In dealing with the subject of the Resurrection, we must divide the subject into two categories:

The Dead and the Living.

THE DEAD

ALL OF THESE DIED AGAIN - NOW LET US LOOK AT THOSE WHO CAN’T DIE

THE LIVING THAT ARE CHANGED BY GOD’S POWER

THE CERTAINTY OF THE RESURRECTION

THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING AS TO A BODILY RESURRECTION

THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING AS TO A BODILY RESURRECTION

THE NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION

1. A judicial resurrection, in which the believer has been raised with Christ (Rom. 6:4,5; Eph. 2:5,6; Col. 2:12,13).
2. A spiritual resurrection, equivalent to regeneration (John 5:25,26).
3. A physical resurrection (John 5:28,29).

THE FACT OF A BODILY RESURRECTION

In four ways at least the Scripture indicates that the body is to be raised:

1. In clear statements to that effect (Job 19:25, 26; Ps. 16:9; John 5:28, 29; I Cor. 15:44).

2. In the declaration that the body is included in our redemption (Rom. 8:23-26; I Cor. 6:13-15, 19, 20). When Christ died for us, He died for the whole man.

3. In the kind of body with which Christ was raised. He was raised in a physical body (Lk. 24:39; Jn. 20:27); and to deny the physical resurrection is to deny the physical resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 15:13).

4. In the literalness of the Lord’s return and the judgments. The Man Christ Jesus will return to judge not disembodied spirits, but embodied men (I Thess 4:16, 17; Rev. 20:11-13).

THE TIME OF THE RESURRECTION

PRE-TRIBULATION VIEW

"... Come up hither," Revelation 4:1

The Church Age closes with the Laodicean period, and the First Vision with Revelation 3:22. The Church is not mentioned by name as a church after that in the Revelation. It is referred to as:

The Rapture is not spoken of as such in the Revelation, because this book deals primarily with Israel and its future. The question before us now is, just where does the Rapture occur in the interim between the end of chapter 3 and the beginning of chapter 19?

The first prevalent interpretation of the question of the time of the rapture in relation to the tribulation period is the pre tribulation interpretation, which holds that the church, the body of Christ in its entirety, will, by resurrection and translation, be removed from the earth BEFORE any part of the tribulation takes place. This is based on the literal method of interpretation.

THE ESSENTIAL BASIS OF THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE POSITION

The pretribulationist believes in a dispensational interpretation of the Word of God. The church and Israel are two distinct groups with whom God has a divine plan. (Rev. chapters 7,14) The church is a mystery, unraveled in the Old Testament. This present mystery age intervenes within the program of God for Israel (Rom. 11:11) because of Israel’s rejection of the Messiah at His first advent. This mystery program must be completed before God can resume His program with Israel and bring it to completion (Jer. 30,31). These considerations all arise from the literal method of interpretation.

THE DOCTRINE OF IMMINENCE

Many signs were given to the nation Israel, which would precede the second advent, so that the nation might be living in expectancy when the time of His coming should draw nigh. Although Israel could not know the day nor the hour when the lord will come, yet they can know that their redemption draweth nigh through the fulfillment of these signs.

To the church no such signs were ever given. The church was told to live in the light of the imminent coming of the Lord to translate them in His presence (Jn. 14:2, 3; Acts 1:11; I Cor. 15:51, 52; Phil. 3:20; Col. 3:4; I Thess. 1:10; I Tim. 6:14; Jas. 5:8; I Pet. 3:3,4). Such passages as I Thess. 5:6; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:3 all warn the believer to be watching for the Lord Himself, not for signs that would precede His coming. It is true that the events prior to the second advent are used by some to denote the rapture time period.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND ADVENT

There are a number of contrasts to be drawn between the rapture and the second advent, which will show that they are not viewed as synonymous in Scripture.

"And after three days and an half ... Come up hither." Revelation 11:11 & 12

According to this interpretation the church will be raptured at the end of the first three and one-half years of the seventieth week of Daniel 9. The church will endure the events of the first half of the tribulation (Rev. 7:14), which, according to the mid-tribulation rapturist,are not manifestations of divine wrath.

The rapture is said to occur in connection with the sounding of the seventh trumpet and the catching up of the two witnesses in Rev. 11. In common with postribulationism it holds that:

A. The church is promised tribulation on the earth and is in need of purging.
B. That Scripture does not teach the doctrine of imminence.
C. That the church is seen on the earth after Rev. 4:1

"... for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." Revelation 19:7

The essential basis on which Post-tribulationism rests:

1. A denial of dispensationalism and all dispensational distinctions.

2. It is only thus that they can place the church in that period which is particularly called "THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE" (Jer. 30:7).

3. Consequently, the position rests on a denial of the distinctions between Israel and the church.

4. The position must rest on a denial of the Scriptural teaching concerning the nature and purpose of the tribulation period.

5. They must deny all distinctions observed from the Scriptures between the rapture and the second advent, making them one and the same event.

6. The postribulationist must deny the doctrine of imminence, which says that the Lord may come at any time, and substitute the teaching that a multitude of signs must be fulfilled before the Lord can possible come.

 There is a very great danger in this belief because:

You may not be ready or even looking for his coming.

(a) "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." Luke 12:40

(b) "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Mark 13:35-37

This theory holds that the church will continue on the earth until the second advent at the end of this present age, at which time the church will be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord who has come into the air on His way from heaven to earth for the second advent, to return immediately with Him to fulfill the events of Daniel 9:24.

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY,         Revelation 4:8

God’s holiness proclaimed, prior to judgment. See Ps. 93; 97; 99; Isa. 6:3

        THE DAY OF THE LORD

One of the major lines of prophecy running throughout the Old Testament and continuing through the New Testament is the prophetic truth related to the DAY OF THE LORD.

    THE TIME AREAS WITHIN THE DAY OF THE LORD

The scope of the Day of the Lord has been a matter of debate among interpreters of the Scriptures. Some refer the Day of the Lord to the years of the tribulation period only. Others relate this to the second coming of Christ to the earth and the judgments immediately connected with that event. There are, however, two major interpretations of this question. The one is the view of Scofield who says:

"The day of Jehovah (called, also, 'that day,' and 'the great day' is that engthened period of time beginning  with the return of the Lord in glory, and ending with the purgation of the heavens and the earth by fire preparatory to the new heavens and new earth (Isa. 65:17-19; 66:22; 2 Pet. 3:13)."      C.I. Scofield, Reference Bible, Pg. 1349

Thus the Day of the Lord would cover that time period from the return of Christ to the earth to the New heaven and earth after the millennium. The other view is that expressed by Ironside who says:

"... when at last the day of grace is ended the day of the Lord will succeed it ... The day of the Lord follows (the rapture). It will be the time when the judgments of God are poured out upon the earth. It includes the descent of the Lord with all His saints to execute judgment on His foes and to take possession of the kingdom ... and to reign in righteousness for a thousand glorious years."

This second view coincides with the previous one as to the terminus, but begins the Day of the Lord with the tribulation period so that the events of the tribulation, the second advent, and the millennium are all included within the scope of the Day of the Lord.

The term DAY OF THE LORD occurs in many scriptures and in addition, the phrase THAT DAY or THE DAY or THE GREAT DAY occurs more than seventy-five times in the Old Testament. The frequency with which it occurs will evidence its importance in the prophetic Scriptures. These passages reveal that the idea of judgment is paramount in all of them. This is so clearly brought out in Zechariah 1:14-18. This judgment includes not only the specific judgments upon Israel and the nations at the end of the tribulation that are associated with the second advent, but, from a consideration of the passages themselves, includes judgments that extend over a period of time prior to the second advent.

Thus, it is concluded that the Day of the Lord will include the time of the tribulation, Zechariah 14:1-4 makes it clear that the events of the second advent are included in the program of the Day of the Lord. 2 Peter 3:10 gives authority for including the entire millennial age within this period. If the Day of the Lord did not begin until the second advent, since that event is preceded by signs, the Day of the Lord could not come as a "THIEF IN THE NIGHT," unexpected, and unheralded, as it is said it will come in I Thessalonians 5:2. The only way this day could break unexpectedly upon the world is to have it begin immediately after the rapture of the church. It is thus concluded that the Day of the Lord is that extended period of time beginning with God’s dealing with Israel after the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation period and extending through the second advent and the millennial age unto the creation of the new heavens and new earth after the millennium.

    THE EVENTS OF THE DAY OF THE LORD

It will be evident that the events within the Day of the Lord are indeed momentous, and a study of this period must include a study of a great part of the Prophetic Scriptures. It will include the prophesied events of the tribulation period, such as:

1. The federation of states into a revived Roman Empire (Dan. 2,7; Rev. 13)
2. The rise of the political ruler of this empire, who makes a covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27; Rev. 13:1-10)
3. The formulation of a false religious system under the false prophet (Rev. 13:11-18)
4. The pouring out of the judgments under the seals (Rev. 6)
5. The separation of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses (Rev. 7)
6. The trumpet judgments (Rev. 8-11)
7. The rise of God’s two witnesses (Rev. 11)
8. The persecution of Israel (Jer. 30; Rev. 12)
9. The pouring out of the bowl judgments (Rev. 16)
10. The overthrow of the false professing church (Rev. 17,18)
11. The events of the campaign of Armageddon (Ezk. 38,39; Rev. 16; 19)
12. The proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom (Mt. 24:14)

It will also include the prophesied events connected with the second advent, such as:

13. The return of the Lord (Mt. 24:29,30)
14. The resurrection of Old Testament and Tribulation saints (Jn. 6:39,40; Rev. 20:4)
15. The destruction of the Beast and all his armies and the False Prophet and his followers in the Beast worship (Rev. 19:11-21)
16. The judgment on the nations (Mt. 25:31—46)
17. The regathering of Israel (Ezk. 37:1-14; Rom. 11)
18. The judgment on living Israel (Ezk. 20:33-38)
19 Restoration of Israel (Amos 9:15)
20 Binding of Satan (Rev. 20:2,3)

Further it will include all the events of the millennial age, with the:

21. Final revolt of Satan (Rev. 20:7-10)
22. Great white throne judgment (Rev. 20:11-15)
23. Purging of earth (2 Pet. 3:10-13)

These, and many related subjects, must be then studied.

THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IN SCRIPTURE

Although this subject has been touched on briefly in a previous connection, it is necessary to set forth the teaching of the Scriptures on this important eschatological doctrine.

    THE NATURE OF THE TRIBULATION

There is no better way to come to an understanding of the Scriptural concept of the tribulation than to let Scripture speak for itself. It is impossible to set forth all the declarations of the Word on this subject. A few will suffice. The line of revelation begins early in the Old Testament and continues through the New Testament.

1. "When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the LATTER DAYS, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shall be obedient unto his voice; ... he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them". (Deut. 4:30,31)

2. "And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to SHAKE TERRIBLY the earth" (Isa. 2:19; Rev. 6:15,16).

3. "Behold, the Lord MAKETH THE EARTH EMPTY, and maketh it WASTE, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof." (Isa. 24:1)

4. "The land shall be utterly EMPTIED, and utterly SPOILED; for the Lord hath spoken this word." (Isa. 24:3).

5. "Therefore hath the curse DEVOURED the earth, and they that dwell therein are DESOLATE: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are BURNED, and few men left."   (Isa. 24:6)

6. "The earth is utterly BROKEN DOWN, the earth is clean DISSOLVED, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall REEL to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again." (Isa. 24:19-20)

7. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the INDIGNATION be overpass. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to PUNISH the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no morecover her slain." (Isa. 26:20,21)

From these Scriptures it is inescapable that the nature or character of this period is that of WRATH, JUDGMENT, INDIGNATION, TRIAL, TROUBLE, DESTRUCTION, DARKNESS, DESOLATION, OVERTURNING, PUNISHMENT. No passage can be found to alleviate to any degree whatsoever the severity of this time that shall come upon the earth.

The tribulation period will witness the wrath of:

Satan in his animosity against the nation of ISRAEL (Rev. 12:12-17)
                                    and of
Satan’s puppet, the Beast, in his animosity against the SAINTS (Rev. 13:7).

Yet even this manifestation of wrath does not begin to exhaust the outpouring of wrath of that day.

1. The first great purpose of the tribulation is to prepare the nation ISRAEL FOR HER MESSIAH. The prophecy of Jeremiah (30:7) makes it clear that this time that is coming has particular reference to ISRAEL, for it is "THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE."

2. The second great purpose of the tribulation is to pour out judgment on unbelieving man and nations. It is stated in Revelation 3:10 "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."    (Jer. 25:32,33; 2 Thess. 2:12)

From these Scriptures it will be seen that God is judging the nations of the earth because of their godlessness. The nations of the earth have been deceived by the false teaching of the harlot system (Rev. 14:8) and have partaken of the "wine of the wrath of her fornication." They have followed the false prophet in the worship of the beast (Rev. 13:11-18). For this godlessness the nations must be judged. This judgment comes on "... the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondsman, and every freeman..." (Rev. 6:15), all of whom "blasphemed the name of God ... and they repented not to give him glory" (Rev. 16:9). This program of judgment on sinners constitutes the second great purpose of the tribulation period.

It has been demonstrated previously that this entire tribulation period is a period characterized by judgments from the hand of the Lord. A number of distinct judgment programs are to be seen. These divine chastisements increase in severity as we pass from one series to another. The judgments are not contemporaneous but successive. The Trumpets succeed the Seals, and the Vials follow the Trumpets.

The Seals were opened in order that the successive parts of God’s revelation of the future might be disclosed, but to faith only-the mass would regard the judgments as merely providential. Such things had happened before.

The picture of the opening of the sealed scroll by the Son of God is given in Revelation chapter 6. Here is the beginning of the unfolding of the judgment program of God. Angels are mentioned throughout the book in connection with the execution of the judgment program.

THE FIRST SEAL - ANTICHRIST
(Rev. 6:2)

THE SECOND SEAL - TIME OF WAR
(Rev. 6:3-4)

This seal represents the removal of peace from the earth and the wars that engulf the earth.

THE GREAT TRIBULATION
Luke 21; Matthew 24; Mark 13 and Revelation 12,13

The great prophecy recorded in Luke 21 is different both in time, place, and subject from that recorded in Matthew 24 and Mark 13. Luke was spoken in the Temple and Matthew and Mark was spoken later upon the Mount of Olives.

*now, it will be observed in the Lord’s discourse as recorded in Luke, that, instead of saying "these are the beginning of sorrows", and going on with the account of them, He stops short; He goes back and introduces the events that would take place "BEFORE ALL THESE" beginnings of sorrows. He describes in verse 12.

"But before all these", that is to say "BEFORE" the great Tribulation, all that is recorded concerning Jerusalem in verses 12-24 would take place. These are the closing words: Luke 21:24

"Verily I say unto you. This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Mt. 24:34

Question: "Tell us, when shall these things be?" Mt. 24:3

Answer

The FIRST sign = FALSE CHRIST’S.

(a) Acts 21:38

(b) Acts 8:9,10

(c) Dositheus, the Samaritan, who pretended that he was the Christ.

(d) Under the reign of Nero, impostors were killed almost every day.     ref. Josephus Antiquities b. 20. c. 4&7

The SECOND sign = WARS and COMMOTION’S

(a) When Caligula ordered his statue to be set up in the temple of God, which the Jews having refused, had every reason to expect a war with the Romans.      ref. Josephus Antiquities b. 18; c. 9; War. b. 2. c. 10

(b) At Scythopolis the Syrians murdered upwards of 13,000 Jews. At Ascalon so they killed 2,500 etc, etc, NATION AGAINST NATION.

(c) The Jews and Galileans against the Samaritans, etc, KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM.

The THIRD sign = PESTILENCE and FAMINE.

Duting the reign of Claudius Caesar Acts 11:28

The FOURTH sign = EARTHQUAKES

The one at Crete in the reign of Claudius, one at Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos etc, etc.

The FIFTH sign = SUPERNATURAL HAPPENINGS

(a) A star hung over the city (Jerusalem) like a sword; and a comet continued a whole year.

(b) The people being assembled at the feast of unleavened bread, at the ninth hour of the night, a great light shone about the altar and the temple, and this continued for half an hour.

(c) At the same feast, a cow led to sacrifice brought forth a lamb in the midst of the temple.

(d) The eastern gate of the temple, which was of solid brass, and very heavy, and could hardly be shut by twenty men, and was fastened by strong bars and bolts, was seen at the sixth hour of the night to open of its own accord.

(e) Before sun-setting there were seen, over all the country, chariots and armies fighting in the clouds, and besieging cities.

(f) At the feast of Pentecost, when the priests were going into the inner temple by night, to attend their service, they heard first a motion and noise, and then a voice, as of a multitude, saying:   LET US DEPART HENCE. ref. Josephus chapters 21,11.

IF YOU LIVED IN THOSE DAYS, COULD YOU NOT HAVE BELIEVED IN CHRIST’S SOON RETURN?

Could it be possible that God has indeed fulfilled many of the prophecies in the past, but that He can still fulfill these same prophecies in the future as well? Can prophecy, as well as history, be repeated?

I would like to state that Prophecy is indeed not for private interpretation and what I state in this study is only a possibility and not set in stone. This study is to provoke your thinking about the Scriptures and to realize that we do indeed see in part and know in part and that one of these days we will know even as we are known. And on that day it will be interesting to see just what is truth and what was error.

THE THIRD SEAL - FAMINE
(Rev. 6:5-6)

This represents famine that results from the desolation of the wars spoken of in the second Seal. Ezekiel 14:13

THE FOURTH SEAL - DEATH
(Rev. 6:7-8)

This prefigures the death that follows in the wake of the failure of men to establish peace. Ezekiel 14:19.

Note: "... over the fourth part of the earth..." Rev. 6:8

THE TRIBULATION IS NOT WORLD WIDETHE TRIBULATION IS NOT WORLD WIDE:

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