The contemporary emphases on the "rapture" and the removal of suffering during our present life are error. The true Gospel includes the stern enduring of hardships as the Holy Spirit molds our character, and also the unequaled hope of being resurrected in the Glory of Divine Righteousness and Life when the Lord appears.

Paul's few words concerning the ascension ("rapture," catching-up) were for the purpose of comforting saints who were grieving over their departed loved ones. His teaching of the ascension had nothing whatever to do with the saints escaping the great tribulation or any other distress and was never presented as the hope of the Christian salvation.

The order of the resurrection from the dead is as follows:

First, Christ.

Second, those who belong to Christ at his coming.

Third, the delivering up of the Kingdom to God the Father.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (I Corinthians 15:22-24)

Now, let us focus on what is involved in the raising of human beings from the dead.

The first and most important fact we must consider is that the race of Adam will not be brought forward into the new age, into the new heaven and earth reign of Christ. This is why we must be born a second time. Flesh and blood will not be saved and brought into the Kingdom of God. The Christian redemption is not a saving of what we are but a re-creation of what we are. The entire adamic race died on the cross.

When God brought forth Adam and Eve from the dust of the ground He created a new race of creatures the race of mankind.

However, the father and mother of the race immediately rebelled against God. Since there were no other human beings created at that time, the human race died as far as God's Life is concerned. Every one of Adam's descendants died in Adam.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (I Corinthians 15:22)

"For as in Adam all die."

Our water baptism is an act of obedience to God demonstrating that we recognize the first creation is dead because of rebellion and sin and we therefore are assigning our whole personality to the cross, to the place of judgment, with Christ. Our first, rebellious personality is to be crucified. It will not be saved. It is dead because of sin. We ourselves will be saved, but only as the member of a new race that has been created in Christ.

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6)

"Our old man is crucified with him."

To be continued.