Evangel and the Secrets of the Evangel Part 3
By Mark Farquharson
Christ Ruler of All
When Jesus Christ went to heaven He was seated at the right hand of God.
Mark 16:19 The Lord, indeed, then, after speaking with them, was taken up into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God." {CLV}
Ephesians 1:20-23 which is operative in the Christ, rousing Him from among the dead and seating Him at His right hand among the celestials, up over every sovereignty and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this eon, but also in that which is impending: {CLV}
1 Peter 3:22 Who is at God's right hand, being gone into heaven, messengers and authorities and powers being subjected to Him." {CLV}
When Christ was seated at the right hand, He was placed up over every sovereignty and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this eon, but also in that which is impending. All angels {messengers} authorities and powers being subjected to Him. That is our Lord was place as ruler of All beings in the heavens and on the earth, when He went to Heaven, almost 2000 years ago. However most of the world do not know that He is reigning now, it is in secret. In the future eons all will know that He is reigning, but for now it is in secret. In the future eons all the members of the body will reign with Him.
The Administration of the Complement of the Eras
Ephesians 1:9-10 making known to us the secret of His will (in accord with His delight, which He purposed in Him)" to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to head up all in the Christ - both that in the heavens and that on the earth" {CLV}
God is making known to the chosen the secret of His will. This secret is to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to head up all in the Christ - both that are in the heavens and that on the earth.
Ephesians 1:17-19 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may be giving you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the realization of Him, the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, for you to perceive what is the expectation of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of the enjoyment of His allotment among the saints, and what the transcendent greatness of His power for us who are believing, in accord with the operation of the might of His strength,
All the chosen will be given a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the realization of God. This is to enlighten their hearts to perceive what is the expectation of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of the enjoyment of His allotment among the saints, and what the transcendent greatness of His power for them who are believing. More on the allotment later in the article.
Ephesians 1:20-23 which is operative in the Christ, rousing Him from among the dead and seating Him at His right hand among the celestials, up over every sovereignty and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this eon, but also in that which is impending: and subjects all under His feet, and gives Him, as Head over all, to the ecclesia" which is His body, the complement of the One completing the all in all."
{CLV}
God will subject all under the feet of Christ, and give him “as Head over all, to the ecclesia" which is His body, the complement of the One completing the all in all." That is the ecclesia is the complement of Christ, they are the body and He is the head. Our Lord Jesus Christ is completing the all in all.
To Know the Love of Christ and Be Completed for the Entire Complement of God
Ephesians 3:14-21 On this behalf am I bowing my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, after Whom every kindred in the heavens and on earth is being named, that He may be giving you, in accord with the riches of His glory, to be made staunch with power, through His spirit, in the man within, Christ to dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, having been rooted and grounded in love, should be strong to grasp, together with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and depth and height" to know the love of Christ as well which transcends knowledge - that you may be completed for the entire complement of God. Now to Him Who is able to do superexcessively above all that we are requesting or apprehending, according to the power that is operating in us, to Him be the glory in the ecclesia and in Christ Jesus for all the generations of the eon of the eons! Amen! {CLV}
Christ to dwell in the hearts of the faithful, for them to know the love of Christ as well which transcends knowledge, that they may be completed for the entire complement of God. That is the faithful, the chosen, those of the body, are completed for the entire complement. Meaning this completing of those of the body is for the rest of the entire complement. The entire complete is all the rest of mankind, all animals and all spirit beings. That is the chosen are completed for them, this being to reconcile them all to Christ, and bring them to God, completing the All in All, in the on coming eons.
Allotment of Cities:
Jesus told two parables that relate to the future rule of the faithful. The Parable of the talents {Mathew 25:14-30} & the Parable of the Minas {Luke 19:11-27}. I will just cover these very briefly as they are covered in my “Judgement Series,” in the part on parables and in my article: “The Coming Kingdom”
In the talents parable the lord, who is of course Jesus is gone along time, before he goes he gives each slave a different number of talents.
Mathew 25:19-22 "Now, after much time, the lord of those slaves is coming and settling accounts with them. And, approaching, the one getting the five talents brings to him another five talents, saying, 'Lord, five talents you give over to me, Lo! another five talents do I gain with them.' Now his lord averred to him, 'Well done! good and faithful slave. Over a few were you faithful; over many will I place you. Enter into the joy of your lord!' "Now, approaching, the one also getting the two talents said, 'Lord, two talents you give over to me, Lo! another two talents I gain with them.' His lord averred to him, 'Well done! good and faithful slave. Over a few were you faithful; over many will I place you. Enter into the joy of your lord!' {CLV}
When He returns He finds that the one who had five talents has another five talents and the one who had two, had another two. One is placed over many, the other is placed over few. That is one will rule over many people, and one will rule over a few people in the next eon.
However the one who had one talent, did not have another talent, that slave had been unfaithful and is cast into the out darkness, that is the Second Death, the Lake of Fire Mathew 25:24-30.
Now briefly the minas parable, the noble man who is Jesus gives each of his salves one mina. The man goes to obtain a kingdom, and then comes back. Now one slave earned ten minas and is placed over ten cities, the one who earned five minas is placed over five cities. The unfaithful one earned no minas, his mina is taken away and given to the one who had ten minas.
Luke 19:15-19 And, obtaining the kingdom, it occurred at his coming back, that he said also to summon to him these slaves to whom he had given the silver, that he may know what business they do." Now along came the first, saying, 'Lord, your mina earns ten minas.'" And he said to him, 'Well done, surely, good slave! Seeing that you became faithful in the least, be having authority over ten cities.'" And the second came, saying, 'Your mina, lord, makes five minas.'" Now he said to this one also, 'And you, be over five cities.'" {CLV}
When Jesus returns He will allocate the cities for the faithful to rule over during the millennium and on the new earth, for on the new earth will be the restored nations, with restore cities. Depending on how the faithful did, they will get different numbers of cities, which they will have authority over, rule over. However this will not be forever, as people get cleansed and purified in the last eon, they will become immortal and move into the kingdom of the heavens. Thus the cities will empty out of people. The goal of this authority over the cities is of course to reconcile them to Christ, at which point they will gain immortality. An empty city means that this has been achieve for all those that were in the city.
Reigning Over the Rest of Mankind and the Spirit Beings
1 Corinthians 6:2-4 Or are you not aware that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world is being judged by you, are you unworthy of the least tribunals? Are you not aware that we shall be judging messengers, not to mention life's affairs? If indeed, then, you should have tribunals for life's affairs, the contemptible in the ecclesia, these you are seating? {CLV}
The saints will judge the rest of mankind and the messengers, the evil spirit beings. This will be to reconcile them all to Christ, and to complete the all in all. After the Judgement eon the saints will be reigning from the kingdom on the new earth, over the rest of mankind who will be outside the kingdom in the nations.
1 Corinthians 15:24-28 thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power. For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy is being abolished: death. For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him." Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.)"{CLV}
At the consummation He, Christ will give up the kingdom to His God and Father. At this point all will be subject to God including the Son, that God may be All in all. The All here being all mankind, and all animals, and all spirit beings.
God’s will then is that all beings {Humans, animals, and spirit beings} will be reconciled to Jesus Christ and through Christ, All will conciliated to God, so that He will be All in all.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who wills that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth. {CLV}
All mankind will come into a realization of this truth, in the future. It is not just His will that All mankind be saved, because all in the heavens and on the earth will be reconciled to Christ. However for now this truth is a secret.
Titus 3:4-7 Yet when the kindness and fondness for humanity of our Saviour, God, made its advent, not for works which are wrought in righteousness which we do, but according to His mercy, He saves us, through the bath of renascence and renewal of holy spirit, which He pours out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, that, being justified in that One's grace, we may be becoming enjoyers, in expectation, of the allotment of life eonian." {CLV}
The faithful have an expectation, of the allotment of life eonian. That is life for the next eon. Of course when Jesus Christ returns the faithful will gain immortality. That is they will live forever, not just the next eon. However they have an expectation of an additional benefit, which is the life eonian.
The rest of mankind will not have this benefit. Those not raised out of death at Christ's return will still be dead, however there will be those alive on the earth during the millennium who will not have life eonian. At the Great white Throne Judgement all those not on the Scroll of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Not an actual lake of fire, these are symbols, lake, water for cleansing and fire for purifying. At the start of there time in the lake of fire, they will be an a state of figurative death. Then they will go to cities on the new Earth, but still be experiencing the lake of fire. However as the river of living water goes from the throne which will be in the kingdom, they will come to spiritual life. At that point they will still be outside, until they are deemed worthy to enter into the kingdom.
This additional benefit for the next eon, for in the eon after the judgement the people in the cities will start to enter the kingdom. At the end the eon after the judgment all mankind will be in the kingdom, and will have gain immortality. It is at this point all mankind will be in Christ. The evil spirit beings will be in the Lake of Fire for two eons. At the end of the next two eons is the consummation. This is when the saints, the chosen will stop reigning, since all mankind will be in the kingdom, and all spirit beings will have been reconciled to Christ.
Colossians 1:3-8 We are thanking the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying concerning you, on hearing of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints, because of the expectation reserved for you in the heavens, which you hear before in the word of truth of the evangel, which, being present with you, according as in the entire world also, is bearing fruit and growing, according as it is among you also, from the day on which you hear and realized the grace of God in truth, according as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow slave, who is a faithful dispenser of Christ for us, who makes evident also to us your love in spirit. {CLV}
Paul and Timothy were thanking God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The brethren in Colosse had faith in Christ Jesus and love for all the saints. They had an expectation that had been reserved for them in the heavens, which they had heard before in the word of truth of the evangel. That is the expectation that was reserved is part of the evangel. This expectation having been reserved for all the faithful. Also Galatians 4:6-11.
Colossians 1:9-11 Therefore we also, from the day on which we hear, do not cease praying for you and requesting that you may be filled full with the realization of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, you to walk worthily of the Lord for all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the realization of God;" being endued with all power, in accord with the might of His glory, for all endurance and patience with joy;" {CLV}
Colossians 2:1-3 For I want you to perceive what the struggle amounts to which I am having for your sakes and for those in Laodicea, and whoever have not seen my face in flesh, that their hearts may be consoled, being united in love, and to all the riches of the assurance of understanding, unto a realization of the secret of the God and Father, of Christ, in Whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are concealed. {CLV}
Paul and Timothy want the brethren in Colosse, to be filled with the realization of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. They were to walk worthily of the Lord for all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the realization of God.
Colossians 1:12-14 at the same time giving thanks to the Father, Who makes you competent for a part of the allotment of the saints, in light, Who rescues us out of the jurisdiction of Darkness, and transports us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in Whom we are having deliverance, the pardon {taking away} of sins, {CLV}
All the members of the body are made competent for a part of the allotment of the saints, in light by the Father, who rescues them out of the jurisdiction of Darkness, and transports them into the kingdom of the Son of His love. In the Son, Jesus Christ, they are having deliverance and the taking away of sins, not the pardon of sins.
The word pardon, comes form the Greek “Aphesis” directly translated “From-letting.” As in the letting go of sins. Christ is the one who takes them away, in fact He already has through the blood of the cross. For more refer to my article: “Righteous, Forgive and Pardon, What is the Difference?”
Reconciling the Chosen, and the Chosen Teaching Everyone
Colossians 1:21-23 And you, being once estranged and enemies in comprehension, by wicked acts, yet now He reconciles" by His body of flesh, through His death, to present you holy and flawless and unimpeachable in His sight, since surely you are persisting in the faith, grounded and settled and are not being removed from the expectation of the evangel which you hear which is being heralded in the entire creation which is under heaven of which I, Paul, became the dispenser." {CLV}
Jesus Christ reconciles the chosen to him through His death, who were once estranged and even enemies. This is to present them holy and flawless and unimpeachable in His sight. These ones are persisting in the faith and are not removed from the expectation of the evangel. This evangel is being heralded in the entire creation, that is the entire world.
Colossians 1:24-27 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for you, and am filling up in my flesh, in His stead, the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ, for His body, which is the ecclesia" of which I became a dispenser, in accord with the administration of God, which is granted to me for you, to complete the word of God -" the secret which has been concealed from the eons and from the generations, yet now was made manifest to His saints, to whom God wills to make known what are the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory" {CLV}
Paul became a dispenser of the evangel being herald in the entire world, which is in accord with the administration of grace. More on the administration of grace later in the article. The secret that was concealed, yet is now manifest to His saints is “Christ among you, the expectation of glory.” The glorious riches of this secret God wills to make known among the nations.
Colossians 1:28-29 Whom we are announcing, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we should be presenting every man mature in Christ Jesus;" for which I am toiling also, struggling in accord with His operation, which is operating in me with power." {CLV}
The chosen are announcing, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we should be presenting every man mature in Christ Jesus. This teaching of every man, that is everyone will happen in the next eon, that everyone will be presented mature in Christ.
Evangel of Peace
Those from the nations were once in flesh, and term 'Uncircumcision', and in that era they were apart from Christ, being guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation. Only those in Israel had an expectation, but Jesus Christ changed all that when He died on the cross.
Ephesians 2:11-13 Wherefore, remember that once you, the nations in flesh - who are termed 'Uncircumcision' by those termed 'Circumcision,' in flesh, made by hands -" that you were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world." Yet now, in Christ Jesus, you, who once are far off, are become near by the blood of Christ." {CLV}
That is the faithful from the nations, who are in Christ have become near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:14-16 For He is our Peace, Who makes both one, and razes the central wall of the barrier" (the enmity in His flesh), nullifying the law of precepts in decrees, that He should be creating the two, in Himself, into one new humanity, making peace;" and should be reconciling both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in it." {CLV}
For Christ is the Peace of the faithful, Who makes those term 'Circumcision,' that is those of Israel, and those term 'Uncircumcision,' those from the nations, one, razing the central wall of the barrier, that was between the two, making them one new humanity in Him, making peace. Christ is reconciling both in one body to God through the cross.
Ephesians 2:17-19 And, coming, He brings the evangel of peace to you, those afar, and peace to those near, for through Him we both have had access, in one spirit, to the Father." Consequently, then, no longer are you guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God's family, {CLV}
Christ brings the evangel of peace to the faithful, for through him, both those from Israel and those from the nations have access, in one spirit, to the Father. Consequently, then, no longer are those of the nations guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God's family.
This is not a separate evangel, but peace is the main part of the evangel. Jesus Christ is the peace, and through His death He is reconciling those of Israel and those of the nations in one body, and He is reconciling all to him, making peace through the blood of His cross. And through His blood God is conciliating the world to Himself.
Ephesians 6:15-16 and your feet sandaled with the readiness of the evangel of peace; with all taking up the large shield of faith, by which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the wicked one." {CLV}
Paul tells us to sandaled our feet with the readiness of the evangel of peace. This being part of the panoply of God, the complete armour of God, that the faithful are meant to put on {Ephesians 6:11-17}. More on this armour later in this article.
Ephesians 6:18-20 During every prayer and petition be praying on every occasion (in spirit being vigilant also for it with all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints, and for me), that to me expression may be granted, in the opening of my mouth with boldness, to make known the secret of the evangel, for which I am conducting an embassy in a chain, that in it I should be speaking boldly, as I must speak." {CLV}
Paul what them to pray that expression may be granted, to him in the opening of his mouth with boldness, to make known the secret of the evangel. This secret of the evangel, is the evangel of peace.
The Secret of the Resurrection
This is what I call the “Snatch Away,” but is often called the ‘Rapture.’ When Christ returns, the faithful that have died will be resurrected, and along with the faithful that are still alive, will be transformed into immortality and snatch away to meet Christ.
This is not to do with saving them from a coming tribulation of seven or three and half years. There is no coming tribulation. All of Daniel’s 70 weeks have already occurred in the past. There is no week or half week to go. There is no mention of an antichrist in the book of Daniel or in the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation is not a future prophecy of the supposed tribulation. It was a prophecy of future events when it was written. A number of these evens have now occurred. There are still a few most important main events to occur.
Luke 21:34-36 Now take heed to yourselves, lest at some time your hearts should be burdened with crapulence and drunkenness and the worries of life's affairs, and that day may be standing by you unawares, as a trap, for it will intrude on all those sitting on the surface of the entire earth." Now be vigilant, on every occasion beseeching that you may be prevailing to escape all these things which are about to occur, and to stand in front of the Son of Mankind." {CLV}
Do not be burdened with life’s affairs, that the day the Lord returns will not be a trap to you, that it will not catch you unawares. For it will intrude on all those sitting on the surface of the entire earth. It is only those who are vigilant on every occasion that will prevail to escape that which is about to occur.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to be waiting for His Son out of the heavens, Whom He rouses from among the dead, Jesus, our Rescuer out of the coming indignation." {CLV}
Romans 5:8-9 yet God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes." Much rather, then, being now justified in His blood, we shall be saved from indignation, through Him." {CLV}
The faithful will be rescued out of the coming indignation, which is not the tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 Now concerning the times and the eras, brethren, you have no need to be written to, for you yourselves are accurately aware that the day of the Lord is as a thief in the night - thus is it coming! Now whenever they may be saying "Peace and security, then extermination is standing by them unawares, even as a pang over the pregnant, and they may by no means escape." {CLV}
The Lord is coming as a thief, in that it will be a surprise, when they are saying "Peace and security, then extermination is standing by them unawares", that is they do not know it is coming, they do not know He is coming.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-7 Now you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may be overtaking you as a thief, for you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Consequently, then, we may not be drowsing, even as the rest, but we may be watching and be sober." For those who are drowsing are drowsing at night, and those who are drunk are drunk at night." {CLV}
The chosen, the brethren are not in darkness, that the day may not be overtaking them. For the chosen are all sons of light, and sons of day. consequently then the chosen may not be drowsing, even as the rest, but we may be watching and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 Yet we, being of the day, may be sober, putting on the cuirass of faith and love, and the helmet, the expectation of salvation, for God did not appoint us to indignation, but to the procuring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for our sakes, that, whether we may be watching or drowsing, we should be living at the same time together with Him." Wherefore, console one another and edify one the other, according as you are doing also." {CLV}
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 Now we ought to be thanking God always concerning you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, seeing that God prefers you from the beginning for salvation, in holiness of the spirit and faith in the truth, into which He also calls us through our evangel, for the procuring of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." {CLV}
God did not appoint the chosen "to indignation, but to the procuring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." Even thou the chosen are told to be watching in a number of places in the bible, if they do drowse and are not watching they will still be living with the Lord. God prefers the brethren from the beginning for salvation, in holiness of the spirit and faith in the truth.
Philippians 3:10-11 to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, conforming to His death, if somehow I should be attaining to the resurrection that is out from among the dead. {CLV}
To know Christ Jesus and the power of His resurrection. Paul want to attain the resurrection that is out from among the dead. This resurrection of the faithful in Christ, who have died.
2 Thessalonians 1
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 We ought to be thanking God always concerning you, brethren, according as it is meet; seeing that your faith is flourishing and the love of each one of you all for one another is increasing, so that we ourselves glory in you in the ecclesias of God, for your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions with which you are bearing -" a display of the just judging of God, to deem you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering also, {CLV}
The brethren’s endurance and faith in All their persecutions and the afflictions with which they are bearing are a display of the just judging of God, to deem them worthy of the kingdom of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 if so be that it is just of God to repay affliction to those afflicting you, and to you who are being afflicted, ease, with us, at the unveiling of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful messengers, in flaming fire, dealing out vengeance to those who are not acquainted with God and those who are not obeying the evangel of our Lord Jesus Christ" who shall incur the justice of eonian extermination from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of His strength" whenever He may be coming to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at in all who believe (seeing that our testimony to you was believed) in that day. {CLV}
When the Lord is unveiled, when he returns, his angles will be dealing out vengeance to those who are not acquainted with God and those who are not obeying the evangel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are not acquainted with the Lord will incur the justice of eonian extermination from the face of the Lord. It should be noted that this extermination is only for a period of time it is not forever.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 For which we are always praying also concerning you, that our God should be counting you worthy of the calling, and should be fulfilling every delight of goodness and work of faith in power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, in accord with the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
On that Day Jesus Christ will be glorified in His saints.
Snatch Away
The text of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, covers what is commonly called the Rapture, however that is not a good term to use.
Rapture: From Latin raptus and rapere, meaning “to seize or snatch away violently.” Forming the basis of words like: rape, rapid and raptor.
Snatched {away}: From the Greek harpazo, meaning to snatch, that is to, seize or grab quickly with force or grasp quickly with force. Negatively used to mean a wolf seizing a sheep, or positively used to mean quickly grabbing someone out of harms way.
In the text of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 the Greek word “harpazo” is used, meaning snatched. Thus it is better to call it the “Snatch Away.”
Lets now get to the snatch away text of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are reposing, lest you may sorrow according as the rest, also, who have no expectation. For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, will God, through Jesus, lead forth together with Him. {CLV}
Reposing, meaning sleeping, meaning those who had died, and were now sleeping. Those faithful who have died are not in heaven, they are dead, that is why they need to be resurrected.
The Thessalonian believers were not to be ignorant, concerning those brethren who were dead. If they were ignorant, then they would sorrow as others do, because others, have no expectation. The brethren have an expectation, therefore they should not sorrow like the rest of the world does over those who have died. For the rest of the world has no expectation. If you believe that Jesus died and rose, then you should also believe that those brethren put to sleep, will thus also, that is they will rise also.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose, for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first, {CLV}
Those brethren who are surviving until the presence of the Lord, that is those who are alive when the Lord returns, will not outstrip, those brethren who are put to repose, that is who had been put to death. Before those brethren who are living get there expectation, those brethren who have died will be rising. That is they will be physically resurrected, when the Lord returns, just before the snatching away.
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words." {CLV}
Those believers who are alive when the Lord returns, will be snatched away together with those believers who have just been resurrected in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. Cloud can mean a mass of flying insects or birds. It’s use in the above text can mean the mass of believers in the air. Another meaning is that believers will be surround by glory clouds. Why should believers be surround by glory clouds? Because believers have gained glory and honour. Believers should console one another with the fact that the dead brethren have an expectation, it is not lost, because they have died.
Air, from the Greek word aer, meaning air or atmosphere. While it can be figurative, nearly every use in the New Testament is of the literal sense. All the chosen, the brethren will be bodily and spiritually snatched away, supernaturally transported to another location.
Transformation for Those In Christ at His Return:
Romans 8:22-25 For we are aware that the entire creation is groaning and travailing together until now. Yet not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the spirit, we ourselves also, are groaning in ourselves, awaiting the sonship, the deliverance of our body." For to expectation were we saved. Now expectation, being observed, is not expectation, for what anyone is observing, why is he expecting it also? Now, if we are expecting what we are not observing, we are awaiting it with endurance." {CLV}
There is no doubt that the members of the body of Christ are saved, but they are awaiting the sonship, the deliverance of their body. That is the members of the body do not have salvation, they are not immortal, but the members of the body are saved, for to expectation were they saved. When a person is spiritual born, then they are saved. When Christ returns they will gain their salvation, becoming immortal.
Each member of the body of Christ has an allotment in the kingdom of God. A body of flesh and blood is not able to enjoy this allotment, which means that all the faithful will need to be change, before than can enjoy the allotment. A lot of the faithful in Christ will be dead when He returns, but there will be a few who are still alive.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Now this I am averring, brethren, that flesh and blood is not able to enjoy an allotment in the kingdom of God, neither is corruption enjoying the allotment of incorruption." Lo! a secret to you am I telling! We all, indeed, shall not be put to repose, yet we all shall be changed, in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump. For He will be trumpeting, and the dead will be roused incorruptible, and we shall be changed." For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality." Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory." Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting? Now the sting of Death is sin, yet the power of sin is the law." Now thanks be to God, Who is giving us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." So that, my beloved brethren, become settled, unmovable, superabounding in the work of the Lord always, being aware that your toil is not for naught in the Lord." {CLV}
All the brethren will not be put to sleep, that is death, yet all the brethren shall be changed in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye. The dead brethren will be raised in their new immortal and incorruptible bodies. Those brethren who are alive when the Lord returns will be transformed, no longer will they have bodies of flesh and blood, but new immortal and incorruptible bodies, which will happen in the twinkling of an eye.
2 Corinthians 5:1-4 For we are aware that, if our terrestrial tabernacle house should be demolished, we have a building of God, a house not made by hands, eonian, in the heavens." For in this also we are groaning, longing to be dressed in our habitation which is out of heaven, if so be that, being dressed also, we shall not be found naked." For we also, who are in the tabernacle, are groaning, being burdened, on which we are not wanting to be stripped, but to be dressed, that the mortal may be swallowed up by life." {CLV}
The brethren are aware, or should be aware, that if their terrestrial tabernacle house is demolished, they have a building of God, a house not made by hands, in the heavens. This is not talking about the demolish of an actual house made of brick or wood. The brethren are longing to be dressed in this habitation. This is actual talking about the body, that is if a believer dies, that is their habitation is destroyed, they have a body, a habitation awaiting in the heavens. For the brethren are wanting to be dressed in their new body, that the mortal body may be swallowed up by the new immortal body.
However I am not saying that when a believer dies, they are automatically dressed in this habitation that is waiting for them. As stated earlier they are dead, that is they are asleep, they can not do anything. When they are resurrected from the dead then they will get this habitation that is waiting for them.
Philippians 3:20-21 For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who will transfigure the body of our humilation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which
enables Him even to subject all to Himself. {CLV}
Colossians 3:4 Whenever Christ, our Life, should be manifested, then you also shall be manifested together with Him in glory." {CLV}
The chosen are awaiting the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who will transfigure the body, to conform it to the body of His glory. This will be in accord with the operation which
enables Him even to subject all to Himself. In time all the bodies of all the rest of mankind will be transfigured to conform to the body of His glory.
Copyright © Mark J Farquharson 2010-2011 & 2017