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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The True Hope: "Rapture" or Resurrection?, #13
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
It can be seen from the above that the central message of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is His atoning death and triumphant victory over death. His ascension is not included as a central issue of the Gospel or Paul would have mentioned it.
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (I Corinthians 15:12)
The hope of the resurrection of the saints is seldom preached in our day. In its place, Sunday after Sunday, the catching up of the believers is stressed.
On at least one occasion the Pastor of an assembling had the members of the congregation jump in place by their pews, practicing for the "rapture." To have people jump in place to practice for the "catching up," instead of overcoming their sins and self-will in preparation for the resurrection, is totally unscriptural. How long will it be before thoughtful Christian leaders realize they have drifted away from the Gospel of the Kingdom?
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (I Corinthians 15:13,14)
Today we might say, but if there is no rapture then has Christ not been raptured. And if Christ has not been raptured, then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain.
The holiday of Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ. Easter has nothing to do with the ascension. If Christ has not been raised from the dead our faith is useless. If Christ had been raised from the dead but did not ascend to the Father, the Kingdom of God would be here on earth and our faith would still be valid. So great is the difference between the resurrection and the ascension!
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (I Corinthians 15:17,18)
Our salvation from sin is based on the resurrection of Christ. No mention is made of His ascension.
Notice the expression "then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." This statement reveals clearly that the hope of eternal residence in Heaven was not known to the saints in Corinth or Thessalonica. Their hope was that they would live on earth again in the Kingdom of God. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, the deceased Christians have "perished."
It was the fact of Christ's resurrection that provided them with the hope that they also would be resurrected and live again on the earth in a physical body. Otherwise, Paul would not have viewed the believing dead as perishing.
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament regard the Divine salvation as restoring life and Paradise to the material earth. The concept of salvation having to do with "mansions in Heaven" is alien to both Testaments.
To be continued.