How would you like to go through the New Testament and find the passage that says the believers will disappear and be caught up to Heaven to avoid Antichrist and the great tribulation? You will look in vain. There is no such passage, no not one.

But what about First Thessalonians, Chapter Four? This so-called "rapture" passage has nothing to do with the believers disappearing or being caught up to Heaven to live in a mansion. Rather it is a message of comfort and hope addressed to those whose loved ones have passed away. It is the premier funeral passage of the Scriptures.

The big gun is the fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians, the "resurrection chapter." This chapter does not mention the catching up because the catching up is not part of the resurrection.

The resurrection has to do with the reviving of our deceased flesh and bones and the clothing of them with our house from Heaven. This is the omega of redemption, the climax, the destruction of the last enemy.

Do you understand the relationship between the nature of your house from Heaven and your conduct today? Very important to understand!

After we are resurrected (how long after we do not know, in the case of Christ it was forty days) we will be caught up to meet the Commander in Chief in the air so we may return with Him to Jerusalem. Then Armageddon will be fought and Jesus Christ will be crowned King of all kings on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

From there the saints will go forth throughout the earth to restore "the desolations of many generations."

Did you know this was in the Bible? Did you know your destiny as one of God's elect is written in the Prophets of Israel? The Prophets did not address their own generation as much as they did ours. That which is written concerning the sufferings of Christ and the glory that shall follow is directed toward us on whom the ends of the age have come. Hallelujah!

Isn't this really a more marvelous message than the idea of being caught up to Heaven so we can read the funnies in our mansion on Sunday morning?

Do you have that God-given passion to grow spiritually?

We mentioned God's program and His goals and that the concept of a pre-tribulation rapture is a massive diversionary tactic of the enemy.

The program of salvation, both personal and kingdom-wide, is outlined in the four great types of the Old Testament. The four great types are:

The seven days of creation.

The seven stages of the wandering of Israel from Egypt to Canaan.

The seven furnishings of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

The seven feasts of the Lord.

Let's take the seven feasts of the Lord. These are our favorite of the four types, the one we employ most frequently. They may be found in the twenty-third chapter of the Book of Leviticus.

To be continued.