The First Resurrection

[Rick]

The First Resurrection

As we look at the First Resurrection we have three Biblical sources
of information. We have the words of Jesus that pertain to this
subject. We have the passages in first and second Thessalonians,
first Corinthians and we have what is revealed in the book of
Revelation.

We will examine every verse on this subject. I will build a view of
the First Resurrection based solely on literal belief in these
scriptures. Sometimes a theologian will look at a bible verse that
says something and say that the something also means another
something. As a general rule I oppose doing that. Especially when it
comes to the First Resurrection. The view I build in this essay is
one that says that the something only means the something and not
another something in place of or in addition too. I say believe what
God says and don't try to re-explain what God says. I will build a
First Resurrection view based on what the scriptures tell us and
nothing else. Let us begin.


"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh
to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to
do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the
Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me
I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth
the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will
raise him up at the last day." (John 6: 37-40)


"Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among
yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent
me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:43-44)

"Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and
I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:54)


There is a lot of discussion, argument, debate among Christians
regarding the timing of the First Resurrection. Jesus clearly answers
this question four times in John chapter six.

He states that all those who are given to Him by the Father will come
to Him. This group is all of God's elect before, during and after the
time Jesus was in the world. Jesus states that he will cast none of
the elect out. Jesus will take them all. And Jesus goes on to declare
that it is the Father's will that He will lose none that have been
given to Him.

Jesus then declares four different times that He will raise up the
elect of God at the last day. He doesn't differentiate between living
and dead here. The qualification is coming to Jesus and believing on
Him. You can be living or dead and at the last day Jesus says that He
will raise you up if you believe on Him.

The big question: What is this last day that Jesus is referring to?
We have a period of time that the Bible calls the Last Days. Peter
used the authority given to him by Jesus Christ to declare the
beginning of the last days in Acts chapter two. There are Bible
verses that declare these to be the last days in the books of
Hebrews, James, 1st John, 1st Peter and in the book of Jude. The last
days have been extended these last nearly two thousand years by the
dispensation of grace. I'm not going to repeat the scriptures that
pertain but you can read about these topics in my other essays.

These are the last days and for many hundreds of years the last days
were in some kind of a stasis. The last days stopped advancing
forward. Most people in the world recognize that this is no longer
true and that in the modern era the last days move forward and are
ticking away.

The last day is the last of the last days. And the last of the last
days is the Day of the Lord. This verse reveals the main purpose of
the Day of the Lord.


"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in
heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of
our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."
(Revelation 11:15)

At the end of the last day the kingdoms of this world will be taken
away from Satan and become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.
At the present time Satan is the god of this world. (2nd Corinthians
4: 4) Satan rules over the kingdoms of this world. (Matthew 4: 8-9)
The last day is the overthrow of Satan's kingdom.

Here is another verse about the last day.


"And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of
the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give
reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them
that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which
destroy the earth." (Revelation 11:18)

This period of time is a time when the nations of the world are
angry. It is also the time of the dead. Revelation chapter twenty
tells us that the time of judgment for the unrighteous dead will not
come until after Jesus reigns on earth for a thousand years. The time
of the dead Revelation chapter eleven declares is the time of the
righteous dead. The verse goes on to declare they are to be judged
but it is a judgment of rewards. The verse says God will give reward
to his servants and the verse places them in three categories: The
Prophets, The Saints, and those who fear his name.

There are many who will obtain salvation because they walk in the
fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord for those who are blessed to
have it guides thoughts, words and deeds and is able to keep a
Christian on the narrow path to heaven.

This judgment in Revelation chapter eleven is not a judgment of
condemnation. It is the judgment seat of Christ that Paul spoke of in
this passage:


"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we
die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the
Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that
he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge
thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall
all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." (Romans 14:8-10)

The last day is the time of the seventh seal. It is the days of the
voice of the seventh angel when the mystery of God will be finished.


"But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall
begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath
declared to his servants the prophets." (Revelation 10:7)


The last day is the last day of man's rebellion against God. The
last day is the Day of the Lord spoken of in many places in the bible.


"For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to
stand?" (Revelation 6:17)


The last day is the time of the First Resurrection.


"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."
(Revelation 20:6)


The last day is the harvest at the end of the world.


"He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the
Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of
the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The
enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the
world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are
gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this
world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall
gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do
iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be
wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth
as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let
him hear." (Matthew 13:37-43)


This is depicted in Revelation chapter fourteen.


"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat
like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in
his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple,
crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy
sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the
harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in
his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped."
(Revelation 14:14-16)


God has made a promise to His people that we will look at now. This
promise is made in several places in the Bible but we will look at in
1st Thessalonians.


"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I
write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the
Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say,
Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as
travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a
thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep,
as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep
sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the
night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of
salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we
wake or sleep, we should live together with him." (1st Thessalonians
5:1-10)


"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead,
even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." (1st
Thessalonians 1:10)


In this passage Paul reminds us that the Day of the Lord comes as a
thief in the night. Paul also tells us that we are not in darkness
that that day should overtake us a thief. We are the children of
light and we will see the signs of the Day of the Lord as it
approaches nearer. Then Paul reminds us of the promise that God has
not appointed us to wrath. This saying is found again in 1st
Thessalonians chapter one and it says that Jesus has delivered us
from the wrath to come.

When the Bible promises God's children deliverance from the wrath it
is always speaking of the wrath of God. There is no place in the
Bible that promises that God's people will be delivered from the End
Time wrath of Satan and the End Time wrath of nations of this world.

Consider these words of Jesus.


"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it
and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Mathew
16: 24-25)

"The servant is not greater then his lord. If they have persecuted
me, they will also persecute you." (John 15: 20)

"I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you"
(John 15: 19)

The harvest of the earth in Revelation chapter fourteen is the
beginning of the last day. It fulfills the promise of Jesus Christ to
deliver God's people from the wrath to come. The first six seals are
not the wrath of God. The seventh seal is the wrath of God.
The harvest of the earth will occur before the opening of the seventh
seal and at the end of the time period of the sixth seal. The wrath
of God is declared in this passage and it begins after the harvest of
the earth is complete.


"And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also
having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar,
which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had
the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the
clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And
the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine
of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of
God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came
out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a
thousand and six hundred furlongs." (Revelation 14: 17-20)


The seventh seal is opened and the Day of the Lord begins with six
judgments with the blowing of the first six trumpets in Revelation
chapters eight and nine. I believe that these six judgments are Gods
answer to the prayers of his people who went through the great
tribulation having their prayers unanswered and I base this view on
this passage of scripture.

"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven
about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which
stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another
angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there
was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the
prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the
throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of
the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the
angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast
it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and
lightnings, and an earthquake." (Revelation 8:1-5)

When the seventh angel sounds the wrath of God begins and Revelation
chapters fifteen and sixteen declare what the wrath of God is.


"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels
having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of
God." (Revelation 15:1)


"And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven
angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon
the earth." (Revelation 16:1)


In conclusion we see that the first six seals are the signs of Jesus
second coming. With the seventh seal come the first six judgments of
the day of the Day of the Lord. With the seventh trumpet come the
seven last plagues, which are the wrath of God.



We will now have a look at the words of Jesus concerning His coming.
They are found in Matthew chapter 24, Mark chapter 13, and Luke
chapter 21. I will quote from Matthew.

"And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him
privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what
shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And
Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall
deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that
ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the
end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of
sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall
kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and
shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall
deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many
shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall
be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of
by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let
him understand,Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the
mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any
thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return
back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and
to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be
not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be
great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world
to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be
shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake
those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you,
Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise
false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and
wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the
very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall
say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he
is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning
cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also
the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is,
there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and
the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the
sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of
the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his
angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather
together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other." (Matthew 24:3-31)


The opening of the seven seals in Revelation chapters six through
eleven parallel the words of Jesus Christ. The four horsemen of the
first four seals are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24: 5- 8)
The fifth seal is the great tribulation. (Matthew 24: 21) The sixth
seal are the signs in heaven and earth. (Matthew 24: 29-30) Then the
pre-wrath harvest of the earth must come. (Matthew 24: 31)

The apostle Paul said this to the Corinthians.


"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when
this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the
saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death,
where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
(1st Corinthians 15:51-55)


Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about the First Resurrection. He
tells them this event will happen at the last trump. The last trump
of the trumpet of God begins the harvest at the end of the world as
proclaimed by Jesus Himself. Jesus states that the gathering of the
elect at the last day will begin with the sound of a great trumpet
and it is the last sign of His coming.


Paul gives us definitive teachings on the First Resurrection in 1st
and 2nd Thessalonians.

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no
hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them
also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say
unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain
unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one
another with these words." (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18)


Here again, Paul speaks of gathering of the elect as an event that
comes with the sounding of a trumpet, with the voice of the archangel
and stating that the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout. All the world will hear this trumpet and all the world will
hear the voice of the Lord.

There is no place in the Bible that speaks of a secret resurrection
of the dead. When the Bible talks about the Day of the Lord coming as
like a thief in the night it is speaking of that day sneaking up
suddenly on those who are in darkness. The Day of the Lord will not
be a surprise to the children of Light who will be watching for it.
The resurrection of the righteous dead is a one-time event. There is
no place in the Bible that speaks of the resurrection of the
righteous dead happening in two or more parts. That is a view without
a Biblical foundation. It requires a re-interpretation of what the
scriptures clearly tell us and it is error.



The First Resurrection will be a public event that all the world will
hear and see. When Jesus Christ returns to execute judgment upon this
world he will not be sneaking around to do it. When He descends from
heaven with a shout to retrieve His elect all the world will hear
Him. And there is a verse that pertains which I will share shortly.

This is the second part of Paul's teaching to the Thessalonians.


"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon
shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor
by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no
man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the
temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that,
when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know
what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the
mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will
let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,
and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose
coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and
lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them
that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that
they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be
damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness." (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12)


I don't see how Paul could have spoken any clearer on this subject
then he does in this passage. I know King James is hard for many to
follow so if there is something about this passage that you don't get
then I reluctantly recommend looking at some other translations. Look
carefully here.

Paul says I urge you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus and by
our gathering together to be with Him, that you not be shaken in mind
or be troubled as though the day of Christ is at hand. Then Paul says
that this day will not come until there is a falling away and the son
of perdition is revealed. In other words the anti-christ and that he
exalts himself above all that is worshipped and called God and sits
in the temple of God, and claims to be God.

Then Paul says, don't you remember that when I was with you I told
you these things? Then Paul says now you know what is holding him
back and he can come only when his time is ready. Then he says that
the work of the anti-christ has already begun but he himself cannot
come until the one who is holding him back steps out of the way.

Finally Paul warns us that God will send those in darkness a strong
delusion and the children of darkness will believe the lie of the
anti-christ. I will speak on this strong delusion and the anti-christ
in another essay.

The words of Paul are in harmony with the words of Christ. Paul warns
of a falling away and it is the same thing Jesus meant when He said
that because iniquity will abound the love of many will wax cold.
Love waxing cold is the falling away.
(Matthew 24:12) Paul warns us that we will see the anti-christ
sitting in the temple of Jerusalem just as Jesus warns us. (Matthew
24:15) There are many who believe that the warning of Jesus is for
the Jews but here is Paul giving the same warning to Gentiles.
Consider this passage:


"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood
before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation
to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all
the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the
four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and
worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for
ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me,
What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came
they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me,
These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore
are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his
temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the
sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst
of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes." (Revelation 7:9-15)


There is no promise of a pre-tribulation rapture anywhere in the
bible. The multitude of Revelation chapter seven is not a left
behind remnant. It is a vast number of God's people. The great
tribulation is the night when no man can work. (John 9: 4) This
multitude of people, which no man can number, became believers prior
to the great tribulation. Once God takes the elect that's it. All
that is left for the world is His wrath.

The First Resurrection cannot take place until after the great
tribulation because according to Revelation chapter twenty and verse
four those who die in the great tribulation will be resurrected along
with the rest of the dead in Christ. The Bible clearly reveals the
First Resurrection as a singular event; it is not divided into parts.
There is only one First Resurrection and everyone who belongs to
Jesus Christ will be resurrected at the same time.

The pre-tribulation rapture doctrine is a very damaging heresy; I
must speak against it. This doctrine has no biblical foundation. The
scriptures used to support this doctrine are said to mean things they
simply do not say. It has lulled many of God's people to sleep. Many
people do not concern themselves with the coming anti-christ in the
false belief that he is not a threat to us. This doctrine is a major
component of the modern, feel good, easy road theology that has been
tailored to please the itching ears of modern America. I believed in
this doctrine for most of my life but by revelation, the Holy Spirit
finally opened my eyes to the fact that I believed in something that
simply isn't in the word of God. It is contrary to everything Jesus
Christ said about the First Resurrection. It is contrary to
everything the apostles Paul and John said about the First
Resurrection. While American Christianity has been sleeping the devil
has stolen our country away from us. We will all pay a price for what
has happened to America. It is at the door.

The pre-tribulation rapture doctrine is a house of cards. It's an
illusion that crumbles easily when tested against the scriptures.
With this view comes a flawed way of looking at the purposes of God.
As believers we are called to be the witnesses of Jesus Christ on
this earth and we must remain until the last Gentile is saved and the
branches reach the fullness of their fruit. The great tribulation is
the event that will bring the fall of the Gentiles that is prophesied
in numerous places in the Old Testament. The scriptures must be
fulfilled.

As believers we must set our eyes on heaven and the eternity that
awaits us. Jesus tells us that we must carry our cross and not love
our own lives. It is a worldly view to expect God not to ask us to go
the distance. There are many Christians expecting the easy ride to
heaven who are not worthy of it.

I've heard the Noah's Ark rapture idea and I flatly reject it. The
only connection Jesus made between our day and Noah's day was when he
said that men would be eating, drinking and marrying in the last days
just as they were in the days before the flood. (Matthew 24:38-39) It
had nothing to do with Noah's Ark.

But there is a verse we must consider and it is found in the book of
Luke.


"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy
to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand
before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36)


As the gravity of the things I present in this essay are weighed this
verse stands out and demands our attention. Jesus tells us to watch
and to pray always that we might be counted worthy to escape all
these things that will come to pass.

Consider the ramifications of this saying. He is telling believers
who qualify to have their prayers both heard and answered by God to
pray always to be counted worthy to escape these things. To look at
it at another angle we can say that believers among believers who are
worthy will be given escape. Being saved doesn't make you worthy to
escape. It takes saved plus and that's what Jesus means by the word
worthy. This verse doesn't help most of us out any.

I believe there are two passages from Revelation that tie into this
verse. As I move into the final phase of this essay we will be
looking at some passages of prophetic scriptures that contain symbols
that must be interpreted. Prophetic symbolism is the only area of
Bible study in which I condone interpretation and that is because
literal belief does not provide the answers when it comes to this
arena.

The book of revelation opens with the seven letters to the seven
churches. After each letter is given Jesus says, "He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." There is
a message in each letter that is for every individual believer and
there is a message in each letter for every church. The seven letters
are not seven church ages. That is a man made doctrine that has no
Biblical support. The seven churches are types of churches that exist
throughout the grace age. And they are also seven types of believers
that exist throughout the grace age. The verse that I believe
pertains to the verse from Luke in found in the letter to the church
of Philadelphia.


"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly:
hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."
(Revelation 3:10-11)


Jesus tells the church of Philadelphia that He will keep them from
the hour of temptation that will come upon all the world. The hour of
temptation is the time when the anti-christ sits in the temple of
Jerusalem and the time of the great tribulation. This promise is only
given to the church of Philadelphia. It is not given to the other
churches and this is a promise that is not given to most believers. I
strongly believe that this Bible verse pertains to the Luke verse and
that only a Philadelphia believer will be counted worthy to escape.


In Revelation chapter seven the Bible speaks of 144,000 servants of
God from all the tribes of Israel getting sealed. This event takes
place immediately before the opening of the seventh seal. The Bible
doesn't give us the details of the purpose of the 144,000 so I'm not
going to speculate here. However, I strongly believe that these Jews
are nonbelievers who suddenly come to Christ. Believers are already
sealed by the Holy Spirit and I believe that the sealing of the
144,000 is the sealing of the Holy Spirit. I believe that the 144,000
are Jews who will look at world events and suddenly have the
blindness that has overtaken Israel removed from them.

There is another group of 144,000 in Revelation chapter fourteen. I
strongly believe that this is a different group, not the same 144,000
from Revelation chapter seven. The Bible says that the 144,000 in
revelation chapter fourteen have been redeemed from among men. They
come from all over and are a mixed group of Gentiles and Jews. I
believe that if this group was entirely Jewish that the Bible would
say so. But it doesn't and I believe that this second group is both
Jew and Gentile. Here is the passage.


"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him
an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written
in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the
voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a
new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the
elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty
and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they
which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are
they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were
redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the
Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without
fault before the throne of God." (Revelation 14:1-5)


The Bible declares this 144,000 to be the first fruits of the earth's
harvest. They will be taken from among the living not the dead. The
righteous dead will rise all at once.

The first fruits will be taken before the great tribulation and
before the mark of the beast becomes enforced as law. As the first
fruits of the harvest they will be the best of the best among
believers. I believe that these are the Philadelphia believers. I
believe that the 144,000 is a literal number not a symbolic one. Can
you find a symbolic number in the Bible for a multitude of people? If
you can I'd like to see it.


Many Christians recognize that the spiritual condition of churches
and Christianity as a whole is not what it should be. Many Christians
believe that the body of Christ has weakened and will be weak at the
end of the age. God will not allow that to happen. God sees the end
from the beginning and has from the very beginning planned around
man's weakness and his deficiencies. God will set the Gentile church
in order.


I believe the taking of the 144,000 will traumatize Christianity and
that the breaking off of the unfruitful, Gentile branches will begin
with this event. My theory is that Christians will be affected in the
following ways:


Some will not believe that God took the 144,000


Some will lose faith entirely


Some will be offended and angry and will fall away


I believe that many churches will split and that those who walk in
truth will be separated from those who do not walk in truth.


The taking of the 144,000 will be God's wake up call to His people
and the elect will respond to the outpouring of God's Spirit that
must take place at this time.


The majority of believers will not be taken. It won't mean that God
doesn't love them. It won't mean that they aren't saved. And the Holy
Spirit will not be taken away from the earth. That is a false
doctrine that takes one Bible verse way out of context. Jesus said He
would be us until the end of the world and He will be.


The anti-christ will persecute three groups of people. These are
Gentile and Jewish Christians, Messianic Jews and the Jewish
nonbelievers. The Jewish persecution is depicted in this passage.

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of
twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth,
and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in
heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten
horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third
part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the
dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to
devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man
child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child
was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into
the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they
should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And
there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the
dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not;
neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great
dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and
his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in
heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our
God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is
cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore
rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters
of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you,
having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he
persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the
woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into
the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time,
and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the
serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that
he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth
helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up
the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was
wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her
seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of
Jesus Christ." (Revelation 12:1-17)


The big question: Who does the woman represent? Some believe that
the woman represents the heavenly Jerusalem. That isn't possible
because the dragon cannot threaten heavenly Jerusalem as he does the
woman. Some believe that the woman is the church. That isn't possible
either because the church didn't birth the man-child. The woman is
the nation of Israel. Joseph tells us who the woman is in this
passage.


"And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and
said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and
the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." (Genesis 37:9)


Jacob is the sun and the moon is the wives of Jacob. The twelve stars
are the descendants of Jacob. The woman represents Israel. When the
dragon is cast down to the earth he will seek to destroy Israel. When
this happens the Jews will flee into the wilderness to their place of
sanctuary. The Bible might be speaking of Petra.

At the end of the passage the Bible says that the dragon goes to make
war with the remnant of her seed. God's remnant Israel, the Jewish
believers who are called the Messianic Jews in our day. I also
believe that the Christian holocaust will have already taken place at
this point. I believe that some Christians will able to get away,
becoming fugitives. Some Christians will most certainly still be
alive when the trumpet sounds. But the Gentile churches will be
seized and the anti-christ will break Gentile Christianity.

"Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon
earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the
whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the
ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and
another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the
first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great
words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the
most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."
(Daniel 7:23-25)


"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are
come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding
dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but
not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall
prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy
people." (Daniel 8:23-24)


"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his
name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was
given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and
power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And
all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not
written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world." (Revelation 13:6-8)


The anti-christ will make war on God's people and the world will join
him in this madness. This is the thing that will bring this age to a
close. As this day approaches God will pour out His Spirit upon His
people and it will be the last revival. It will be the last call to
repentance for the world before God brings judgment. And why would
anyone want to refuse it? Those who are taken as a first fruit of the
harvest have a special place in the kingdom of God. But those who
stand as witnesses of Jesus Christ during the last revival and endure
to the end have a special place in the kingdom of God also. They are
works that will last for all eternity. I have one last passage for
this essay and it is one I used in the Spiritual Israel essay but it
merits repeating here.


"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy
a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing
before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire
proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if
any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have
power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy:
and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the
earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall
have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the
bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them,
and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the
great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also
our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and
tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an
half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And
they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make
merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two
prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days
and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they
stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up
hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies
beheld them." (Revelation 11:3-12)


The two witnesses are some or perhaps all of the Jewish and Gentile
believers who are the witnesses of Jesus Christ. They will be given
power in the Holy Spirit. They will prophesy and their prophecy will
be heavy, mournful prophecy of the judgment and wrath that is about
to come upon the world. They are identified as the two olive trees
being the wild and natural branches abiding in the true vine. They
are identified as two candlesticks, which represent churches in the
book of Revelation. They are the church of Peter and the church of
Paul. The beast will kill them when their testimony is finished. The
great city is not Jerusalem. The great city in this passage
represents the world. They will stand on their feet at the First
Resurrection and the voice that is heard from heaven is the Lord
descending from heaven with a shout.


"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice,
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his
glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If
ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit
of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified." (1st Peter 4:12-14)

[larry]

Well Brother Rick. I agree with some of this and disagree with much. Do you have the time and are you open for questions and debate on this thread?

Since I am not perfectly sure when you are stating the last day is, I will start by asking: is it at the beginning of the tribulation, the end of the tribulation with the start of the thousand years, immediately at the end of the 1000 years, or after Satan and those nations that compass the saints are cast into the lake of fire?

Thanks

[Rick]

Originally Posted by larry

Well Brother Rick. I agree with some of this and disagree with much. Do you have the time and are you open for questions and debate on this thread?

Since I am not perfectly sure when you are stating the last day is, I will start by asking: is it at the beginning of the tribulation, the end of the tribulation with the start of the thousand years, immediately at the end of the 1000 years, or after Satan and those nations that compass the saints are cast into the lake of fire?

Thanks

Hello Larry,

I would be interested in hearing your opinion although be prepared to meet the test of scripture.

I believe the last day is exactly what Jesus professed it to be. He stated that it is the day that He would raise up the dead who have believed on Him.

Biblically this event will occur during the Day of the Lord which will be the transition period between this age and the one to come.

Looking forward to hearing from you but be patient because I still have some pressing limitations on my time. But I`ll do the best I can

[larry]

I'm starting this debate on this thread with your replies from responses to my questions. Just for your information, your instructions on the Question & Answer thread had the following instructions. Then you modified those instructions with your ending reply to my instructions.

Christian Question And Answer This forum is for Bible and Doctrine questions (Please note: This forum is for serious questions not debates)

Quoting Rick on Reply - (This forum is for serious questions. Not for ones that you think you already know the answer to.)

You added this underlined part Rick, and I'm sorry if you didn't want us to clarify your beliefs on this thread. When I asked your idea on the scriptures I asked you about, I had no idea what your response would be; I do know what I believe and it is certainly not that.
__________________________________________________

Because of your schedule, I will attempt to reply to one question at a time until we iron it out before continuing to the next one.

Quoting question by larry - Who do you say that sits upon the throne set in heaven in Revelation 4:2?

Quoting answer by Rick - The Triune God as He really is.

Response by larry - You didn't give scripture as to your reason, or why you believe that.

I will state that I believe it is Jesus because of this portion of Revelation 4:8. "Which was, and is, and is to come." Who is it that is to come? It is Jesus.

Second is Revelation 4:11 where the One on this new throne set in heaven is said to be the One that "hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." In John 1:3 referring to Jesus we're told "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." In describing Jesus we read in Colossians 1:15-17. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 6 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

In Revelation 5:1 we see God the Father on His throne, and we see Jesus the Lamb in Revelation 5:6-7 come and take the sealed book out of The Father's hand. God remains on His throne of grace, He does not have a new throne set as in Revelation 4:2.

Thanks

[Rick]

Originally Posted by larry

I'm starting this debate on this thread with your replies from responses to my questions. Just for your information, your instructions on the Question & Answer thread had the following instructions. Then you modified those instructions with your ending reply to my instructions.

Christian Question And Answer This forum is for Bible and Doctrine questions (Please note: This forum is for serious questions not debates)

Quoting Rick on Reply - (This forum is for serious questions. Not for ones that you think you already know the answer to.)

(You are splitting hairs to accuse me of modifying the instructions. The forum you posted in is the question and answer forum. You asked me a question for which you already have an opinion about the answer and it was obvious that you were going to create a debate in the wrong forum.
Therefore your question was not appropiate. That forum is for those who seek answers to questions that they do not have an answer for.)

You added this underlined part Rick, and I'm sorry if you didn't want us to clarify your beliefs on this thread. When I asked your idea on the scriptures I asked you about, I had no idea what your response would be; I do know what I believe and it is certainly not that.

( And the very fact that you already have a belief makes your question illegitimate.)
__________________________________________________

You didn't give scripture as to your reason, or why you believe that.

( I have a limited amount of time to answer posts and spending it writing lengthy responses for contentious people isn`t necessarily a good way to steward my time. I have two lengthy essays on the Godhead posted on this site and all New testament scriptures that pertain to the Godhead and many from the Old Testament are quoted in the articles. The bottom line is the God on the throne in that passage is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three are there if you are able to percieve it.)

I will state that I believe it is Jesus because of this portion of Revelation 4:8. "Which was, and is, and is to come." Who is it that is to come? It is Jesus.

( And others believe it is the Father on the throne. It is both and it is easily proven to be both.)

Second is Revelation 4:11 where the One on this new throne set in heaven is said to be the One that "hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." In John 1:3 referring to Jesus we're told "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." In describing Jesus we read in Colossians 1:15-17. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 6 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

In Revelation 5:1 we see God the Father on His throne, and we see Jesus the Lamb in Revelation 5:6-7 come and take the sealed book out of The Father's hand. God remains on His throne of grace, He does not have a new throne set as in Revelation 4:2.

Thanks

( There is only One Throne in the book of Revelation Larry and there is only One God not two.)