In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. (I Corinthians 15:52)

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

In order to gain an accurate picture of the Day of Christ we must study the pertinent passages in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Paul has much to say on the subject in his two letters to the church of the Thessalonians.

Let us begin by considering I Thessalonians 4:13-5:23.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (I Thessalonians 4:13)

"Not ignorant." Paul is writing in order to add to their understanding.

"Concerning them which are asleep." The subject of the passage immediately under discussion is Christians who have died physically, and the comforting of the surviving Christians—the relatives and friends of the deceased. Here is another reason why we believe the current doctrine concerning an any-moment pre-tribulation "rapture" is incorrect. The principles of sound interpretation suggest we should not use a passage of Scripture to teach a secret disappearance of the saints to escape tribulation when the stated purpose of the passage is to comfort surviving Christians concerning their deceased loved ones.

Physical death is spoken of as sleep. The spirit and soul of the deceased believer are in Heaven, in the spirit realm; but the body is asleep in the ground awaiting the Day of Christ, the time of the resurrection of the saints, the Day of Redemption.

Physical death is not a true death.

Because of sin, the mortal body of both the saved and the unsaved is spiritually dead during their lifetime. There is no resurrection life in the body (Romans 8:10).

The human being who is without Christ is dead spiritually and will not be more dead when he dies physically.

The person who is living in the pleasures of the world truly is dead (I Timothy 5:6).

The individual who is cast into the Lake of Fire is in the second death. Spiritual death is the absence of God from our spirit, our soul, and our body. The Lake of Fire, the second death, is spiritual death in an area of torment.

Physical death is not an eternally significant death, a permanent separation. In physical death, the spirit and soul are separated temporarily from the body. The spirit and soul will be reunited with their body in the Day of Judgment. But as far as we know, the true and lasting personality of the individual continues after physical death in the same relationship to God that was the case during his lifetime on the earth.

We know of no passage of the Scriptures that suggests physical death alters the spiritual realities of our personality. It appears that physical death does not bring the change in our spiritual life and relationships that often is assumed.

To be continued.