL living saved (who go into and die in the Tribulation), those who are saved and die during the Tribulation, and the Old Testament saints are resurrected when Christ returns to earth AFTER the Tribulation. These, along with those who are raptured and those who are saved and die during the Millennium (1,000 Years Reign of Christ on earth), are included in the 1,000 years of the "First Resurrection"; i.e., all of these are in the "First Resurrection". "But the rest of the dead [unsaved] lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:5) WHO WILL BE RAPTURED? All of the living saved? Only the church? All of the church? Only the faithful of the church? WHEN WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE? Prior to the Tribulation? Middle of the Tribulation? End of the Tribulation? WILL TRUE CHURCHES GO INTO THE TRIBULATION? 1. SYMBOLIC TEACHINGS OF SCRIPTURE INDICATE THAT TRUE CHURCHES WILL BE CAUGHT OUT (RAPTURED) BEFORE THE TRIBULATION: (a) Matthew 4:37-43: As it was in Noah's day. (b) Matthew 24:44: Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. COMMENT: Not one drop of water fell in Noah's day until Noah and his family were safe in the ark (Genesis 7:7-10). Why a warning to be READY if readiness did not matter? (c) Luke 17:28-30: As it was in the days of Lot. COMMENT: Not one piece of burning brimstone fell until Lot, his wife, and two daughters were safe outside Sodom (Genesis 19:22-25). (d) Luke 21:34-36: The disciples were told HOW to escape. COMMENT: Why tell them HOW to escape if there would be no need to escape? 2. THE MAN OF SIN CANNOT BE REVEALED UNTIL THE TRUE CHURCHES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE WORLD. (a) II Thessalonians 2:3-8: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [hinders] will let [hinder], until he be taken out of the way. COMMENT: The One now hindering is the Holy Spirit in the churches as He was given on the day of Pentecost. 3. THE EARTHLY MESSAGE TO THE CHURCHES CLOSES BEFORE ANY THUNDER OR LIGHTNING ARE HEARD OR SEEN. (a) Revelation 4:1-5: Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be HEREAFTER. 4. BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSLATION OF LIVING SAINTS. (a) John 3:3: Salvation (b) Matthew 28:18-20: Scriptural baptism (c) Ephesians 3:21: Member of true New Testament church (d) Matthew 25:1-13: Light burning (faithful) 5. Matthew 24:45-51: LORD'S SERVANT RECEIVES PORTION WITH HYPOCRITES. (a) Matthew 24:50: The LORD OF THAT SERVANT cometh. (b) Matthew 24:51: Appointed portion WITH the hypocrites. COMMENT: Pay close attention to the fact that the servant was not said to BE a hypocrite but would be appointed a portion WITH the hypocrites. This takes place when Christ comes in the air for His Bride (the faithful in the church). At the time of Christ's coming in the air (for His bride) or His second coming (to the earth), no one is turned into hell; therefore, there must be a place other than hell where "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth". 11And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. (Revelation 16:10-11) This "portion with the hypocrites" will take place on the earth during the Tribulation. 6. Matthew 25:1-13: THE TEN VIRGINS REPRESENT CHURCHES. (a) I Thessalonians 4:13-18: The unsaved WILL NOT HEAR the Bridegroom's call (read Matthew 24:39: “and knew not”). Only believers (saved) will hear His call. (b) Matthew 25:5-7: ALL of the ten virgins hear the Bridegroom's call. (c) Matthew 25:8: The FOOLISH virgins said, "our lamps are gone out" -- so, at one time, they had oil and their lamps had burned. COMMENT: If this "oil" represents the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit could not have departed (John 14:16). (d) Matthew 25:9: The WISE virgins were not very wise if they would tell lost people (if, indeed, the "foolish virgins" were lost) to “go and buy”. Salvation is the free gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). It cannot be bought. (e) Matthew 25:10: The FOOLISH VIRGINS bought whatever they needed and returned -- but they were TOO LATE for the Marriage. COMMENT: This is not a discussion of salvation but a discussion of marriage, wedding, Bridegroom and Bride. 7. ONCE FAITHFUL, WISE STEWARD -- RULER OVER LORD'S HOUSEHOLD (Luke 12:35-48). (a) Luke 12:45: But and if THAT SERVANT. (b) Luke 12:46: Now drinking, drunken -- cut asunder; appointed a portion WITH the UNBELIEVERS. (c) Luke 12:47-48: Punishment varies according to knowledge of the Lord's will. COMMENT: The SERVANT was not said to be an UNBELIEVER. This is at the time that Christ comes in the air to take His bride. At that time, the unsaved are NOT turned into HELL but go into the TRIBULATION. 8. TAKE HEED, WATCH, PRAY ALWAYS (Luke 21:34-36). (a) Who is to TAKE HEED? The disciples (the church). (b) Why TAKE HEED? Because of what is to come to pass upon the EARTH. (c) Why WATCH AND PRAY ALWAYS? This could not apply to lost people. What good would it do to say to lost people, "Watch and pray always"? Scriptures are very plain on the fact that when a sinner prays in the name of the Lord he will be saved. Here Jesus is instructing His disciples (already saved) to WATCH and PRAY ALWAYS that they might be counted worthy to escape what is to come to pass upon the EARTH (the Tribulation). 9. TO ALL SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION_(Revelation 2:1-29: 3:1-22): "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES." (a) Revelation 2:7: OVERCOMETH: Eat of the tree of life. (b) Revelation 2:11: OVERCOMETH: Not hurt of second death. (c) Revelation 2:17: OVERCOMETH: Eat of hidden manna. (d) Revelation 2:26: OVERCOMETH: Power over nations. (e) Revelation 3:5: OVERCOMETH: Clothed in white raiment. (f) Revelation 3:12: OVERCOMETH: Inhabit City of New Jerusalem. (g) Revelation 3:21: OVERCOMETH: Sit with Christ in His throne. COMMENT: The fact that the OVERCOMERS (faithful, those holding fast) will receive something that the UNFAITHFUL in the churches are not going to receive indicates that the Bride of Christ will be made up of the FAITHFUL in the Lord’s TRUE CHURCHES. * * * * * WATCH YE THEREFORE, AND PRAY ALWAYS, THAT YE MAY BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS THAT SHALL COME TO PASS, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN. Luke 21:36 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
10And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,