It is impossible for there to be an any-moment "rapture" apart from the heavenly signs or prior to the worldwide apostasy and the revealing of the man of sin (II Thessalonians 2:3). The great tribulation period will come first according to the Word of the Lord. The Scripture is clear. Attempts to make the Scripture state what it does not state result only in confusion and sin. If we do not adhere to the Gospel accounts and the admonitions of the Apostles of the Lamb we will not prosper.

The true saint lives so he always is ready for his Lord to come. Christ indeed may come suddenly to any one of us to inspect our life and ministry or even in physical death. At any moment we may be required to give an accounting to the Lord.

The careless and lukewarm are never ready for the Lord. Whenever He comes to them it is as a thief because they are not prepared for His Presence.

The worldwide parousia will be just as the Lord and His Apostles have taught us.

It is important to note that the "parousia " of Gideon and his 300 did not come as a surprise to any of the 300. It did come as a surprise to everyone else. So it is true that the parousia will not come as a surprise to any of those who will participate in it, for they are walking in the light and are observing all that the Lord is doing.

Only a Fraction of Israel Will Participate in the First Stage of the Parousia

The examples of Gideon and his 300 and of David and Goliath suggest to us that the initial victory of the parousia will be won by Christ with and in a relatively small number of saints. After the initial victory has been gained, all Israel will then join in the warfare.

In order to appreciate the concept of the advance guard followed by the whole army, there is an aspect of the parousia we must consider. Unlike the currently-taught "pre-tribulation rapture," the parousia is not a coming and going of the Lord—a trip from Heaven to the earth and then back to Heaven again.

Rather, the parousia is the manifestation to Heaven and earth of what Christ has performed in His saints over a period of two thousand years. Once that manifestation takes place it will not be withdrawn. Rather, it will continue to increase until finally the new Jerusalem comes down to rest on the new earth.

We have been taught for so long that the Lord will come and then leave again it is difficult to grasp the fact that Matthew, Chapter 24 is speaking of the permanent return of the Lord Jesus to the earth. Think of it! Once the Lord's Presence is here it will never leave again.

The firstfruits of Israel will be revealed together with the Lord. After that, the remainder of Israel (every member of true Israel is a priest of the Lord) will be built up in Christ until each is able to serve the world as a manifestation of Christ. True Israel is the Servant of the Lord, the Body of Christ.

To be continued.