THE DILEMA

THE QUANDRY

                Two days ago I wrote a 6 page article that I have not yet posted. It is an article in which I discuss the difference between the resurrection OF the dead, which is the general resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked as in John 5:28 and Revelation 20:5, 6 also known as the second resurrection that comes at the end of the 1000 years.

                The first resurrection is a resurrection FROM the dead… meaning that those who belong to Christ are raised from among the dead, even as Jesus was raised from the dead.           We are also told in 1 Cor. 15:51 that in this first resurrection FROM the dead, only the dead in Christ will rise and will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Therefore it is identified as the “rapture”               in order to distinguish it from the general resurrection OF the dead made up of both righteous and wicked after which comes the judgment.

                This all sounds good and of course millions of Christians are happily awaiting the rapture or first resurrection, but there is a twist that nobody is preaching about. In Philippians 3 Paul talks about striving to be a part of the first resurrection and that even though He had not attained it yet, he was leaving everything else behind to press toward the mark of the High Calling in Christ Jesus.

                What is troubling here is that, like Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish virgins; making it into the marriage of the Lamb is not a casual walk in the park. Half of the believers did not have oil and were not allowed in. They were just like the Laodicean church that must purchase gold tried in the fire.

                Likewise Paul speaks of this first resurrection as one in which a person must lay aside every encumbrance, all dead religion, all works of the flesh and to be found in Christ not having a righteousness of his own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that he may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to his death in order that he may attain to the resurrection FROM the dead.” Ephesians 3:9-11

                It sounds good so far, that is until Paul continues on by saying: “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:12-14.

                What is troubling here is that Paul paints his preparation for the first resurrection or rapture as not a casual walk in the park, but a race in which everything must be stripped away and he is all out for the goal.  And if the apostle Paul had not yet attained to it… well, it tells me that most Christians are neither qualified nor ready for the rapture because it is an all-out death to self and the world and a complete life in Christ, as empowered by His Spirit and not by the flesh.

                So I am in a quandary. Should I present my findings? Nobody is preaching    the full gospel of the Kingdom as it was preached in the last great revival by people like Edwards, Finney and Wigglesworth. Virtually no one these days preaches about a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Nowadays most sermons are little sound bites based upon what people want to hear and to keep the tithes coming in. Most sermons are motivational speeches akin to self-help rather than the actual preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom the Jesus preached.

                It sounds to me that the rapture is something that a person must go all out to attain… and while it is attained by grace through faith, this grace and faith only work if we are fully engaged in the death and resurrection of Christ… dead to the world and living by the Spirit as in Romans 8.

                We all want to hear good news and it IS good news, but it is not so good for the casual Christian that is Christian in name only… who makes it to church once a week and otherwise lives in the world and like the world. It is not good news for the foolish virgin, or the Church of Laodicea.

                We must in fact, get into Philadelphia if we want to have set before us an open door, or to be saved from the testing that will come upon the whole world.

                Like I said, virtually nobody is preaching this. But isn’t it vastly important that Christians are not being led down the primrose path of false hope? Should we not be warning people to be prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband, being made ready for the first resurrection?

                The book of Revelation says: “Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for 1000 years.” Rev. 20:6               

                But then, of course, virtually nobody is preaching from the book of Revelation any more either in spite of the fact that the last great messages of preparation are contained in it.

                If appears that most Christians would prefer to hear a fluffy, puffy, cotton candy message made up of bumper sticker sound bites that make them feel good rather than to hear the truth that could actually set them free.

                Well, that is my quandary. As a watchman I feel that we must preach the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I’m sure that early Americans did not want to hear that the British were coming, but Paul Revere had to tell them anyway. If he had not they wouldn’t have been ready and there might never have been a United States of America. I’m just saying…

                I believe that we are heading into the deep water of last day events and so I feel responsible to present what the Lord teaches me and not just the ones that get a "thumbs up." May God grant us the grace to” take up the full armor of God that we may be able to resist in the evil day and having done everything to stand firm. Eph.6:13.

                As a foot note it appears to me that the first resurrection (rapture) occurs at some point prior to the wrath of God being poured out upon the kingdom of Satan. This group, as wise virgins, is caught up to the marriage supper of the Lamb. They then return with Christ in Revelation 19 to the battle of Armageddon after which Christ sets foot on the Mt. of Olives and takes up His millennial reign for 1000 years. Then after the 1000 years are completed, there is a final general resurrection OF the dead both righteous and the wicked for judgment in which all whose names are not written in the book of life will go into judgment… as described in Rev.20:7-15.

                I invite you to study these things out for yourselves and to make sure that you are preparing as a bride adorned for her Husband so that you will be ready when He comes. We most definitely want to be a part of the first resurrection and according to Paul this requires a 100% commitment to enter into the death and resurrection of Christ… to live by His Spirit and by His Word.  Are you with me?