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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The True Hope: "Rapture" or Resurrection?, #8
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede; have an advantage over] them which are asleep. (I Thessalonians 4:15)
The expression "we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord" suggests a relatively small remnant of believers who have survived the reign of Antichrist, the great tribulation, and every pain and terror that Hell can throw at them.
The survivors indeed shall be without spot or wrinkle.
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: (Isaiah 4:3)
"We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep."
"Unto the coming of the Lord." The coming of the Lord!
The expression "the coming of the Lord" shows us where the passage fits in God's program. It is speaking of the promised coming of the Lord, the true hope of the Christian Church (and also of the Jews). Therefore, all of the passages referring to the coming of the Lord, whether Old Testament or New, are called to mind.
The "coming" of the fourth chapter of First Thessalonians is not referring to a special, secret "rapture." A special, secret "rapture" is the kind of thing Jesus warned us against.
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:26,27)
"As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west." The coming of the Lord will not be a secret. To teach there will be a secret coming before the worldwide revelation of Christ is to go against the express commandment of the Lord. The present-day "rapture" teaching is deception and heresy. As soon as the Christian churches discard this delusion the members will begin to grow in Christ. They will arm themselves with a mind to suffer, preparing themselves to stand in the day of trouble that is ahead.
There are not two comings of the Lord, only the one coming. The term "coming" is never plural when referring to the Lord's appearing. Therefore we ought never to speak of more than one coming of the Lord, if we would be scriptural.
There is a "coming" to the disciples that is set forth in the Gospel of John.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:18)
The "coming" of John, Chapter 14 is not a return of the Lord from Heaven. It is not a parousia. It is a furthering of the inner work of Christ that began when we were born again.
To be continued.