Part 4. The Various Theories Concerning The Rapture, And Millennial Reign Of Christ. And, The Belief And Teachings Of The . . .

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And Then, There Are Seven Trumpet Judgments! . . .

1. Commentary . . . Dr. Pentecost when Quoting Harrison, states that Harrison a "Mid-tribulationist" teaches: "that the seals and trumpets are not manifestations of Divine wrath.  Harrison states . . . [ Quote ]: "The breaking of the seals is the point to be kept in mind. . . . It is the removal of restraints. The forces of evil, making for total war and destruction have been held in providential check. . . . The amazing thing is that expositors persistently speak of the Seal Judgments. The Bible never calls them judgments. It is a name that is reserved for a later and more awful series. . . . Why blame God with what man has brought upon himself? Man has been dancing to the music of a godless civilization; it has been a war dance in worship of force. Now that he has to pay the fiddler, why blame God? . . . He has withdrawn these restraints, and what is man's experience? Merely the operation of the law of sowing and reaping! [ End Quote }." Speaking of trumpets, the same author [ Harrison ] states:

2. [ Quote ]: "These experiences, though so very severe, are not judgments. Commentators invariable call them Trumpet Judgments. God never does, and He ought to know. . . . It is utter confusion to call these things-Seals and Trumpets-by a name which God has purposely reserved for His own peculiar work. These surely appear to be judgments. But, let Job's experience instruct us. . . . Satan was given permission of God to afflict him [ Job ] by way of testing and discipline; but he could go only so far. . . . This is what happens in the Trumpets; Satan working; God permitting, [ End Quote ]."

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3. Pentecost goes on to say. . . [ Quote ]: "The midtribulation view, as presented by [ Harrison who is ] one of its chief advocates, is that the seals represent the outworking of the program of man, and the trumpets the out working of the program of Satan, in which God is only a permissive agent. The very contention of Harrison the above author concerning the so-called "parentheses" in each series seems to be a sufficient refutation of his view, [ End Quote ]."

4. Dr. Pentecost again quoting Harrison who states [ Quote ]: "The reach in any series is always explained after the sixth in the series. It is part of the structural plan of the Revelation to give this explanation in each series that the reader may know what is being effected, [ End Quote ]."

5. Pentecost says that . . . [ Quote ]: "According to this [ above ] observation John announced in { Revelation 6:16-17 } that the program there being unfolded is related to the "wrath of the Lamb." The aorist tense in verse 17, [ elthen has come ], signifies, not something that is about to happen, but that which has taken place. Thus, in unfolding the program of the seals, John announces that these represent "the wrath" that has already come. In the same connection, with the sounding of the seven trumpets, John again relates these trumpets to the program of the outpouring of the wrath of God, for in { Revelation 11:18 } it is set forth that these events are connected with the earth that "has come" [ aorist tense again ]. Thus, neither the seals nor the trumpets can be divorced from the divine program associated with the pouring out of wrath upon the earth, [ End Quote ]."

6. Commentary . . . An argument used by the advocates of this position is that the Tribulation Period is only three and one-half years in length. The Mid-tribulation writer states, after showing how Daniel's seventieth week is to be divided into two parts, . . . [ Quote ]: "This should moreover save us from the coming mistake of speaking of the Tribulation as a seven year period. The Bible never refers to it; rather, it begins in the middle of the seven. It is the latter three and a half years. All that leads up to it, Jesus therefore refers to as merely the "Beginning of sorrows." Or again: "The first half of the week, or period of seven years was a "sweet" anticipation to John, as it is to them; under treaty protection, they will be "setting pretty," as we say. But the second half- "better" indeed: the treaty is broken; The storm breaks: they experience the wrath of the Antichrist on the one hand and of God on the other. This is their "day of trouble." It is the great Tribulation, [ End Quote ]."

7. Commentary . . . While it may seem that the 70th week was to be separated into two parts { Daniel 9:27 }, while the Lord was speaking of this period, He spoke of the latter half of it as "Great Tribulation { Matthew 24:21 }, yet nowhere in the Scriptures is this period divided into two unrelated parts, each with a different characterization. The Mid-Tribulation view essentially divides the "70th week of years," holding that the Body of Christ may go through the first half because it has a different characterization than the last half, but this is impossible! When this period is anticipated in the Scriptures it is always dealt with as a unite, as far as its character is concerned, even though divided as to the time elements and the degree of the intensity of the wrath poured out. The unity of the 70th week of Daniel in the program of Israel prevents us from dividing it into two parts. It is hard to understand how a writer can hold that all events poured out under the seals and trumpets will be viewed as "sweet" to anyone undergoing those judgments. Only by spiritualization can this [ false ] view be held.

8. In dealing with both the Mid-Tribulation and Pre-Tribulation Rapture positions, the chronology of the Revelation has been examined. It is mentioned in this place only as further evidence. { Ch. 1-3 } present the development of the Body of Christ in this present age. { Ch. 4 through 11 } cover the events of the entire 70th week period and conclude with the Return of Christ to the earth to reign in { 11:15-18 }. Thus, the seals are the events of the first 3 1/2 years. According to the instructions given John in { Ch. 10:11;- & - 12 thru 19 } the 70th week is repeated a second time, with a view to revealing the actors on the stage of the drama. This chronology makes a Mid-Tribulation view of the Rapture impossible. For the so-called Mid-Tribulation Rapture of { 11:15-18 } is seen to be the Post-Tribulation return of Christ to the earth, not the Rapture at all. This gives further supporting evidence for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Position.

9. Another disagreement with the Mid-tribulationist teachings concerning the apocalypse. Their teaching is that both the 7 seals and 7 trumpets will bring humanity through the first half of the Tribulation Period, and at that point in time the resurrection of the Body of Christ will take place according to { Revelation Ch. 11:15 }. They teach that the seven bowls prophesied in { Ch. 16 }, concerns the Lord's anger during the second half of the period from { Ch. 12-19 }. This would therefore mean that { Ch. 4-11 } must refer to the first 3 and 1/2 of the 7 years. Naturally, this writer refuses to accept their interpretation! Speaking of the 7 bowls, since they are only referred to in { Ch. 16:1-17 }, they evidently begin and are concluded in a short period of time around the end of the Tribulation.

10. The writer of Revelation foretold the judgments of the first part of the week that came under 6 of the seal judgments, see { 4:1; to 7:17 }. But according to { Ch. 8:1 }, the 7th seal includes the trumpet judgments till the end of the week of years. This then means that the 7th trumpet takes us on through the last half of the Time of Jacob's trouble. { Ch. 8:1 through Ch. 11:14 }, and ends the week with the Second Coming of Christ and the beginning of His thousand year reign on this earth, we find this portrayed in { Revelation 11:15-18 }.

11. But, we also strongly disagree with the Mid-tribulationist in their teaching that the trumpets mentioned in { 1- Corinthians 15: 52 ; - & - 1- Thessalonians 4:16 }, and thhe 7th trumpet of { Revelation 11:15 } are the same trumpets.

12. Harrison states the mid-tribulation view thus, [ Quote ]: "St. Paul, by inspiration of the Spirit, definitely places the Resurrection and the Rapture of the saints through the coming of Christ at the last trumpet" { 1- Corinthians 15:51-52 }. This is a specific locating of the event. Unquestionably the Holy Spirit revealed the fact and inspired the recording of it. How dare anyone locate it otherwise? . . . Can we postulate the Rapture at any other place than that given by and through the Apostle Paul and claim to maintain the integrity of God's Word? Turn to { Matthew 24:29-31 }. Here Jesus pictures the Tribulation as follows by "a great sound of the trumpet." This is the last recorded in time. When however, we reach the last trumpet in the Revelation, last in the series, we shall find much satisfying evidence that the event is actually taking place. [ End Quote ].

13. Commentary . . . You notice that Harrison's teaching refers primarily to the 7th or "last" of the seven trumpets spoken of in { Revelation 11:15 }. His teaching is based on the belief that the Thessalonian and Corinthian trumpets are one and the same trumpet of Revelation, and positively refer to the resurrection of the Body of Christ. This teacher does believe that "last" can mean one of two things: last in point of time, or last in point of sequence." Because of what he has stated, he is agreeing that the last in point of a series might possibly fail to be synonymous with the last in point of time. The word "last" can easily refer to the end of a specific period of time, but it certainly does not always refer to something that will never again exist. { 2- Peter 3:10-12 } states that the earth and the heavens will be purged with fire, but this doesn't mean that this will be the end of an earth on this world, read { V. 13 }. See also { Luke 1:33; - & - Isaiah 45:17 }.

14. The word "last" may signify that which concludes a program, but is not necessarily the last that will ever exist. Inasmuch as the program for the Body of Christ differs from that for Israel, each may be terminated by the blowing of a trumpet, properly called the last trumpet without making both of these last trumpets refer to an identical resurrection.

15. Thiessen wrote the following, [ Quote ]: ". . . with Ellicott we say: "There are no sufficient grounds for supposing that there is here any reference to the 7th Apocalyptic trumpet { Revelation 11:15 } . . . This salipigx [ trumpet ] the Apostle here terms 'eschate' [ last ], not with reference to any preceding series . . . but as connected with the close of his aion [ age ] and the last scene of this world's history, [ End Quote ]. Commentary . . . With this we agree, except that when Christ comes only the history of the age will come to a close, while the world itself will never end, see { Isaiah 45:17; - Luke 1:33; - & - Ephesians 3:21; etc. }.

16. Ellicott was a Pre-millennialist, and this is, no doubt, what he means by the statement. Meyer takes the same view, on the ground that in { 1- Thessalonians 4:16 }, [ Quote ]: "Only one trumpet is mentioned, and that one taken for granted as is well known." The same conclusion may be drawn from the fact that Paul follows the reference to the "last trumpet," with the impersonal statement, "for the trumpet shall sound." [ See Greek text ]. If he had taught of this trumpet as one of seven, he would undoubtedly have said something like the following: "For when the trumpets will be sounded and the time comes for the last one to sound, the dead in Christ shall be raised." At any rate, there is no ground for identifying the "trumpet" in { 1- Corinthians 15:52 } with the 7th trumpet in { Revelation 11:15 }, [ End Quote ]." When it comes to these two trumpet blasts, it is found that there is quite a controversy involved amongst Bible students. When we speak of Daniel's 70th week: we again repeat this next verse . . .

17. Scripture: "I also will keep you [ safe ] from the hour of temptation [ trial, testing ], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth, { Revelation 3:10 }."

18. Commentary . . . Considering whom will live on the earth during the time of judgment in the Tribulation, a few things should be considered from the above text. It is speaking about "them that dwell on the earth" and certainly is not referring to the Body of Christ. Notice the same words are used in { Revelation 6:10; - 11:10; - 13:8, 12, 14; - 14:6; - & - 17:8 }. It has been saiid that this "is NOT giving us a geographical but rather a moral classification. "

19. Concerning { V. 10 } above, Henry C. Thiessen writes . . . [ Quote ]: "Now the word "dwell" used here [ katoikeo ] is a strong word, it is used to describe the fullness of the Godhead that dwelt in Christ { Colossians 2:9 }; it is used of Christ's taking up a permanent abode in the believers heart { Ephesians 3:17 }, and of demons returning to take absolute possession of a man { Matthew 12:45; - & - Luke 11:26 }. It is to be distinguished from the word [ oikeo ], which is the general term for "dwell," and [ paroikeo ], which has the idea of transitoriness, "to sojourn." We find nothing whatsoever in the trumpet judgments that could prove in any way that the Body of Christ could ever enter into the 70th week. The judgments certainly are performed to test earth dwellers. And so . . .

20. Thayer remarks that the term [ katoikeo ] has the idea of permanence in it. Thus, the judgment referred to in { Revelation 3:10 } is directed against the earth-dwellers of that day, against those who have settled down in the earth as their real home, who have identified themselves with the earth's commerce and religion, [ End Quote ]."

21. Commentary . . . A good Bible student knows that Israel and the nations will inherit the earth, therefore, in the future the Body of Christ cannot dwell permanently on the earth but will naturally be able to visit the earth from Heaven if the Lord wills it. On the other hand, if the Body of Christ or any part of it must live on the earth during the Tribulation, it would have to go through the same calamities as the rest of humanity! Thayer in his writings - explains the word "peirasai" [ "to try" ], when it is speaking of the Lord.

[ 1 ]: To inflict evils upon a Christian in order to prove his character and the steadfastness of his faith doesn't make any sense." Since the Father never sees the Body of Christ except in Christ, perfected in Him, the Tribulation Period can have no reference to the Body of Christ. For Christ's Body of Saints does not need to be tested to see if [ His ] faith is genuine. [ 2 ]: The second major purpose of the whole 70th week of testing, is primarily in relation to Israel.

22. [ A ]: Commentary . . . The Mid-trib folks admit that the sounding of the trumpet mentioned in { 1- Corinthians 15: 52 }, takes place before the Lord's anger is poured out upon the earth. Whereas, the sounding of the trumpet in { Revelation 11:15 } is accomplished after the Tribulation Period has come to its end. This last sounding takes place just before the return of Jesus to the earth. [ B ]: It will be the Lord's trumpet call that will be given to Rapture the Body of Christ from off the earth to meet Him in the clouds of Heaven. But, it's quite evident when reading { Revelation 11:15 }, that it is the call of an Angel that gives the glorious sound of a 7th trumpet which brings rejoicing to those in the heavenlies that the Lord's wrath has ended, and that Messiah has finely conquered Satan and his followers.

23. Strombeck states concerning the Rapture: [ Quote ] "In the search for "the last trump" one must, then, be guided by the fact that it is God's own trumpet, sounded by the Lord Himself. In view of this, one would hardly be willing to contend that the last trumpet of God is the last of a series of trumpets blown by the priests of the Aaronic priesthood. These were not in a class with the trumpet of God. Remembering that the angels are only a little higher than man, it is just as contrary to the laws of logic to say that "the last trump," which is God's own trumpet, is the last of a series of trumpets blown by angels. Both men and angels are creatures of God. They cannot sound the trumpet of the Creator, [ End Quote ].

24. [ C ]: Commentary . . . As far as being the last trumpet blast in a series, it should be easily recognized that the trumpet call for the Body of Christ is definitely singular, and has nothing to do with any series! How could it be in a series since there isn't any previous trumpet calls for the Body of Christ before it will be instituted? This certainly cannot be stated about the 7th trumpet in Revelation, because it definitely is the last of the series, the Mid-trib theory is untrue!

25. [ D ]: All the dead Christians who became Saints in the last 2000 years, since the Body first began, naturally belong to the Body of Christ. And, their souls and spirits have been present with the Lord since their death! When the Rapture takes place { 1- Thessalonians 4:16-18; - & - 1- Corinthians 15:51-52 }, all the bodies of the dead Saints will be called up from off the earth as the trumpet is sounded, and their bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies. And, all their souls and spirits that are presently in Heaven will come down with Jesus at the time of this resurrection and enter into the new spiritual bodies. Plus, those of the Body of Christ that will still be alive on the earth at that time, these will be called up into the clouds of the earth's atmosphere to meet the Lord in the air, this will all take place simultaneously.

26. According to { Revelation 11:3-12 }, only the two Hebrew witnesses that will be God's prophets will be called up from the dead into Heaven { V. 12 }. When reading these verses, we do not find any trumpet being sounded to call these two men from the earth! Naturally they are resurrected, but there are several resurrections mentioned in our Bible. On the other hand, we find no trumpet call for these two men! Only after this resurrection do we hear another trumpet being sounded { V. 15 }. This definitely means that both of these resurrections are different in a different time element. [ See our message about the five resurrections. ]

27. [ E ]: You will notice that the trumpet call in { 1- Thessalonians }, is the answer to { Titus 2:13-14 }. Israel and the nations are not involved in this great blessed hope for the Body. Only the Body of Christ is looking and waiting for the Rapture when we are to receive our new bodies and henceforth dwell as Christ's Body of Believers in Heaven with the Lord. Revelation as we see, is the other side of the coin. Only dramatic and continual testing from a judgmental Lord is to follow in the footsteps of the Antichrist during all the trumpet Judgments. Persecution of the world's inhabitants issues forth from the mouth of this evil dictator, the man of sin which he is called in { 2- Thessalonians 2:3 }.

28. [ F ]: We read In { 1- Corinthians Ch. 15 } the trumpet that is sounded- is completed "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." But we find that in { Revelation 10:7 }, the sounding of the 7th trumpet is a continual sound over a greater period, possibly for the complete period of testing- or judging that takes place while it is sounding. The Apostle John mentioned the Angel that "blows the trumpet." The time period of both soundings are distinguished as not being the same.

29. [ G ]: It has been stated many times by this writer and by other Bible teachers, that Israel must always be looked upon as separated, and as a different race of people in a general way from all Gentiles. The Jewish race will become a nation of priest during the Millennial Reign of Christ, { Isaiah 61:6; - Exodus 40:15; - & - 19:6 }. While Gentiles and Christians are in a different category altogether, still . . . during the Tribulation Period, multitudes of Gentiles and Jews alike will receive Christ, and all saved Believers that are alive at that time will live on the earth throughout the Kingdom Administration! According to this, the 7th trumpet mentioned above has absolutely nothing to do with the Body of Christ, because the Body will not be on earth at that time! After this trumpet is blown, only more judgment will follow!

30. [ H ]: When researching the Mid-tribulationist doctrine, we find a great number of mistakes in their theory. For instance God's Word teaches . . .

31. Scripture: "And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were frightened, and gave glory to the God of Heaven, {Revelation 11:13}."

32. Commentary . . . We suggest that the reader read { V. 15 } again where it speaks about the 7th Angel sounding the 7th trumpet. We have stated that this is a picture of the end of the Tribulation Period, . . . and then, the whole scenario of the 70th week is replayed all over again. Notice the 7th vial that is poured out in { Ch. 16 }:

33. { V. 16 } Scripture: "And He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon, [ Mount of slaughter ].

34. { V. 17 }: The seventh Angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of Heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

35. { V. 18 }: And there were voices, and thunders, and lightings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great .

36. { V. 19 }: And the great city [ Jerusalem ] was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

37. { V. 20 }: And "every island" fled away, and the "mountains were not found."

38. { V. 21 }: And there fell upon men a great hail out of Heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent [ 100- pounds ]: and men [ still ] blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great, { Revelation 16:16-21 }."

39. Commentary . . . Notice the similarity. In { Ch. 11 } . . . one "tenth part of the city fell." Then in { Ch. 16 } Jerusalem was divided, rather parted into 3 Parts. But even though it states that "all the cities of the nations fell," it does not say that more than the tenth part of Jerusalem fell as stated above but that the city was separated into three parts. Personally, this writer believes that both of these pictures of the earthquakes are alluding to the same earthquake taking place at the end of the seven year period. Therefore, we believe that this gives us a definite picture of the Tribulation Period taught once and then over again, so that the Lord could make us see it in a clearer focus!

40. When reading where the Rapture is found in { 1- Thessalonians Ch. 4; - & - 2- Corinthians Ch. 15 }, we do not find anywhere where there is an earthquake mentioned, and neither do we find where there will be a part of the Body of Christ left behind. Only a horrible misinterpretation of the Scriptures could spiritualize such untrue doctrine! Read { Revelation 11:13 } again. We have proven by Scripture many times in various messages that the Body of Christ cannot be found in the first 4 books of the New Testament. These books contain doctrine applied under the Kingdom Administration, and the Body of Christ of today did not even exist at that time! But, the Mid-tribulationists, Post-tribulationists and even the majority of the Pre-tribulationist fail to recognize that this separates the Body of Christ in this Dispensation from that previous time period [ i.e., the previous Dispensation that Christ taught in while being here on the earth in His physical body ].

41. [ I ]: { V. 18 } Scripture: "And the nations were angry, and Your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should give rewards to Your servants the prophets, and to the Saints, and them that fear Your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.

42. { V. 19 }: And the temple of God was opened in Heaven and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightning's, and "voices, an d thunderings," and an earthquake, [ on the earth ] and great hail, { Revelation 11:18-19 }." [ I.e., thunder is portrayed as being the "Voice of God," see: ] . . . { Psalm 29:3; - & - Job 37:4-5 }. "Write this in the flyleaf of your Bible"!

43. Commentary . . . The Mid-trib- believers teach . . . where it states in { V. 18 } above: "and that You should give rewards to Your servants the prophets, and to the [ tribulation ] saints," "refers to the rewarding of the Body of Christ after the Rapture." But, this is a ridicules teaching, because the rewarding in this passage can only refer to the rewarding of the saved Israelites and those that had been saved out of the Gentile nations at that time - before and during the Second Coming of Messiah! This is an earthly scene, and according to { V. 19 } an earthquake takes place. This rewarding then has to take place shortly after the Tribulation Period has ended and after the judgment of the nations have taken place, { Matthew 25:31-46 }. Never do we find anyone rewarded in the Heavenlies except the Body of Christ! { Matthew 24:31 }: does not apply to the present Body of Christ in any way, but is applied to the Israelites after Christ's return. See { Isaiah 45:2-8; - & - Zechariah 2:1-13 }.

44. Dr. Pentecost states . . . [ quote ] "The trumpets of Revelation are completed before the second advent of the Messiah. Matthew records the Lord's own words, in which he teaches that Israel will be re-gathered after the sounding of a trumpet after the second advent. If last must mean last chronologically, why should it not be argued that both the trumpets of Revelation - & -                    Thessalonians coincide with that of { Matthew Ch. 24 }? [ End quote ] Concerning the phrase "last trumpet" . . .

45. English says, [ Quote ]: "The significance of the term, "the last trumpet," in { 1- Corinthians 15:52 }, inasmuch as this sounding is not one of a series of trumpetings, may possibly be that of a rallying call, or an alarm. In { Numbers Ch. 10 } we read of the sounding of trumpets for calling an assembly of the people and for their journeyings. There were specific calls for each of the camps of the Israelites and special calls for the whole congregation, [ End Quote ]."

46. Concerning this mater, Dr. Carl Armerding States, [ Quote ]: "the last trumpet would signify that the whole congregation was finally on the move. In a way this may illustrate what we find in { 1- Corinthians 15:23 }," Every man in his own order [ or rank- tagmati ]: "Christ the first fruits;" afterward they that are Christs at His coming," These last are certainly divided into at least two groups: those who have "Fallen asleep," and those "who are alive and remain.' . . . Dr. Armerding goes on to say that in { V. 52 } where it says: "In a moment in the twinkling of an eye," is just expressions, "which are used the world around to indicate suddenness and rapidity . . .

47. "The fact that the third phrase "at the last trumpet; is so closely associated with them would lead us to believe that it should be understood in the same way. If so, it will be in the nature of an alarm, which is the very word used in { Numbers 10:5-6 } in connection with the journeying of the camps." The quickening and assembling already accomplished [ the former by the voice of the Lord, and the latter by the voice of the Archangel ] - { 1- Thessalonians 4:16 }. . . . There is only one more thing necessary to set all in motion, it is 'the last trumpet.' That will be the final note struck on that momentous occasion, [ End Quote ]."

48. Commentary . . . I.e., from the writer of this message . . . "{ 1- Corinthians 15:20-23 } represents the fact that no person that had lived before Christ's Resurrection, could or would be resurrected into the Paradise of Heaven before Christ Himself was resurrected first. Before the Lord's resurrection, all the souls of the dead saints, were transferred to Paradise located in the center of the earth, until Christ would resurrect them from the earth at the time of His Own Resurrection, { Acts 1:9 }. Actually there is more than one meaning in these verses! [ Read our message concerning Heaven, and our other message concerning: "The Prison Of No Return." These two messages explain practically everything you will need to know about Heaven or Hell ] See { Psalm 68:18-20; - Ephesians 4:8-10; - Hebrews 2:10-11; - & - 1- Corinthians 15:20-21. } Concerning the Tribulation Period . . .

49. Wm. Kelly concludes: [ Quote ]: "The view here maintained follows on a close investigation of every distinct passage that Scripture affords upon the subject of the great tribulation. I should be obliged to any one who will produce to me other passages that refer to it; but I am not aware of them. I demand of those . . . whether they can point out one word which supposes a Christian in the Body of Christ will be on the earth when the great tribulation arrives? Have we not seen that the doctrine in the Old and new Testament - of Jeremiah, of Daniel, of the Lord Jesus, and of the Apostle John - is this, that, just before the Lord appears in glory, will come the last and unequaled trouble for Israel, . . . that there will be . . . "the great tribulation," out of which a multitude of Gentiles emerge. And, that both the Israelites and the Gentiles at that time will be totally distinct from the Christians that become saved during the tribulation, and also from the Body of Christ that has already been Raptured. As regards the Body of Christ, "the positive promise of the Lord is, that such as "have kept the word of His patience He will keep out of the hour of trial, [ i.e., temptation, "testing" ] which is about to come upon the whole habitable world, to try them that dwell upon the earth, { Revelation 3:10 }." [ End Quote ]."

50. Commentary . . . We must agree with the above writer that since all the texts dealing with the Tribulation Period relates to God's program for Israel, that the scope of the 70th week prevents the Body of Christ from taking any part in it. The expectation and blessed hope of the saved remnant of Israelis is the appearing of their King and Messiah to reign over them and fulfill the promised covenants that are yet to take place. The expectations and blessed hope of the Body of Christ { Titus 2:13 } are altogether different, we are waiting and looking forward to the appearing of our Head, our Leader, our Saviour, and our Lord to call us up from off this earth, so that we may spend eternity in the heavenlies with Him. All Saints today are sealed to salvation in Christ!

51. Many of the Hebrews during the Tribulation Period will receive a mark or seal of God in their foreheads, { Revelation 7:3 ]. But, every single child of God today are already sealed in their foreheads, { 2- Corinthians 1:22; - Ephesians 1:13; - & - Romans 4:11}, once righteousness has been imputed to the individual, it is sealed there in our hearts forever. The mind of each of us is the heart of the body, see { Acts 8:37; - John 14:1; - & - Romans 10:10 }, our mind, I am told is in the frontal lobe- or frontalis [ behind the forehead ] of the cranium [ skull of our head ]," this means since the believing Israelites will be sealed in their heads, we already have our seal of righteousness in our heads!

52. There is a tremendous difference between the Hebrews and the Body of Christ, they will inherit the earth under Messiah as King. But, we will share in Christ's inheritance, and He will remain our Head. Israel is still waiting their King. We already have our

Head. Christ is just as much our Head at this very time as He ever will be! His very being is attached to us and will forever remain that way! When one researches the Mid-tribulation Rapture theory with the Word of God, it can easily be proven that their teachings must be rejected as being untrue!

53. Dr. Pentecost states [ Quote ]: "Between the 6th and 7th trumpets John is told in { Revelation 10:11 } that it is necessary for you to "prophecy again before many peoples and nations and tongues and Kings [ literally ]." Concerning the word "again" [ palin ] Thayer [ an expert concerning Biblical words ] says "that it denotes renewal or repetition of the action." This would seem to be a Divine notice that, since John has taken us through the entire period once, it is God's intention to have him retrace his way through the period again. Therefore, beginning in { Chapter 12 }, John surveys the period a second time, placing emphasis on the individuals who play so important a part in the events of the 70th week. [ Read our message concerning the 70 weeks of Daniel ].

54. This second survey, like the first, terminates the period by the return of Christ and the consequent judgment of His enemies

{ Revelation Ch. 19 }. Thus, the observation that { Revelation 11:15-18 } describes the revelation [ Second Coming ], not the Rapture, paralleling { Revelation 19:11-16 }, and the notification of repetition in { Revelation 10:11 } would make the Mid-tribulation interpretation of the chronology of Revelation impossible. It must be observed that this position depends on the allegorical method of interpretation, particularly in making { Revelation Ch. 11 } describe the Rapture, [ End quote ].

55. Pentecost again quoting Harrison says, [ Quote ]: "Let us get clearly in mind the nature of the Tribulation, that it is Divine "wrath" { Revelation 11:18; - 14:8,10,19; - 15:1,7; - & - 16:1,19 }; observe he omits { 6:16-17 } and Divine "judgment" { 14:7; - 15:4; - 17:1; - 18:10; - & - 19:2 }. We know that our blessed Lord bore for us the wrath of God and His judgment; therefore, we are in Him and shall not come into judgment." The antithesis of { 1- Thessalonians 5:9 } is conclusive evidence: "For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." Wrath for others, but salvation for us at the Rapture, "whether we wake or sleep" { Vs. 10 } . . . [ End Quote ].

56. Commentary . . . As you can see, Harrison teaches that there will be no wrath poured out in the first part of the Tribulation. He is dead wrong! There isn't any doubt that the Tribulation Period shows forth the Lord's anger being sent forth over the entire world throughout the entire seven year period of tribulation. Many of the things portrayed in these following texts are happening right now. But, they are only a preview of the complete fulfillment of the prophetic utterances mentioned in these verses that will transpire during the Tribulation Period. When we read { Revelation 3:10; Isaiah 34:2; - & - 24:1-21 }, plus several other texts, we find a clear understanding. The reader will notice that this is speaking of the earth as a whole, but the 70th week primarily concerns the Nation of Israel. The texts we have given thus far should make clear to anyone that they refer to the Tribulation Period.

57. See { Jeremiah 30:7-8 }. The Lord will break the yoke of bondage from off the neck of His chosen people Israel, and Antichrist will no longer have power over them. If these passages referred to the Body of Christ in any way, then this present Dispensation could not have been shone to be a mystery as is mentioned in { Ephesians 3:16; - & - Colossians 1:25-27 }. Never could the Body of today be foretold in the book of Daniel in relation to the 70 week prophecy of { Ch. 9 }, or anywhere else in the O.T. Therefore, since the 70th week is foretold in that chapter it has to be applied to the nation Israel. The Body of Christ cannot be on earth when the Tribulation Period begins, the Bible student should read the following texts { Matthew Ch. 24; - Daniel Ch. 12; - Luke Ch. 21; - Mark Ch. 13; - Jeremiah Ch. 30; - & - Revelation Ch. 7 }.

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58. In the middle of the 70th week { Ch. 8:1 }, we find a pause in time before the 7th seal is to be opened. The awful suspense during this pause was occasioned by the events which were about to take place under the 7 trumpets. You will recall that the entire Tribulation Period consists of a trio of sevens: 7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 vials of wrath. The 7th seal ends in 7 trumpets and the 7th trumpet ends in the 7 vials of final wrath. Generally speaking, the first half of the Tribulation includes the 7 seals. The last half of the Tribulation beginning in { Revelation Ch. 8 }, is called the Great Tribulation, and introduces us to the major characters in the last half of the 7 year period.

59. The sounding of the first 6 trumpets include the first half of the 70th week of years, and the 7th seal is opened, 7 angels with trumpets make their appearance. Those who state that all this refers to the wrath of Satan are very mistaken, the Word of God says differently! The whole Tribulation Period is brought forth through the wrath of Almighty God. The first half of the week will be dreadful, but now the second half begins with this silence in Heaven { Ch. 8:1 }, and this will make the first half look like a Sunday school picnic.

60. Naturally, the devil will be full of wrath during the whole 7 years and will cause much sin to transpire through that period. But, the devil isn't judging anybody, how could he when he is the source of sin? It is the Lord's wrath because of sin that brings fourth chastisement and judgment, and this is why these 21 judgments must be fulfilled. Surely the evidence is very strong from Revelation that both the wrath of Satan and the wrath of God are in evidence all during the entire seven years, and if the Body of Christ cannot be on earth in the midst of God's wrath, then it cannot be on earth during that whole seven year period. We have previously pointed out the distinctions between the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of the Mystery of the Grace of God.

61. The Gospel of the Kingdom is based upon God's covenant with David to establish David's throne and Kingdom here on earth under the ruler-ship of Messiah. This is not God's message for this "Grace Dispensation." However, if the Body of Christ is to be on earth during the Tribulation, we must ask: what Gospel will the Body be preaching? Christ made it clear that the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world at the end of the age, that is, during the Tribulation. Since there is no instruction in the revelation for the Body of Christ that it is to change its message to that of the Kingdom at some time in the future, we must conclude either that the Body of Christ will not be in the Tribulation, or if it is, that a new revelation must be given and a new and a different commission be given to the Body.

62. Jesus foretold about the persecutions that would take place during the 70th week. He made clear that when the abominations of desolation was placed in the holy place in the rebuilt Temple, that the Hebrews were to depart and hide from the Antichrist and his host of followers, { Matthew 24:15-22 }. Never do we find a Rapture mentioned by the Lord when He was teaching His Apostles. Also, never do we find anywhere where the Body of Christ is to hide from the Antichrist in the future!

63. As to the Israelites, they are the Lord's elect people. In { Matthew 24:29-31 } Jesus states that at His Second Coming, He will use His angels to gather His elect Hebrew Believers from one end of Heaven to the other. He will bring them to the land of Israel that He may rule over them as their Messiah, and this is foretold in many Scriptures of the Bible. The Post-millennialists teach that this refers to the Rapture which just isn't so! It must be remembered that there are 3 Heavens, and the earth with its atmosphere is the first Heaven. { See Jeremiah 29:14; - 30:3; - Ezekiel 11:17; - 36:8-9; - & - Zechariah 10:10 }.

64. { V. 3 } Scripture: "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

65. { V. 3 } above paraphrased: "That no one [ of you ] that should be disturbed and beguiled and led astray by these afflictions and difficulties [ to which I have referred ]. For you yourselves know that this is [ unavoidable in our position, and must be recognized as ] our appointed lot."

66. Commentary . . . Moved = beguiled, i.e; that they be not 'seduced' away from the faith by the heathen unbelievers who were urging them to reject their faith. Ask yourself, aren't unbelievers still teaching ungodly lies about the Body of Christ even today?

67. { V. 4 } For verily [ surly even ], when we were with you [ you know ], we told you before that we [ were to be pressed with difficulties and that we ] should suffer tribulation [ affliction ]; even as it came to pass, and you know [ just as to your own knowledge - has since happened ], { 1- Thessalonians 3:3-4 }."

68. Commentary . . . This merely refers to the normal tribulation that must endure, that is, normal afflictions that come upon Christians after they were saved. Paul clearly taught them, as he is even now teaching us, that normal persecution will come upon us. But Paul, did not then nor is he saying now that we today will ever go into the Tribulation Period. We have already mentioned several times that after the Rapture, we in the Body will be with the Lord in Paradise of Heaven. While much tribulation is taking place on the earth, we in the Body will be having our earthly works judged by the Lord in Heaven at the judgment seat of Christ. Therefore, the 70th week will take place just after the Rapture, and will be fulfilled before the Second Coming of Messiah at the end of the Tribulation Period. We believe that all true Christians who have studied their Bibles diligently, will admit that this present grace period must end before the Body of Christ is able to rule and reign with the Lord in the Heavenlies.

69. This means that there will be at least, no more than 7 Years for the judgment seat of Christ to be concluded. Since the Post-tribulationalist believe in a general resurrection after the Tribulation has ended, this would mean that both the Israelites and the Body of Christ would be Raptured up to meet the Lord in the air together at the same time. If this were to happen like this, would this not mean that the judgment of the nations of { Matthew Ch. 25 } and the judgment of the works of the Body of Christ likely take place at the same time?

70. Paul stated, that before the 'man of sin' can be revealed there must first come a falling away first. There are those who teach that this is referring to a falling away from the faith [ Not True ]. Some believe that it refers to the Rapture of the Body of Christ [ TRUE ]. Others believe that it is talking about the Holy Spirit in all His completeness - being taken up from the earth into Heaven [ NOT TRUE ], and many believe that as long as He was here on the earth, He was the restraining power holding back the appearance of the man of sin "the Antichrist," [ NOT ENTIRELY TRUE ]. We believe that the answer is, "that the Body of Christ being filled and indwelt by the Holy Spirit will be Raptured first - and this is the answered to the question, therefore, the Body of Christ is the restraining power." The Lord's Body of Saints will have to be removed before the Antichrist can come into power. This means that the Rapture must take place before the Tribulation Period can commence. Read { 2- Thessalonians 2:3-12 }. Dr. Dwight Pentecost quoting Chafer has written a fairly large list which should prove to any well studied Believer, that the Rapture must precede the Tribulation Period.

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71. Dr. Chafer has written twenty four contrasts between Israel and the Body of Christ which proves to us conclusively that these two groups of people cannot consist of one Administration, but that they must be distinguished as two separate entities with whom the Lord is dealing in a special program. [ The writer of this message has added his own emphases plus two more contrast to what Dr. Chafer has written, the following contrasts are outlined as follows ]:

[ 1 ]: The extent of Biblical revelation . . . Israel, nearly four fifths of the Bible. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . about one fifth. ]

[ 2 ]: The Divine purpose . . . Israel, the earthly promises in the O.T. Covenants. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . the heavenly promises in a blood Covenant portrayed primarily in the letters of Paul etc. ]

[ 3 ]: The seed of Abraham . . . Israel, the physical seed, of whom some became a spiritual seed. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . a spiritual Seed in its entirety. ]

[ 4 ]: Birth . . . Israel, physical birth that produces a relationship. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . spiritual birth that brings relationship. ]

[ 5 ]: Head-ship . . . Israel, Abraham. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . Christ Himself as Head of the Body. ]

[ 6 ]: Covenants . . . Israel, Abrahamic and all the following Covenants. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . a Covenant of blood indirectly related to the Abrahamic and new Covenants. ]

[ 7 ]: Nationality . . . Israel, one nation. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . from all nations. ]

[ 8 ]: Divine dealing . . . Israel, National and individual. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . individual only, one organism. ]

[ 9 ]: Dispensations . . . Israel, seen in all ages from Abraham. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . seen only during this present age of grace. ]

[ 10 ]: Ministry . . . Israel, no missionary activity to speak of and no Gospel of Christ to preach during this Dispensation. . . . [ Body of Christ: to fill up to completeness by preaching and teaching the Mystery Gospel of Grace until the time of the Rapture. ]

[ 11 ]: The death of Christ . . . Israel, guilty nationally, to be saved by it. . . . [ Members of the Body of Christ . . . perfectly saved and secure by it at the present time and forever. ]

[ 12 ]: The Father . . . Israel, by a peculiar relationship God was Father to the nation. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . we are related individually to the Lord as adopted sons of God the Father. ]

[ 13 ]: Christ to . . . Israel, Messiah, Immanuel, King. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . Saviour, Lord and Head. ]

[ 14 ]: The Holy Spirit . . . Israel, came upon some temporarily, but no Israelite was indwelt permanently by the Holy Spirit before the present Body of Christ came on the scene. . . . [ In the Body of Christ . . . the Spirit of God indwells all members of the Body. ]

[ 15 ]: Governing principle . . . Israel, Mosaic law "and Kingdom system." . . . [ Body of Christ . . . Grace age and system. ]

[ 16 ]: Divine enablement . . . Israel, none. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . the indwelling Holy Spirit. ]

[ 17 ]: Various Commissions and, two farewell discourses for . . . Israel, plus Olivet discourse; and upper room discourse. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . To teach the Ministry of reconciliation as ambassadors of, and for Christ in our own 'one Commission.' ] See { 2- Corinthians 5:14-21 }. Israel's Commission is portrayed in { Matthew 28:19-20 }. See again { 2- Corinthians 5:14-21 } for the commission of the Children of God today.

[ 18 ]: The promise of Christ's return . . . Israel, in power and glory for judgment. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . to receive us to Himself in the glory and the Rapture. ]

[ 19 ]: Position . . . Israel, a servant. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . Ministers, Ambassadors, Members of the family of God. ]

[ 20 ]: Christ's earthly reign . . . Israel, subjects. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . Co-reigners, a Heavenly calling and abode. ]

[ 21 ]: Priesthood . . . Israel, had a priesthood and will have another Priesthood during the Millennial Reign of Christ. See { Isaiah 61:6; - Exodus 40:15; - 19:6; - 1-Peter 2:5; - Revelation 1:6, 5; - & - 20:6 }. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . Ambassadors, Ministers, adopted sons, the "one new man," { see Ephesians 2:15; - 4:13; - 2- Corinthians 5:18-20; - & - 6:4 }.

[ 22 ]: Marriage . . . Israel, as an-unfaithful wife but, will after second Coming become Bride of Christ. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . to reign with Jesus in the heavenlies as the One New Man with Christ as our Head.]

[ 23 ]: Judgment . . . Israel, to be judged during Tribulation Period. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . delivered from all judgment, only our past works are to be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ. See { Romans 14:10-12; - 1- Corinthians 3:9:16; - & - 2-Corinthians 5:10. }

[ 24 ]: Positions in eternity . . . Israel, spirits of just men made perfect in the new earth. . . . [ Body of Christ . . . Body of the first born in the new Heavens, and is in perfection in the new nature from the moment of inception of the new birth. ]

[ 25 ]: Gospel . . . Israel, she was given the Gospel of the Kingdom with all its ordinances to obey and live by. See { Matthew 4:17; - 24:14; - & - Acts 2:38." } . .. . [ Body of Christ . . . given the Gospel of the Mystery of the grace of God to receive and live by with no Biblical ordinances of works to be placed under or obey. ] See { Ephesians 2:14-18; - 3:5-9; - Colossians 2:14; - & - Hebrews 9:10 }.

[ 26 ]: Blinded in part . . . Israel, partially blinded to Christ throughout this present Dispensation. See { Romans 11:25; - Ephesians 4:18; - & - 2- Corinthians 4:1-7." } . . . [ Body of Christ . . . Eyes were wide open to the complete teachings of the entire Bible throughout this present Dispensation. ]

72. Commentary . . . These above clear contrasts, which show the distinction between Israel and the Body of Christ, make it impossible to identify the two in one program, which it is necessary to do if the Body goes through the Tribulation Period. These following distinctions give further support to the Pre-tribulation Rapture position.

73. Although Israel could not know the day nor the hour when the Lord will come, yet they can know that their redemption is near through the fulfillment of signs. For the Body of Christ, we can only observe the signs during the end of this age of grace that point to the fact that the Rapture is very near. But, the signs we observe presently are signs that will mostly be fulfilled during the Great Tribulation period. The truth is, the Body of Christ was told to live in the light of the imminent coming of the Lord to be caught up and forever remain in Christ's presence. See { John 14:2-3; - 1- Corinthians 15:51-52; - Philippians 3:20; - Colossians 3:4; - 11- Thessalonians 1:10; - 1- Timothy 6:14; - James 5:8; - & -- 1- Peter 3:3-4 }. Such passages as { 1- Thessalonians 5:6; - Titus 2:13; - & - Revelations 3:3 } all warn the Believer to be watching for the Lord Himself, not necessarily for signs that would precede His coming.

74. Commentary . . . It is true that the events of the 70th week will cast a faint shadow before the Rapture but the object of the Christians attention is always directed to Christ, we should not ever lose any sleep as to the time of His coming. The doctrine of His imminence, or "at any moment coming," is not a new doctrine. Such a belief in imminency marked the Pre-millennialism of the early part of this Body of Christ age, and what was taught by our forefathers as well as the writers of the New Testament.

75. In this connection Henry C. Thiessen writes. . . [ Quote ]: " . . . they held not only the premillennial view of Christ's coming, but also regarded that coming as imminent. The Lord had taught them to expect His return at any moment, and so they looked for Him to come in their day. Not only so, but they also taught His personal return as being immediately. Those who became Christians in the early part of the Body of Christ period lived in the constant expectation of their Lord, and hence was not interested in the possibility of a Tribulation Period in the future, [ End Quote ].

76. Commentary . . . An argument used by Mid-tribulation Rapturists to support their theory is, 'the denial of imminence.' [ Quoting ] Norman B. Harrison, he teaches the Mid, Theory, when he says: "There are those who object to the Rapture being placed at the last Trumpet on the ground that it militates against our hopes in the imminent return of Christ. To be consistently Scriptural in the matter we should take into account the following:

77. [ 1 ]: For Peter there was no possibility of such an experience, our Lord having told him that he would live to old age and die a martyr's death, { John 21:18-19 }, and yet, Peter became the Apostle of hope and exhorts believers of his day; [ "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for, the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ { 1- Peter 1:13 }."

78. [ 2 ]. For Paul to obey his Lord's commission . . . { Acts 22:21 } left him facing a long preaching career that precluded, for much of his lifetime, any monetary return of Christ. He warns that the apostasy must come first { 2- Thessalonians 2:3 } and ". . . that in the last days perilous times shall come, { 2- Timothy 3:1 }." And yet, Paul constantly envisions the Coming of Christ as an incentive to holy living for the Christians of his day, { Titus 2:11-13; - 1- Corinthians 15:51; - Philippians 3:20; - & - 1- Thessalonians 4:17 }.

79. [ 3 ]: For the Apostles was a far-flung program contained in the great [ Hebrew ] Commission to carry the Gospel [ of the Millennial Kingdom ] "into all the world" { Mark 16:15 } . . . And yet, whenever any of these apostles wrote to believers of their day, they failed not to exhort them concerning their Lord's return.

80. [ 4 ]. For the early Church, our Lord from Heaven revealed a seven-fold historical development of the Church, { Revelation Ch. 2 - & - 3 } evidently requiring an extended period of time. And yet, to that early Church were given the reiterated words of assurance, "Behold I come quickly" { Revelation 22:7, 12, 20 }. . . . We see from the Scriptures that Christ could not have returned in the lifetime of Peter; nor yet in the days of the Apostles; nor yet before the Reformation; nor yet before the missionary program is completed; nor yet before the apostasy has overtaken us: nor yet before the last days in which we seem to be living. [ End Quote: from "The End, pp. 231-33, Above Author ].

81. Commentary . . . Harrison seems to glory in persuading folks that there isn't any cause to believe in an imminent return of the Lord Jesus, he makes this very clear in the above quotations. On the other hand, writers all the way back through the history of the "out calling of the Body of Christ" up to this present time disagree with him. We are not stating that the Bible gives us a promise of an immediate return of the Lord, but it certainly does make clear that the writers of the New Testament believed in the imminent coming of Jesus. There is no doubt in this writers mind that Christians today should be waiting and watching with the blessed hope and expectation of His soon return! We must say with all our hearts [ minds ] that the conclusions of the Mid-trib teachings must constantly be rejected!

82. Although Eschatology of the early beginning of the Body of Christ may not be altogether clear on all points, for in that period the Christian Saints believed that Christ would return in their day to set up His Millennial Kingdom on this earth. This same view of the imminent return of Christ is seen in the writings of the reformers, even though they had different views on eschatological questions. . . .

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83. Luther wrote . . . [ Quote ]: "I believe that all the signs which are to precede the last days have already appeared. Let us not think that the coming of Christ is far off; let us look up with heads lifted up; let us expect our Redeemer's coming with longing and cheerful mind [ End Quote ]."

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84. Calvin declared: [ Quote ]: "Scripture uniformly enjoins us to look with expectation for the advent of Christ, [ End Quote ]."

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85. John Knox said . . . [ Quote ] "The Lord shall return and that with expectation. What were this else but to reform the face of the whole earth, which never was nor yet shall be, till that righteous King and Judge appear for the restoration of all things, [ End Quote ]."

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86. Similarly, Latimer states, [ Quote ]: "All those excellent and learned men whom, without doubt, God has sent into the world in these latter days to give the world warning, to gather out of the Scriptures that the last days cannot be far off. Peradventure it may come in my day, old as I am, or in my children's days." . . . [ End Quote ].

87. Commentary . . . The doctrine of imminence forbids the participation of the Body of Christ in any part of the 70th week. Otherwise the multitude of signs given to Israel to stir them to expectancy would also be for the Body of Christ, and the Body could not be looking for Christ until these signs had been fulfilled. The facts that no direct - precise signs are given to foretell the exact time of the Rapture of the Body of Christ, but [ He, the Body ] rather, is commanded to watch for Christ. Therefore, according to Israel's signs that have been recognized for some time now, this will obviously preclude the Bodies participation in the time of Jacob's [ Israel's ] trouble, known as the Tribulation Period. We repeat here, the Body of Christ is always in the "masculine gender" never in the "feminine!" Numerous other arguments have been advanced for a Pre-tribulation Rapture. In fact, there are many reasons for the Lord to come and resurrect His Body of Saints before the Tribulation Period. The reasons that have been given, if considered together, constitute a very strong presumptive evidence for a Pre-tribulation Rapture of the Body of Christ.

End.

Be Sure to Read And Study Part Five Of Theories!

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1. Commentary . . . Most of the arguments in favor of a Pre-tribulation, Pre-wrath, and a Mid-tribulation view are also arguments against a Post-tribulation Rapture. Of necessity, much has already been said to refute the Post-tribulation position. In general, those who believe that the Body of Christ will go through the entire Tribulation period are anti-dispensational in their approach. However, there are some dispensationalists, who do hold to this position.

2. There are quite a few folks who hold the extreme view that the Body of Christ did not have its beginning until after { Acts Ch.

28 }. If this understanding were true it would mean that the early epistles that Paul wrote would have been written to the former Kingdom Dispensation. Therefore, since { 1- Thessalonians } was written before { Acts Ch, 28 }, this would mean that the Rapture would have been taught during the Kingdom administration, and that it was not for the present Body of Christ. Since Paul wrote { 1- Thessalonians 4:16-18 } before { Acts 28 }, this would mean that he had written it for that which concerned Israel's Kingdom. If this were true, then the Post-tribulationalist would be correct, and that the Rapture would necessarily take place after the Tribulation had ended. There are those who also use two verses in Philippines to teach the Pre-tribulation Rapture theory.

3. { V. 11 } Scripture: "[ That ] If [ possible ] by any means I might attain unto the [ spiritual and moral ] resurrection [ that lifts me out ] of [ or from among ] the dead [ even while in the body ].

4. { V.14 }: I press [ on ] toward the mark [ the goal ] for the [ supreme and heavenly blessing, the ] prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ [ is calling us upward ], { Philippians 3:11, 14 }."

5. Commentary . . . The high calling in { V. 14 } is what causes this group to believe in the pre-rapture theory. They think that the words "high calling" means "an upward calling." Others, when using { V. 11 } see this as referring to the entire Body of Christ dying, and then being resurrected based on what the verse says, and they use the words "out from the dead" to prove their point. When the Apostle Paul wrote, "somehow, to attain to the resurrection" in { V. 11 }, he was not implying uncertainty or doubt. He was merely stating that he was unsure of the way he would be resurrected to meet the Lord. He didn't know whether he would become a martyr or die because of a natural death. Paul had no doubt concerning his resurrection, although, attainment of his resurrection was according to the Lord's will, and Paul would have no more to do with it than any other Christian.

6. Concerning { V. 14 } above, the words "high calling," literally means "the calling that is above" { Galatians 4:26; - & - Colossians 3:1 }: "the heavenly calling" { Hebrews 3:1 }. "The prize" is :the crown of righteousness, {1- Corinthians 9:24; - & - 2- Timothy 4:8}. { Revelation 2:10 }, . . . "crown of life." { 1- Peter 5:4 },"a crown of glory that fades not away." "The high, or Heavenly calling," is not restricted, as Alford thinks, to Paul's own calling as an Apostle by the summons of God from Heaven; but the common calling of all Christians to salvation in Christ, which coming from Heaven invites us to Heaven, where our minds ought to be uplifted.

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7. Baker states, [ Quote ] . . . "Those who place the Body of Christ in the tribulation must deny the basic dispensational distinctions between Israel and the Body or teach that God carries on two separate and distinct dispensational purposes concurrently. If God is not carrying on two dispensations at one and the same time, and the Body is God's evangelizing agency during the tribulation, then all who are saved during that period become members of the Lord's Body. That means that the 144,000 of the twelve tribes of Israel and all of the saved out of the tribulation { Revelation 7:14 } are Body of Christ members who will be Raptured at the end of the tribulation. This would leave only the unsaved on the earth, who are all to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming. Thus, there would be none left upon the earth in their natural bodies.

8. Those returning with Christ would be in resurrection bodies and the Millennial Kingdom would be identical with the Body of Christ. This practically denies the whole idea of a Millennial Kingdom, which is basically that view that God will finally establish a kingdom on this earth over the nations of the human race in their natural bodies. This idea that the Millennial Kingdom would consist entirely of saints in their resurrection bodies is unthinkable in view of the fact that at the end of the thousand years there is to be a great rebellion against Christ led by Satan, { Revelation 20:7-9 }.

9. It would seem that the only escape from the above conclusion would be to hold that God will do what He has never done and concerning which there is no revelation that He will ever do, and that is, to carry on two distinct dispensations at the same time. This would mean that the members of Christ's Body of Saints would change their message to the gospel of the Kingdom, { Matthew 24:14 }, and that from the beginning of the Tribulation, all who are saved by the preaching of His one Body no longer become members of the Body of Christ but become subjects of the Millennial Kingdom. And, to escape the predicament stated above of having the earth completely depopulated at the Rapture, it would have to be concluded that the Rapture would include only members of the Body of Christ, and that all who had been saved by the preaching of the Body of Christ members during that time would be left on the earth after the Rapture.

10. There are a few dispensationalists who insisted that there has been but one Christian Body of Christ's Saints throughout the ages, which has existed under several different administrations or Dispensations. They hold that the mystery of Paul's epistles is simply the fact that at this time God is doing something that He has never did before, making Jews and saved Gentiles, after being saved, equal members in the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ will apparently undergo another change of dispensation in the tribulation and will become the millennial kingdom or Body of Christ of which the Old Testament prophets spoke. This view is almost identical with that of Covenant theology. The only difference is that these advocates of this view call themselves dispensationalists, whereas Covenant theologians do not. One distinction upon which almost all dispensationalists would agree is that Israel and the Body of Christ are two separate and distinct entities. The view under consideration practically denies the distinction.

11. By far the majority of Post-tribulationalist base their arguments upon a denial of the dispensational principle of interpretation. For them Christ's Body of Saints is spiritual. There is no distinction to be made, and therefore the people of God who are depicted in Scripture as being in the tribulation must be the Body of Christ. They claim that the Pre-tribulation view could not be correct since it is not the historic view that has been held by the Lord's Saints in all ages.

12. They seem to forget that a number of cardinal Scriptural truths fell into discard for centuries, only to be brought back to light by the Reformation. The question is not, what saith Church history? But, saith the Scripture? Some of them claim that the whole of the seventy-week prophecy of { Daniel 9:24-27 } has been completely fulfilled, so that there is no future seventieth week yet in store. This they do by what is called spiritualizing the Scripture. But, perhaps their strongest argument concerns the time of the resurrection, [ End Quote ]."

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13. Loraine Boettner, a militant Post-millennialist, states . . . [ Quote ]: "It should have said further in regard to Dispensationalism that while historic millennialism has held that the Church will go through the Tribulation, Dispensationalism holds that the Church will be Raptured and so taken out of the world before that event." Boettner refers to Alexander Reese's book, "The Approaching Advent of Christ," and states: "Reese insists that the Dispensationalist wreck their system by placing the resurrection of the Old Testament saints at the time of the rapture. According to Dispensationalist the Church did not even exist during Old Testament times. The question arises, therefore, How can those Jews, long after their death, be incorporated into the Church to which they never belonged?" [ End Quote ].

14. Commentary . . . Any Student who has studied the various interpretations of the subject, is aware of the different inconsistencies taught by dispensationalists. It's almost unbelievable to assume that folks that continually study the Bible, and yet teach that there will be a general resurrection where the N.T. and the O.T Saints will be resurrected at the same time. Men such as "Reese" who believe that they are the ones who finely figured out that a general resurrection cannot be a correct interpretation of the Bible are wrong in their thinking! The fact is, there are countless Bible scholars who have come to that conclusion while some of these fellows were still wearing diapers, or perhaps we should say: before many of them were even born!

15. Dr. Dwight Pentecost, a Pre-millennialist has said, [ Quote ]: "In reply to the conclusion of Reese it needs only be pointed out that many present day Pre-tribulation rapturist do not agree with the position of Darby that the resurrection at the time of the Rapture includes the Old Testament saints. It seems better to place the resurrection of these Old Testament saints at the time of the second advent, [ End Quote ]."

16. Commentary . . . Even the Mid-trib, and the Pre-wrath groups, admit that the Body of Christ and the O.T. Saints, will be resurrected at different times, why is it that the Post-millennialist do not understand this fact? Darby, was a great scholar, and we believe that those who have read his works will agree, but it was Darby among others that carried on the doctrine of a general resurrection. Because of this misinterpretation, countless folks have a mixed up interpretation of the Rapture.

17. There are many Ministers today, when teaching Christ's parables, tend to interpret some of the parables as if they were exclusively referring to the Body of Christ. We admit that we are not all wise in everything, but when researching the parables, we haven't found the Body of this age in any of them. In the first place, nowhere in the O.T. or in the specific teachings of Jesus Himself do we find where the Body is mentioned or taught, { see Ephesians 3:4-9 }. The Body, as we have taught countless times, was first revealed to the Apostle Paul, who was not saved until several years after Pentecost.

18. We repeat again, to put the one Body doctrine into a former dispensation, under a Kingdom Gospel, would be teaching Covenant Theology out of its dispensational sphere! Doctrine for the Body of Christ is primarily found in Paul's letters. But, even one as conservative as Dr. C. I. Scofield a Pre-millennialist, who was the man that instigated the publishing of the Scofield Bible, believed the Body of Christ was referred to in certain parables such as the one mentioned in { Matthew 13:45-46 }.

19. Scofield wrote, [ Quote ]: "The true Church, 'one body' formed by the Holy Spirit {1 Corinthians 12:12,13 }. As Israel is the hid treasure, so the Church is the pearl of great cost. Covering the same period of time as the mysteries of the kingdom, is the mystery of the Church { Romans 16:25,26; - Ephesians 3:3-10; - & - 5:32 }. Of the true Church, a pearl is a perfect symbol:

20. ( 1 ) A pearl is one, a perfect symbol of unity { 1 Corinthians 10:17; - 12:12-13; - & - Ephesians 4:4-6 }.

( 2 ) A pearl is formed by accretion, and that not mechanically, but vitally, through a living one, as Christ adds to the Church { Acts 2:41-47; - 11:24; - Ephesians 2:21; - & -Colossians 2:19 }.

( 3 ) Christ, having given Himself for the pearl, is now preparing it for presentation to Himself { Ephesians 5:25-27 }.

21. The kingdom is not the Church, but the true children of the kingdom during the fulfillment of these mysteries, baptized by one Spirit into one body { 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 }, compose the true Church, the pearl, [ End Quote ]."

22. Commentary . . . According to the above, it seems that Scofield was a little mixed up in his interpretation concerning the parables. { Acts 2:41-47; - & - 11:24 } represented the Kingdom Assembly, not the Body of Christ, Scofield never did see the difference. He, like many Pre- Trib. Believers today, did not understand the transition periods of the N.T. He taught that the Body of Christ was referred to in Matthew through John, just as the average Believer today mistakenly understand it, and as 99 and 9 percent of ministers teach.

23. Scofield's texts above in that portion of Acts, still concerned the Kingdom Gospel, and notice in { Acts 11:25 }, Paul still used his Hebrew name "Saul." But, in { Acts 13:9, } we begin to read his Roman name "Paul" in the various Scriptures, that is, except the times he refers back to his conversion. The reason for this change to the Gentile name, is because he is leading more and more toward his called out ambassadorship as the Apostle for the Gentiles, notice { Ch. 13: V. 13, - & - 16 }, it's no longer Saul but Paul.

24. It is thought by several Bible students that the Body of Christ likely began in { Acts Ch. 15 } when Paul and Barnabas were separated from the 12 Apostles, and the name "Paul" was to be used from now on because Paul would begin now to teach the Gospel of the Mystery to the Gentiles. When we research the above parable that Scofield alluded to, we find no reference in any way to a pearl in any of the texts he mentioned, and you notice that Scofield himself states that the true Church, the one Body, is referred to in the parable of the pearl of great price.

25. The early dispensationalists, fell into numerous inconsistencies chiefly because they read the Body of Christ or the Rapture back into many of the parables of Christ when He was teaching the former Kingdom Gospel. If Jesus would have taught anything concerning the Body of Christ in His Kingdom Gospel, would it not be a fact that He would have been mixing the two Gospels together? And, wouldn't it be true that Paul would have told a lie when he said that the Dispensation of the present Mystery program was hidden in God till revealed to Himself?

26. Baker stated that . . . [ Quote ]: "Reese quoted William Kelly to the effect that the Rapture of the true Church is to be found in the parable of the wheat and the tares." And Baker said: "If this is the Rapture, Reese has a clear proof that it will be post-tribulational, for the Lord said, "Let both [ the wheat and the tares ] grow together until the harvest," and the harvest is without doubt at the end of the tribulation. As pointed out previously, some dispensationalists have read the Rapture into the "One taken and the other left" of { Matthew 24:41 }. None of these consistencies of individual dispensationalists, however, disproves

the basic tenets of dispensationalism, and neither does any such inconsistency overthrow the doctrine of the Pretribulational Rapture of the Body of Christ, [ End Quote ]."

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1. Commentary . . . Berkhof, an A-millennialist stated that . . . "Some Pre-millenarians have spoken of A-millennialism as a new view and as one of the most recent novelties, but this is certainly not in accord with the testimony of history. The time is now indeed, but the view to which it is applied is as old as Christianity. It had at least as many advocates of Chiliasm among the Church Fathers of the second and third centuries, this was supposed to have been the heyday of Chiliasm. It has since been the view most widely accepted, is the only view that is either expressed or implied in the great historical Confession of the Church, and has always been the prevalent view in Reformed circles." [ "Chiliasm" concerns the doctrine of the reign of Christ on earth for a thousand years which the A-millennialists deny wholeheartedly ].

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2. Shedd an A-millennialist, is another writer who disbelieves in Premillennialism and has taught . . . that Premillennialism was the revival of the pseudo-Jewish doctrine of the Messianic kingdom, as this had been formed in the latter periods of Jewish history by a materializing exegesis of the Old Testament. He said that . . . it could not have been the Catholic and received doctrine, as proved by the fact that it forms no part of the Apostles creed, which belongs to this period, and hence by implication is rejected by it. . . . Shedd said that Alford a Pre-millennialist who had taught { On Revelation. 20:4 }, "was greatly in error, in saying that: "the whole Church for three hundred years from the apostles understood the two resurrections in the literal Premillenarian sense."

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3. Commentary . . . We have already mentioned the fact that those who write about the history of the Body of Christ seem to differ wholeheartedly about many of the things they write about. We agree, history about anything is great, and certainly necessary in order to enlarge our knowledge about past events. But when we place Church history along side the Bible, man's interpretation of history falls far short of agreeing with the Scriptures. On the other hand, we can say this, if everybody would admit that the Bible is all true, if everything in its pages is infallible, and agree as to the correct dispensational interpretation, this would be most wonderful. But, instead of agreeing in the infallibility of the Scriptures, many of these folks return back to the fathers of Church history for their so-called correct information.

4. The trouble is, every one of the Church fathers disagreed with each other on many things that the Bible teaches. And, we believe that all Bible students will agree, that since the Body of Christ first began, this has been the case from that time up to this very hour. The Apostle Paul called several of the people in his age, stiff necked. When we read { Acts 28:23-28 }, we find Paul trying to persuade the Israelis of that which concerned Christ's death and resurrection, and that Christ was the true Messiah . . . it seems Paul merely wasted his time, read { Acts 13:30-39 }.

5. Paul's citation of the text in { Isaiah 6:9-10 } has been regarded as a parting shot at the Hebrews dullness in perception. Therefore, because of the fact that the Hebrews refused his teaching, he left off teaching them and went instead to the Gentiles, { Acts 28:28 }. Since the early fathers of the Body of Christ varied so much in their own understanding, some students today will go back into history and find a certain ancient writing that agrees with his own belief, and then try to prove his own teaching according to what that ancient writer has written. When one teaches theology, it is good, as we have stated before, to study other writers written works, but God's Holy Word from the Bible must be the final words to settle any and all arguments! Remember, the Bible is the greatest history book we have, it's the Word of God Himself! Dr. Baker practically states the same thing . . .

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6. Dr. Charles Baker a Pre-millennialist, stated that while Church History is an important and necessary discipline, it should be remembered that Scripture alone is God's Word, and that regardless of what churches have taught down through the centuries, the Scriptures still remain the final court of appeal. We do not ask [ "What saith the Apostles creed" ] which. by the way, was not framed by any of the apostles, being a product of the second century; or "what saith the Post- or Anti-Nicean Fathers," or what saith the Westminster, or the Aygsburg, or the Helvetic Confession," but: "What saith the Scripture." The confessions and the creeds are at variance in many particulars, so that they cannot be received as infallible. Christ did not tell the Jews to search the Midrash, creed, or the Talmud, but the Scriptures.

7. It is a generally acknowledged fact that there is somewhat of a gap in Church history between the Apostles and the early Fathers. Fisher says: "the truth is that the lives of most of the Apostles, as well as the circumstances of their death, are involved in the deepest obscurity." And, it must be admitted that the early fathers departed quite a bit from Pauline doctrine. Most of them taught baptismal regeneration. It is conceivable that they could have also departed from other Scriptural doctrines.

8. Commentary . . . When we read { Revelation 20:4-15 }, we find much proof that there are more than one Resurrection. We have written a message concerning "The Five Resurrections, which is on our web page of Internet." We strongly suggest that the student stop here and read that message before going further into this study. But, lets just say for a minute, that there was to be only two resurrections, surely the reader can comprehend that there is a resurrection for the just, { 1- Corinthians 15:52-53; - & - 1-Thessalonians 4:16-18 }, and when we read { Revelation 20:14-15 } we see another resurrection referring to "the second death." This is speaking of the judgment of the wicked dead, and naturally these unsaved dead folks could not be judged and stand before the white thrown of God unless they had first been raised to be judged.

9. Countless folks believe and teach of only one general resurrection. By teaching this type of doctrine, many Bible students in their Assemblies will be confused, especially if they study the above verses! Brain washing is running rampant over the earth rapidly to the point that millions will never come to the truth unless they rely on the Scriptures instead of denominational doctrine. The above texts should prove to any A-millennialist that there are more than one resurrection, but when we have talked to these people we have found that as a usual thing their personal denominational religion has won the battle in disorienting their minds to rituals, O.T. ordinances, pride, confusion, and disbelief. There are countless Christians in the A-millennialist Assemblies, but on the average, they like other groups are brain washed, and their conception of the resurrection is proven false! These texts given, proves that there is a resurrection a thousand years after the Second Coming of Christ, and that people are still on the earth, what more proof is required? Notice that when Shedd in his A-millennial view teaches the above, he uses the spiritualizing method of interpretation which makes a mess of the truth.

10. According to Shedd when reading his works, he taught according to { Revelation 20:4 } that . . . "John saw the souls of them that were beheaded. And, had John intended to say that the first resurrection was a bodily resurrection he would have said that he saw the bodies of them that were beheaded. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. John says nothing about them rising from the dead." Therefore, Shedd states that John, "the Revelator, in vision, sees the martyrs and other witnesses for Christ as disembodied spirits dwelling in paradise, and describes them not as rising, but as 'living and reigning,' with Christ for a thousand years." This 'living and reigning,' John calls 'the first resurrection { V. 5 }.' Shed stated that "The reign of martyrs for one thousand years is described as a reign in the heavenly paradise with Christ in His spiritual reign, during that remarkable period of triumph of the gospel upon earth which is denominated the millennium." Shed says: "Regeneration is a spiritual resurrection and the millennium is now taking place in heaven," all this according to Shed's view. [ Therefore, according to this type of doctrine,] only those who have shown eminent devotion and spirituality, even unto martyrdom, are sharing this millennial reign in heaven at the present time for a thousand years.

11. Shedd taught that . . . In { Revelation 20:5 }, it is said that 'the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." The remainder of the believing dead do not 'live [ and reign with Christ ]' until the final consummation at the end of the world. The martyrs are honored above the mass of believers, by a co-reign with the redeemer during the millennium. The church generally does not participate in the triumph of its head until after the millennium and final judgment.

12 Commentary . . . This type of interpretation cannot be accepted by any well-studied Bible student. As has been said: the type of teaching that Shedd illustrates above concerns the spiritualizing tech-nique of interpretation. In other words, as we see it, he and others like him, uses a unique system of thought which sounds great but changes the Word of God to mean something beyond its true meaning. What did the Apostle John really see? . . .

13. { V. 4 } Scripture: "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast [ Antichrist ], 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.

14. Paraphrasing { V. 4 } above: "Then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom authority to act as judges and pass sentence was entrusted. Also I saw the souls of those who had been slain by being beheaded because of their witnessing to others about Jesus, and for preaching and testifying about the Word of God. And thus, refused to pay homage to the beast or his image and had not accepted his mark or number by allowing it to be placed on their forehead or hands. And, they lived again, and ruled with Christ, the Messiah, a thousand years." { See Daniel 7:9, 22, 27 }.

15. Commentary . . . What was seen in { Revelation 11:15 } by way of anticipation is here realized. It is understood that Christ will sit on His throne and reign as the legitimate Son of David, and that is clearly stated in the last clauses of this verse. Who are the occupants of the thrones? From the combined testimony of Scripture, they will be N.T. Saints, see { 1- Corinthians 6:2 } who will reign with the Lord. Some have said that some of those sitting on these thrones are also O.T. and Tribulation Saints. The trouble with this is that the martyrs that had been beheaded during the Tribulation Period, the O.T. Saints plus the Gentiles who were saved during the Tribulation and during the O.T. period will all inherit the Millennial earthly Kingdom. These before mentioned earthly Saints, are shone to be resurrected in { Daniel 12:1-3 }. Only the Body of Christ who are not Earthly is to inherit the Heavens! These Tribulation martyrs certainly will reign with the Lord Jesus during His Millennial reign on the earth, they will have resisted the idolatry worship of the Antichrist, but they will not reign in Heaven with the Body of Christ.

16. { V. 5 } Scripture: "But the rest of the dead [ who were lost souls ] lived not again until the thousand years [ reign of Christ ] were finished [ the wicked will be judged and imprisoned in the future lake of fire ], This is the first resurrection, { Revelation 20:4-5 }." [ The first resurrection here refers back to the end of { V. 4 }.

17. Commentary . . . There will be two resurrections at the end of the millennium. One will be the resurrection of the Saints still in their physical bodies, and who were still alive after the 70th week had ended, and their saved offspring that were born during the millennium and have lived on through the millennium. These saved folks will be resurrected at the end of the thousand year period. Afterwards, will be the resurrection of the unsaved of past ages to be judged at the white throne judgment, one will be a first resurrection, the other of the lost to be judged in the second resurrection at the white throne.

18. The rest of the dead in { V. 5 } do not experience resurrection until the thousand years of Christ's reign were completed. Therefore, it is pointless and baseless to speak of a general resurrection in order to avoid the intervening period of 1000 years, as A-millennialists do. The order of the resurrection can be seen from the following texts: { 1- Thessalonians 4:16-18; - 1- Corinthians 15:23-24; - 50-55; - Revelation 20:4-6; - Daniel 12:1-3; - & - Luke 20:34-36 }. The word "first" is found in { Vs. 5-6 } If this means there is but one resurrection, these words then have no special meaning. There are definite stages in the first resurrection; the chief one is that of Christ Himself, { 1- Corinthians 15:20 }, we explain all this in our message concerning the five resurrections. According to all the above, we see the Body of Christ sitting on thrones "judging" as is their supreme right.

19. { V. 2 } Scripture: "Do you not know that the Saints [ the Christians ] shall [ one day ] judge [ and govern ] the world? and if the world [ itself ] shall be judged by you, are you unworthy [ and incompetent to try ] to judge the smallest matters? [ Saints and Christians are synonymous. A born again Christian is immediately a Saint at the very moment of his new birth. ]

20. { V. 3 } Know you not that you [ Christians ] shall [ even ] judge [ the very ] angels [ and pronounce opinion between right and wrong for them ]? how much more [ as to all those ] things that pertain to this life [ or this world and this life only ]? { 1- Corinthians 6:2-3 }."

21. Commentary . . .The 12 Apostles will judge the 12 Tribes of Israel on this earth during the Millennial reign of Christ, { Matthew 19:28 }. But, we in the heavenlies, will judge the earth. Because of our union with Jesus, we will be associated with Him in the judgment during the millennium. As to the wicked angels: see { 2- Peter 2:4, 9; - & - Jude V. 6 }.

22. Scripture: "And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls [ all told 276 people ], { Acts 27:37 }."

23. Commentary . . . In many cases when the word soul is mentioned, it is not always meant to refer to souls of the dead as the above verse makes clear, this same meaning is secured in { Acts 2:41 }. Therefore, you and I, as Saints of God, are Christian souls set apart to Christ, only after death are we considered as deceased souls, but still living as Saints of Christ in the Paradise of Heaven! One thing must be clear in the readers mind, these dead martyrs that had been decapitated were seen to be in Heaven by John. It should also be understood that "the soul of a person is the life of the person!" When a person dies the soul immediately goes to Hell or Heaven to dwell eternally! Where will your soul dwell?

24. You notice in { Revelation 6:9-11 }, these martyrs were dressed in white robes, this means that even though their physical bodies are still in a literal grave [ Queber, Hebrew ], and would not be resurrected until the end of the Tribulation Period, their soulish bodies could be clothed with white robes. This means that they were visible to the eyes of John otherwise he could not have revealed what they looked like. This also means that when a person dies, they receive a soulish body that can be recognized by other dead folks who have similar soulish bodies, such as the rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham in Hades, { see Luke 16:19-23 }.

25. It is true, when a Child of God dies, his soul is caught up into Paradise, or if a person dies in a lost condition his soul is taken, down into Hades. But, we find no text where this is classified as a resurrection, otherwise there would be several thousand resurrections every day when certain folks die. The Bible also speaks of regeneration as a giving of life and a quickening from the dead. Should a lost person be converted to Christ, he is quickened from the dead: which means to be "made alive to Christ, { Colossians 3:13 }." On the other hand, if a person dies lost, "he is quickened, because of being dead in trespasses and sins, { Ephesians 2:1 }." This is speaking of the lost souls who were children of disobedience and died in that condition! Many Ministers refer to a person when deceased as being spiritually resurrected, even though this is true in a sense, where do you find such a phrase in the Bible that would refer to this as a resurrection?

26. The reader should read Shedd's words above and notice that he states, "The remainder of the believing dead do not 'live and reign with Christ ]' until the final consummation at the end of the world." Commentary . . . If this were so, then those dead Saints who have died from the beginning of the Body of Christ till now are not really living, do you believe this? Does this mean that they are all just lying around in Heaven in a stage of relaxation, they are not conversing with each other, they are like seed potatoes lying on a shelf waiting to be planted so that they can be returned back to life? I don't believe this, do you? Shedd speaks of the "end of the world." Many folks have a misconception concerning the world's end, but the Bible states in over a hundred places that the world shall never end. Therefore, if Shedd is right when he states these Saints will not live until the end of the world, and since the world will never end, this would mean that they would never live again!

27. Scripture: "But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an 'everlasting salvation': you shall not be ashamed nor confounded "world without end, { Isaiah 45:17 }." [ Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation, on an earth that will never be destroyed ].

28. Scripture "Unto Him be glory in the Church [ Body of Christ ] by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, "world without end," Amen, Ephesians 3:21 }." [ There are many other places that emphasizes the fact that the world will always be in existence ].

29. Scripture: "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides for ever, { Ecclesiastes 1:4 }." { See Psalm 104:5 }.

30. Commentary . . . According to Shedd's teaching, only the most spiritual Christians are living with the Lord at this very time, and isn't he saying that Christians who are not spiritually active, and are not living the life that is quite as pleasing to God as the ones mentioned above, are actually in a dormant condition? They are evidently dead to the Lord spiritually, otherwise, what do you think this man is referring to? He states: "The martyrs are honored above the mass of believers, by a co-reign with the redeemer during the millennium."

31. Where on earth does he get this type of understanding? We have searched our Bible, and we find no doctrine that warrants such an interpretation! To say that no dead Saint will reign with Jesus until the world has ended isn't using good sense, this has to be considered as very poor interpretation of the Scriptures. See { 2- Timothy 2:12; - & - Revelation 5:10; 20:4 }. Shedd used the following verse where it states . . . Scripture: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection, { Revelation 20:5 }"

32. Commentary . . . To prove his point, what he has failed to understand, is this verse has, as many other verses have, a double clause in it. The first clause ends with the period in the verse, and is referring to the resurrection of the wicked dead who will not be resurrected until the end of the Millennial reign of Christ, and then be judged at the White Throne Judgment of the Dammed, see { Revelation 21:8; - & - 20:11-15 }.

33. The second clause in the verse says: "This is the first resurrection." We have already stated that the order of the resurrection can be gleaned from these Scriptures: { 1- Corinthians 15:23-24; - Revelation 20:4-6; - Daniel 12:1-3; - & - Luke 20:34-36 }. The word first is found in { Vs. 5-6 }. If this means that there was to be only one general resurrection, the words are emptied of their meaning. There are definite stages in the first resurrection; and as we have before stated: "the chief one was the resurrection of Jesus Himself, { 1- Corinthians 15:20; - Acts 1:9; - & - 2:24 }."

34. These particular martyrs that have been mentioned here are those who have been killed in the Tribulation Period. All are aware that there have been countless Christians who have been martyred down through the present age, and also through the previous Dispensation. But, it is the 70th week of Daniel that we are discussing in this present part of our message, only referring to the martyrs spoken of above. Since Shedd's A-millennialist view states that only the martyrs share in the first resurrection, and that the first resurrection is synonymous with regeneration, what are we to do with all the non-martyrs who have been regenerated? There will undoubtedly be thousands and thousands of other folks who will be saved during that week of years, which will mean that they will have been regenerated. It is only natural, that all these folks will have their bodies resurrected at the end of the week at the same time as the resurrection of the dead bodies of the martyrs, no way can this be limited to just the martyrs.

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35. Scripture: "Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years, { Revelation 20:6 }." See { Isaiah 61:6 }.

36. Commentary . . . Is this verse referring to the Body of Christ? Only in part because we will be raised in one phase of the first resurrection. But, we will reign eternally with Jesus in the heavenlies! The above verse is speaking of a different phase of the first resurrection as we have written in our message concerning the "Five Resurrections." { V. 6 } above is primarily referring to those O.T. and Tribulation Saints, because it says that they "shall reign with Him a thousand years." Only the Hebrews will become a nation of priests. This proves to us that this is not a spiritual Rapture, but a Rapture of dead bodies, { Daniel 12:2 }. When we read { Daniel 12:2 } we find a double clause in the verse just as we have found in { Revelation 20:5 }. We will quote { V. 2 } again . . .

37. Scripture: "[ First clause ]: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some [ who are Believing Christians ] to everlasting life [ second clause: and a thousand years later, ]: and some to shame and everlasting contempt, {Daniel 12:2 }." See { Revelation 11:18 }.

38. Commentary . . . The second death in { V. 6 } above will only have power over those who are Hell bound, these definitely will have no part in a first resurrection. But, the saved Israelites will be priests of God during the Millennium according to {Isaiah }. And their dead bodies no doubt, will certainly be raised in a first resurrection! Scripture: "But you shall be named the Priests of the Lord; men shall call you the Ministers of our God: you shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves, { Isaiah 61:6 }." A large percentage of the Ah-millennialist teach a doctrine that is most unacceptable. If they were right, Christians in this present age would have no part whatsoever in a first resurrection. This would mean that a large part of the Body of Christ must await the resurrection of the wicked, and be resurrected at the same time that they are, after the millennial reign of Messiah. [ The Hebrews who enter into the Lord's millennial reign will receive double honor! See V. 7 ].

39. Since there are two types of people to be resurrected, the saved and the lost, when { Revelation 20:5 } speaks of "the rest of the dead," it is not talking about the saved folks that are to be resurrected in a first resurrection. Only the lost will be resurrected in the second resurrection to be judged at the white throne judgment, this will be when their bodies come forth from the grave [ queber ], and their souls are resurrected from Hell after the Millennial reign of Christ has ended. This will exclude all those saved Saints who were martyrs [ killed ] during the Tribulation Period. These martyrs souls went to Heaven at the time of their death, but their bodies will be raised in a first resurrection at the end of the Tribulation Period at the same time that the O.T. Saints and the rest of the dead Tribulation Saints are to be raised, { Daniel 12:2 }. Shedd is positively confused in his interpretation!

40. All A-millennialists teach a doctrine that can only confuse their students, especially if the students really study their Bibles. We must be dogmatic when we state that only a true dispensationalist will comprehend the various programs set forth by the Lord in the Scriptures! Naturally we understand the ridicule that will be made against us for teaching against these folk's program, but nevertheless we must teach against that type of doctrine! It has been proven, that they cannot seem to separate the resurrections from each other. A future general resurrection of both the saved and the lost at the same time must be denied. In addition, neither will the saved O.T. Saints and the N.T Saints be resurrected at the same time, Scripture makes this very clear!

41. Concerning the Devil, Shedd stated, "the binding of Satan, Augustine says, is spiritual and the reign of Christ on earth is spiritual." The plain fact is, Augustine was not a very wise Bible student according to his historic writings, and since Shedd obviously accepts what Augustine has written, we would have to say that his knowledge concerning the Scriptures is somewhat faulty. The devil will not be bound until the return of the Lord, and until that takes place, that old dragon, Satan, will still be present to deceive the nations until Christ's return to the earth. Following Christ's Second Coming, the Bible states . . .

42. { V. 1 } Scripture: "And [ then ] I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit [ the abyss ] and a great chain [ was ] in his hand.

43. { V. 2 } And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

44. { V. 3 } And cast him into [ the abyss ] the bottomless pit, and shut him up [ securely from above ], and set a seal upon him, that he should [ lead astray and ] deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season, { Revelation 20:1-3 }."

45. Scripture: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks [ is walking ] about, seeking whom he may devour, { 1- Peter 5:8 }." [ Who is this devil? Whet does he look like? Does he look like a man? Or . . ., does he look like a certain type of animal? Read our message concerning Hell which explains all these questions. ]

46. Commentary . . . The Apostle Peter, Paul, and all the other Apostles knew that the devil was not bound, and that he would be a trouble maker until the Messiah would take care of him at His second advent. Further more, any well-studied Bible student today, understands that the old dragon will remain loose until the above verses in Revelation are fulfilled. Paul describes people both in the past and in the future when he states,

47. { V. 1 } Scripture: "And you has He [ Christ ] quickened [ made alive ], who [ when you ] were dead [ slain ] in [ your ] trespasses and sins;

48. { V. 2 } Wherein in times past you walked according to the course of this world, according to [ Satan ] the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that "NOW" works in the children of disobedience:

49. { V. 2 } Above paraphrased: "In which at one time you walked habitually. You were following the course and fashion of this world . . . you were under the sway of the tendency of this present age . . . you were following, the prince of the power of the air, Satan himself, [ you were obedient to him and under his control, . . . you were led astray by 'demon' spirits that still constantly works in the children of disobedience . . . the careless, the rebellious and the unbelieving, who proceed against the Divine will and purpose of the Lord. ]"

50. { V. 3 } Among whom also we all had conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

51. { V. 3 } Above paraphrased: "Among these, we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh . . . our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature; obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind . . . our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings [ of evil day dreaming ]. We were then by nature children of [ the Lord's ] wrath and heirs of [ His ] indignation, like the rest of mankind. { Ephesians 2:1-3 }." ...................................

52. { V. 10 } Scripture: "Finally [ in conclusion ], my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. [ be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him . . . that strength which His boundless might provides.]

53. { V. 11 } Put on the whole armour of God [ which the Lord supplies ], that you may be able [ successfully ] to stand [ up ] against the wiles [ the strategies, deceits and craftiness ] of the devil.

54. { V. 12 } For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

55. { V. 12 } above paraphrased: "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood . . . or contending only with physical opponents . . . but against the exercise of absolute authority, against the powers, against [ Satan and his demonic spiritual entities who are ] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly [ supernatural sphere ]."

56. { V. 13 } Therefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand [ to resist and stand your ground ] in the evil day [ of danger ], and having done all, [ the crisis demands ] to stand [ firmly in your place ].

57. { V. 14 } Stand therefore [ and hold your ground ], having your loins girt [ having tightened your belt ] about with truth, and having  [ put ] on the breastplate of [ integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God in ] righteousness;

58. { V. 15 } And your feet shod with the preparation [ to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness and the readiness produced by the good news ] of the Gospel of peace [ and the grace of God ]; { See Romans 1:16; - & - Isaiah 52:7 }.

59. { V. 16 } Above all [ else lift up over all ], taking the [ covering ] shield of [ saving ] faith, wherewith [ upon which ] you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts [ the flaming missiles ] of the wicked [ one ],

60. { V. 17 } And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, { Ephesians 6:10-17 }."

61. Commentary . . . At the mid point of the Tribulation Period, the devil, the old dragon himself, will be cast down to the earth to only exist for another 3 and 1/2 years before he is to be chained in Hell for a thousand years, { Revelation 12:7-12 }. Practically all wars that have ever been fought were associated with religion and power. As a usual thing, only a handful of men bring about wars between various countries, these men want power and more power, and what better way to achieve power than to use religion as the excuse to gain that power, thus we go to war. Satan wants great power over the earth and the heavens. He uses men to do his will to further his cause and to shed blood which always brings calamity. The cost of war to the nations, and the bloodshed is disastrous, but Satan couldn't care less as long as he has his own way. When considering the above verses we find it impossible to understand how any Bible student could believe that the old dragon has been chained, and remained that way for hundreds of years. Yet the Ah-millennialists believe this type of doctrine while the worlds' nations are continually in conflict with each other, and all because of the devil's wickedness and jealousies of "God's power, goodness and greatness."

62. Concerning the above verses, in { V. 10 }, we see that Paul has already spoken of the Body of Christ's heavenly calling and the Body's earthly conduct. Now he is revealing the Body's spiritual conflict. He states: "Be strong in the Lord." Be continually empowered in union with Christ Jesus which is the source of spiritual power. Spiritual battles require spiritual strength. In { V. 11 } above: the Lord supplies the complete armor, but He expects the Saint to be a warrior against Satan and to wear this armor in the battle against corruption, "That you may be able to stand." A purpose clause. In order that the Christian will be able to stand his ground and not retreat or fall in the struggle, see { James 4:7 }. "Against the wiles of the devil." As all are aware, the devil's wiles are attractive, deceptive, and ensnaring. The old dragon must always be considered as our enemy, the great adversary, a contemptible slanderous accuser, and a malignant foe. He uses clever and crafty methods to deceive us.

63. Folks dream of a devil that is a hideous, horned, and hoofed monster who haunts the vice dens of the world; but the Lord says that Satan fashions himself into an angel of light and fashions his followers as ministers of righteousness, { 2- Corinthians 11:14-15 }. He is the champion of liberalism, of the satanic A.C.L.U, of the occult, of homosexuality, of ritualism, rationalism, terrorism, Muslim-ism, abortion- ism, heathen-ism, adultery, fornication, and every other wicked "ism" that seeks to displace the Lord Jesus. His aim is to substitute something else and something different for the grace and truth of Jesus Christ, never underestimate the devil as your enemy! When Paul states in { V. 12 } above: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood," this means that Christians are more tolerant and try their best to avoid engaging themselves in human, physical warfare. Wrestle to throw or swing, is a contest between two opponents that continues until one contestant wrestles the other one down. The word "against" presents the idea of a personal foe, face-to-face and hand-to-hand conflict to the finish, a life and death struggle.

64. The Apostle is not suggesting that folks should be in just a mere argument with other people, but that all 'Children of God' are positively engaged in a tremendous bout against spiritual principalities. Principalities refer primarily to the high-ranking hierarchy of demonic authority, powers invested with authority, rulers of the darkness of this earth. And, also to those world rulers which are revolting against the Lord, and are thus limited to "this darkness" here on this earth. This is Spiritual wickedness. And, all this obviously consists in a huge army of invisible spirits, In high places. The sphere of this conflict is in the heavenlies, where life in Jesus is lived, { see Ephesians 2:5-6 }.

65. Where { V. 13 } above states: "Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God," it means: Therefore, appropriate promptly, for there is no time to lose. No ordinary weapons will do, { 2- Corinthians 10:4 }. Confronted by the old subtle serpent, "the devil," we need the complete suit of armor [ covering, protection ] of the Lord, which is fully provided and freely given. "Withstand" . . . that is: stand on the principles bestowed upon us through the power of the Lord. The purpose of the armor is that we may hold our ground firmly, completely, gloriously, and victoriously. Remember this, "The armor mentioned refers to the fact that this armor consists of Jesus Christ Himself and through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit. It is within this hedge of protection surrounding us that God the Holy Spirit is affording us protection against Satan's army of evil entities !"

66. { V. 14 } above where it states: "Stand therefore," means . . . to take your stand therefore, bent on victory. "Having your loins girt about with truth." This Greek aorist participle indicates antecedent action to the standing; the word "girt" refers to a belt, so it means belted around your thighs with the military band of true integrity and sincerity. This band holds the tunic in place and holds the scabbard. It is not an ornament, but an armament. Truth is revealed by the Word of God; it is light [ and - or knowledge ] from Heaven and dispels darkness. "Having on the breastplate of righteousness," refers to being "clothed with the breastplate of righteousness both in character and conduct. The breastplate protects the vital organs in the chest area from the assaults of the enemy. Without our breastplate [ or hedge ] of protection from God, we would be vulnerable, disgraced, and defeated."

67. { V. 15 } above: "And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace." Having bound under { see Mark 6:9; - & - Acts 12:8 } for firm footing, ffor sure steps, and for protection. Preparation indicates readiness; prepared to see duty, prepared to do the Lord's will, and prepared to proclaim the Gospel of peace.

68. { V. 16 } above: the words "Above all" means: In addition to all. "Taking the shield of faith:" the shield is the large oblong shield for full protection. The word shield and hedge are actually synonymous. Note this shield is to be taken. Faith is utter dependence on the Lord, upon His presence and His power. Faith puts God between you and the enemy. "Wherewith [ Upon which ] you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." The fire-tipped are the arrows dipped in combustible material and set on fire in the devil's malignant efforts to destroy you. The shield will quench every one of them without exception. It will stop the missiles and put out the fire. This shield also represents Christ Who protects the Christian.

69. { V. 17 } above: "And take the helmet of salvation." Take means receive or accept it from the Lord. It is the assurance of salvation, { 2- Timothy 1:12; - & - 1- John 5:11:13 }. Salvation is a guaranteed: eternal presence of possession from the moment it has been given! The helmet protects the head, the citadel of intelligence, from false teaching and gives confidence and boldness in the conflict. "And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." This sword is the sharp one used in hand-to-hand conflict. It is the only offensive weapon. The sword refers to the Word of the Lord and is provided by the Spirit of God. When the Body of Christ, or the individual Christian, used the rotten sticks of culture, science, theories, traditions, or commands of men, defeat is inevitable. Our Lord has promised to bless His Word { Isaiah 55:8-11 }. Jesus used the powerful sword in the wilderness and met the devil with the words: "It is written, { Matthew 4:4-10 }." The sword must be unsheathed; your Bible must not lie idle.

70. We believe that we have given enough evidence to prove that Satan is not bound and separated from the worldly things of this life. If he were bound, we would not need the Word or power of God for our protection from him, because this would have already been completed. If he was bound and could not approach us, why would we have need to fear him? If Satan was bound, so would his wicked angels, and demons be separated from mankind. And, sin, except for a very minimum, would not come into existence. But, any honest person knows that this is not so, all we have to do is watch TV, and read the newspaper to know differently. It's true, there is a great deal of symbolism in the Book of Revelation, but even though this steps on toes, the Post, Pre-wrath, Mid, Non, and A-millennialist teach a sad and untrue interpretation of it. It is sad because of what { Revelation 22:18-19 } states! Various events that follow when the Tribulation Period takes place, there will be at least 21 horrendous Judgments that we know about in that 7 year period.

[ 1 ] The Rapture of the Body of Christ in a first resurrection, { 1- Thessalonians 4:16-18; - & - 1- Corinthians 15:51-55 }.

[ 2 ] The world leader of the Tribulation Period 'Antichrist' ] appears to make a contract with Israel that he later will break. { Daniel 8:23-25; - 9:27; - 11:31; 36-39; - Isaiah 28:15; - Matthew 24:15; - Mark 13:14; - Luke 21::20-36; - & - Also Revelation Ch. 13 }.

[ 3 ] The head of the false world Church system appears [ the false prophet ]. { Revelation 13:11-18 }.

[ 4 ] The two Hebrew witnesses, and the 144,000 Hebrew ministers come on the scene to teach lost humanity about Christ, { Revelation 11:3-6 }.

[ 5 ] The battle of Gog [ Russia and her allies ] makes war against Israel and is defeated. One forth of the people on earth killed, { Ezekiel Ch. 38-39; - & - Revelation 6:8 }.

[ 6 ] The Antichrist poses as God but he is controlled and receives his power from Satan, { Revelation 13:2-6 }.

[ 7 ] Antichrist sets up a statue of himself in the rebuilt Hebrew Temple in Jerusalem, and forces folks to worship him as God, { Revelation 13:8 }. [ See our message which concerns the temples of God ].

[ 8 ] Antichrist has the two Hebrew witnesses murdered, { Revelation 11:7 }.

[ 9 ] The two witnesses lay in the street of Jerusalem 3 1/2 days Just as the Lord Jesus laid in the tomb 3 days and 3 nights, and then these two prophets are resurrected up into Heaven by the Lord, { Revelation 11:9; - Jonah 1:17; - & - Matthew 12:40 }.<

[ 10 ] All people on earth will witness the resurrection of the two witnesses from the dead, { Revelation 11:10-12 }.

[ 11 ] Great plagues with disease, hunger, pestilence, crime, legalized murder, and earthquakes, followed by death, { Revelation 6:1-8 }.

[ 12 ] Invasion of middle east from far eastern nations takes place, one third of humanity killed, { Revelation 9:13-16 }.

[ 13 ] The greatest earthquake ever, takes place over all the earth, { Revelation 16:17-20 }.

[ 14 ] Starvation abounds over whole earth, { Revelation 6:5-6 }.

[ 15 ] The false One World Church system destroyed, { See Revelation Ch. 17 }.

[ 16 ] All world nations gather together in invasion of Israel in the valley of megiddo for Armageddon. Millions destroyed. Read our message concerning "[ Armageddon," and the message concerning "The destruction of Russia ]."

[ 17 ] Christ returns to the earth from Heaven and ends this last war, He sets up His throne and judges "all" the people in the nations, { Revelation 19:11-16; - & - Matthew 25:31-46 }.

[ 18 ] All Old Testament, and Tribulation Saints are resurrected and their works Judged, they are called sheep. Wicked folks who are still alive and have followed the Antichrist are judged into hell and are called goats! { Matthew 25:31-46 }.

[ 19 ] The above resurrection of O.T. Saints will be another phase of a first resurrection, { Daniel 12:2 }.

[ 20 ] Antichrist and False Prophet will be cast into the eternal Lake of fire to abide there forever, { Revelation 19:20 }.

[ 21 ] Satan will be chained in Hell for one thousand years, { Revelation 20:1-3 }.

[ 22 ] One thousand year reign of Christ on this earth, { Revelation 20:4-6 }.

[ 23 ] At the end of the Millennial reign of Christ, the Devil will be released from Hell to instigate a final rebellion among the nations against Messiah the world's King, { Revelation 20:7-9 }. Christ immediately will cast him into the Lake of Fire where Antichrist and the false prophet already are, they will all three spend the rest of eternity in that place, { Revelation 20:9-10 }. In { Ch. 22: Vs. 7 and 14 are beatitudes }.

[ 24 ] At end of the millennial reign of Christ, all Saints will be resurrected from the earth into New Jerusalem that will be stationed just above the earth. This will be the last phase of the first resurrection.

[ 25 ] The great and final resurrection of all un-saved dead folks. This is called the second resurrection! { Revelation 20:13 }.

[ 26 ] The great White Throne Judgment of the un-saved, who, after being judged for sin are cast into the Lake of fire for eternity: { Revelation 20:11-15 }. This is called "the second death" { John 8:51; - Revelation 2:11; - 20:14; - & - 21:8 }.

[ 27 ] The entire outer crust of the earth will then be [ judged and purged ] and thus, cleansed with fire, { Matthew 24:35 }.

[ 28 ] First and second heavens also purged from sin, because they had been used by Satan and his angels, { 2- Peter 3:10-13 }.

[ 29 ] A new Earth on this world, and new Heavens recreated for the glory of Messiah, God, { Isaiah 65:17; - 66:22; - & -                         Revelation 21:1 }.

[ 30 ] The City of New Jerusalem brought down and placed upon New Earth to stay for ever, { Revelation 21:2 }.

[ 31 ] All mankind under the reign of Messiah, will spend eternity on earth with Christ. Israel as the Bride of Christ, and the nations inherit the earth, { Daniel 7:27 } and, the Body of Christ to reside in the Heavenlies forever! [ Read our message on Heaven ].

71. Commentary . . . The way most A-millennialist interpret Scripture, they must place the binding of the devil, the first resurrection, and the Millennium at the cross two thousand years ago when Jesus was crucified. Surely, you as a Bible student could never agree with that type of interpretation. This means that there is something radically wrong with any system of interpretation that necessitates such teaching! The interpretations of several other passages by the A-millennialist are equally unsatisfactory to any good Bible student. For example, on the passage that states:

72. Scripture: ". . . in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you [ the 12 Apostles ] also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, { Matthew 19:28 }."

73. Commentary . . . Shedd simply makes the dogmatic statement: "This certainly is to be interpreted metaphorically, not literally." We wonder just what this man sees in the text that is not literal? One writer put it this way: "Metaphorically, when is the "when" of this verse? What is the regeneration? Who is the Son of man? What is the throne of His glory? What does it mean to sit or to judge? And, who are the twelve tribes of Israel? One would probably find as many interpretations as there are interpreters, simply because any interpretation other than the literal leaves one to his own imagination."

74. There are many prophetic utterances foretold by the O.T. prophets depicting a future Millennial reign of our Lord. The Israelites interpreted those texts in the same way Pre-millennialist interpret them today. Right at this time, the Jews are looking forward to the return of their Messiah to set up His Kingdom, and truthfully, this is still the blessed hope of the nation of Israel. What else do they have to look forward to other than Messiah's return? If time was to go on as it is, the nations of the world would force Israel to give up the rest of their land to the Palestinians until they would find themselves without a country. What then would they do? They would find themselves right back where they were prior to 1948 as wanderers in other countries, and under the dictates of the leaders of other countries other than their own!

75. This writer spoke to an A-millennialist some time ago, and he stated that the Lord finished working with the Hebrews after they turned their back on Him at the cross. Therefore, all the promises that were made to the Israelites were transferred to the Body of Christ. Never again would Israel have a nation of their own as was foretold in the O.T. He stated that the Body of Christ today is spiritual Israel, and we are to be blessed in Israel's place! But, what do the Scriptures say?

76. Scripture: " . . . where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east [ at its rising ], and are come to worship Him, { Matthew 2:2 }." . . . { See Jeremiah 23:5; - Zechariah 9:9; - & - Numbers 24:17 }.

77. Scripture: "[ Crying ] Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in Heaven [ that is, freedom there from all the distress that are experienced as the result of sin ] and glory [ majesty and splendor ] in the highest [ or third Heaven ], { Luke 19:38 }." {See Mark 11:9-10, - & - Psalm 118:26 }.

78. Scripture: "And [ there was ] a superscript [ which ] also was written over [ above ] Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew [ Which said, ]: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS, { Luke 23:38 }." [ This was written over Christ's head, the soldiers would consider this writing as insurrection. His cross was likely in the traditional shape pictured in Christian art, with room over the crossbeam for this sign ].

79. Scripture: "Nathanael answered and said to Him, Rabbi [ Teacher ], You are the Son of God; You are the King [ the Messiah ] of Israel, { John 1:49 }." [ Son of God is a Messianic title for the One in whom the true destiny of Israel is to be fulfilled; also a claim of deity { 5:18 }. The title King of Israel stated the Hebrew political Messianic Hope ].

80. Scripture: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: He is                    [ uncompromisingly ] just, and having salvation [ triumphant and victorious; patient, meek ]; lowly, and riding upon an ass [a donkey ], and upon a colt the foal of an ass [ a donkey ], { Zechariah 9:9 }." { See John 12:14-15 }. [ This great prophecy was fulfilled completely during the last part of Christ's earthly ministry ], see {Matthew 21:4-5}.

81. { V. 9 } Scripture: "And when He had spoken these things [ even ], while they beheld [ Him ], He was taken up ; and a cloud received Him [ and carried Him up into Heaven ] out of their sight.

82. { V. 10 } And while they looked steadfastly [ intently ] toward Heaven as He went up, behold, two men [ that were actually Angels ], stood by them in white apparel [ clothing and prophesied ] . . .

83. { V. 11 } Which also said, you men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into Heaven? this same Jesus, which is [ caught away and ] taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come [ back to the earth just as He has ascended up ] in like manner as you have seen Him go into Heaven, { Acts 1:9-11 }."

84. Commentary . . . The second coming of the Lord, like His ascension, will be personal and visible, { see Revelation 1:8; - & - 19:11-16 }. The answer to the Angel's prophecy . . . Scripture: "And [ He shall descend back to the earth, and ] His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof [ it will split into two parts, half of it will go ] toward the east, and [ the other half ] toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley [ between the two parts ]; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and [ the other ] half of it toward the south, {Zechariah 14:4}."

85. More than likely there will be more than one battle during the Armageddon campaign. See { Revelation 16:14-16 }. Jerusalem will be taken and the spoil divided. Just when the armies of the nations seem undefeatable, the Lord personally and visibly will return to the Mount of Olives, causing it to split into with a huge valley between the parts. This valley will provide an escape route through which the Hebrew survivors may flee from Antichrist and his followers. Scripture doesn't tell us the length of time from the earth quake to the end of the battle but it must be shortly afterward.

86. Scripture: And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that [ Millennial ] day shall there be one Lord, and His name one, { Zechariah 14:9 }."

87. Commentary . . . This sets forth the extent of Messiah's reign. His reign will be universal, though centered in Jerusalem. He will provide the basis for true unity. There will be no other object of worship and all the universe will be in right relationship to Him. Practically all A-millennialist believe that the thousand year reign of Christ is taking place at the present time in the hearts of man, and has nothing to do with a future millennial reign. We in our own ministry would like to offer the following objections to the A-millennialists teaching and translation. We definitely believe that Dr. Berry's Greek Interlinear and the King James Bible Translation are the correct translation, and not the one that puts the millennial reign of Christ in this present Body of Christ period.

88. [ 1 ]: If the reign on earth was going on at the time the elders and living creatures sang that new song according to { Revelation 5:8-9 }, then why did John weep when at first no one was found to open the book? See { Revelation 5:6-7 }. The idea that the reign on earth is now going on is inconsistent with that weeping on the part of John. He knew better than some of these objectors. He knew that- that reign could not take place before the book of seven seals was opened. The A-millennial translation ignores what was to go on before the Second Coming.

89. [ 2 ]: To have the Lord's Millennial reign going on at the present time or any time before { Revelation Ch. 4 } occurs, would have the Saints reigning on earth, before their title deed to their inheritance of the earth has been secured. First, the title deed [ in the little book ] would have to be brought forth from the Father. And of course, the writing in the book would have to be read before what was to take place would transpire. Any one aquatinted with property rights should comprehend that to take possession of property lawfully, they would first have to obtain the deed to that property.

90. [ 3 ]: When John was caught up through that open door in heaven, he was told that he would be shown things which must come to pass. In other words, as Scripture states: "after these things." To have the Saints already reigning on earth when the Lamb took the book of seven seals would be showing John present things, not "future things," or things that must take place after the book had been opened.

91. [ 4 ]: Our next disagreement with the A-millennialist, is: that the Bible teaches that the reign of the Saints takes place in the future, and, not in the past or in the present.

92. Scripture: "If we suffer [ endure ]: we shall [ future tense ] also reign with Him: if we deny [ disown and reject ] Him, He also will deny [ disown and reject ] us, { 2- Timothy 2:12 }."

93. { V. 26 } Scripture: "And he [ i.e., of the remnant of Israelis during the Tribulation Period ] that overcomes [ is victorious ], and keeps My works [ and obeys My commands ] unto the [ very ] end, [ i.e., of that 7 years period, performing the works that will naturally please "Me God the Father" ] to him will I give [ authority and ] power [ future tense ] over the nations [ with the Messiah as the King ] . . .

94. { V. 27 } And He [ Messiah ] shall rule [ future tense over ] them with a rod [ scepter ] of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as [ His power over them shall be like that which ] I [ Christ Myself have ] received of My Father, { Revelation 2:26-27 }." [ This will be an absolute monarchy ] see { Psalm 2:8-9 }.

95. Scripture: "And out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, that with it He should smite [ afflict and strike ] the nations, and He shall [ future tense ] rule them with a rod of iron: and He [ will ] tread the wine press of the fierceness and wrath [ and indignation ] of Almighty [ Omnipotent ] God, { Revelation 19:15 }." { See Ch. 14:20 }. { This will fulfill Daniel 2:34 }.

96. Scripture: "But . . . they [ the Israelites ] shall be priests of [ the Trinitarian ] God and of Christ [ God the Son ], and shall reign [ future tense ] with Him a thousand years, { Revelation 20:6 }."

97. [ 5 ]: Another disagreement with the A-millennialist teaching, is that they have the Saints reigning on earth without Christ, when { 2- Timothy 2:12; - & - Revelation 20:6 } state that the Saints shall reign with Him. At the time the elders and living creatures are singing that new song, Christ is in Heaven, and not on the earth. The Bible teaches that He is to reign literally on the earth.

98. Scripture: "O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for You shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth, { Psalm 67:4 }."

99. Scripture: "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, the Lord of hosts [ Who ] shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem [ and ] before the ancients [ His elders ] gloriously, { Isaiah 24:23 }." { See Revelation 21:23 }.

100. { V. 3 } Scripture: "And I will gather the remnant of My flock [ of the Hebrews ] out of all [ the ] countries wherever I have driven them [ in the past ], and will bring them again to their folds [ and pastures ]; and they shall be fruitful and increase [ in number ]. [ A yet future re-gathering of Israelites from all countries ], see { Matthew 24:31 }.

101. { V. 4 } And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them [ such as the 12 Apostles ]: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking [ end up missing or lost, or be without food, clothing or housing ], says the Lord.

102. { V. 5 } "Behold, the days come says the Lord, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch [ Shoot, Messiah ], and a King [ and ] shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment [ righteousness ], and justice "in the earth."

103. [ The word Branch, is literally referring to a Shoot, a Messianic title signifying the new life that Messiah will bring. See { Isaiah 4:2-6 }. He will secure righteousness for all ].

104. { V. 6 } In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, { See Matthew 1:21-23; - & - Romans 3:22}.

105. { V. 7 } Therefore, behold, the days come, says the Lord, that they shall no more say, the Lord lives, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

106. { V. 8 } But the Lord lives, Who brought up and Who led the seed [ offspring ] of the house of Israel out of the north country [ north of Israel such as Russia and Syria ], and from all countries wherever I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own [ promised ] land, {Jeremiah 23:3-8}."

107. Commentary . . . I will bring them again, is a promise for the future re-gathering of the Hebrew people, to be fulfilled at His Second Coming, see { Jeremiah 16:15 }. Judah has not yet been saved, neither is Israel yet dwelling in safety. Neither is Christ executing judgment and justice in the earth, nor reigning on earth.

108. Scripture: "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that [ 7th Millennial ] day shall there be one Lord, and His name one [ in recognition ], { Zechariah 14:9 }."

109. Scripture: "At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall be gathered unto it, to the [ renowned ] "name of the Lord," to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination [ and stubbornness ] of their [ own ] evil heart [ minds ], { Jeremiah 3:17. - & - Vs.. 16-18 }."

110. Commentary . . . When all this takes place, then the world can much better understand what was meant in the following verse: { Matthew 1:23 }. When John saw the Christ the Lamb of God take the book of seven seals, Jerusalem was not called the throne of the Lord. Therefore, to have the Saints reigning on the earth now is to have them reigning on earth before Christ reigns on earth, and they are to reign "with Him," not before Him.

111. [ 6 ]. We disagree with the A-millennialist when they teach that the Body of Christ are reigning on earth at the present time. A-millennialist do not believe in a Rapture in the future whatsoever! They have the Believers inheriting the Kingdom of God right now while we today are yet in our bodies of flesh and blood. Whereas the Bible teaches that those who will inherit the Millennial Kingdom "cannot" inherit it until Christ returns to this earth. Neither does the average A-millennialist believe that Jesus will ever return to this earth. But naturally we reject their theory because . . . [ No. 1 ]: Scripture teaches just the opposite. And, after the Rapture and Tribulation has been fulfilled, O. T. and Tribulation Believers who have died will be resurrected and have their bodies changed to immortal glorified bodies. And [ No. 2 ] they will enter into the Millennial reign along with those who are saved during the 70th week, and are still alive, those live Saints will live throughout the Millennium while still possessing their natural human bodies.

112. The Mid-trib. and A-millennialist also teach and deny the mystery concept of the Body of Christ. The Bible proves without a doubt, that, this present age in itself is a "Mysterious Dispensation." It has been demonstrated that this mystery program: { Colossians 1:25-28; - Ephesians 3:1-6; - & - 1- Corinthians 9:16-19 } must be brought to termination before God can and will deal with Israel to complete Israel's covenant program. Since the "One Body" of today was never mentioned in the O.T. nor even referred to unless in type or shadow form, how could { Jeremiah 30:7 } when referring to Daniel's 70th week refer to Jacob's [ Israel's ] trouble, if the first half of it was picturing the Body of Christ in it? See { Daniel 9:27 }. We must wholeheartedly disagree with anyone who teaches that the Body of Christ will go through any part of the Tribulation Period. It is believed by many Bible scholars that the seven Churches in the first pages of Revelation, in type refer to seven periods of time during the entire Body of Christ Dispensation.

113. Therefore, it is believed that the Scripture teaches, that the Church of Philadelphia which is the true type of the Body of Christ in the last days of this Body period will be Raptured before the seven year Tribulation Period begins. The Laodicea, or false tribulation Church system is thought to have began at the time Israel became a nation in 1948 and is overlapping the present Philadelphian or true Church period. When the Body of Christ is Resurrected from this earth, this would end the true Philadelphiaen period. Then the wicked Laodicean false Church system must proceed on through most of the Tribulation Period. If this is so, and we believe that it is, then we today are living in a transition period at the present time with these two periods the saved Philadelphiaen, and Laodicean unsaved flock overlapping each other until the Rapture, and then the false professing part who had thought they were saved, and really wasn't will run its course through the reign of the Antichrist. When we read the 17th chapter of Revelation, we can see the final destruction of the great false Church system. Christ speaks of this fact when He makes clear that He will spue it out of His mouth. Never would He do such a thing with His true Body of Christian Saints!

114. { V. 50 } Scripture: "Now this I say [ to you ] brethren, that flesh and blood "cannot" [ become partakers of eternal salvation and ] inherit [ or share in ] the [ Heavenly ] kingdom of God; neither does corruption [ the perishable . . . that which is decaying ] . . . inherit [ or share ] in-corruption [ imperishable, the immortal ].

115. { V. 51 } Behold [ take notice ], I show [ and tell ] you [ about ] a mystery [ a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God ]: we shall not all sleep [ in death ], but we shall [ all ] be changed [ transformed ], { 1- Corinthians 15:50-51 }." Read { Vs. 50 through 58 }.

116. Commentary . . . Paul is discussing the resurrection of the bodies of Saints in the Body of Christ when he stated: "flesh and blood "cannot" inherit the kingdom of God." He was saying that just before the Body of Christ can be Raptured up into Paradise of the third Heaven, which is associated with the universal Kingdom, and reign with Christ they must put off these bodies of corruption, and be clothed upon with immortal spiritual bodies like Christ Himself possess. To have the Saint reigning on earth now in the kingdom of God would have them reigning in bodies of flesh and blood, or in their corruptible bodies! [ 7 ]. We certainly disagree in having Christians of today reigning on earth at the present time, and having us obtain our rewards before the Rapture and the judgment seat of Christ. If we were reigning now, we would already have our crowns, is this not so? The Scripture teaches that we will not be rewarded until after the resurrection of the Saints.

117. { V. 24 } Scripture: "Then said Jesus to His disciples, if any man will come after Me let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me,

118. { V. 24 } Paraphrased: "Then said Jesus to His disciples, if anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself . . . that is, disregard, lose sight of and forget himself and his own interests . . . and take up his cross and follow Me, [ that is, conform to My example in living, and if need be in dying also ].

119. { V. 25 } For who ever shall [ wish to ] save his [ temporal ] life [ his comfort and earthly security while here on earth ] shall lose it [ eternally ]: and who ever shall lose his life for [ that is, his earthly comfort and security here for ] My sake shall find it [ forever in heavenly places ], . . .

120. { V. 27 } For the Son of man shall come in the glory [ majesty and splendor ] of His Father with His angels; and "then He shall [ render account and ] reward" every man according to his [ earthly Christian ] works, { Matthew 16:24, 25, 27 }." "Some time after the above" . . .

121. { V. 27 } Scripture: "Then answered Peter and said to Him, Behold, we [ the 12 Apostles ] have forsaken all, and [ have ] followed You [ Lord as Your disciples ]; what shall we have therefore? [ Or what shall be our reward in the hereafter? ]."

122. { V. 28 } "And Jesus said to them, Verily [ Truly ] I say to you [ during My future Messianic millennial reign on earth ], that you which have followed Me [ while I am teaching on the earth ], in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, [ during My future earthly reign ] you shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, { Matthew 19:27-28 }."

123. Commentary . . . We are aware that we have written this verse before, but we want to make clear that this proves that the reward of the 12 Apostles for leaving all and following Jesus will be to rule over the 12 tribes of Israel. They are to sit on their thrones when Christ sits on His throne in Jerusalem after His Second Coming, and not before. Thus, they will not reign until Messiah reigns on this earth! { Jeremiah 3:17 } tells us that the throne of the Lord will be in Jerusalem. When the elders and the living creatures sing the new song, Christ was still in Heaven, not on His throne in Jerusalem. [ 8 ]: Our next disagreement with the A-millennialist that we are presently reigning on the earth according to Christ's teaching, is that it puts the reigning and the suffering at the same time, whereas the Bible has the reigning to come after the suffering has ended.

124. Scripture: "And if [ we are His ] children then [ we are His ], heirs [ also ]; heirs of God [ the Father ], and joint heirs with Christ [ and are to share His inheritance with Him, that is ]; if so be that we suffer with Him [ because of our Christian faith ], that we may also be glorified together [ with Him ], { Romans 8:17 }."

125. Scripture: "If we suffer [ and endure ]: we shall also reign with Him: if we deny [ and disown and reject ] Him, He will also deny [ disown and reject ] us, { 2- Timothy 2:12 }." [ A-millennialists, like the Non-millennialists get everything backward ].

126. [ 9 ]: Commentary . . . We disagree with the A-millennialist that we are presently reigning on the earth because that would cheat the Apostle Paul and the 12 Apostles out of their right to reign. Paul certainly expected to reign with Christ for he also said:

127. { V. 18 } Scripture: "[ But what of that? ] For I reckon [ consider ] that the sufferings of this present time [ in this present life ] are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us [ for us, and conferred on us ]!

128. Commentary . . . { Vs.. 18-25 } concerns a statement of the Christian's hope as it effects the individual { V. 18 } and the entire creation { Vs. 19-25 } - Compare { 2- Corinthians 4:17 }.

129. { V. 19 } For the earnest expectation of the creature [ even the whole creation, all nature ] waits [ expectantly and longs earnestly ] for the manifestation "of the sons of God.

130. Commentary . . . to be made known, . . . thus, everything is waiting for the revealing, the disclosing of the sonship to come. The sons of God have not been made manifest. Paul is dead and in his grave. To have the expected reign to take place in this present time is to have the reign take place while Paul is in his grave, and thus it would cheat him out of his right to reign with Christ. And he certainly suffered for Christ, also the 12 Apostles are not sitting on their thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel are they?

131. { V. 20 }. For the creature [ creation, nature ] was made subject to vanity [ frailty . . . to futility, condemned to frustration ], not willingly [ not because of some intentional fault on its part ], but by reason [ the will ] of him Who has subjected [ it yet with ] the same in hope. See { Ecclesiastes 1:2 ].

132. Commentary . . . This above verse explains that the creation was made subject to vanity. After Adam sinned, the Lord Jehovah was obliged to subject the creation to futility so that man in his sinful state might retain some measure of dominion over creation. Nature was involved for evil in man's fall; she will be emancipated after man receives the adoption as sons of God, { V. 23 } the culmination of our position as adopted sons is the resurrection state. I.e., Those in the Body of Christ are already adopted Children of God, but after we are Raptured with our eternal spiritual bodies, our sonship by adoption will be recognized in all its completeness.

133. { V. 21 } Because the creature [ creation ] itself also shall be delivered [ free ] from the bondage of corruption [ and decay, and gain an entrance ] into the glorious liberty [ freedom ] of the Children of God, { Romans 8:18-21 }." [The whole world is in bondage of corruption until the Second Coming of Christ ].

134. { V. 22 } For we know that the whole creation [ of irrational creatures ] groans and travails in pain together [ in labor ] until now. See { Jeremiah 12:4, 11 }.

135. { V. 23 } And not only they [ the creation ], but ourselves also, which have [ and enjoy ] the first-fruits of the [ Holy ] Spirit, even we ourselves [ with a foretaste of blissful things to come yet ] groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body [ from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal our adoption . . . our manifestation as the Father's sons]. [ We are waiting for our spiritual body. ]

136. { V. 24 } For we are saved by [ this ] hope: but hope [ the object of ] that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope fore? [ that is, how can one hope for what he already sees? ], { Romans 8:18-24 }."

137. Commentary . . . Personally, My hope, i.e; is in the just-expressed hope { Vs.. 21-23 } of the future redemption of the body. Think about it, How many of you readers have prayed for the Rapture to take place? Everything in the Scriptures shows that the reign of the Saints with Christ is in the future. It cannot take place until Christ returns to the earth. The Greek text from which the translation "And they [ presently ] reign on the earth" was taken from the "Westcott-Hort text." Regardless of what some scholars think about that Greek text it has been corrupted. It is the "Westcott-Hort text that leaves out the account of the woman taken in adultery in { John 8:1-11 }. It leaves out the confession of the Etheopian eunuch in { Acts 8:37 }. It leaves out the words "Through His blood" in { Colossians 1:14 }. It leaves out { 1- John 5:7 } which speaks of the three who bear record in Heaven. It has 76 as the number on the ship with Paul in { Acts 27:37 }, whereas Dr. Berry's Greek interlinear and the King James Translation has the correct number 276.

138. The 1881 New Testament of Westcott & Hort made over 7,000 revisions through omissions, additions, transpositions, and substitutions based on their new Greek text. A large percentage of these changes were obviously done on purpose to substitute their own beliefs over true Bible doctrines. Is your Bible a Holy Bible? The King James Bible [ Authorized Version ]: is far above any other Bible that has ever been printed up to this very day! The best translations for the Bible are the [ Textus-Receptus and the Masoretic Texts! ] On that ship with Paul was a centurion with the soldiers, which would be 100, besides the crew, a number of prisoners, and a few freemen such as Luke and Aristarchus. See { Acts 27:1-2 }. Here is seen the inconsistency of the translators of the American Revised Translation. When some unscriptural Bible teachers translate falsely, they go to { Revelation 5:10 } and use the [ Westcott-Hort Greek text ]," and translate it: "They reign on the earth." But when they translate { Acts 27:37 }, they abandon the Westcott-Hort text and translate it as Dr. Berry has it and as the King James Translators have it, 276 instead of 76. Here is a confession that they believe Westcott-Hort is wrong but still use portions of it, such as in { Acts 27:37 }.

139. All these passages have been tested and the Westcott-Hort has left out many Bible numbers. In all cases when Scripture numerals have been tested, all the numbers have been proven to be inspired. The Westcott-Hort has been proven to be wrong concerning Bible numbers at least 15 % of the time. But Dr. Berry's Greek text has not been found to be wrong in even one case. All this proves the A-millennialist interpretation of the Scriptures to be faulty! The A-millennialist have taught that the Book of Revelation was fulfilled when the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and its people were taken into captivity by the Romans in A.D. 70. But, when we go to our Bible we get a different view. Even though we have quoted these two verses before, we will quote them again to give proof concerning what follows . . .

140. { V. 29 } Scripture: "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: { See Revelation 6:12; - 16:8-10, 18-19; - Luke 21:25-26; - Ezekiel 32:7-8; - Joel 2:30-32; 3:15; - Isaiah 13:9-10; - 24:4-6; - & - 24:20 }.

141. { V. 30 }: 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, { Matthew 24:29-30 }."

142. Commentary . . . All this we see taking place under the sixth seal. Jesus said it would take place immediately after the tribulation of those days. This forever uproots the idea that the great tribulation took place at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus in A.D. 70! Again. Jesus said that these things are to take place IMMEDIATELY - AFTER the tribulation of those future days! None of these things took place immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus! It is easy to comprehend that the Lord Jesus in the above text in Matthew, and John the Apostle in { Revelation 6:12-19 }, are speaking of the same period of time. John wrote the book of Revelation in A.D. 96, 26 Years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, therefore, how can you the reader understand A.D. 70. as the time of the fulfillment of the book of Revelation which would have had the book fulfilled 26 years before it had been written? If you can please let us know how??? What more is there to be said about the A-millennialists? The best advice we can give the reader is for you to read the Book of Revelation and ask yourself when all those prophetic events took place in the past. Where is the proof they took place? What historian has written about the fulfillment of each of those prophecies?