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Belgian Christadelphians
What is the Rapture
Rapture what does it mean?
“Those Who Died in Christ “13 In addition, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who are sleeping [in death]. That you do not persist in grieving as everyone else does who are without hope. 14 For if our conviction is that Jesus died and rose again, just so, also, those who have fallen asleep believing in Jesus, The God will gather together and lead to [Jesus]. 15 For we tell all of you this according to the Master’s own promise, that we the living who are still around at the Return of the Master will not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. 16 Because the Master himself will come down from the Sky with a commanding shout–with the Archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet–and the dead in union with Christ will be resurrected first. 17 Afterward, we the living who are still around, will all together with them at the same moment, be raptured in clouds to a meeting with the Master in the air. And so we shall always remain together with the Master.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 MHM)[1]
“deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus” (1Th 4:17 VULGATE)
In English we can find the word «rapture» in several bibles translated as:
Rapt: Etheridge
Caught up: ABU, ACV, AKJV, AMP, ASV, AV, BWE, Cath.Seredipity B, CAB., CENT, CJB, Common, Darby, Diaglot, EMTV, ERRB, ERV, Evid, GSNT, HCSB, HNV, IAV, ISV, JB2000, JSV, KJ21, Lamsa, Lit, LITV, MKJV, Mont, MRC, Murdoch, NAB, NASB, NET, NHEBJ, NiRV, NIV, NLT, Noyes, NSB, RNKJV, RSV, Rev.Mur., RWebster, RWP, Ryrie Stu.B., Sawyer, TCNT, TNIV, TRC, Twenty, Tyndale, UKJV, WEB, Webster, WORNT, Worrell Rev&Tr, Worsley
Caught away: Rotherham, Synaitic
Gathered up: GNB, NCV, the Script.1998,
Snatched away: CEV, CLV
snatched up: Orth.JBC, Wyc
be seized and snatched away (carried off by force): JMNT
Taken up: BBE, Douay, GWV, LO, CPDV
Swept up: Phil2007, Philips,
To meet: ECB, Amp, ESV, ABU
Seized … for meeting: ABP
Ascend (together) to meet: PNT
Conveyed together: Mace
People are talking about it more and more. It becomes a hot topic on television or on the radio. Spiritual leaders are preaching about it. It is a favourite piece of conversation of those who read the Holy Bible. The increase of the Pentecostal Movement brings this word which we cannot find in the Dutch language in the Bible translations.[2] No current subject has caused so much confusion, anxiety, panic, and even hysteria as rapture - except probably Christ's second coming. Why? Because people are relating the event to the end of the world.
The doctrine of The Rapture is taught throughout Christendom and we receive many requests for an explanation. Based upon the statement of Paul as outlined in 1 Thess. 4, it interprets literally the statement "we shall be caught away in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air".
Rapture theology entered probably by the 19 th century preacher John Nelson Darby who interpreted 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 in the New Testament of the Bible as which present future believers in Jesus Christ will be suddenly taken away prior to the events of the war of Armageddon and the ushering in of the Millennial Kingdom.[3] His ideas were exported to America, developed in the Scofield Reference Bible, was greatly supported by the Pentecostals and spread from this Church Movement over the world.
Among many Christians who say that they are born-again the word ‘Rapture’ is used as a special indication concerning the end times. According to them the Rapture is an event when Christians of special merit will be taken up or will be lifted suddenly from their homes, their automobiles, even from their passenger seats on airliners into the air to meet Christ in the sky. For them Jesus shall return to slaughter everyone who is not a born- again Christian.[4]
Evangelicals think they will escape a 7-year tribulation during which the Antichrist reigns supreme. Lindsey's book, "The Late Great Planet Earth" puts it this way: "God's Word tells us that there will be one generation of believers who will never know death. These believers will be removed from the earth before the Great Tribulation . . ,"[5] "Someday, a day that God only knows, Jesus Christ is coming to take away all those who believe in Him. He is coming to meet all true believers in the air . . . It will be the living end. The ultimate trip . . . The big question is will you be here during the seven year countdown? Will you be here during the time of Tribulation when the Antichrist and the False Prophet are in charge for a time?"[6]
A rapturous experience is imagined! It requires little foresight to see that when Christ returns to the Mount of Olives to "rule the nations with a rod of iron" (Revelation 2:27)[7] and to "break in pieces and destroy all other kingdoms" (Daniel 2:44) [8]that he will be rejected by millions who now profess to follow him. The very activities prophesied of Christ are attributed by certain Protestant and Evangelical churches to the Antichrist. Furthermore, when the rapture (as taking the born-again Christians to heaven) does not occur (since it is not taught in the Bible) those awaiting the ultimate trip before the return of Christ to the earth will reject him as an imposter.[9] But when you take “the rapture” just as a gathering of all or just certain people then we have to look how Jesus is going to bring those people together and when.
There are those who think most of humankind will be left behind, including those Christians whose faith requires strengthening of which they get the chance to be formed or to prepare them in a time of trials.[10] For them the Rapture will cause great confusion and chaos. A time of tribulation will begin, making the world easy pickings for the advent of a charismatic savior who appears to have all the best ways, financial means, and power to make things right again.[11] In that group there are differences of opinion whether the rapture will come about just before the tribulation begins, midway through the seven-year reign of the Antichrist, or at the end of the time of tribulation. According to Premillennialists, the seven years before the advent of Jesus will be marked by the Rapture (the rescue of the living “saints” by the Lord), war, disease, famine, and the coming of the Antichrist or the by Satan send enemy[12].
Others take it that the rapture will take place at the Second coming of Christ, after the time of tribulation and are commonly called Postmillennialists.
Some Christadelphians believe that Jesus ascended to God in between seeing Mary after his resurrection and seeing Thomas. As when he sees Mary he says "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your father; and my God, and your God." But then when he saw Thomas some time later he asked him to touch him so that he might believe. Hence, another possible meaning to verse 17 could be that we likewise we need to ‘ascend’ to the Father so that "this corruptible shall put on incorruption".[13]
But there is also a group of Christians who consider the rapture as a taking up of the soul into heaven every time a Christian dies. They believe body and soul are two different things, and when we die the body shall go death but the soul shall be taken up by Jesus into heaven.
Next to those you also have a group of people called Preterists who claim that the Book of Revelation was mostly fulfilled by 70 AD and that there is no rapture at all, or others who would agree that Jesus shall return and gather all the people to judge them.
Although not all Christians accept the scenario of the Rapture, many Christians and non-Christians alike find the premise intriguing and read the books in the "Left Behind" series as exciting science fiction. The first six volumes in the series based on the events of the Rapture by fundamentalist minister Tim LaHaye and professional writer Jerry Jenkins had sold over 60 million copies by 2004[14]. Number seven in the series of planned 12 volumes, The Indwelling (2000), had an initial print run of two million and appeared on the bestseller lists a few days after its publication. In addition, a complementary "Left Behind" series for children has sold three million copies, and, altogether, over 18 million various products related to the series have been purchased.[15]
In the 1980 Ecyclopaedia Britannica the word ‘rapture’ is not yet taken up as a subject to have an article on. The accompanying Webster dictionary [16]explains it a.o. as:
The act of seizing and carrying off with force: forcible capture: abduction; rape.
The act of carrying or being carried along: force of onward movement.
On the third place comes the carrying of a person to heaven; Christ’s raising up of his true church and its members to a real above the earth where the whole company will enjoy celestial bliss with its Lord.
The state of being carried out of one self: spiritual or emotional ecstasy: possession by an overwhelming emotion {as joy, love}; an experience of this sort.
The advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English, Second Edition of the Oxford University Press[17] gives: State of being rapt; ecstatic delight: gazing with.
The Oxford English Dictionary provides two pages describing the history of usage of the word in English. From the 17th century onwards, the word is attested as rapture with similar senses to the older form rapt. The OED provides the etymology as from Latin rapere: to seize, especially abduct; it likens the words capture and rapture.
(the Rapture) (according to some millenarian teaching) the transporting of believers to heaven at the second coming of Christ. • v. [tr.] (usu. be raptured) (according to some millenarian teaching) transport (a believer) from earth to heaven at the second coming of Christ.[18]
The Encarta gives[19]:
rapture [ rápchər ] noun;
Definition:
1. overwhelming happiness: a euphoric transcendent state in which somebody is overwhelmed by happiness or delight and unaware of anything else
2. christianity mystical transportation: a mystical experience in which somebody believes he or she is transported into the spiritual realm, sometimes applied to the second coming of Jesus Christ, when true believers are expected to rise up to join him in heaven.
Plural noun raptures Definition: state of great happiness or enthusiasm: a state of great happiness or enthusiasm about something, or words and gestures that express this
”went into raptures about the meal they'd had”
[Late 16th century. Directly or via French< medieval Latin raptura 'seizure' < Latin raptus (see rapt)]
rapturous [ rápchərəss ] adjective
Synonyms: bliss, ecstasy, euphoria, delight, joy, heaven, elation
The Conservapedia writes that rapture is "A state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion". [20]
Robertson’s New Testament Word Pictures gives: Shall be caught up (arpaghsomeya). Second future passive indicative of arpazw, old verb to seize, to carry off like Latin rapio.
In the Dutch language the word is not in common use and is even not yet taken up in the 2010 dictionary and for the translation from English the most recent Van Dale Groot Woordenboek Engels - Nederlands {Big Translation Dictionary English-Dutch} 2008 gives: ‘vervoering’ {‘transport’} for the noun , ‘verrukking’{‘delight’, ‘bliss’} and ‘extase’ {ecstasy’}. As second possibility it gives the verb ‘wegvoering” {especially to heaven} {‘wegvoeren’ = carry away/off; for an injured person: ‘to be sped off’} or “transporting of a person from one place to another”[21]. For raptured it gives ‘verrukt’ {‘delighted (with)’} or ‘in extase’.{in ecstasy; go in ecstasies; raptures; (be) ecstatic about}. Because the word rapture does not exist in Dutch certain Christian believers, mainly Pentecostals, use the English word then to denote a situation they think shall happen to all believers.
When we look at ‘Rapture’ coming from the Latin word ‘rapere’ (from 1594) we can wonder if the contemporary meaning given in certain evangelical denominations would be the right one. We take it that rapture means to seize, especially abduct; to catch up, to snatch away, or to take out, and ‘rapio’, which means "caught up"[22]. The Greek word, "harpazo" translated "caught up" does not in itself denote direction (either up or down)[23]. It simply means, "to snatch away" or “to carry off “In most dictionaries we do find that ‘rapture’ denotes violence of some kind. It happens suddenly.
Its usage is illustrated in the following references where the same verb occurs:
a) It is used of Philip when he was caught away to Azotus "The spirit of the Lord caught away Philip." (Acts 8:39).
b) It is rendered "catch": "The wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep." (John 10:12).
c) "pluck": "No man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand." (John 10:29).
d) "pull" “And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 1:23 AV) “And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.” (Ac 23:10 AV)
e) "take" “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. {suffereth…: or, is gotten by force, and they that thrust men}” (Mt 11:12 AV) “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” (Joh 6:15 AV)
Raptus is Jerome's translation of the Koine Greek word harpazo, which means "caught up" or "taken away." ἁρπάζω harpazō from a derivative of aireomai, -oumai, -hsomai, aor. eilomhn, particip. Elomenov, is used only in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and Acts 8:38. In Acts 8:38, ἁρπάζω harpazō describes the transporting of Philip suddenly from Gaza to Azotus.
In the Vulgate Latin translation by Hiëronimus we do find:
“deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus” (1Th 4:17 VULGATE)
“cum autem ascendissent de aqua Spiritus Domini rapuit Philippum et amplius non vidit eum eunuchus ibat enim per viam suam gaudens” (Ac 8:39 VULGATE)
The Greek Dictionaries do give for this word for ‘rapture’:
to seize, carry off by force {grijpen, met geweld wegnemen}
to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly {beslag leggen op}
to snatch out or away {snel grijpen en meenemen}
Harting and the Common Greek Dutch Dictionary give also that it is to take away or to take up by ‘zinsverrukking’ intentions delight[24], ‘a trance’[25] at a surprising speed.[26]
Those that define rapture as "an uplifting by the power of a higher nature, from that which is according to nature to that which is above nature" or a taking up from the death believers into heaven, take freedom of thinking by reading those verses. Dionysius says (Div. Nom. viii) that "God's justice is seen in this that He treats all things according to their mode and dignity." But it is not in accordance with man's mode and worth that he be raised above what he is according to nature. Therefore it would seem that man's soul is not carried away to things divine.[27] God rules us not by violence or force, as Damascene says [De Fide Orth. ii, 30]. Therefore man's soul would not be carried away to things divine in such manner.
The Greek does not have the definite article, and the phrase can read (as it does in the Diaglott): "in clouds," that is, in groups or companies. The expression "cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 12:1[28] provides the thought in mind. Saints shall be conveyed to the judgment seat in companies, probably in much the same way as Philip was taken to Azotus: by God's power.
We can look at “The Rapture” as it is going to happen at the resurrection near end of the tribulation:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 We which are alive and remain shall be caught up.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Apostasy and the first revealing of the antichrist precede rapture.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed.
Matthew 24:36-41 Some escape global trial like Noah, but through the sealing
Revelation 7:3,4, one is taken the other is left behind.
Luke. 21:28-36 Expect the Rapture when signs begin, shake sleep, and pray that you escape all these things.
(See also; Gen. 5:24; 2 Ki. 2:11; Song. 2:10-14; Isa. 26:14-21, 66:5-9; Jn. 14:1-3;
Ac. 8:39; 2 Cor. 12:2-4; Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 5:1-11; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28, 11:35; Ja. 5:7-8; 1 Jn. 3:2; Jd. 14.)
The purpose of the gathering, spoken of by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians, is "to meet the Lord". The word here used is apantesis,and according to The Vocabulary Of The New Testament (Moultan and Milligan): "It seems to have been a kind of technical term for the official welcome of a dignitary."[29] When an official paid a visit to a city, a deputation of leading citizens met him to escort him on his final stage. The word occurs also in Matthew 25:6[30] in relation to the "wise virgins," and as “came”/ “came out” in Acts 28:15[31], for the group of brethren who went out of their way to meet Paul.
The purpose of the gathering, therefore, is to obtain approval from the Lord, and also to meet him in his official capacity as future monarch of the world. The meeting is to be "in the air." Is it literal or figurative? When believers would take it that they would be taken up in the air to stay there in the heaven, it cannot be interpreted literally without doing violence to other Scriptures, for the saints are to reign upon the earth (Revelation 5:9-10)[32]. Jesus as the son of the Most High has to sit upon "the throne of David" (Luke 1:32-33)[33]. The mortal peoples are to ascend to Jerusalem, the town on earth, to worship before him (Zechariah 14:16)[34], and that city is to become the "throne of Yahweh".
All these, and many other, prophecies, demand that Christ reign on earth, and the saints reign with him. In other words, the statement in Thessalonians is to be no more interpreted literally than are the earlier expression used by Paul: "a shout," "voice of the archangel," "trump of God." Understood figuratively, the "air" relates to the political "atmosphere" or aerial of the age to come, from whence shall shine forth the symbolic Sun, Moon and Stars.[35]
It is natural to man to tend to divine things through the apprehension of things sensible, according to Romans 1:20[36], "The invisible things of God . . . are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made." But the mode, whereby a man is uplifted to divine things and withdrawn from his senses, is not natural to man.[37]
If a Christian would like to use the word rapture it has to be connected to the waking up as perhaps a coming in an ecstatic condition when they feel that they are back alive after they died. For ecstasy means simply a going out of oneself by being placed outside one's proper order.[38] It is a state of mental alienation and altered or diminished consciousness; the situation of having excessive joy enthusiasm or any exalted feeling[39]. Man may become outside himself as regards the appetite because he finds himself back out of a deep sleep.[40] When we speak of a living body either of a waking or of a sleeping man, or of one that is withdrawn from his bodily senses during ecstasy, or whether his soul[41] (his breath)went out of his body altogether, so that his body lay dead, now those people shall find themselves with breath or life again in their bodies. You can imagine what a special atmosphere there would be when all those people who died shall come back to life. When everybody shall be able to see the many trillions of people who have lived on this world, the ones who made no name but also all the historical figures. It must be an unbelievable situation. We would marvel for less.
After the resurrection of those who are in the graves there will be an overflow from the intellect to the lower powers and even to the body. Hence it is in keeping with the rule itself of the divine vision that the people could turn towards phantasms and sensible objects.[42] On several places in the Scriptures we are told that there shall come a time that people would be woken up and taken away from the grave. That shall be the time that Jesus shall call all people to come in front of him. The living and the dead shall then be carried away to come in front of the judgment seat of Christ Jesus. Thoughts shall be united again with the soul, which is the living body.[43] From the dust we went into when we died[44], our body shall be reformed. Then shall come the moment of truth and shall be made clear who succeeded to persevere and therefore shall succeed into saving his or her soul (life).[45] But not everybody shall be able to save her or his soul.[46] The ones who called unto the name of the Most Highest, Jehovah / Yahweh and those who recognized Jesus as their Saviour shall be able to find the right way to the Gate of the Kingdom if they followed Gods Law and were faithful until the end.[47] The Truth enables us, not only to understand but to contemplate with rapture this exhibition of what God purposes to do in the end of His dealings with the house of Israel. That he has not made the earth in vain — that He means to fill it with His glory at the last — He has declared from the beginning.[48]
In case it would be only the church which would be taken up, you can wonder which church, because there are a lot of people who call themselves Christian and say of other Christians they are not Christians. Men have their own differing definitions of what the Church actually is. There are a lot of people who do not accept that all those denominations or different churches could be part of the limbs of Christ.[49]
Christ has already been raised out of the dead as an example to what is going to happen to us. God who placed Jesus at His own right hand placed His son also at the head of His Church.[50] The dead or the grave could do nothing to this church Christ had to build up, guide and protect.[51] Jesus in his lifetime had prepared his apostles for the work they had to continue. Jesus compared the group of those who would follow him as a body with many limbs. And as he worked through his physical body during His earthly ministry, he now works through his spiritual Body—the Church [52]. This Church which is Jesus’ body, should be in unity with Christ and should have the fullness of him who fills all in all.[53] All should recognize the same person who is holding the Head, from whom all the body, having been supplied through the joints and bands, and having been joined together, so that they could grow with the growth of God before the time of tribulation.[54] In our lifetime we are already called out with all those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and as those who in every place would call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.[55] For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.[56] Also that church shall suffer like Christ and his apostles have suffered. They shall not be able to escape any attempt to seduce them to get away from God, or any pain, pursuit and we, as members of that church, should rejoice in our sufferings on behalf of all those followers of Christ, and fill up the things lacking of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh, on behalf of his body, which is the church.[57]
Christ is building His Church to fulfil God’s plan for humanity. The apostle Peter describes this process: “You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5)[58]. It is in our lifetime we have to make it work that we can belong to this Body of Christ. This we can do by learning from the Holy Scriptures how we can live according the will of God and keep His commandments. We can only come to Jesus unless the Father who has sent him draws us[59]. In the Prophets we can find who can get to know God, how we can find Him and what is going to happen in the ‘after life’. In the New Testament we do find many parables and lessons how we shall come to that promised Kingdom of God. Jesus assures us that when we are taught of God, heard and learned from the Father we shall come to Jesus and he will raise us up at the last day.[60] Notice that it shall take place at “the last day”.[61] And only then.
This “Last Day” is going to be the “Day of Judgment” or “Doomsday”. Clearly Jesus is going to call his church people together after the whole world has been tested and put in front of the big problems and Great War of the End Times. It shall only be after that time, when Jesus shall be ready, that certain privileged godly people shall receive the right to reign with Christ Jesus in the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.[62] Jesus followers shall be assigned places in “mansions” or “rooms, abodes or residences” — or offices. In ancient Israel, the Levitical priesthood served in various rooms in the temple of God; these rooms represented positions of authority. The word “mansions” refers to authority which shall be given after that time of tribulation, because only then He would establish the government of God.
Christ was speaking of His Second Coming, when He will establish the government of God on earth and give positions of rulership to His followers. God’s servants are being trained now to serve under Christ as kings and priests (Revelation 1:6; 5:10)[63]. Also we are told that this reign would be on earth[64] and asked to pray for that in the model prayer “Our Father who are in heaven”. Jesus Christ is still training this advance team of leaders to rule under Him in God’s kingdom—a world-ruling super government. But God will only trust leaders who have been properly trained and proven for such a task. Those leaders of the Church that can be called “a holy priesthood.”[65] Followers shall be made the Kingdom priests[66] to Jesus, Yeshua his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. They shall be blessed and be holy when they have part in the first resurrection. And that first resurrection shall only take place when Jesus has made his preparations. Over these sanctified people, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.[67] Therefore the Church can only be gathered before the Millennium, when those souls or people are going to reign.[68]
Christ understood that his Church — His little flock — would be persecuted and despised by the world. Just before His crucifixion, He warned, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20)[69]. It is because Jesus has chosen his people out of the world, therefore the world hates them. Christ was persecuted, to the point of horrible crucifixion after a night of brutal torture. Therefore, the true Church could also expect to be persecuted — and hated! Those in it are not “of the world.” The world senses this and hates them for it [70] The Church shall have to endure it completely and until the end.[71]
But before all this: the return of Christ, the gathering of all people, the judgment, the dedication and the appointment of the kings and priests, also the Church shall be taken and undergo the cruelties of this world.[72] The tribulation is no accident. It is part of the plan of God. Out of it victoriously we shall at last come if we cast not away our well-founded confidence. At last we shall stand in the assembly of the tried men and women of all ages, who will stand on Mount Zion in the strength of immortality, in the gladness of acceptance, and in the rapture of praise that will only find fit expression in the song that John heard them sing in vision with a sound like mighty thunderings, and the roar of many waters.[73]
Some people place the first resurrection after the rapture. Probably they mean the first resurrection of those who are now in the grave. Because in the Old Testament we had already the bringing back to life of the widow from Sarfath her boy who was brought back by Elijah (1 Kings 17:8-24)[74] There is also noted the bringing back to this world of living of the wife from Sunem her son by Elisa (2 Kings 4:8-37)[75]. Jesus also brought Lazarus back from the death. In case his soul would have gone straight to heaven this would be a terrible action, because then Lazarus had to come back in this world with difficulties. Also Jaïrus daughter is brought back from the ‘deep sleep’ and others like the widow from the town Naïn (Luke 8:40-56; 7:11-17; John 11:17-44).[76]
Then there is the first major resurrection in the Common Era, the one of Christ Jesus, three days after his death (Matthew 28:1-7; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-9).[77] And Jesus is the only one who raised into heaven (Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53).[78] His resurrection brought to Jesus Christ also a different body then when he was here on earth. He received immortality. In it the divine evidence of his holiness and of God's righteousness was given to us and was the key given to our justification by faith when we are baptised, believing the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. Thanks to Jesus his offer we became sanctified by the blood of the everlasting covenant whereby we receive forgiveness of sins and are granted hope of the redemption of the body at Christ's return. Covered by his mighty atoning work, we long for the day when he shall fashion this body of our humiliation and make it like unto his glorious body.[79] But also after Christ Jesus we do find resurrections, like the one of Tabita Dorcas, the woman of Joppa.[80]
Though it shall be those who are in Christ who shall stand up first.[81] It is when Everybody has to wait for Gods Son from heaven, who came back from the dead.[82] Jesus, our Saviour will rescue from the coming wrath. It is when the Lord Jesus comes from heaven with the angels of his power in flames of fire[83], that we find a First and a Second Resurrection after Armageddon around the millennium.[84] It is about the “resurrection of the changeable bodies”. It is the moment in the last days and in the millennium that the dead shall be changed to a different body by God. John is pointing out to the special resurrection where by those who died, were as in a deep sleep, became dust again and shall be risen up from dead and shall receive a new body. The first group “the firstfruits”[85] the holy people or 144.000 chosen people of God who shall receive a body that shall be as a spiritual body in no need of material food. They shall not have to eat or drink anymore to stay alive. They shall be taken up into heaven and receive an body to eternity. The second death shall have no power over them.[86] They shall have the task to reign with Jesus in the Kingdom of God for a thousand years.[87] The others shall receive a body in which they shall be able to live forever in the Paradise. But they shall have to work and eat to stay alive. Really they implicate death still but will get the admission to live for indefinitely. But for them there shall be no pressures, afflictions or pain anymore, except for at the end of the Millennium. But those who had died before and where judged by Christ would not have to feel any worries, because they have proven to be for God. But there next of kin, their descendants who shall be born in the Millennium still have to prove that they voluntary choose to follow Jesus and God Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth. The resurrected had before they died already enough difficulties to cope with, but the good men were to have grace given them, such as is not given till the hour of death—grace for that peculiar work. Hence, they may then discover that they are not only justified, but far advanced, in point of feeling and desire, for entrance into the glorified state.[88] They shall have the assurance of the things they believed and shall now perfectly well the difference between good and evil, the preferred world and the way not to end in oblivion or eternal dead. The resurrected believers shall be able to recognize those people they knew before. We have seen our children, our parents, and our friends, and we think most readily of them in our realisations of future reunions. But, then, we have not as yet seen the Redeemer himself, consequently we have no idea of the exceeding fascinations of his beauty. The moment he is beheld, every other desire and every other recollection will be absorbed in the enraptured vision of him, to whom we shall then feel ourselves indebted for all the glory that surrounds us. But though it be so, there will also be the gratification of our perfected natural desires. It will be, indeed, the delight of the Saviour himself to bring those together in heaven who were dear to one another on earth. He will not, on that account, fear any abatement of their supreme love for him. He will know that this kindness on his part must the more increase it.[89]
Those that shall be placed to live in the Paradise on earth knew already from their Bible knowledge in the previous life that the twelve apostles were going to sit on their twelve thrones, and will receive the glory due to their rank, and their services in the church. They shall accept that, no doubt, that there will be degrees of glory in heaven and on earth, and that they who have converted many souls or had a special relationship with God or with his son, will have greater honour paid to them, and will be stationed as brighter stars in the celestial galaxy.[90] This arrangement, however, does not interfere with the privilege which all will enjoy in common, of recommencing a communion of love and friendship which was begun on earth, and interrupted for a season at death—not that we shall there be in every sense as to relationship as we are here; for it is probable that family bonds may not be felt there as they are at present. There may be nothing in the parent, in the child, in the husband, or in the wife, exactly to correspond with those sympathies that coexist in such relationships now. Still there is much to support the idea that all the pure affections of our nature, which here underwent the process of sanctification, will be consecutively exercised in heaven upon the same objects that attracted them on earth. The parental affections, for instance, are not economical simply, they are natural; they are bound up in our human constitution; they are essential to it; and as these affections would have been exercised perpetually, had Adam and Eve kept their first estate, we may argue, that they will, in some measure, find vent when we are in possession of Paradise restored. There will, certainly, be some very important and extensive differences; but many of the original elements of our natural faculties in such connections, will partake of no other change than what is indispensable from perfection in holiness.[91]
In the parables of Jesus, the wicked and righteous are judged at the same time - when the son of man appears.[92] All people, from all directions, shall hear Jesus who shall say to the first group that they gave food, clothes and hospitality, while the others shall be confronted with the fact that they did not give food or drinks or did not come to visit those who needed comfort. It are the righteous and wicked who shall converse with Jesus at that time designated: "when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory" and when “the master has shut down the door”; (cf. Luke 13:24-30)[93] - The sitting down in the kingdom is presented in the same context as the casting out of the wicked, possibly this could indicate that there is not a 1,000 year interval between the resurrection of the just and unjust.
"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished" should be read as parenthetical. "This is the first resurrection" refers not to the rest of the dead, but to those who "lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation of John 20:4,6)[94] - i.e., those immortalized at Christ’s return; the holy men and women or the 144.000 chosen ones whose body has to be transformed from a worldly to a spiritual body.
The Seventh-day Adventists cite Revelation 21:10[95] in support of their doctrine that the rapture will take the saints to heaven for 1,000 years, after which the bride, represented as a city, will descend to the earth.[96] Above we showed you that the Bible lets us know that Jesus shall return with special signs after the time of the Big Battle or Armageddon and before the Millennium.[97] God accepted Jesus, Yeshua, as the Highpriest and as the man who shall be allowed to reign with his co-rulers. The Kingdom made and priests to our God shall rule on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)[98] This reigning is during the 1,000 years as is indicated in (#Revelation 20:6)[99]: "they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." "From heaven" emphasizes its divine origin without asserting that it was manufactured in heaven and floated down to the earth[100]. Similarly, the bride descending out of heaven symbolically portrays her heavenly origin. Through the ages God had promised His beloved people land. He did not say to them they were to go to inherit heaven. For God’s word, that the earth would be his heritage, was given to Abraham, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.[101] Clearly the worshippers of the only One True God and the seed of Abraham were going to inherit land, i.e. receive a special place on this world to abide in peace. It would not be a place only for Jews but also for all those who accepted Jesus as their Messiah the Saviour. Brothers and sisters in Christ are also considered Abraham’s seed.[102] Those who belong to Christ are considered also to be descendants of Abraham and heirs according to the promise made to this Patriarch.
Those people, considered the seed of Abraham shall be allowed to inherit that land that Abraham could see. And those fields would be part of that promised Kingdom. A kingdom has a king and a government. There shall be an assumed office. Jesus has given his kingdom to the New Israel. The saints of the Most High shall receive authority and will take the kingdom, and it will be theirs forever. We are also told that the judge will be seated, at the right hand of God, and that the authority and the power of the kingdoms under all the heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and all powers will be his servants, obey Him and do His pleasure.[103]
Next chapter: The Rapture or admittance with Christ
Dutch version / Nederlandse versie van Hoofdstuk 1: Wat betekent”Rapture” of “vervoering”?
[1] “Those Who Died in Christ
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will 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.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, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.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 will rise first.17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 ESV)
[2] In English we can find the word “rapture” in verse 17 of the letter to the Thessalonians in the quoted 21st Century translation by Mark Heber Miller.
[3] He refers to the word “caught up” in the letter by Paul.
[4] Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times 24 November 2004.
[5] The Late Great Planet Earth , Lindsey, p. 127.
[6] The Late Great Planet Earth, Lindsey, p. 126.
[7] “26 And he who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations. 27 And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels [of a potter] they will be broken to pieces, even as I received from My Father. 28 And I will give him the Morning Star.” (Re 2:26-28 MKJV)
[8] “And in the days of these kings, the God of Heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to other peoples, but it shall crush and destroy all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (Da 2:44 MKJV)
[9] A Biblical and Historical Study of 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2: The Man of Sin,p 18, Ron Abel, Printed by Stallard & Potter, 1984.
[10] Whether there would be a total or partial rapture of the saints, Interpretations of Bible prophecy. This latter was a source of division within Elim itself. See Elim Evangel, 21, (1940), p. 125. Referred to by Bryan Wilson, Sects and Society: A Sociological Study of Three Religious Groups in Britain, (London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1961), p. 57.
[11] Gale Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained; 2003.
[12] Christadelphians do not believe in The Satan. Satan is the Evil, or any opponent of God. The Antichrist is the adversary of the Church of God.
[13] Meeks on 1 Thessalonians: 17 on Christadelphian Good News.
[14] Theologian debunks popular series' take on the Rapture; Chicago Sun-Times May 31, 2004.
[15] "The Rapture." Gale Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 24 Mar. 2010 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
[16] Webster’s Third New International Dictionary – Unabridged - and Seven Language Dictionary. Encyclopaedia Britannica, inc. & G.&C. Merriam Co 1976
[17] By A.S. Hornby, E.V. Gatenby, H.Wakefield; Second Edition, London, Oxford University Press 1963; eight impression 1967
[18] "rapture." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 24 Mar. 2010
[19] Encarta® World English Dictionary [World English Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation.
[20] http://www.conservapedia.com/Rapture
[21] http://www.answers.com/topic/rapture
[22]Robert Young, Analytical Concordance to the Holy Bible, 8th ed., (London: Lutterworth Press, 1965). Bullinger comments: "To snatch away, to carry off (suddenly and by force) esp. of wild beasts." Ethelbert Bullinger, A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek Testament 8th ed., (London: Samuel Bagster and Sons Ltd., 1957) p. 138.
[23] Derived from “caught up” in Van Dale Groot Woordenboek Engels Nederlands, 4° Editie, 2008
[24] Free Translation.Com
[25] ElAn Languages Vertaal Bureau ; and also by Google Vertalen / Google Translation
[26] At a twinkling of an eye. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
“afterward we, the living, who remain, shall, at the same time with them, be instantly taken up in clouds, to join the Lord in the air; and so we shall be for ever with the Lord.” (1Th 4:17 LO)
[27] Whether the soul of man is carried away to things divine?; New Advent Question 175. Rapture: Is the soul of man carried away to things divine?
[28] “Therefore also we, such having surrounding us a cloud of witnesses, encumbrance having laid aside every, and the close–girding sin, by means of patient endurance we should run the being laid out for us course;” (Heb 12:1 Diaglot)
[29] The Vocabulary Of The New Testament (Moultan and Milligan)
[30] “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Mt 25:6 AV) “Of middle and night a cry was raised; Lo, the bridegroom comes; go out to a meeting of him.” (Mt 25:6 Diaglot)
[31] “And thence the brethren having heard the things concerning us, came out to a meeting with us as far as Appii forum, and Three taverns; whom seeing the Paul, having given thanks to the God, he took courage.” (Ac 28:15 Diaglot)
[32] “9 and they sing a new song, saying, ‘Worthy art thou to take the scroll, and to open the seals of it, because thou wast slain, and didst redeem us to God in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, 10 and didst make us to our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth.’” (Re 5:9-10 YLT)
[33] “32 he shall be great, and Son of the Highest he shall be called, and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob to the ages; and of his reign there shall be no end.’” (Lu 1:32-33 YLT)
[34] “And it hath come to pass, Every one who hath been left of all the nations, Who are coming in against Jerusalem, They have also gone up from year to year, To bow themselves to the King, Jehovah of Hosts, And to celebrate the feast of the booths.” (Zec 14:16 YLT)
[35] Logos vol.36 p. 315.
[36] “For The God is made manifest to them. For His invisible things are understood by the things made from the world’s creation–even His eternal power and divinity–so they are without a defense.” (Ro 1:20 MHM)
[37] Whether the soul of man is carried away to things divine?; New Advent Question 175. Rapture: Is the soul of man carried away to things divine?
[38] Whether the soul of man is carried away to things divine?; New Advent Question 175. Rapture: Does rapture pertain to the cognitive or to the appetitive power?
[39] Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary, revised edition 1977, T A Constable, Edinburgh
[40] The dead fall a sleep. The dead are inconscious and inactive. (Ecclesiasts 9:5,10)
[41] Man himself is the soul who dies. (Ge 2:7; 1Co 15:45; Nu 23:10; Eze 18:4.
[42] Whether the soul of man is carried away to things divine?; New Advent Question 175. Rapture: Was he withdrawn from his senses?
[43] Men is himself the soul. (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Peter 3:20)
[44] “then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.” (Ec 12:7 MKJV)
[45] “By your patience you will gain your souls.” (Lu 21:19 MKJV) “for you will gain your souls because of your endurance.” (Lu 21:19 MHM)
[46] “For, narrow the Gate and cramped the Way leading to Life and few are those finding it.” (Mt 7:14 MHM)
“You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But, the one who endures completely will be saved.” (Mt 10:22 MHM)
“For by this unmerited favor you have been saved through your faith. And this is not because of you, because it is God’s gift.” (Eph 2:8 MHM)
““And if the righteous person is scarcely being saved, where will the irreverent and sinner show up?”” (1Pe 4:18 MHM)
[47] “For, “Everyone who ever calls upon the name of YHWH will be saved.”” (Ro 10:13 MHM)
“O love Jehovah, all you saints of His; Jehovah preserves the faithful, and plentifully rewards the proud doer.” (Ps 31:23 MKJV)
“For Jehovah takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation.” (Ps 149:4 MKJV)
“And being perfected, He became [the] Author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him,” (Heb 5:9 MKJV)
“not stealing, but showing all good faith, so that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” (Tit 2:10 MKJV)
“Do not at all fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil will cast [some] of you into prison, so that you may be tried. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Re 2:10 MKJV)
[48] Seasons Of Comfort, volume two p 306, Robert Roberts, ed Logos, G. E. Mansfield, 1996
[49] “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.” (Ro 12:5 ASV)
“because we are members of his body.” (Eph 5:30 ASV)
[50] “which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this {1} world, but also in that which is to come: {1) Or age} and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Eph 1:20-23 ASV)
[51] “And I also say unto thee, that thou art {1} Peter, and upon this {2} rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. {1) Gr Petros 2) Gr petra}” (Mt 16:18 ASV)
[52] “Now ye are the body of Christ, and {1} severally members thereof. {1) Or members each in his part}” (1Co 12:27 ASV)
[53] “which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Eph 1:23 ASV)
[54] “and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God.” (Col 2:19 ASV)
[55] “unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours:” (1Co 1:2 ASV)
[56] “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.” (1Co 12:12 ASV)
[57] “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;” (Col 1:24 ASV)
[58] “ye also, as living stones, are built up {1} a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. {1) Or a spiritual house for a holy priesthood}” (1Pe 2:5 ASV)
[59] “No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Joh 6:44 MKJV)
[60] “And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” (Isa 54:13 ASV)
“and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.” (Jer 31:34 ASV)
“44 No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me.” (Joh 6:44-45 ASV)
[61] “No person can approach me unless the Father who sent me draws that person, and then I shall resurrect that person during the Last Day.” (Joh 6:44 MHM)
[62] “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” (Joh 14:2-4 AV)
[63] “and he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto {1} his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion {2} for ever and ever. Amen. {1) Or God and his Father 2) Gr unto the ages of the ages; Many ancient authorities omit of the ages}” (Re 1:6 ASV)
“and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth.” (Re 5:10 ASV)
[64] “You made them a Kingdom and priests to our God. {#Exodus 19:6} They are reigning upon the earth.”” (Re 5:10 MHM)
[65] “ye also, as living stones, are built up {1} a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. {1) Or a spiritual house for a holy priesthood}” (1Pe 2:5 ASV)
[66] “and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Ex 19:6 ASV)
“But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and {1} in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. {1) Or [to their glory shall ye succeed]}” (Isa 61:6 ASV)
[67] “This is the First Resurrection. Happy and holy are those sharing in the First Resurrection! Over these the Second Death has no authority. They will be priests of The God {#Isaiah 61:6} and the Messiah and they will reign with him for the 1,000 Years.” (Re 20:6 MHM)
[68] “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Re 20:4 Webster)
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Re 20:6 Webster)
[69] “Remember the word that I said unto you, A {1} servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. {1) Gr bondservant}” (Joh 15:20 ASV)
[70] “Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name’s sake.” (Mt 24:9 ASV)
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” (Mt 10:22 ASV)
[71] “You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But, the one who endures completely will be saved.” (Mt 10:22 MHM)
“And ye will be hated by all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Mt 10:22 Webster)
[72] “But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, {1} bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. {1) Gr you being brought}” (Lu 21:12 ASV)
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God.” (Joh 16:2 ASV)
[73] Seasons Of Comfort, volume two p 354, Robert Roberts, ed Logos, G. E. Mansfield, 1996
[74] “8 And the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Sidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee. 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand. 12 And she said, As Jehovah thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it forth unto me, and afterward make for thee and for thy son. 14 For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that Jehovah sendeth rain upon the earth. 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat [many] days. 16 The jar of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by Elijah. 17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? {1} thou art come unto me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son! {1) Or [art thou etc]} 19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the chamber, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20 And he cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. 22 And Jehovah hearkened unto the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother; and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. 24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of Jehovah in thy mouth is truth.” (1Ki 17:8-24 ASV)
[75]“8 ¶ And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, that passeth by us continually. 10 Let us make, I pray thee, a little chamber {1} on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. {1) Or [with walls]} 11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber and lay there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast {1} been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. {1) Or [showed us all this reverence]} 14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no son, and her husband is old. 15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 16 And he said, At this season, when the time {1} cometh round, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thy handmaid. {1) Heb [liveth] (or [reviveth])} 17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season, when the time came round, as Elisha had said unto her. 18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to his servant, Carry him to his mother. 20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut [the door] upon him, and went out. 22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the servants, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to–day? it is neither new moon nor sabbath. And she said, {1} It shall be well. {1) Heb [Peace]} 24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slacken me not the riding, except I bid thee. 25 So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is the Shunammite: 26 run, I pray thee, now to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is {1} vexed within her; and Jehovah hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. {1) Heb [bitter]} 28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? 29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30 And the mother of the child said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. 31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor {1} hearing. Wherefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. {1) Heb [attention]} 32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto Jehovah. 34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he {1} stretched himself upon him; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. {1) Or [bowed himself]} 35 Then he returned, and walked in the house once to and fro; and went up, and {1} stretched himself upon him: {2} and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. {1) Or [bowed himself] 2) Or [and embraced the child]} 36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out.” (2Ki 4:8-37 ASV)
[76] “40 And as Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him; for they were all waiting for him. 41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him to come into his house; 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went the multitudes thronged him. 43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who {1} had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of any, {1) Some ancient authorities omit [had spent all her living upon physicians, and]} 44 came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately the issue of her blood stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter said, {1} and they that were with him, Master, the multitudes press thee and crush [thee]. {1) Some ancient authorities omit [and they that were with him]} 46 But Jesus said, Some one did touch me; for I perceived that power had gone forth from me. 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath {1} made thee whole; go in peace. {1) Or [saved thee]} 49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s [house], saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher. 50 But Jesus hearing it, answered him, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be {1} made whole. {1) Or [saved]} 51 And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother. 52 And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he, taking her by the hand, called, saying, Maiden, arise. 55 And her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately: and he commanded that [something] be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed: but he charged them to tell no man what had been done.” (Lu 8:40-56 ASV)
“11 ¶ And it came to pass {1} soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude. {1) Many ancient authorities read [on the next day]} 12 Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came nigh and touched the bier: and the bearers stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16 And fear took hold on all: and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is arisen among us: and, God hath visited his people. 17 And this report went forth concerning him in the whole of Judaea, and all the region round about.” (Lu 7:11-17 ASV)
“17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off; 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house. 21 Martha therefore said unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 And even now I know that, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; 26 and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, [even] he that cometh into the world. 28 And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary {1} her sister secretly, saying, The Teacher is here, and calleth thee. {1) Or [her sister, saying secretly]} 29 And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went unto him. 30 (Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met him.) 31 The Jews then who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb to {1} weep there. {1) Gr [wail]} 32 Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her {1} weeping, and the Jews [also] {1} weeping who came with her, he {2} groaned in the spirit, and {3} was troubled, {1) Gr [wailing] 2) Or [was moved with indignation in the spirit] 3) Gr [troubled himself]} 34 and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him! 37 But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die? 38 Jesus therefore again {1} groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay {2} against it. {1) Or [being moved with indignation in himself] 2) Or [upon]} 39 Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time {1} the body decayeth; for he hath been [dead] four days. {1) Gr [he stinketh]} 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me. 43 And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with {1} grave–clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. {1) Or [grave–bands]}” (Joh 11:17-44 ASV)
[77]“1 Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. 3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified. 6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place {1} where the Lord lay. {1) Many ancient authorities read [where he lay]} 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.” (Mt 28:1-7 ASV)
“1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of {1} James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. {1) Or [Jacob]} 2 And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen. 3 And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb? 4 and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great. 5 And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him! 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.” (Mr 16:1-8 ASV)
“1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body {1} of the Lord Jesus. {1) Some ancient authorities omit [of the Lord Jesus]} 4 And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel: 5 and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye {1} the living among the dead? {1) Gr [him that liveth]} 6 {1} He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, {1) Some ancient authorities omit [He is not here, but is risen]} 7 saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returned {1} from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. {1) Some ancient authorities omit [from the tomb]} 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the [mother] of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles. 11 And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them. 12 {1} But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he {2} departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass. {1) Some ancient authorities omit verse 12. 2) Or [departed, wondering with himself]}” (Lu 24:1-12 ASV)
“1 Now on the first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. 2 She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. 4 And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; 5 and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. 6 Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, 7 and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” (Joh 20:1-9 ASV)
[78]“19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.” (Mr 16:19-20 ASV)
“50 And he led them out until [they were] over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, {1} and was carried up into heaven. {1) Some ancient authorities omit [and was carried up into heaven]} 52 And they {1} worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: {1) Some ancient authorities omit [worshiped him, and]; See marginal note on Lu 4:7} 53 and were continually in the temple, blessing God.” (Lu 24:50-53 ASV)
[79] Logos, volume 47 p 394.
[80] “36 And in Joppa was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which translated is called Dorcas). She was full of good works and kind deeds which she did. 37 And it happened in those days, becoming sick, she died. And washing her, they laid [her] in an upper room. 38 And, because Lydda was near Joppa, hearing that Peter is in it, the disciples sent two men to him, begging [him] not to delay to come to them. 39 And rising up, Peter went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. And all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made [while] she was with them. 40 And putting them all out, Peter knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes. And when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her [his] hand and lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa. And many believed in the Lord. 43 And it was many days that he remained in Joppa, with one Simon, a tanner.” (Ac 9:36-43 MKJV)
[81] “For the Lord himself shall 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;” (1Th 4:16 JB2000)
Matthew 27:62-66; 28:1-15; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-12.
[82] “and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come.” (1Th 1:10 ASV)
[83] “and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,” (2Th 1:7 ASV)
[84] “The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection.” (Re 20:5 ASV)
“And I saw thrones, and there were those who sat down on them, and power of judging was given them. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed with the ax for the witness they bore to Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had worshiped neither the wild beast nor its image and who had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years.(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years.” (Re 20:4-6 NWT)
[85] Christ Jesus was as such the first one to receive an changed body at his resurrection and so became the first one of the firstfruits. “But now Christ has risen from [the] dead, [and] has become the firstfruit of those who slept.” (1Co 15:20 MKJV)
“Of [His own] will He brought us forth with [the] Word of truth, for us to be a certain firstfruit of His creatures.” (Jas 1:18 MKJV)
[86] “Blessed and holy [is] he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.” (Re 20:6 MKJV)
[87] “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And [I saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received [his] mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Re 20:4 MKJV)
“And You made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign over the earth.” (Re 5:10 MKJV)
[88] Mount Pischah, p 184, The Mountains of the Bible, rev. John M'farlane, ll,d., 1899.
[89] Mount Tabor. p.307, The Mountains of the Bible, rev. John M'farlane, ll,d., 1899.
[90] Mount Tabor. p.308, The Mountains of the Bible, rev. John M'farlane, ll,d., 1899.
[91] Mount Tabor. p.308, The Mountains of the Bible, rev. John M'farlane, ll,d., 1899.
[92] “31 But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His glory. 32 And all nations shall be gathered before Him. And He shall separate them from one another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. 33 And indeed [He] shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats off the left. 34 Then the King shall say to those on His right [hand], Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from [the] foundation of [the] world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. 37 Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed [You]? Or thirsty, and gave [You] drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger, and took [You] in? Or naked, and clothed [You]? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? 40 And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did [it] to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done [it] to Me. 41 Then He also shall say to those on [the] left [hand], Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe Me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me. 44 Then they will also answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You? 45 Then He shall answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did not do [it] to one of the least of these, you did not do [it] to Me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.” (Mt 25:31-46 MKJV)
[93] “24 Strive to enter in at the narrow gate. For I say to you, many will seek to enter in and shall not be able. 25 And once the Master of the house has risen up and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, and He shall answer and say to you, I do not know you; from where are you; 26 then you shall begin to say, We ate and drank in Your presence, and You have taught in our streets. 27 But He shall say, I tell you, I do not know you; from where you are. Depart from Me, all workers of unrighteousness! 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you will see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrust out. 29 And they will come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and will recline in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, there are last ones which will be first, and there are first ones which will be last.” (Lu 13:24-30 MKJV)
[94] “4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And [I saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received [his] mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy [is] he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.” (Re 20:4-6 MKJV)
[95] “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God,” (Re 21:10 MKJV)
[96] Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine, (Washington: Review and Herald Publishing Ass., 1967), pp. 504-5.
[97] See also the next chapter.
[98] “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Re 5:10 AV)
[99] “1 Next I saw an angel coming down from heaven, who had the key to the Abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, (the Adversary) and chained him up for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, locked it and sealed it over him; so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were over. After that, he has to be set free for a little while. 4 Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them received authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for testifying about Yeshua and proclaiming the Word of God, also those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands. They came to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is anyone who has a part in the first resurrection; over him the second death has no power. On the contrary, they will be \@cohanim\@ of God and of the Messiah, and they will rule with him for the thousand years.” (Re 20:1-6 CJB)
[100] “1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Re 20:1-6 Webster)
[101] “For the promise that he should be the heir of the world [was] not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.” (Ro 4:13 MKJV)
[102] “For all the land which you see I will give to you, and to your seed forever.” (Ge 13:15 MKJV)
“27 For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. 28 There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you [are] Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” (Ga 3:27-29 MKJV)
[103] “18 But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. 19 Then I wanted to know the truth of the fourth beast, which [was] different from all the others, very frightening, whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails of bronze; [who] devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the rest with his feet; 20 and of the ten horns that were in his head, and [of] the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even [of] that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking very great things, whose appearance [was] greater than his fellows. 21 I watched, and that horn made war with the saints and overcame them 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High. And the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 And he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth, and shall trample it and crush it. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom [are] ten kings that shall arise. And another shall arise after them. And he shall be different from the first, and he shall humble three kings. 25 And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and plot to change times and laws. And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and one–half time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his rulership, to cut off and to destroy until the end. 27 And the kingdom and rulership, and the greatness of the kingdom under all the heavens, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom. And all kingdoms shall serve and obey Him.” (Da 7:18-27 MKJV)
Giving preference to the Word of God instead of the word of people and traditions.
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