- Nov 11, 2022
- 2,396
- 419
- 74
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
The second appearing/coming of Jesus to earth is when the righteous persons who are still living on earth meet Jesus in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep; (1 Thess. 4:15 RcV)
Then we who are living, who are left remaining, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will be always with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:17 RcV)
I believe the words "we who are alive, who are left remaining" indicates some were alive and taken already.
It would have be adaquate for Paul to say "we who are alive" period.
"We who are alive, who are left remaining" could be the Holy Spirit indicating that some were alive and taken already.
For example those who heeded the warning to watch before the blasting of the last trumpet - firstfruits and those indicated
who were not left but suddenly taken in Matthew 24:40-42.
If the man-child is taken before the GT then those taken at the last trumpet would be "we who are alive, who are left remaining."
And if the firstfruits are taken before the GT then those raptured at the last trumpet would be "we who are alive, who are left remaining".
And the Christians left for not watching, in the field or at the mill or even on the bed would be of "we who are alive, who are LEFT remaining."
But the subjetive experience of this depends upon our not being ignorant and our reckoning our death with Christ.Satan was bound in hell for this same “a thousand years” at the time of Jesus' death on the cross. This "a thousand years" is symbolic for the time period between Jesus' first appearing on earth and His second (final appearing) on earth.
Revelation 20:1-6 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be let out for a little while.
I believe Satan is unbound now. He is deceiving the nations presently.
The power of Jesus' death on the cross bound (restricted) Satan's power and mobility for "a thousand years".
That calls for realization, faith, and practice.
Or are you ignorant that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? (Rom. 6:3)
And by identification with Christ reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but living to God in Christ Jesus. (v.11)
This matter of His death and resurrection being applied to our living is also a GROWING matter, a matter of ever deepening enjoyment.
For if we have grown together with Him in the likeness of His death, indeed we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (v.5 Rcv)
Utilizing the co-death and co-rising with Christ is stated as something we should not be ignorant of in Romans 6.
Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin as slaves; (v.6)
But the practical way to carry out this reckoning is not explained until he gets to Romans 8.
It is by setting the mind on the regenerated spirit where Christ is indwelling us.
And this turning to the spirit furnishes us the practical way to put to death the practices of the body.
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. (v. 8:6) . . .
but if by the Spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live. (8:13b)
Reckoning our death with Christ and rising with Christ cannot be merely doctrinal.
Nor is it merely psychological or a will power attitude of positiveness.
It is only by setting the mind on the Spirit of Christ who is living in our spirit.
[T]he last Adam became a life giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45)
And if we practice to set out mind on Him He will give life to our mortal bodies.
And if the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. (8:11)
This putting to death the practices of the sin nature filled body and putting the old man on the cross
can only be carried out by walking by the Spirit. And walking by the Spirit requires practice.
That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the [regenerated human] spirit. (Rom. 8:4)
But I say, Walk by the Spirit and you shall by no means fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16)
I must suspend here. Thanks for the passages for my reading and enjoyment.
Last edited:
Upvote
0