Jerry,
Why do you care about all of this rapture stuff? None of it pertains to you. Nothing in Acts or Paul's Acts books pertains to you, except for those doctrinal truths that are repeated in Paul's post-Acts books, such as Paul's gospel. The truth for you and me and everyone else today, dispensationally, is ONLY found in Paul's last 7 books.
Our hope today is, when Christ first appears in Glory, we will also appear with Him in Glory - Glory is a real place above the created heavens (Psalms 8:1) - the place where God was before the creation and the place where we believers are now hid in Christ, Who is hid in God - Colossians 3:3. I would think that Glory is infinite and is 100% God.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye (me or you) also appear with him in glory.
The hope during the entire book of Acts, including all the books written during Acts, was TOTALLY DIFFERENT that the hope after Acts - the NJ in the created heavens as the prize or on the created earth. In Paul's post-Acts epistles, there is no Israel and no gifts - 100% Gentiles. The only purpose of the gifts in Acts was to provide sign and wonders to Israel, who required them, so they would hopefully, as a nation, accept Christ as the promised Messiah. If they had done that, the trib would have started immediately and then Christ would have returned - Acts 3:19-20 and others. The 2000 year parenthetical period we now live in would have never happened.
Compare these verses from Paul's post-Acts epistles with the hope that you already know existed in Acts.
First of all, the place that Christ ascended. Note that the phrase heavenly places means the same as far above all heaven:
Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens (created heavens) that he might fill all things.
Ephesians 1:20-21 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And here is our position - the same place where Christ ascended to:
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
All this is part of THE MYSTERY, which is found ONLY in Paul's last 7 books.
There are many other verses I could quote. Nothing in these verses was discussed during Acts. The hope during Acts was in the created heavens. The hope after Acts is in the un-created heavenly places, far above the created heavens. Totally different deal.
Paul's prayer of Ephesians 1:16-23 is very important.
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Note in vss 17 and 18, Paul prays that God will give you the Spirit and wisdom of revelation...the eyes of your understanding being enlightened...that you may know what is the hope of your calling.
Ephesians was written awhile after any of Paul's Acts books. The people he is talking to were already saved (Eph 1:1) and they surely knew the hope of the calling during the Acts period. Why would Paul, then, pray that God enlighten them about something they already knew. Also, it seems in vs 19 that faith (to us-ward who believe) is required to get this brand-new calling. Paul prayed for us to see this new hope because he knew that people would have a very hard time seeing it. Some proof of this is seen in 2 Timothy 1:15, where he says that all in Asia have turned away from him.
So, are you going to persist in believing the beggarly elements of Acts or can you see, believe, and act on the far, far better hope found ONLY (not even a hint in the rest of the Bible) in Paul's post-Acts epistles.
I hope you can see the reasons I believe that you, BW, Danoh, all other A2D and A9D, and most everyone else in Christendom, are so deluded and so totally wrong about so many dispensational things.
Whether or not the calling in Paul's 1st 7 books is different than the calling in Paul's last 7 books is really the only thing that's important at this time. If I'm right about this, A2D, A9D, and any other group that finds their hope in the books written during Acts or doctrine preached during Acts are proven to be WRONG. If I'm right, you're totally missing the boat. If you can see this new calling, even a little bit, I would beseech you to temporarily forget everything you know about Acts and Paul's Acts books and study Ephesians 1-3, over and over, until you really understand what it says. At this point, you have no idea.
Most all of us are saved. The only question now is WHERE are we saved to? This seems to be determined by what we believe. You have to take your blinders off. Only when you see the NEW truth, from Paul's latest revelation, in Eph, Col, etc, can you start learning things that are important.
