The Rapture of the Saints:
True or False?
Correcting False Doctrine About the Lord’s Return
Richard Allen Golko
LiveFaith.TV
Copyright © 2022 Richard Allen Golko – All Rights Reserved
The Rapture of the Saints:
True or False?
Correcting False Doctrine About the Lord’s Return
Richard Allen Golko
LiveFaith.TV
Copyright © 2022 Richard Allen Golko – All Rights Reserved
The Rapture of the Saints:
True or False?
Correcting False Doctrine About the Lord’s Return
Richard Allen Golko
Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
The Various “Views” of Christ’s Return ............................................................................................................ 9
The Lord’s Second Coming as Prophesied from Ancient Times ................................................................. 11
The Testimony of the Two Angles in Acts 1 ................................................................................................ 19
The Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust .............................................................................................. 21
The Resurrection of the Just ................................................................................................................... 21
The Timing of the Resurrection of the Just............................................................................................. 21
Daniel’s Seventy Heptads ........................................................................................................................... 22
The Resurrection of the Unjust ............................................................................................................... 25
Summary: Our Lord’s Return According to Pre-Pauline Scriptures ............................................................ 27
What is “the Rapture?” ................................................................................................................................... 29
Facts About the Snatching Away ................................................................................................................ 34
The Timing of the Snatching Away ............................................................................................................. 36
The Body of Christ is Separate from Israel.................................................................................................. 37
The Saints’ Blessed, Glorious Hope............................................................................................................. 38
Conclusions About the Rapture ...................................................................................................................... 41
Objections Raised Concerning the Rapture .................................................................................................... 43
Comparison of the Trump of the Rapture and the 7th Trumpet ................................................................. 48
The Rapture of the Saints: True of False – Golko
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Comparison of The Rapture with Christ’s Return to the Earth................................................................... 50
Order of Events of our Lord’s Second Coming ................................................................................................ 51
Testing the Various “Views” of the Second Coming of Christ with the Scriptures ......................................... 53
Supplemental Materials .................................................................................................................................. 55
When Did the Body of Christ Begin?........................................................................................................... 57
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 59
Born Again Versus a New Creation ............................................................................................................. 63
Born Again ............................................................................................................................................... 64
A New Creation ....................................................................................................................................... 72
Summary: The New Birth vs. A New Creation ....................................................................................... 76
When the Body of Christ and the Joint-Body of Christ Began ................................................................ 79
The Bride and the Body of Christ ................................................................................................................ 81
The Bride of Christ .................................................................................................................................. 81
The Wife of Jehovah ............................................................................................................................... 81
The Bride and the Bridegroom ............................................................................................................... 85
Scriptures of Contention ......................................................................................................................... 86
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 86
Meet Richard................................................................................................................................................... 87
Read Richard’s Other Books............................................................................................................................ 89
Faith, Hope and Love .................................................................................................................................. 89
The “Unto Perfection” Series ...................................................................................................................... 89
The Eonian Times: Charts: God’s Mater Plan to Become All in All ............................................................. 90
Why? The Definitive Answer to the Most Asked Question in Life.............................................................. 90
Indisputable Proof of Universal Reconciliation .......................................................................................... 90
Between the Gospels: The Chronicle of Israel’s Apostasy and Gentile Belief ........................................... 91
About LiveFaith.TV and Live Faith Ministries .................................................................................................. 93
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The Rapture of the Saints: True of False – Golko
Introduction
Total confusion exists in Christendom regarding our Lord’s return and subsequent events. There are
multiple “views” being taught by the “accepted” organized religious institutions while the Word itself can
only have one “view.” Certain scriptures are held forth to prove these various positions, while other
scriptures conflict with their interpretation of those select scriptures.
The Word of God has to fit within itself – it has to agree on all points – all verses have to agree before we
have “the truth” regarding any subject the Word teaches. We have to pull all the verses together that
speak about the subject of our Lord’s return and work those verses to see how they all fit together
cohesively without contradiction. Only then will we have the truth about all aspects God has revealed
about our Lord’s second coming.
In this document, I will set forth what the Word of God says about the second coming of Christ in the Law
and the Prophets and other writings (the Old Testament) and in the Four Accounts of our Lord (the
Gospels). Then I will examine what Paul says about Christ’s return. I’ll compare the two accounts to see if
they are identical or different. Finally, I will answer the major objections used to discredit the rapture to
see whether they are valid or not.
It will be seen, from the Scriptures themselves, that Christ will return to gather his saints unto himself
before he returns to the earth for Israel. I will supply all the pertinent Scripture that teaches this and I will
show how it is impossible to interpret God’s Word any other way on this important subject.
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The Rapture of the Saints: True of False – Golko
The Various “Views” of Christ’s Return
In Christendom, the following “views” exist. I will briefly present each with a short definition of what they
mean.
First of all, covering the entire end-time period we have:
1) Premillennialism
The Lord will return for the body of Christ before he inaugurates his Millennial Kingdom.
2) Postmillennialism
The Lord will return for the body of Christ after the church on earth reigns for 1,000 years.
3) Amillennialism
The Lord will not return at all – man will perfect the earth instead.
Then, regarding the Rapture itself people teach:
1) Pre-tribulation rapture
The Lord will return and gather the body of Christ to himself, both dead and alive, before he
returns to the earth for Israel.
2) Mid-tribulation rapture
The Lord will return for the body of Christ half-way (after 3 ½ years) during the 7-year period
spoken of in the book of Revelation.
3) Pre-wrath rapture
The Lord will return for the body of Christ half-way through the last 3 ½ years of the 7-year period
spoken of in the book of Revelation.
4) Post-tribulation rapture
The Lord will return for both the body of Christ and for Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation
(also called, “the time of Jacob’s trouble”).
5) No rapture at all
One event, the Resurrection of the Just, will occur when the Lord returns to the earth for both the
church which is his body, and for Israel; both at the same time.
There are numerous doctrines based on different combinations of these so-called “views.” We are not
interested in man’s “views” but in “WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD HAVE TO SAY?” There is no room for
divergent opinions regarding our Lord’s second coming when God has clearly revealed the order of events
that will indeed take place. Let’s consult God’s Word and see what God has to say about our Lord’s second
coming.
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The Rapture of the Saints: True of False – Golko
The Lord’s Second Coming as Prophesied from Ancient Times
The “Old Testament” and “the Gospels” contain numerous references to our Lord’s second advent
(coming). They all agree on every point. They teach us that at a pre-appointed time, Jesus will return to the
earth for Israel, will defeat her enemies and will usher in his Kingdom for 1,000 years. These Scriptures are
consistent and congruent, as expected from God’s Holy Word.
First, let’s look at Zechariah which speaks about “the Day of the Lord.”
 Zechariah 4:1-4 – Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst
of thee.
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses
rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of
the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of
battle.
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the
east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the
west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the
north, and half of it toward the south.
This prophecy has Jesus returning to the earth. He lands on the mount of Olives which splits into two
halves and leaves a very great valley between them. There is no resurrection mentioned at all.
Joel also speaks about the coming “Day of the Lord.”.
 Joel 2 1-11 – Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the
inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread
upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall
be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns: the land is as the garden of Eden
before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire
that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march
every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the
sword, they shall not be wounded.
They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the
houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
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The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark,
and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that
executes his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
This passage doesn’t speak of the Lord’s return, but of the wrath of God to be poured out in the Day of the
Lord.
Let’s look at Matthew where Jesus talks about his second coming.
 Matthew 24: 3-51 (KJV) – And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him
privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and
of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things
must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and
pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations
for my name's sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and
then shall the end come.
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time,
no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake
those days shall be shortened.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
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For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Behold, I have told you before.
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the
secret chambers; believe it not.
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be.
For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not
give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the
earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory.
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his
elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye
know that summer is nigh:
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come,
he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give
them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
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And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he
is not aware of,
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
This section of Scripture is packed with information about the Lord’s second coming. We will look at it
closer in a moment.
The Concordant Literal Version follows.
 Matthew 24: 3-51 (CLV) – Matthew 24:3-51 (CLV) -- Now at His sitting on the Mount of Olives, the
disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what is the sign of
Thy presence and of the conclusion of the eon?”
And, answering, Jesus said to them, “Beware that no one should be deceiving you.
For many shall be coming in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ!’ and shall be deceiving many.’
Yet you shall be about to be hearing battles, and tidings of battles. See that you are not alarmed,
for it must be occurring; but not as yet is the consummation.
For roused shall be a nation against a nation, and a kingdom against a kingdom, and there shall be
famines and quakes in places.
Yet all these are the beginning of pangs.
Then shall they be giving you up to affliction, and they shall be killing you, and you shall be hated by
all of the nations because of My name.
And then many shall be snared, and they shall be giving one another up and hating one another.
And many false prophets shall be roused, and shall be deceiving many.
And, because of the multiplication of lawlessness, the love of many shall be cooling.
Yet he who endures to the consummation, he shall be saved.
And heralded shall be this evangel of the kingdom in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to
all the nations, and then the consummation shall be arriving.
Whenever, then, you may be perceiving the abomination of desolation, which is declared
through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him who is reading apprehend!);
then let those in Judea flee into the mountains.
Let him who is on the housetop not descend to take away the things out of his house.
And let him who is in the field not turn back behind him to pick up his cloak.
"Now woe to those who are pregnant and those suckling in those days!
Now be praying that your flight may not be occurring in winter, nor yet on a sabbath,
for then shall be great affliction, such as has not occurred from the beginning of the world till
now; neither under any circumstances may be occurring.
And, except those days were discounted, no flesh at all would be saved. Yet, because of the
chosen, those days shall be discounted.
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Then, if anyone should be saying to you, “Lo! here is the Christ!” or “Here!” you should not be
believing it.
For roused shall be false christs and false prophets, and they shall be giving great signs and
miracles, so as to deceive, if possible, even the chosen.
Lo! I have declared it to you beforehand.
If, then, they should say to you, “Lo! in the wilderness is he!” you may not be coming out; “Lo! in
the storerooms!” you should not be believing it.
For even as the lightning is coming out from the east and is appearing as far as the west, thus
shall be the presence of the Son of Mankind.
Wheresoever the corpse may be, there will the vultures be gathered.
Now immediately after the affliction of those days the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall
not be giving her beams, and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers of the heavens
shall be shaken.
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Mankind in heaven, and then all the tribes of the
land shall grieve, and they shall see the Son of Mankind coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and much glory.
And He shall be dispatching His messengers with a loud sounding trumpet, and they shall be
assembling His chosen from the four winds, from the extremities of the heavens to their
extremities.
Now from the fig tree learn a parable: Whenever its bough may already be becoming tender, and
the leaves sprouting out, you know that summer is near.
Thus you, also, whenever you may be perceiving all these things, know that He is near-at the doors.
Verily, I am saying to you that by no means may this generation be passing by till all these things
should be occurring.
Heaven and earth shall be passing by, yet My words may by no means be passing by.
Now, concerning that day and hour no one is aware, neither the messengers of the heavens, nor
the Son; except the Father only.
For even as the days of Noah, thus shall be the presence of the Son of Mankind.
For as they were in those days before the deluge, masticating and drinking and marrying and taking
in marriage until the day on which Noah entered into the ark,
and did not know till the deluge came and takes them all away, thus shall be the presence of the
Son of Mankind.
Then two shall be in the field; one is taken along and one left:
two grinding at the millstone; one is taken along and one left.
Be watching, then, for you are not aware on what day your Lord is coming.
Now that be knowing, for if the householder were aware in what watch the thief is coming, he
would watch, and would not let his house be tunneled into.
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Therefore you also become ready, for in an hour which you are not supposing, the Son of
Mankind is coming.
Who, consequently, is the faithful and prudent slave whom the lord places over his household to
give them nourishment in season?
Happy is that slave whom his lord, coming, will be finding doing thus.
Verily, I am saying to you that over all his possessions will he be placing him.
Now if that evil slave should be saying in his heart, “Delaying is my lord,”
and should begin to beat his fellow slaves, yet may be eating and drinking with the drunken,
the lord of that slave will be arriving on a day for which he is not hoping, and in an hour which he
knows not,
and shall be cutting him asunder, and will be appointing his part with the hypocrites. There shall be
lamentation and gnashing of teeth.
Let’s drill down on this section in more detail. We will focus on those things that relate to the timing and
nature of this event.
1) Jesus’ will be personally present at his coming. Of course, we are talking about his second coming
(verse 3).
Jesus’ disciples asked him about the end times. “…what is the sign of Thy presence and of the conclusion
of the eon?” The word “presence” is the Greek word, “parousia.” This word means “coming” and
emphasizes the personal presence of the one who is coming. Jesus answers with a list of events, not a
single act. “Parousia” includes all of those events.
2) His coming will be marked by false Christs, battles, reports of more battles, famines and
earthquakes; all these are the beginning of pangs (verses 4-8).
3) True believers shall be hated, persecuted and killed; they shall be giving one another up and hating
one another (verses 9 and 10).
4) Many false prophets will arise and will deceive many (verse 11).
5) Lawlessness will multiply, cooling the love of many (verse 12).
6) He who endures to the end (consummation of this current eon) shall be saved (verse 13).
Note verse 13. This is obviously not Pauline doctrine. “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” This is
conditional, which is a hallmark of the Gospel of the Circumcision, which is the “Evangel, or good news, of
the Kingdom.” See my book, “The Two Gospels” to identify each and to see the differences between the
two.
7) The evangel of the kingdom will be heralded in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the
nations, then the consummation of this current eon will arrive (verse 14).
The “Evangel of the Kingdom” shows that Jesus is speaking to Israel, not the nations. The nations do not
preach “the Evangel of the Kingdom” but the Evangel of the Grace of God.
8) The “abomination of desolation” will be set up in the rebuilt Jewish temple, desecrating it. The
antichrist will claim he is God and will demand worship of the entire world; Israel is instructed to
pray that this does not happen in the winter, or on a Sabbath when they are restricted from
traveling, and that they should flee into the mountains – because the greatest tribulation to ever
hit the earth would occur (verses 15-21).
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9) Those days of the great tribulation shall be shorted for the sake of the chosen people (Israel) or no
flesh would be left alive (verse 22).
10) False christs and false prophets will arise, giving great signs and miracles to deceive people into
thinking the Antichrist is God – Jesus instructs Israel to not believe what they say (verses 23-26).
11) For even as the lightning is coming out from the east and is appearing as far as the west, thus shall
be the presence of the Son of Mankind (verse 27).
The coming of the Lord, with his personal presence (parousia) will be witnessed by the entire world, from
the east to the west. This seems to indicate that he will circle the globe before he returns to the earth on
the mount of Olives. What a grand arrival!
12) Because of the affliction of those days, many will die. According to Zechariah, 2/3 of Israel will die
during that period of time and more than 1/3 of the inhabitants of the earth will die as well
(verse 28).
Zechariah 13:7-9 – Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow,
saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine
hand upon the little ones.
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and
die; but the third shall be left therein.
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try
them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and
they shall say, The LORD is my God.
13) Immediately after the affliction of those days the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not be
giving her beams, and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be
shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Mankind in heaven, and then all the tribes of
the land shall grieve, and they shall see the Son of Mankind coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and much glory.
Jesus’ actual return to the earth will come “after the affliction of those days.” He will not come until after
the Great Tribulation is over. The “sign of the Son of Mankind” will be seen in heaven; this refers to all the
earth seeing him before he touches down on the Mount of Olives. All the tribes of Israel will mourn when
they see him (“tribes of the land” where the phrase “the land” refers to Israel). He comes “on the clouds of
heaven with power and much glory” (verses 29,30).
14) He shall be dispatching His messengers with a loud sounding trumpet, and they shall be assembling
His chosen from the four winds, from the extremities of the heavens to their extremities (verse 31).
This cannot be “the 7th trumpet” mentioned in Revelation 11:
Revelation 11:14-17 – The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of
this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and
ever.
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and
worshipped God,
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Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because
thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be
judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and
them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his
testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great
hail.
Notice that there is no resurrection accompanying this event! The seventh trumpet is called “the
third woe,” which is opposite of what the Resurrection of the Just will be. The seventh angel calls
forth the 7 vials, or bowls, of God’s wrath. The first resurrection does not occur until much later,
after the 7 vials of God’s wrath are poured out.
The “chosen” he is gathering from every place under heaven are the 12 tribes of Israel, scattered
since 70 AD when their Temple was destroyed and their Kingdom was held in abeyance. These are
alive people he is gathering from across the globe; no mention here is made of the dead or of
resurrection.
15) Jesus tells Israel that when they perceive all these things happening, they should realize the time is
near for his return. This verse has been used to say that the re-establishment of Israel in 1948 is the
“budding fig tree” since the fig tree is symbolic of Israel. This cannot be true for two reasons. First,
God did not re-establish Israel as a nation; the United Nations did – God is holding their Kingdom in
abeyance until the fulness of the Gentiles comes in (Romans 11:25) which ends our current
administration; second, the coming together of the nation does not happen until Jesus physically
returns to the earth, as stated right in these verses. Jesus promised that all of these things should
be occurring before “this generation” passes by. The generation that sees those signs Jesus just
listed will not pass until he physically returns to the earth. He says his words, that he is speaking
here in particular, will come true regardless of anything trying to stop it from happening
(verses 32-35).
16) Nobody, not even Christ himself, knows the exact time – the day and hour – of his return except for
God (verse 36).
17) Jesus compares the activities of people on the earth before the deluge of Noah’s day to the
activities of people just before his second coming. The comparison is that people will be so involved
in their own lives that they won’t have any sense of his coming at all (verses 37-39).
18) The next two verses are said by some to be “the rapture of the body of Christ.” However, the
context denies this. The ones “taken” are the wicked ones, not the righteous. The immediate
context is Noah’s flood – the deluge came and “takes them all away.” The wicked are also taken
first in Jesus’ parable of the good seed and the weeds:
Matthew 13:24-30 – He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be
compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an
enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came
up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and
said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come
from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go
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and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat
along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell
the reapers, ‘Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat
into my barn.’” (Verses 40 and 41.)
19) “Be watching, then, for you are not aware on what day your Lord is coming.” Jesus promises them
that if they are found “doing” when he returns, they will be rewarded. Then Jesus tells them a story
about the evil slave, violent and drunken, abusing his fellow slaves; that one shall be appointed his
part with the hypocrites – we see the conditional nature of this judgment. The body of Christ is told
to “rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed…” Jesus emphasizes the fact that he will return at a
time they will not be expecting, therefore “watch.” (Verses 42-51.)
In the Pauline epistles, believers are told to “wait,” not to “watch.” They must watch because they must be
faithful to the end to be saved. Those in the body of Christ are already saved and simply “wait” for him to
return to gather them to himself.
From this discourse, we learn that Jesus will return to the earth at an unspecified day and hour, and will
first deal with those alive, not with the dead. No resurrection is mentioned in this discourse at all.
The Testimony of the Two Angles in Acts 1
Two angels were on the scene when Jesus ascended into heaven. Listen to what they said.
 Acts 1:9-11 – And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a
cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them
in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is
taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Jesus Christ will return to the earth for Israel. He will land on the Mount of Olives and split it in half. The
testimony of the Law and Prophets and of Jesus himself are in agreement. There is no “meeting the Lord in
the air” in any of those prophecies about our Lord’s second coming until we get to Paul’s epistles.
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The Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust
Two resurrections were prophesied from “olden times.” Paul declares this in his defense before the
governor Felix. Paul had this to say:
 Acts 24:15 – But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the
God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of
the dead, both of the just and unjust.
These are two separate resurrections. There shall be a resurrection of the just and one of the unjust. These
two resurrections are separated by 1,000 years – the reign of Christ in his Millennial Kingdom.
The Resurrection of the Just
Let’s read about the Resurrection of the Just.
 Revelation 20:1-6 – And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a
thousand years,
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should
deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be
loosed a little season.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the
souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had
not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads,
or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first
resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first [former of the two] resurrection: on such the
second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him
a thousand years.
Only the righteous Jews and Gentiles are raised at this resurrection. Those who will be raised include the
Old Testament saints, the Gentile proselytes of Israel and those Jews and Gentiles who are martyred
during the Great Tribulation. The rest of the dead remain dead for the duration of Christ’s Millennial
Kingdom (1,000 years.)
The Timing of the Resurrection of the Just
All of the believers I’ve spoken to about the Resurrection of the Just assume that the just are raised almost
immediately after Christ returns. The general consensus of belief is that Christ will return, will defeat the
armies of Armageddon with the sword of his mouth, as the Scriptures say, and will then immediately raise
the dead. This assumption is wrong and has no support in Scripture. Let’s investigate the timing of the first
resurrection in relation to Christ’s return.
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Daniel was given further revelation about the timing of the second coming of the Lord. It’s the prophecy of
the 70 weeks. If you do an Internet search on this subject and go to Google Images, you will see a plethora
of charts on the 70-week timeline. There are dozens of opinions on this, as there are on the sequence of
events of our Lord’s second coming. Once you examine the Scriptures yourself, you’ll quickly see the
majority of them are incorrect. Let’s see what God has to say.
Daniel’s Seventy Heptads
A “heptad” is a period of 7 years. This word is translated “weeks” in the KJV in Daniel 9:24. Understand a
“week” as a period of 7 years to make sense of this revelation to Daniel.
 Daniel 9:24-27 – Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish
the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring
in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore
and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and
two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the
people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end
thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he
shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations
he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured
upon the desolate.
Seventy 7-year periods are determined upon thy people, Israel, to make an end to the transgression, to
seal up the vision and prophecy of the end-times, and to anoint the most Holy as King of his Millennial
Kingdom. This is a period of 490 lunar years. A lunar year is a year of 360 days which Israel used in their
calendar system.
There are 7 achievements that are listed in conjunction with reaching the end of the 70 heptads.
1. Finish the transgression”
2. “Make an end of sin”
3. “Make atonement for iniquity”
4. “Bring in everlasting righteousness”
5. “Seal up vision and prophecy”
6. “Anoint the most holy place”
Daniel 12 gives us even more detail.
 Daniel 12:6,7 – And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river,
How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his
right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a
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time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy
people, all these things shall be finished.
“…a time, times, and an half” is Biblical terminology for 3 ½ years. A “time” equals 1 year, “times” equals 2
years, and “half a time” equals ½ of a year. This 3 ½ years is calculated from the middle of the “seventieth
heptad” which was revealed in Daniel’ 12.
Here are the corresponding verses in Revelation:
 Revelation 12:6 – And the woman [Israel] fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared
by God, so that there she might be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (3 ½
360-day years).
 Revelation 12:14 – And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, in order that
she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and
half a time (3 ½ years), from the presence of the serpent.
 Revelation 13:5 – And there was given to him [the beast/Antichrist] a mouth speaking arrogant
words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months (3 ½ years) was given to him.
This 3 ½ period is the last half of the final, the 70th heptad, of Daniel’s prophecy. The antichrist will reign
during the last 3 ½ years of that final heptad. But we are given more information to consider.
 Daniel 12;11,12 – From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that
causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches
the end of the 1,335 days.
The word “days” is literal. A day is a 24-hour period. The “abomination of desolation” mentioned here was
repeated by Jesus when he spoke of his second coming in Matthew 24. From that event, which occurs halfway through the final 7-year heptad, we are given 3 different time periods: one of 1,260 days, another of
1,290 days and a final period of 1,335 days measured from the same point.
The following chart shows how these “days” work out.
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The antichrist will come as a man of peace and will deceive many. He will sign a 7-year covenant with
Israel, allowing Israel to exist and to worship in their rebuilt (3 rd) temple. But after 3 ½ years he will break
the covenant and march on Jerusalem. He will sit in the temple declaring he is God, and will set up an
image that he will spiritually animate, which tells all people to worship him as God. This begins half-way
through the final 70th heptad. He will heavily persecute the Jews and the Gentiles who believe in Christ.
At the end of the tribulation (1,260 days after the desecration of the temple), Jesus Christ returns to earth
and defeats the forces of the Antichrist at the Battle of Armageddon. During the next 30 days (leading up
to 1,290 days after the desecration of the temple), Israel will be rebuilt and the earth will be restored.
Israel will mourn for their Messiah that they crucified during those 30 days, and the Temple will be
cleansed. The daily sacrifice will be resumed at the end of those 30 days.
During the next 45 days (leading up to 1,335 days after the desecration of the Temple), the Gentile nations
will be judged for their treatment of Israel. This is the “judgment of the nations” which Jesus spoke of in
Matthew 25.
The Resurrection of the Just will occur at the 1,335-day mark when the Millennial Kingdom of Christ
officially begins (Revelation 20:3-6). The dead are not raised at the same time that the living saints enter
the Kingdom. There is a full 75 days between the return of our Lord and the Resurrection of the Just.
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For a more detailed discussion of the 70-heptad prophecy in Daniel, see
https://christinprophecy.org/articles/daniels-70-weeks-of-years/.
The Resurrection of the Unjust
1,000 years later, “the rest of the dead” will be resurrected to appear at The Great White Throne.
 Revelation 20:7-15 – And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his
prison,
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog,
to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and
the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever [for the eons of the
eons].
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven
fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which
were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Neither of the two resurrections are of concern to the body of Christ for they will be taken up long before
either of them.
We see this resurrection cannot be combined with the former resurrection which occurs 1,000 years
earlier. The judgment of the nations in Matthew 25 is also 1,000 years before the Great White Throne
judgment.
I cover this resurrection in more detail in my book, “The Great White Throne and the Extermination of Sin”
which you can download at https://livefaith.tv/richards-books.
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Summary: Our Lord’s Return According to Pre-Pauline Scriptures
There are many other prophecies of our Lord’s coming that I have not included here, but they all fit with
what has already been presented. Jesus Christ’s return, according to the Scriptures written before the
apostle Paul penned I Thessalonians, is as follows.
1) Jesus returns to the earth to save Israel from her enemies. He lands on the Mount of Olives and the
mountain splits into two halves, leaving a very large valley between them.
2) The unrighteous are gathered, swept away, and the judgment of the nations occurs (Matthew 25)
3) The Temple is cleansed, Jerusalem and the earth are restored from all the damage caused by the
Great Tribulation and the wrath of God and the daily sacrifice is resumed in the cleansed Temple.
All these activities take 30 days.
4) Jesus judges the nations (Matthew 25) and sets all right between the living saints. This takes 45
days. This brings us to the 75 days after the Lord returns to the earth on the Mount of Olives.
5) Jesus then raises the just at the first resurrection. This resurrection includes all the righteous Old
Testament saints and Gentile proselytes, plus those Jews and Gentiles who are martyred during the
Great Tribulation. Those that are raised become priests and kings to the nations for Israel has
jurisdiction over the earth.
6) Jesus raises the rest of the dead 1,000 years later. They appear at the Great White Throne
judgment.*
Now that we’ve considered the bulk of evidence about the return of Christ up to Paul’s writings, let’s look
at what the Word of God says about “the rapture” in the Pauline epistles.
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What is “the Rapture?”
“The rapture” refers to a single event when the Lord snatches away from the earth those who believe in
him during a specific period of time, which extends from Acts 13:1,2 when Paul was severed to go unto the
nations to the time of the Lord’s return.
The word “rapture” is translated from the Greek word “harpazo” which means “to seize.”
Strong's #726
har-pad'-zo; from a derivative of (138) (αἱρέομαι); to seize (in various applications): — catch (away, up),
pluck, pull, take (by force).
harpazó: to seize, catch up, snatch away
Original Word: ἁρπάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: harpazó
Phonetic Spelling: (har-pad'-zo)
Definition: to seize, catch up, snatch away
Usage: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery.
HELPS Word-studies
726 harpázō – properly, seize by force; snatch up, suddenly and decisively – like someone seizing
bounty (spoil, a prize); to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly).
Harpázō is used 14 times in the following verses:
Matthew 11:12 V-PIA-3P
GRK: καὶ βιασταὶ ἁρπάζουσιν αὐτήν
NAS: and violent men take it by force.
KJV: take it by force.
INT: and [the] violent seize it
Matthew 12:29 V-ANA
GRK: σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἁρπάσαι ἐὰν μὴ
NAS: house and carry off his property,
INT: goods of him to plunder if not
Matthew 13:19 V-PIA-3S
GRK: πονηρὸς καὶ ἁρπάζει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον
NAS: [one] comes and snatches away what
KJV: [one], and catcheth away that which
INT: evil one and snatches away that which was sown
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John 6:15 V-PNA
GRK: ἔρχεσθαι καὶ ἁρπάζειν αὐτὸν ἵνα
NAS: to come and take Him by force to make
KJV: take him by force, to make
INT: to come and seize him that
John 10:12 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ὁ λύκος ἁρπάζει αὐτὰ καὶ
NAS: and the wolf snatches them and scatters
KJV: and the wolf catcheth them, and
INT: the wolf snatches them and
John 10:28 V-FIA-3S
GRK: καὶ οὐχ ἁρπάσει τις αὐτὰ
NAS: one will snatch them out of My hand.
KJV: shall any [man] pluck them out of
INT: and never will seize anyone them
John 10:29 V-PNA
GRK: οὐδεὶς δύναται ἁρπάζειν ἐκ τῆς
NAS: is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's
KJV: [man] is able to pluck [them] out of
INT: no one is able to seize out of the
Acts 8:39 V-AIA-3S
GRK: πνεῦμα Κυρίου ἥρπασεν τὸν Φίλιππον
NAS: of the Lord snatched Philip
KJV: of the Lord caught away Philip,
INT: [the] Spirit of [the] Lord carried away Philip
Acts 23:10 V-ANA
GRK: στράτευμα καταβὰν ἁρπάσαι αὐτὸν ἐκ
NAS: to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring
KJV: and to take him by force from among
INT: troop having gone down to take by force him from
2 Corinthians 12:2 V-APP-AMS
GRK: θεὸς οἶδεν ἁρπαγέντα τὸν τοιοῦτον
NAS: such a man was caught up to the third
KJV: such an one caught up to
INT: God knows having been caught up such a one
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2 Corinthians 12:4 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ὅτι ἡρπάγη εἰς τὸν
NAS: was caught up into Paradise and heard
KJV: How that he was caught up into
INT: that he was caught up to
1 Thessalonians 4:17 V-FIP-1P
GRK: σὺν αὐτοῖς ἁρπαγησόμεθα ἐν νεφέλαις
NAS: and remain will be caught up together
KJV: [and] remain shall be caught up together
INT: with them will be caught away in [the] clouds
Jude 1:23 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: ἐκ πυρὸς ἁρπάζοντες οὓς δὲ
NAS: save others, snatching them out of the fire;
KJV: fear, pulling [them] out of
INT: out of fire snatching [them] others moreover
Revelation 12:5 V-AIP-3S
GRK: σιδηρᾷ καὶ ἡρπάσθη τὸ τέκνον
NAS: and her child was caught up to God
KJV: her child was caught up unto God,
INT: iron and was caught away the child
This word “harpázō” means to “snatch away” or to “take by force.” It indicates a sudden, immediate, even
violent action. It’s used of the apostle Paul being “snatched away” to the third heaven, and it is used of
Philip being “translated” from Samaria to another location. Philip was literally taken from one place on
earth and was placed at another place on earth. The location is not specified in the word “harpázō,” just
the act of “snatching away” is. Jesus was “snatched away” to above the heavens when he ascended.
When the Greek of I Thessalonians was translated into Latin, the Latin word “raptus” was used. “Rapture”
is a transliteration of “raptus”. It also means “to snatch away.” Either word can be used to accurately
describe the same event which we shall now examine.
The “Rapture” is referenced in the following section of Scripture.
 I Thessalonians 4:12-18 (KJV) – But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
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Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek: “harpazo,” Latin: “raptus,”
“snatched away”] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The Concordant Literal Translation follows.
 I Thessalonians 4:12-18 (CLT) – Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning
those who are reposing, lest you may sorrow according as the rest, also, who have no expectation.
For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, will God,
through Jesus, lead forth together with Him.
For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the
presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose,
for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of
the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first.
Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away [Greek:
“harpazo,” Latin: “raptus,” “snatched away”] together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord.
So that, console one another with these words.
In the King James Version of I Thessalonians 4:17, it is translated “will be caught away.” The proper
translation is in the Concordant Literal Translation as “snatched away.” The destination of those snatched
away is then given to be “in [the] clouds” and “in the air.” This is obviously not on earth. We are noting this
for further discussion as we proceed. At some point in time, those saints who have already died and those
who are alive at that exact time will be “snatched away” to meet the Lord Jesus Christ “in the air.”
This next section of Scripture in I Thessalonians drills down on the timing of this wonderous event.
 I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (KJV) – But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I
write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail
upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an
helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
The Concordant Literal Translation follows.
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 I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (CLV) – Now concerning the times and the eras, brethren, you have no need
to be written to,
for you yourselves are accurately aware that the day of the Lord is as a thief in the night -- thus is it
coming!
Now whenever they may be saying "Peace and security," then extermination is standing by them
unawares, even as a pang over the pregnant, and they may by no means escape.
Now you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may be overtaking you as a thief,
for you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.
Consequently, then, we may not be drowsing, even as the rest, but we may be watching and be
sober.
For those who are drowsing are drowsing at night, and those who are drunk are drunk at night.
Yet we, being of the day, may be sober, putting on the cuirass of faith and love, and the helmet, the
expectation of salvation,
for God did not appoint us to indignation, but to the procuring of salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ,
Who died for our sakes, that, whether we may be watching or drowsing, we should be living at the
same time together with Him.
Wherefore, console one another and edify one the other, according as you are doing also.
Notice the “we” and “them” pronouns. Two separate groups of people are being discussed – believers in
the current administration of God’s government and unbelievers. Paul, of course, is speaking to the saints
– believers (“we,” “us”).
The companion text is found in I Corinthians 15. In this passage, Paul reveals a mystery, or “secret” that
had never been revealed before. Since it had never been revealed before, it absolutely cannot be found in
any Scripture that pre-dates this revelation to the apostle Paul.
 I Corinthians 15:51-58 (KJV) – Behold, I shew you a mystery [Greek: “musterion,” “secret”]; We
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in
victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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The Greek word “musterion” is transliterated (not translated) into the English “mystery.” It should be
translated as “secret.” That is what the Greek word means. Once a secret is revealed, it is no longer a
secret. There is nothing “mysterious” about this secret; it was just not revealed until God wanted it to be.
The Concordant Literal Version follows:
 I Corinthians 15:51-58 (CLV) – Lo! a secret [Greek: “musterion,” “secret”] to you am I telling! We
all, indeed, shall not be put to repose, yet we all shall be changed,
in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump. For He will be trumpeting, and the dead
will be roused incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality.
Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be
putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death
by Victory.
Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?
Now the sting of Death is sin, yet the power of sin is the law.
Now thanks be to God, Who is giving us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So that, my beloved brethren, become settled, unmovable, superabounding in the work of the
Lord always, being aware that your toil is not for naught in the Lord.
Facts About the Snatching Away
We notice the following facts about this event:
1) At some point in time, the Lord shall return to the earth’s atmosphere (“in the clouds,” “in the air”).
2) The Lord himself will “shout” a command with his own voice (“the voice of the Chief Messenger”).
3) The “trumpet of God” shall sound.
4) The dead in Christ rise from the dead first.
5) Those saints who are alive at that exact moment will be snatched away together with them.
6) The meeting will be “in the clouds” and “in the air.”
7) The saints will receive a “spiritual,” “celestial” body – being changed in an instant.
8) The saints shall always be with the Lord from that moment on.
9) We are to comfort or console one another with these words.
10) We are to labor in the Lord unfalteringly, because we have such hope.
Paul introduces this section as coming from the Lord himself – “For this we are saying to you by the word
of the Lord…” Paul had previously taught them the coming of the Lord from the prophets of Israel. Now he
was adjusting the saints to this new revelation that came directly from the Lord. To introduce this new
revelation, Paul deliberately tells them it is not from him, but from the Lord.
The TIMING of this event (the Rapture, or our “snatching away” is further delineated in II Thessalonians
chapter 2 and is referenced in II Thessalonians 5.
 II Thessalonians 2:1-15 (KJV) – Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
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That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as
from us, as that the day of Christ [“day of the Lord”*] is at hand.
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Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling
away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as
God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken
out of the way.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,
and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the
love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God
hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of
the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by
word, or our epistle.
* KJV has “the day of Christ” but the oldest manuscripts have “the day of the Lord” as in the Revised
Version. This is in harmony with all the textual critics Griesbach, Lachmann, Tishendorf, Tregelles and Hort.
“The day of Christ is used twice and refers to the rapture event when we are “gathered together unto him”
while the Day of the Lord is connected with the Lord’s return to the earth, as prophesied in the Law and
Prophets, to judge the world. The two places where “the Day of Christ” are used follow.
 Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ [texts read “Christ Jesus”]:
 Philippians 2:14-16 – Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked
and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain,
neither laboured in vain.
The Concordant Literal Version of the section we are on in II Thessalonians is as follows.
 II Thessalonians 2:1-15 (CLV) – 1 Now we are asking you, brethren, for the sake of the presence of
our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to Him,
that you be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be alarmed, either through spirit, or
through word, or through an epistle as through us, as that the day of the Lord is present.
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No one should be deluding you by any method, for, should not the apostasy be coming first and
the man of lawlessness be unveiled, the son of destruction,
who is opposing and lifting himself up over everyone termed a god or an object of veneration, so
that he is seated in the temple of God, demonstrating that he himself is God?
Do you not remember that, still being with you, I told you these things?
And now you are aware what is detaining, for him to be unveiled in his own era.
For the secret of lawlessness is already operating. Only when the present detainer may be coming
to be out of the midst,
then will be unveiled the lawless one (whom the Lord Jesus will despatch with the spirit of His
mouth and will discard by the advent of His presence),
whose presence is in accord with the operation of Satan, with all power and signs and false
miracles
and with every seduction of injustice among those who are perishing, because they do not receive
the love of the truth for their salvation.
And therefore God will be sending them an operation of deception, for them to believe the
falsehood,
that all may be judged who do not believe the truth, but delight in injustice.
Now we ought to be thanking God always concerning you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, seeing
that God prefers you from the beginning for salvation, in holiness of the spirit and faith in the truth,
into which He also calls us through our evangel, for the procuring of the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Consequently, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us,
whether through word or our epistle.
The Timing of the Snatching Away
We notice the following facts about the timing of the snatching away:
1) The Day of the Lord does not commence until the body of Christ is snatched away to meet the Lord
in the clouds, in the air.
2) The Day of the Lord will be apparent because the apostasy will come first, and the man of
lawlessness will be unveiled.
3) This man of lawlessness is being “detained” and won’t be revealed until we are in “his own era.”
This is different from the era we are currently in which is the era of the grace of God. “His own era”
is that of judgment.
4) This man the Lord Jesus will dispatch with the spirit of His mouth and will discard by the advent of
His presence – Jesus has to come to the earth to do this.
5) God prefers the saints from the beginning for salvation – not for wrath.
6) When they (unbelievers) may be saying "Peace and security," then extermination is standing by
them unawares, even as a pang over the pregnant, and they may by no means escape; but now
you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may be overtaking you as a thief. This has to be
before even “the Great Tribulation” which precedes “the Day of the Lord” wherein God’s wrath is
revealed from heaven. There will be no “peace and safety” during the Great Tribulation or during
the Wrath of God. If the rapture occurs at the mid-point (3 ½ years) of the 7-year tribulation to
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come, it will not be at a time of peace and safety! Chaos will have come upon the earth at that
time.
7) Those not snatched away “do not believe the truth, but delight in injustice.”
The apostle Paul calls the snatching away a “pre-expectation” in Ephesians.
 Ephesians 1: 12 (CLV) – “that we should be for the laud of His glory, who are pre-expectant in the
Christ.”
It’s called a “pre-expectation” because it precedes Christ’s return to Israel and was unannounced before it
was revealed to the apostle Paul. This is “the promise in Christ” that is jointly shared by both Jew and
Gentile in the body of Christ (Ephesians 3:6).
The Body of Christ is Separate from Israel
The body of Christ is not and never will be the nation of Israel. Israel rejected the Lord Jesus in his personal
ministry and they also rejected him in the book of Acts after his resurrection. Because of this, their
Kingdom has been “held in abeyance until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in” (Romans 11:25).
 Romans 11:25 – For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye
should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness
of the Gentiles be come in.
The reason for all the “views” of Christ’s second coming is because of the failure to recognize the different
“administrations” in God’s Word. It’s really very easy to sort out which “view” is correct when you rightly
divide God’s Word (II Timothy 2:15) as to the “administrations.” A “administration” is a period of God’s
rule, distinguished from other administrations. Before the written Law was given to Israel, they were not
under it. When it was given, they were made subject to it. It is the change of administration that effected
this.
When Israel rejected the resurrected Lord Jesus during the Pentecostal Administration (during the period
covered by the book of Acts), their Kingdom was held in abeyance. At that time, the Administration of the
Secret began. That is when Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians were written. These epistles reveal and
expound upon the Secret of Christ and the Administration of the Secret. This is the administration during
which we live until our Lord’s return and our gathering together unto him at the “snatching away” or
“rapture.”
During this period of time, God is not dealing with Israel but with the Gentiles and only a small remnant of
Israel. Those are coming into the body of Christ and are no longer Jew nor Gentile, but are “of the church
of God.” This change in identity removes them from the promises given to Israel to the promise in Christ
given to the apostle Paul, which is “the Rapture” or “the snatching away.”
The present-day church, the body of Christ was not the subject of prophecy and cannot be found
anywhere in the Law and the Prophets (the Old Testament), in the Four Accounts of our Lord (the Gospels)
or in the book of Acts until we get to the 13th chapter when Paul is severed to go unto the Gentiles. That
was the start of “the body of Christ” which was separate from Israel.
The body of Christ is a “new creation” in Christ Jesus.
 II Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new.
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The body of Christ is also the start of “the new humanity” in Christ as revealed in Ephesians.
 Ephesians 2:11-16 – Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are
called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
for to make in himself of twain one new man [one new humanity in Christ], so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity
thereby
God deals with his church, the body of Christ, separately from the nation of Israel. He removes the church
from the earth before the Day of the Lord begins. Just as He saved the 8 people from Noah’s family on the
ark before the deluge, he will save his blessed church from that terrible Day of the Lord to come. The
rapture of the saints is the event that takes place on that sacred day of redemption for the body of Christ.
The Saints’ Blessed, Glorious Hope
The snatching away, or the rapture, is the culminating event of the Administration of the Secret, during
which we presently live. In this event, Christ raises those who have died in Christ (as believers in other
words) and those who are alive at that instant in time to meet him in the air. He will give them
incorruptible, immortal bodies that are spiritual and celestial, suited for life in the celestial realm. That
body is like Jesus’ glorified body.
I Corinthians 15:
 Philippians 3:20,21 – For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a
Savior also, the Lord, Jesus Christ,
Who will transfigure the body of our humiliation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord
with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself.
The companion text to I Thessalonians 4:13-18 is found in I Corinthians 15 as follows.
 I Corinthians 15:42-58 – Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is
roused in incorruption.
It is sown in dishonor; it is roused in glory. It is sown in infirmity; it is roused in power.
It is sown a soulish body; it is roused a spiritual body.
If there is a soulish body, there is a spiritual also. Thus it is written also, The first man, Adam,
"became a living soul:" the last Adam a vivifying Spirit.
But not first the spiritual, but the soulish, thereupon the spiritual.
The first man was out of the earth, soilish; the second Man is the Lord out of heaven.
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Such as the soilish one is, such are those also who are soilish, and such as the Celestial One, such
are those also who are celestials.
And according as we wear the image of the soilish, we should be wearing the image also of the
Celestial.
Now this I am averring, brethren, that flesh and blood is not able to enjoy an allotment in the
kingdom of God, neither is corruption enjoying the allotment of incorruption.
Lo! a secret to you am I telling! We all, indeed, shall not be put to repose, yet we all shall be
changed,
in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump. For He will be trumpeting, and the dead
will be roused incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality.
Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be
putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death
by Victory.
Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?
Now the sting of Death is sin, yet the power of sin is the law.
Now thanks be to God, Who is giving us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So that, my beloved brethren, become settled, unmovable, superabounding in the work of the Lord
always, being aware that your toil is not for naught in the Lord.
The believer’s “blessed hope” refers to all God has promised to His church, which is the body of Christ and
focusses on his return. It includes:
1) Our gathering together unto him at the rapture, or “the snatching away” before the Day of the Lord
and the Wrath of God.
2) Our change from soulish to incorruptible, immortal, spiritual, an d celestial bodies suited for life in
the celestial realm.
3) Rewards for faithful living and service, or the withholding of rewards for failing to live up to God’s
standards and for not building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ as laid by Paul the apostle.
4) Our citizenship in the celestial realm, not on earth.
5) Our reigning with Christ in His celestial Kingdom (these functions only go to those who “endure”
now during the present Administration.
6) Our “job” during the next two eons: To be displayed as the gems of God’s grace to the
principalities, powers, mights and dominions – to the spiritual rulers on high – with the purpose to
bring them back into God’s fold (to reconcile them to God through Christ).
7) Our participation in judging man and spiritual messengers (or angels) at the Great White Throne.
These are the realities God will cause to happen that give us “hope” in this present evil world. By focusing
on what will be as promised by God, the believer can stand strong, always toiling in the work of the Lord,
no matter what obstacles and oppressions and persecutions face them.
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Conclusions About the Rapture
The rapture, or the “snatching away” of Christians, both those who have died and those who are alive –
instantaneously as one body – is a promise given to the body of Christ. Since the body of Christ had never
been revealed, the snatching away could not have been, either. When Israel rejected the risen Christ in the
book of Acts, God held their Kingdom in abeyance and formed the new humanity by removing the division
He earlier place between Israel and the Gentiles. There could be no “new humanity” with Jews and
Gentiles divided. That division was caused by God Himself to achieve His Master Plan of Redemption, and
was removed by Him in accord with His counsels to the earth. In the final state, all mankind will be equal in
Christ with God being “All in all.”
The body of Christ is a completely separate entity from the church of Israel, which is called the church of
the Circumcision. God has given it a completely different allotment and jurisdiction: the celestial, or
heavenly realm. Israel will inherit the earth and the earthly jurisdiction. The body of Christ is separate, and
God completely removes it before once again dealing with Israel, which is what the Unveiling (the book of
Revelation) and the end-time sequence given by the prophets are all about.
The Unveiling shows God fulfilling His promises to the fathers of Israel, and to David. It has nothing to do
with the body of Christ. Believers will not be subject to “the mark of the beast” which comes before the
Lord’s return. They have already been judged in Christ. The body of Christ, which is the church of God, will
be resting in heaven while the Day of the Lord shakes the earth one last time. Praise God for His gracious
provision for those who believe during the Administration of the Secret!
This blessed hope which God has given to the body of Christ gives strength to each individual believer to
stand strong and endure in this evil world. At the exact moment God has already decided, Christ will return
to the atmosphere of the earth and will raise those who have died in Christ and those who are alive at that
time to himself. These will then enter the celestial realm. They will be above the angels because Christ has
been made Lord of all, and the body of Christ is “in Christ.” What privileges God has reserved for the body
of Christ! Let us learn and be thankful.
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Objections Raised Concerning the Rapture
I compiled this list of objections as I searched the Internet for people’s views concerning “the rapture.”
They are simply listed, without any intended order.
1) “The word rapture isn’t in the Bible.”
Answer: It IS in the Bible; it is in I Thessalonians 4:17 where the Greek word translated harpazo”
(translated “caught away in KJV,”) appears. The Greek word “harpazo” is translated by the Latin word,
“rapturo” in the Latin Vulgate, which means “to snatch away.” See the section on “What is the Rapture”
for details. Either word can be accurately used to refer to the same event: rapture or snatch away.
2) “Why do we think we’ll escape persecution when so many fellow Christians are being tortured or
killed for their faith?” Shouldn’t we be willing to endure the tribulation?
Answer: The promise of the rapture doesn’t mean the saints will not experience persecution. It does mean
the saints of this time period (the Administration of the Secret) will be snatched away before “the Day of
the Lord” which includes “the wrath of God.” Beware of false humility that reveals pride. Nobody should
want to go through any kind of persecution. All should be willing, but not should desire it.
3) “If you believe in the pre-tribulation rapture position, you have an escape mentality. You are
selfish and don’t care about humanity”
Answer: Beware of false humility. I imagine Noah had an “escape mentality” also – and God wanted him to
“escape.” That’s why God told Noah to build the ark. The proper “mentality” is to want what God wants. He
wants to take us off the earth before He declares war on His enemies. We should want the same.
4) This doctrine was not mentioned in any Christian literature before 1830. A young Scottish girl
named Margaret MacDonald invented it by wrongly dividing God’s Word, then John Nelson
Darby, a 19th-century theologian, further strengthened this false doctrine in 1833.
Answer: This simply is not true. The word “rapture” is “rapturo” in the Latin Vulgate. It is “harpazo” in
Greek. Since it appears in I Thessalonians 4:17, it is obviously in God’s Word from when Paul wrote I
Thessalonians. This objection does not deal with Scripture; it is a genetic fallacy. A genetic fallacy is a
failure to reason correctly; it’s when someone attempts to argue against a position by explaining the origin
of the belief instead of the essence of the position.
The pre-tribulation rapture doctrine does have precedent in the early church. See Irenaeus, Against
Heresies, 5.29.1b:
“Those nations however, who did not of themselves raise up their eyes unto heaven, nor returned
thanks to their Maker, nor wished to behold the light of truth, but who were like blind mice concealed
in the depths of ignorance, the word justly reckons “as waste water from a sink, and as the turningweight of a balance — in fact, as nothing;”(1) so far useful and serviceable to the just, as stubble
conduces towards the growth of the wheat, and its straw, by means of combustion, serves for working
gold. And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said,
“There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.”
5) The return of Jesus to the earth is the same as his return for his church – he meets the saints in
the air and immediately returns to the earth with the church – this is the First Resurrection.
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Answer: Jesus doesn’t come in the clouds, raise the Christians AND the righteous of Israel who have died
to meet him in the air, and then return to the earth with them. This objection is refuted by the fact that
the first resurrection doesn’t happen until after Jesus returns to the earth.
Jesus does not raise the dead until 75 days after his return to the earth, while those saints that are alive on
earth at his return are immediately ushered into the Kingdom Jesus inaugurates (see the section in this
book on “The Timing of the Resurrection of the Just” to see the 75-day delay from Jesus’ return to the
earth to when he raises the dead at the first resurrection).
The event Paul describes in I Thessalonians 4 is quite different. Both the dead in Christ (believers who have
died) and those alive at the timing of that event are gathered unto the Lord at once. “In a moment; in the
twinkling of an eye…” That is quicker than a half-blink. The dead are raised, an instantaneous fraction of a
second later those who are alive are changed and ascend with those who were dead to meet the Lord in
the air. In I Thessalonians 4, there is no time lag between when the saints are glorified and when the dead
are raised and glorified.
Those who are raised at the first resurrection are made “priests and kings” to the nations. There are no
priests in the body of Christ; there are apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers
(Ephesians 4:11). Those in the body of Christ, by necessity then, are excluded from the first resurrection.
No priests and kings will come out of those in the new humanity in Christ because 1) the body of Christ is
completely separate from the nation of Israel which inherits the jurisdiction of the earth, and 2) the body
of Christ inherits the jurisdiction of the celestial sphere where no nations exist.
6) There is only one “second coming” of Christ – the “rapture” adds a third coming of Christ.
Answer: This arises out of an inaccurate understanding of the progression of revelation from the Lord’s
ministry through the book of Acts into Paul’s ministry. The rapture was a secret, held from before the
creation of the earth by God. It is not revealed in any of the prophetic writings, so don’t expect to find it
there. By necessity it is “new revelation” so yes, it does at another aspect of Christ’s second coming that
was before unknown and unknowable. Because it “adds” to God’s revelation is no grounds for objection,
because that is the object of revelation – to add to our knowledge and understanding of God’s will.
“Coming” is the Greek word “parousia” and means the arrival of someone in their personal presence.
“Parousia” covers a period of time; it is not a one-time event. “Parousia” includes all the events of the endtimes scenario beginning with the Lord’s return to meet the church in the air all the way through his touchdown on the Mount of Olives for Israel. God did not reveal the first aspect of His Son’s second coming to
ensure the integrity of His plan.
7) The “rapture” is not historical, traditional church doctrine.
Answer: We ought to consult and believe God’s Word, not man’s tradition. Jesus strongly criticized the
tradition of the elders and said it made the Word of God “of none effect.” It does not matter if “the
rapture” was never taught – if it is in the Word of God, which it is, it needs to be learned, understood and
taught.
8) “It’s doomsday hysteria.”
Answer: This is a “strawman” fallacy. It’s not “doomsday” but “redemption day” when the saints shall be
fully redeemed and will be given a new, spiritual body.
9) “There isn’t a secret rapture because 1 Thessalonians 4 teaches a very public event.”
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Answer: The term “secret rapture” is misleading. The event of the rapture was kept secret by God so His
plan would not be compromised (I Corinthians 2:7,8). This is why it cannot be found in the Law and the
Prophets (the “Old Testament”) or in the Four Accounts of our Lord. Now that that secret has been
revealed, it is no longer a secret.
 I Corinthians 2:7,8 – But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [Greek: “musterion,” “secret”],
even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified
the Lord of glory.
This secret is one of 5 secrets revealed to and through the apostle Paul. See my book on “The Secret of
God Revealed” for details.
10) “Luke 17 refers to the rapture and so does Matthew 24”
Answer: The rapture was one of the secrets revealed to the apostle Paul and therefore could not have
been spoken of or written about before it was revealed. You cannot find the rapture in any writing that
predates Paul’s epistles. In both Luke 17:34-36 and Matthew 24:37-44 speak of one being “taken” and one
being “left behind.” The ones being “taken” refer to the unrighteous, not the righteous. The comparison is
to those at Noah’s time who were swept away, or “taken” by the flood. See the section in the body of this
work on “The Lord’s Second Coming as Prophesied from Ancient Times” for clarification.
11) “In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul just talks about one event. If there were two comings of Christ, this
would be the place to explain it.”
Answer: This is a miss-interpretation of I Corinthians 15. I Corinthians 15:20-28 lays out the entire
sequence of how God will make all who die in Adam alive in Christ. The details are not given, just the
outline. The subject is specifically “resurrection” and being “made alive.” All die in Adam, and all will be
made alive – beyond the reach of death – in Christ. It will be done in 3 stages – Christ the first fruits, those
who are Christ’s at Christ’s coming (“parousia”) and then the rest at the end, or the “consummation,”
which concludes the Eonian Times. For more information, see the course on The Eonian Times on my
YouTube Faith Ignitor channel: https://youtube.com/c/faithignitor. There is a playlist there for it.
See the chart on I Corinthians 15 later in this work.
12) “Jesus doesn’t teach it.”
Answer: Correct; the rapture was one of the secrets revealed to the apostle Paul and therefore could not
have been spoken of or written about before it was revealed. You cannot find the rapture in any writing
that predates Paul’s epistles. However Jesus does teach it because he revealed it to the apostle Paul as
recorded in I Thessalonians 4 and in I Corinthians 15.
13) The resurrection of the dead is going to happen when Jesus returns. This is when the great white
throne of judgment will occur (Revelation 20), and when the sheep will be separated from the
goats (Matthew 25).
Answer: Incorrect. The resurrection of the dead (the just dead, the first resurrection) occurs 75 days after
Jesus returns to the earth. The saints that are alive are admitted into the Kingdom before the dead are
raised; but in I Thessalonians 4, both the dead and alive saints are “caught up together” to meet the Lord
in the clouds, in the air. The Great White Throne judgment does not occur until 1,000 years after the sheep
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and the goats judgment recorded in Matthew 25 (the judgment of the nations). The sheep and the goats
judgment is not the final judgment.
14) The trumpet of God is the same as the 7th trumpet in the book of Revelation, and it is called “the
last trumpet” so there cannot be two separate events with the same trumpet. There can only be
one “last trump.”
Answer: The “trumpet of God” in I Corinthians 15:52 and also in I Thessalonians 4:16, and the 7th trumpet
in Revelation 11:15 cannot be the same trumpets. The two trumpets may be similar, but they are not
identical. The 7th trumpet sounds all the time the 7 vials of God’s wrath is poured out on the earth, and
there is no resurrection then. Christ has not even returned at that point in the end-time scenario. The 7th
trumpet in the book of Revelation sends the wrath of God upon the earth through the 7 bowls or vials and
is called “the third woe.” This is not a celebratory trumpet of victory for the saints, but a trumpet sounding
judgment of the world!
Regarding the objection that there cannot be more than one “last trump,” the Scriptures disagree. There
were many trumpets for various purposes in the Old Testament. The “last trumpet” is the last one in a
series, but there can be more than one series. The last trump can also be the first and the last if there is
only one. See the section on “The Timing of the Resurrection of the Just” for more details.
15) There is only one final judgment, so there is only one resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
All will appear before the Great White Throne.
Answer: Those who raise this objection simply cannot – or refuse to – read what is written. There is a
1,000-year gap between the first resurrection and the final resurrection in the book of Revelation. It is
undeniable. These are the same people who try to convince us there will be no Millennial Kingdom of
Christ that lasts 1,000 years – they have been deceived into believing we are living in the Millennium now!
Yet none of the visions given to us of the glorious Millennium are in sight now.
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Comparison of the Trump of the Rapture and the 7th Trumpet
Element
The last trumpet of
I Thessalonians 4:16 and
I Thessalonians 15:52
The 7th trumpet of
Revelation 11:15
Sounded by:
The “Chief Messenger” Christ
An angel
Sounded when:
Before the Day of the Lord
During the Day of the Lord
Heard by:
Only the “body of Christ” saints,
dead and alive
Not specified
Term used:
“…the trump of God” This is
“The 7th angel sounded his
associated with the voice of the
trumpet” which is “the third
Chief Messenger (Christ). Christ
woe”— no resurrection occurs.
both blows the trumpet and
issues the command to “come up
here.”
The triggered action/event:
The saints of the body of Christ
are immediately snatched away
and changed; dead and alive in
Christ are the only ones included.
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The 7 vials of God’s wrath are
poured out on the earth. The
resurrection of the just (the first
or “former” resurrection” does
not happen for quite a while
after the vials end.
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Comparison of The Rapture with Christ’s Return to the Earth
Element
The Rapture
Christ’s Return to the Earth
When it occurs
Before the tribulation
Immediately after the tribulation
Location of the Appearance
of Christ
In the clouds, in the air
Mount of Olives; splits mountain
in two on touchdown
Who is raised
The entire body of Christ; both
dead and living
None are raised until 75 days
after the Lord’s return. Then, the
righteous dead (Israel and
Gentile proselytes from all ages
outside the Administration of the
Secret)
Allotment (inheritance)/
jurisdiction
The celestial realm (heaven)
The earth
Body received
Celestial, spiritual;
required to live in the celestial
realm
Earthly but powerful;
Required to live in the terrestrial
realm
Citizenship
The celestial realm (heaven)
The earth
Job
Displayed as the gems of God’s
Priests and kings to the nations –
grace; reconcile (through Christ) baptize and disciple the nations
the errant messengers (angels) in
the celestial realm
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Order of Events of our Lord’s Second Coming
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Testing the Various “Views” of the Second Coming of
Christ with the Scriptures
I listed the various “views” of the second coming of Christ in the first chapter. Here we will compare them
with Scripture to see which is taught by God’s Word.
First of all, covering the entire end-time period we have:
1) Premillennialism
The Lord will return for the body of Christ before he inaugurates his Millennial Kingdom.
Is this view valid? YES. God pulls the body of Christ, a separate entity from Israel, from the earth
before the Day of the Lord even begins. God removes His ambassadors of peace before He visits His
wrath upon the earth.
2) Postmillennialism
The Lord will return for the body of Christ after the church on earth reigns for 1,000 years.
Is this view valid? NO. Those who think the body of Christ is reigning on the earth now are blind to
the apostacy in Christendom at large. Man will never solve the earth’s problems and judge in
righteousness on the earth. Christ must return to set things right. The entire purpose of this third
“evil” eon, in which Satan is “the god of this eon” is to prove man cannot judge justly.
3) Amillennialism
Amillennialism teaches that from the ascension of Christ in the first century until His second coming
(there is no rapture with this view) both good and evil will increase in the world as God’s kingdom
parallels Satan’s kingdom. When Jesus Christ returns the end of the world will occur with a general
resurrection and general judgment of all people. It is essentially a spiritualization of the
kingdom prophecies.
Is this view valid? NO. This view spiritualizes the Scriptures and causes all kinds of contradictions
within it. There is not “one general resurrection and general judgment of all people” as evidenced
by the several judgments of different groups of people revealed in God’s Word. All those
judgments cannot be amalgamated into one and still preserve the integrity of God’s Word.
Then, regarding the Rapture itself people teach:
6) Pre-tribulation rapture
The Lord will return and gather the body of Christ to himself, both dead and alive, before he
returns to the earth for Israel. In this view, both the tribulation (the first 3 ½ years) and “the great
tribulation” (the last 3 ½ years) and the wrath of God (which occurs during the last 3 ½ years) occur
after the body of Christ is removed from the earth.
Is this view valid? YES. The rapture or “snatching away” is the “pre-expectation” referred to in
Ephesians 1: 12 (CLV) – “that we should be for the laud of His glory, who are pre-expectant in the
Christ.” God removes His ambassadors before He declares war on the nations. This is in accord with
God’s grace in the Administration of the Secret now current.
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7) Mid-tribulation rapture
The Lord will return for the body of Christ half-way (after 3 ½ years) during the 7-year period
spoken of in the book of Revelation. This view states the body of Christ will go through “the
tribulation” which is defined as the first 3 ½ years of the antichrist’s reign, but will be removed
when the antichrist reneges on the 7-year covenant signed with Israel.
Is this view valid? NO. The body of Christ is not found in the book of Revelation at all. It is taken up
before the 7-year covenant is even confirmed.
8) Pre-wrath rapture
The Lord will return for the body of Christ half-way through the last 3 ½ years of the 7-year period
spoken of in the book of Revelation.
Is this view valid? NO. The body of Christ is saved from the day of wrath of God Almighty.
9) Post-tribulation rapture
The Lord will return for both the body of Christ and for Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation
(also called, “the time of Jacob’s trouble”), after the wrath of God.
Is this view valid? NO. Post-tribulation places the rapture by necessity after the wrath of God,
which the body of Christ is saved from. The body of Christ must be snatched away first, for the
church is saved from “the day of wrath of God Almighty.”
10) No rapture at all
One event, the Resurrection of the Just, will occur when the Lord returns to the earth for both the
church which is his body, and for Israel; both at the same time. There is one general resurrection
and one general judgment, both at the Great White Throne.
Is this view valid? NO. At the rapture, both the dead and the living believers are gathered together
unto the Lord at the same time. When Christ returns to the earth for Israel, the living are judged
and the righteous saved, but the righteous dead are not raised for another 75 days.
The Scriptural conclusion is that “pre-millennialism” and the “pre-tribulation rapture” are accurate
according to God’s written Word. The Scriptures will not fit together under any other scenario. It’s time for
those who teach about “the end times” to humble themselves under the truth of God’s Word.
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Supplemental Materials
In this section, additional studies are provided that fit the main topic of this book, which is the Lord’s
return. The following studies are available:
When Did the Body of Christ Begin?
Born Again Versus a New Creation
The Bride and the Body of Christ
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When Did the Body of Christ Begin?
It’s commonly taught that the current-day joint-body of Christ as described in Ephesians began on the
day of Pentecost. For that to be true, the Administration of the Secret would also have to have started
on that day. By definition, the joint-body of Christ is made up of a remnant of Jews and all Gentiles
who believe, and there is no distinction between them. This is not the case in the book of Acts. From
Israel’s inception through the book of Acts, Israel has preference over the Gentiles.
 Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans was written in 57 AD when Paul concluded the second phase of his ministries (Acts 13:2, as
priest and apostle to the Gentiles, preaching justification through faith alone) and was beginning his
third phase (starting at Acts 19:20, as apostle, preaching the Conciliation, peace with God and direct
access to Him). Even at that point in time, Jews were “first.” Paul didn’t go to the synagogues first out
of courtesy. He had to because of the covenant promises regarding the Kingdom given to Israel.
 Romans 15:8-33 – Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth
of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will
confess to you among the Gentiles, and sing unto your name.
And again he says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.
And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and laud him, all you people.
And again, Isaiah says, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the
Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Gentiles could become proselytes of Israel, but they could not approach God on their own.
 Romans 15:15,16 – Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some
way, as reminding you, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that
the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
In verse 16, Paul refers to his priestly function in mediating between the Gentiles and God. Paul, an
Israelite, was then serving as a priest. The word for “minister” above is a liturgical term that is foreign
to the ministries in the body of Christ since the revelation of the Administration of the Secret. Gentiles
had to come to God through a priest of Israel at that time.
 Romans 15:26,27 – For it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain
contribution for the poor saints who are at Jerusalem.
It has pleased them greatly; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made
partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in material things.
Gentiles were “debtors” to Israel. Spiritual blessings were to come to the Gentiles through Israel, and
the Gentiles were to serve Israel in material things in return. This is not equality. The body of Christ in
the Administration of the Secret is not indebted to Israel in any way.
Non-proselyte Gentiles were not even reached until the thirteenth chapter of the book of Acts. Sergius
Paulus was the first Gentile “idolater” to be saved. Israel had preeminence over Gentiles all the way
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through the book of Acts. This proves conclusively that the joint-body of Christ of the Administration of
the Secret did not begin on the day of Pentecost.
The Pentecostal Administration began on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was strictly a Jewish holiday
and the Holy Spirit was not offered to the world at large – it was offered only to Israel. The Pentecostal
Commission given to the twelve apostles by the Lord Jesus was accompanied by Jesus’ command to
begin at Jerusalem, then to go to all Judea, Samaria, and to the limits of the land of Palestine. They
rejected Peter, they killed Stephen and they killed the Apostle James, the brother of John. All these
rejections were in the land of Palestine.
Gentiles were not in view at that time. Only Israel and proselytes were. It was not until the chief
leaders of Israel rejected the message of the Holy Spirit throughout Palestine that the door opened to
the Gentiles through the ministry of the apostle Paul.
Saul of Tarsus was introduced at the stoning of Stephen. With that rejection, God started to show how
He had prepared from the beginning of time to reach the Gentiles through Israel’s defection. Paul’s
conversion in Acts 9 was set as a pattern of how God will save all His enemies. Paul was Jesus’ chief
enemy, but Jesus saved him. The chief persecutor of the church now became its most powerful asset.
We must distinguish between “the body of Christ” and “the joint-body of Christ.” Because of Israel’s
preference, equality was impossible when the body of Christ was first formed. The joint-body of Christ
was announced later with the revelation of the Secret of Christ and the Administration of the Secret in
Ephesians.
Let’s first discuss the body of Christ as it was originally formed and governed.
The body of Christ is the church of which Christ is Head. The phrase, “body of Christ” is never used in
The Four Accounts of our Lord, called “The 4 Gospels,” nor does it appear in the book of Acts or in any
of the Circumcision epistles. It is exclusive to the Pauline epistles. There’s a reason for that.
We read about the body of Christ throughout the Pauline epistles, most notably in I Corinthians twelve
and Ephesians one. I Corinthians was written toward the end of Paul’s second phase of ministry after
he had been “severed” from Israel to go to the nations with the Gospel of the Uncircumcision,
preaching justification by faith (the first 4 chapters of Romans).
 I Corinthians 12:12-18 – For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of
that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether
we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the
body?
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the
body?
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where
would be the smelling?
But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him.
This was the first phase, the infant phase, of the more mature body of Christ that now exists. The
celestial inheritance was not yet announced, and equality between Jew and Gentile was also unknown.
The young body of Christ began during the Pentecostal Administration, so the “powers of the age to
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come” were in full display to announce the impending Kingdom of Israel on earth. Paul’s ministry to
the Gentiles began a separate dispensation of God’s governmental dealings with man that ran
concurrently with the Pentecostal Administration from Acts 13:2 through the end of the book of Acts.
That concurrent administration can be called the Adjustment Administration because during it God
adjusts His revealed will to reveal even more of it. See my book on “The Administrations and
Dispensations In God’s Word” which is available from LiveFaith.TV.
So, when did the body of Christ begin?
The body of Christ began with Paul’s severance to the nations in Acts 13, verses 1 and 2. Though all
members made up one body, all members were not equal; Jews still had preference. But that would
change with the Administration of the Secret. The present-day body of Christ supersedes the infant
body of Christ that formed during the latter part of the Acts period. The two are not identical.
When the Conciliation was made known at the start of the third phase of Paul’s ministries, his priestly
function ceased. Only the High Priest Jesus, the ascended Christ, was needed. From that time, which
was Acts 19:21 on, Gentiles could approach God directly through Christ. Paul’s priestly function ended
at that time. But Jews still had political supremacy over the Gentiles. The Conciliation could never be
accomplished in the physical realm while Jews had preference over Gentiles. Jew and Gentile could not
become one when God had put Israel as head of the nations.
At the end of the book of Acts, in chapter 28:28, Israel’s political supremacy was put on hold.
Sometime during the two years that Acts 28:30 and 31 cover, the Secret of Christ and the
Administration of the Secret were revealed to the apostle Paul. It was revealed at that time that “in
Spirit” Jews and Gentiles were on equal standing with each other. The sphere of the church changed
from the terrestrial to the celestial. This is why the Secret of Christ was made known. His heavenly
reign had to be made known since the body of Christ was to inherit the celestial realm.
In heaven, the celestials, Jews have no promises and no superiority. God could not and would not go
back on His Word to Israel regarding their jurisdiction of the earth, but there was no such promise
regarding heaven. God has given jurisdiction of the celestial realm to Christ. The church is Christ’s
body. The church will have jurisdiction over the principalities and powers and mights and dominions in
the celestial realm.
Summary
So, God created a completely new church, the body of Christ with Christ as Head when Paul was
severed out from the Circumcision to go to the Gentiles (Acts 13:1,2). That infant church was endued
with power from on high and were given the gifts and manifestations of the spirit to announce the
impending Kingdom of God on earth. They knew nothing of the heavenly inheritance, only that Paul
told them they would meet the Lord in the air (not heaven.) At that time Gentiles still had to approach
God through a priest, in which office Paul served, and they were subservient to Gentiles but were not
proselytes.
In Acts 19, Israel’s priestly function failed. God announced the Conciliation, making it possible for
Gentiles to approach Him directly. Paul’s priestly function ceased but his apostolic commission
continued. Still, nothing was made known of a heavenly inheritance, or of the equality of Jews and
Gentiles on the political level in this world. All in the body of Christ were equal on a spiritual level in
terms of access to God, but in the world, Israel still held political sway.
When Israel rejected Paul’s final witness to them in Acts 28, the Kingdom Message was withdrawn and
the announcement of the Secret of Christ and the Administration of the Secret was made known
through the prophetic writings of the apostle Paul in Ephesians. Starting then, God declared Jews and
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Gentiles equal. The infant body of Christ was grandfathered into the new joint-body of Christ and were
told what their inheritance was: jurisdiction of the celestial realm. With this revelation came the
announcement of the new humanity in Christ Jesus. Only the new creation in Christ had been
announced before. Jews and Gentiles were not equal then, so the new humanity – where they are
equal in every way – could not be announced. That had to wait for Ephesians after Israel’s rejection.
God has given the joint-body of Christ “all spiritual blessings in the celestials in Christ,” for this body is
in the risen exalted Christ, who is Lord over all. Christ is Head over all to the church.
 Ephesians 1:3-6 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to
the good pleasure of his will,
To the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he has made us accepted in the beloved.
 Ephesians 1:19-32 – And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power,
Which he performed 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 age, but also in that which is to come:
And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills All in all.
Let’s read the declaration of the Administration of the Secret currently in force.
 Ephesians 3:1-12 – For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me toward you:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,
By which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his
holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in
Christ by the gospel:
Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the
effectual working of his power.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among
the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
And to make all men see what is the plan [Greek: “oikonomia,” administration] of the mystery
[secret], which from the beginning of the ages has been hid in God, who created all things by
Jesus Christ:
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To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by
the church the manifold wisdom of God,
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him.
And here is a passage that sums up most of what I’ve presented regarding the Circumcision and the
uncircumcision.
 Ephesians 2:11-22 – Therefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who
are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition
between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in
ordinances; to make in himself of two one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity
thereby:
And came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that were near.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore you are no more strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints,
and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief cornerstone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto a holy temple in the Lord:
In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
The young body of Christ transitioned into the new joint-body of Christ and became the new humanity
of the new creation. The body of Christ began at the time of Acts 13:1,2. The joint-body of Christ began
at the time of Acts 28:30,31 (the years Paul was a prisoner in Rome, about 60-62 AD) with the
revelation of the Administration of the Secret.
The joint-body of Christ is being built together for “a habitation of God through the Spirit.” This is a
truly amazing fact. God is now living in and through His people. Eventually at the Consummation, God
will be All in all His created beings, and all mankind will be part of the new humanity created in Christ
Jesus.
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Born Again Versus a New Creation
It’s commonly taught that the second chapter of the book of Acts records “the birth of the Christian
Church” on the day of Pentecost. This is not only inaccurate, but it also misses the entire purpose for
which God inspired the book to be written. When we study the book of Acts outside the lens of
traditional teaching, we see its content completely negates this claim. In fact, the first Gentile who was
not already a proselyte is not even reached until the thirteenth chapter of the book!
“The birth of the Christian church” is an erroneous concept. The phrase is used to refer to the
inauguration of the now-current church of which Christ is Head, commonly called “The Christian
Church.” However, this church, of which is called the body of Christ, was not “born.” I’ll show this
section that the present church is a “new creation in Christ,” not a new birth or a regeneration. The
difference is not trivial by any means. We must note things that are distinctly different in God’s Word
and not combine things that look similar in an attempt to harmonize the whole.
It’s essential to accurately use the words God uses in His Word as He uses them and to apply them to
what He applies them to. We have to be careful to not interject our own terminology and thoughts and
interpretations into the text. God uses words accurately and for a reason. When we use His words
inaccurately, or substitute our own words, we change the meaning of what God said. We wrongly
divide God’s Word which results in believing and promulgating error.
In this section, I will show the distinction between a “new birth” and a “new creation” directly from
God’s Word. It’s not simply a matter of syntax or personal preference. These terms represent two
totally distinct concepts and events which are laid out clearly in God’s Word. When we use the terms
interchangeably, we end up with an impure mixture that only masks the truth and leads to confusion,
wrong doctrine and wrong practice.
I myself though I was a “born again Christian” and even wrote a song about it. In fact, many of the
songs I’ve written reference being “born again.” I thought it was the spiritual power base of my new
life in Christ, but I was wrong. Not only was I wrong doctrinally, but believing it had practical
implications as well. I could not reconcile Scriptures that contradicted other Scriptures, and I was trying
to apply things meant for Israel and a different administration to my own life.
This is important to grasp. The Word of God cannot be put together without contradiction when we
interpret it wrongly. If you have even two verses of Scripture that contradict each other, how do you
resolve them? In my course on “How to Study God’s Word,” I explain there are only three places where
apparent contradictions can lie.
1) In the translation – one or more of the words under consideration have been translated wrong.
2) In the transmission – one or more of the words under consideration have been wrongly
transcribed.
3) In the understanding – the interpretation of what the words actually say has been
misconstrued.
Correcting these errors is simple but involves a bit of work. Let’s go through each of these possibilities
to learn how to handle apparent contradictions in God’s Word.
1) Translation – check the Hebrew or Greek concordances, lexicons, interlinears, and dictionaries
to verify the translation. Correct any errors that have been made.
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2) Transmission – this is solved in the same way that translation errors are solved, but other
manuscripts are consulted to notice any variations in text.
3) Understanding – check the immediate and remote contexts and compare the words, verses, or
sections of Scripture with similar subject matter. Also compare it with contrasting and different
subject matter to clarify what is actually being communicated. Note the differences and
similarities and interpret so that all Scriptures agree without forcing any of the words. Note to
whom the different sections of Scripture under consideration are written and to whom they
apply.
Let’s follow these guidelines with these terms “born again” and “a new creation” so we can understand
the distinctions and arrive at the truth God is conveying to us by these terms and who they apply to.
Born Again
The term “born again” is first used in John’s account of our Lord’s personal ministry. Jesus was talking
with Nicodemus, a Jewish ruler and teacher. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of
Israel.
 John 3:1-3 – There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher
come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the Kingdom of God.
There is much to learn from this short discussion. Let’s consider it in detail.
Nicodemus told Jesus that he recognized he was sent from God, and that he based his determination
on the miracles Jesus performed. However, he did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
The fact that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night is very significant. He was part of the ruling class of
Israel that was opposed to Jesus and wanted to eliminate him. Nicodemus didn’t want his colleagues to
see him speaking with Jesus, so he came by night. He was fearful of his fellow Jewish rulers. He was not
bold, not willing to take a stand with Jesus, so he came by night.
Nicodemus said he recognized Jesus as a man sent by God, and Jesus began to teach him. He knew
what he wanted to teach to Nicodemus. He knew Nicodemus didn’t understand this concept of being
“born again.” So, he proceeded to teach him.
 John 3: 3 – Jesus told him, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the Kingdom of God.”
Right away we have words we should question because in our English vernacular, we don’t use them in
the manner they are presented to us. What does “Verily, verily” mean and why is the word “verily”
repeated twice?
To quicken our understanding, and not guess, we use a concordance. We look up the word “Verily” and
find the verse in question. We look at the Greek word that corresponds to the English translation and
find it’s the Greek word, “amen.” This Greek word has been transliterated over into English to our
equivalent, “amen.” We use the word at the end of a prayer, and most people probably do not know
what it means. For this we can use a Greek dictionary.
“Amen” in Greek means “so be it” when it follows a statement. When we say, “amen” at the end of a
prayer, we are saying, “so be what I prayed.” We are endorsing what we said. But when the word
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precedes a statement, its meaning is slightly different. Then it means “truly” and indicates the person
making the statement has firsthand authoritative knowledge about it.
By doubling the word, “amen,” Jesus was telling Nicodemus what he was about to tell him was
absolutely the truth. There are 25 statements Jesus made that begin with “amen, amen.” Take the time
to use a Greek concordance to look them up and see what Jesus is authenticating and endorsing. This is
how we learn the Scriptures without simply reading over them.
Then Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” We
would use the word “unless” for “except” in our modern English.
There are three terms to understand in this verse: 1) born again, 2) see and 3) the Kingdom of God.
The words, “born again” are translated from the Greek word, “anothen,” which literally means, “born
from above.” In Luke’s account, the same word is used when he says…
 Luke 1:3 – It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the
very first, to write unto you in order, most excellent Theophilus
The phrase, “from the very first,” is translated from the Greek word, “anothen.” It should have been
translated “from above.” Luke tells us he had perfect understanding of all things “from above” which of
course means by divine inspiration. This is what makes what he wrote credible.
Later Jesus will explain how a person is “born again.”
The next word to consider is “see.” Without being “born again” one cannot “see” the Kingdom of God.
The word “see” here means “to perceive.” Once the Kingdom of God is established, it will be very
visible to the eye, regardless of whether one is “born again” or not. Visual sight is not meant. “See”
here means to spiritually perceive. To spiritually perceive the Kingdom of God, one must be “born of
the Spirit.” We’ll talk more about this later.
The next term we have to understand is “the Kingdom of God.” Let’s consider that title in the
immediate and remote contexts in which it appears. It’s important we understand this term in order to
rightly divide who “born again” pertains to.
In Genesis 17, God promised Abraham that He would give Abraham’s descendants a large plot of land
in Palestine. His posterity, Israel, was given a Kingdom, but was led captive into other nations because
of their sins and transgressions. They didn’t know how long they’d be banished from their Kingdom.
The prophet Isaiah cried, “How Long, Oh Lord?” The only answer he was given was, essentially,
“eventually.” God gave Israel hope that one day He would lead them back to their own land and that A
King of the line of David would reign, and under him they would rule the nations.
John the Baptist came announcing, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” When Jesus started his
ministry, he said the same thing, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” The phrase refers to the
Kingdom promised to Abraham. Its King would be from David’s seed according to the flesh, as
promised to David. What is the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God?
Matthew’s account is the only “book” in the Bible that refers to the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew
presents Jesus as Israel’s King from the seed of David according to the flesh. That’s why the genealogy
given at the beginning of Matthew traces Jesus back through King David. The content presented in
Matthew is especially given to teach about Israel’s King and the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the other accounts of our Lord’s personal ministry, Mark, Luke, and John, the same Kingdom is called
The Kingdom of God. When the term “Kingdom of Heaven” is used, the emphasis is that the Kingdom
comes down from heaven, not that it is located in heaven. It’s located on the earth with Jerusalem
designated as its capitol city. When it’s called the Kingdom of God, the emphasis is on God who is
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Sovereign over it. The Kingdom of God is over all God’s creation, not just Israel, but its earthly
representation is located on earth having Jerusalem as its capitol city.
This should arrest our attention immediately. Who was the Kingdom that Jesus would reign over
promised to? Gentiles? No, it was promised to Israel. Who was Jesus sent to – the whole world? No,
he was sent to Israel.
 Romans 15:8 – Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of
God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.
When Jesus sent his twelve apostles out to preach, he specifically to go only to “the lost sheep of the
house of Israel.” He told them not to go to the Samaritans or Gentiles. When the Syrophoenician
woman by the water well asked a favor of Jesus and addressed him by the title, “Son of David,” he
totally ignored her. She had no right to him as Son of David, only Israel did. But when she called him
Lord and indicated she recognized her position under Israel, then he blessed her by granting her
request.
The Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God, was promised to Israel. This excludes Gentiles
immediately. We see already that there is probably something wrong with saying Gentile believers are
“born again.” It would be inconsistent with “the Kingdom of God” promised to Abraham’s seed, Israel,
which is to be ruled by Israel’s King, Jesus, who is of the seed of David according to the flesh.
Gentiles had no access to God on their own but had to come through Israel to receive spiritual
blessings from God. To recompense Israel, they became Israel’s debtors. This is the situation in The
Four Accounts of our Lord and in the book of Acts before the inception of the Christian church which is
the body of Christ as described in the Pauline epistles.
Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler and teacher of the Jews, that in order for anyone to spiritually perceive
the Kingdom which God had promised to Israel, they had to be “born again.”
Nicodemus pondered what Jesus said but did not understand. He explained he was already an old man.
Surely, he couldn’t be born again! So, he asked Jesus this question.
 John 3:4-8 – Nicodemus asked him, “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the
second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.
The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell from where it
came, and where it goes: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.”
Jesus explained exactly what he was talking about. To be “born again” was to be “born of the Spirit.”
Let’s think about Jesus’ explanation.
People are born “of the flesh.” We are fleshy people. We are not born “of the Spirit,” or with the Spirit
of God. This speaks of our constitution. The spirit of man and the flesh cannot perceive the Kingdom of
God. To do that you must have the Spirit of God. Paul explains this in his first epistle to the Corinthians.
 I Corinthians 2:11 – For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is
in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
Jesus told Nicodemus that a “new birth” is needed. One must be “born of the Spirit” to perceive the
Kingdom of God. Then he described Spirit. He likened Spirit to “wind” because you cannot see the
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wind, you can only see its effects. When the wind blows you can see the leaves on the trees move; but
you cannot see the wind itself. Spirit is like the wind; you cannot see it, but you can see its effects.
Those who are “born of the Spirit” are directed by the Spirit of God, not the flesh.
Jesus also said that one has to be born of “water and the Spirit.” What does it mean to be born of
“water?” Some say it refers to the amniotic fluid in which a baby floats for nine months during
pregnancy. This is plausible, but Jesus already mentioned one must be born of “flesh” which would
include that.
Throughout the Old Testament, water is used figuratively of spiritual cleansing. Ezekiel 36:25 says, “I
will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities” (see
also Numbers 19:17–19; and Psalm 51:2,7). Nicodemus, a teacher of the law, would surely have been
familiar with the concept of physical water representing spiritual purification.
The phrase, “water and the Spirit” is a figure of speech called “synecdoche” which uses two terms to
refer to the same thing. Using two terms emphasizes the whole, and that is why a figure of speech is
used – to emphasize what is being described. To be born of water and the spirit means, literally, to be
“born of spiritual water” for cleansing. It does not refer to baptism, although baptism was the
ceremonial rite used to symbolize it.
John the baptizer said, “I baptize with water, but he [Jesus] shall baptize with holy spirit…” Water was
the symbol of what the Holy Spirit would do. Baptism, as I have shown in the body of this work, is for
cleansing, not for power. To be “born of water and of the spirit,” or “spiritual water” is for spiritual
cleansing in preparation to enter the Kingdom of God.
With this clear explanation, Nicodemus still did not understand. He thought being of the children of
Abraham was enough for entry into the Kingdom. So, he asked Jesus another question, “How can these
things be?”
Jesus lightly reproved Nicodemus at this point. He had given Nicodemus all he needed to understand
what he was talking about. Nicodemus was a teacher who was very familiar with the Scriptures that
talked about spiritual cleansing and its corresponding ceremonial cleansings.
 John 3:10,11 – Jesus answered, “Are you a Teacher of Israel, and know not these things?
Verily, verily, I say unto you, We speak what we do know, and testify what we have seen; and
you receive not our witness.”
Jesus told Nicodemus that he should have known what he was talking about. Nicodemus hadn’t yet put
the Scriptures together in his understanding. He was talking to the Messiah himself, but did not
recognize him. He only recognized Jesus was “a man sent from God.” Had he put the Scriptures of the
prophets together in his understanding, he would have known Jesus was the Messiah simply by
calculating the time the Messiah was due to arrive from Daniel’s prophesies.
The Greek word, “palingenesia” is translated “regeneration” in a number of Scriptures. It’s a renewal in
kind, and literally means “again-become” or “again-birthday.” “Palingenesia” is more accurately
translated “renaissance.” The land of Palestine will experience a “renaissance” in preparation for the
Kingdom’s inauguration. It will be transformed to be like the Garden of Eden was.
 Matthew 19:28 – And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That you who have followed
me, in the regeneration [renaissance] when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory,
you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The entire thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah describes the state of the Kingdom after the renaissance.
 Isaiah 35:1-10 – The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad for them; and the desert shall
rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
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It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be
given unto it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the
excellency of our God.
Strengthen you the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with
vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness
shall waters break forth, and streams in the desert.
And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the
habitation of jackals, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean
shall not pass over it; but it shall be for others: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err
therein.
No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up on it, it shall not be found there; but
the redeemed shall walk there:
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy
upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Nothing unclean will be allowed to enter the Kingdom. Those who enter the Kingdom must be
spiritually cleansed. That is what the “new birth” does. It spiritually cleanses people to prepare them
for entry into the Kingdom of God. Israel’s “new birth” is the spiritual counterpart of the earth’s
renaissance and prepares people to enter the Kingdom of God on earth.
Nicodemus should have known the following section of Scripture from Ezekiel which described Israel’s
regeneration. And he also should have known the next chapter of Ezekiel which teaches how God will
prepare the people of Israel so they can enter the Kingdom promised to them.
 Ezekiel 37:1-14 – The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the
Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open
valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, you know.
Again he said unto me, Prophesy to these bones, and say unto them, O you dry bones, hear the
word of the Lord.
Thus says the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you
shall live:
And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and
put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.
So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a
shaking, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them
over: but there was no breath in them.
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Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind,
Thus says the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain,
that they may live.
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and
stood up upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say,
Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off on our part.
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus says the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will
open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of
Israel.
And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and
brought you up out of your graves,
And shall put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then
shall you know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, says the Lord.
Reading this section of Scripture carefully, we can see it is not simply referring to the Resurrection of
the Just. It includes that, but it speaks of more than that. The dead, dry bones refer to the whole house
of Israel, not just those who had died.
 Ezekiel 37:11 – Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel:
behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off on our part.
To give Israel hope in the midst of their current plight, God gave Ezekiel a vision of the rebirth, or
regeneration of Israel so that they could enter the Promised Kingdom.
 Ezekiel 37:14 – And shall put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your
own land: then shall you know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, says the Lord.
Here’s another section of Scripture from Ezekiel that includes the sprinkling of water as a figure of
speech for spiritual cleansing.
 Ezekiel 36:22-39a – Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God; I do this not
for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among
the nations, where you went.
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the nations, which you have
profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord
God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring
you into your own land.
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and
from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the
stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my
judgments, and do them.
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And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will
be your God.
I will also save you from all your uncleannesses:
The spiritual counterpart of the renaissance of the Kingdom is the “new birth” of those who enter it.
God will accomplish this by putting His Spirit into them and giving them a new heart. This is what it
means to be “born again.” It cleanses those who will enter the Kingdom. It’s national in scope, not
individual.
What we read about being “born again” is made available by the “New Covenant” in Christ’s blood.
That covenant was promised to Israel. Gentiles never had a “covenant.” The Old Covenant given at
Mount Sanai was made with Israel; Gentiles were not a part of it. The New Covenant replaces the Old
Covenant and so it is also between God and Israel. It deals solely with the earth, not heaven.
When someone is born, they go through the stages of maturity to manhood. There’s a growing process
involved. Adam wasn’t born. He was formed, made and created at full maturity. Everyone from Adam
is born and goes through the stages to maturity. On the other hand, the word “creation” implies
perfection from the moment of creation.
We can see from the above that “born again,” at least in John chapter 3, applies only to Israel and
proselytes of Israel, and that it refers to God putting His Spirit in them when He places them in “their
own land” which is the Kingdom Heaven which comes down to the earth. Jesus was only reminding
Nicodemus of this truth. He was not teaching anything new or different. Nicodemus should have
known what Jesus was talking about.
 John 3:12 – If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell
you of heavenly things?
This verse is tremendously important in assigning the “new birth” to the correct group of people. Being
“born again” is an earthly thing, not a heavenly thing. The promised Kingdom of Israel is on earth, not
in heaven. Compare that to the church of the body of Christ of which we are members. We are “seated
in the heavenlies, or ‘celestials,’ in Christ.” Ours is a heavenly allotment, not an earthly one. The “new
birth” does not prepare someone to live in the celestial sphere which is heaven.
I’ll make one more note about Jesus’ teaching here in John 3. When he said, “Marvel not that I said
unto you, you must be born again,” the word “you” is in the plural, not singular. He was not referring
solely to Nicodemus but to the entire nation of Israel. “You,” plural, all Israel, “must be born again.” It’s
a national birth, not an individual birth.
Now let’s look at all the other Scriptures that use this term, “born again.”
 I Peter 1:1-3 – Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the exiles scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit,
unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be
multiplied.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy
has begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
In Peter’s first epistle, written to the Circumcision in the areas listed, he uses the phrase “born” or
“begotten” again. There are two things I want to note here.
1) Peter was the chief apostle to the Circumcision, not the uncircumcision.
I have proved that extensively through the body of this work. He addresses his epistle to, “the
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exiles” in various regions. “The exiles” are the Jewish dispersion who live among the Gentiles,
not the present-day church of which Christ is the Head. I and II Peter are Circumcision epistles.
They are written to those of the Circumcision who believe in Christ. Their content shows that
these epistles are to the “royal nation,” who are “priests.” Those phrases do not apply to the
church of Jesus Christ in the Administration of the Secret.
I and II Peter are specifically written for those who will suffer extreme persecution during the
time of Jacob’s trouble – yet future – prior to their entrance into the Kingdom of God that Jesus
will inaugurate when he returns. Many of them will die during that period of time, even as
Stephen and Peter were martyred. Applying these Scriptures to the present-day church shows
blatant disregard for “rightly dividing the Word of truth.”
2) The “born again” Peter speaks of is for the Circumcision and its proselytes. The new birth
spiritually cleanses them for entrance into the Kingdom. It’s unto “a lively hope” they had been
“begotten again” to. It’s a national cleansing that affects every individual in the nation. The
Kingdom had not and still has not yet come. During the context in which Peter speaks Jesus had
not yet returned. In I Peter, the believers Peter refers to have been “begotten again” unto
renewed hope of that impending Kingdom. It’s the resurrection of Jesus Christ that facilitated
this “begetting again” of the nation unto this lively hope.
The next verse we’ll consider is also in I Peter.
 I Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of
God, which lives and abides forever.
This verse tells us that the new birth of “of incorruptible seed,” and that the Word of God testifies to
that truth. The Spirit of God is incorruptible. The first or “former” resurrection occurs when Jesus
returns to the earth for Israel. It’s called the Resurrection of the Just. All the believers that died from
Abraham until the time of that resurrection will then be raised from the dead and will receive
incorruptible bodies. They will be raised immortal. But those who are alive at his return will continue
life with their human bodies, constituted the way they are now. Healing will be abundantly available to
keep them alive during that period.
After the Millennial Kingdom, on the New Heaven and New Earth, the Tree of Life will be available. Its
twelve fruits, one for each month, will be available to keep them in complete health at all times. This
proves that some on the New Earth still do not have incorruptible and immortal bodies at that time,
because they need something outside of themselves to sustain them. It will not be until the grand
consummation of all things that they will be made “immortal.” Those who come out of the first
resurrection, the Resurrection of the Just, however, will have incorruptible, immortal bodies on the
new earth, but they will not be suited for the celestials and they won’t be like the glorious body Christ
has. They will have to wait until the Consummation to receive that.
The giving of the Holy Spirit to the Circumcision is not permanent. They are pardoned and forgiven, but
if they act in a way that causes that pardon to be withdrawn, the Spirit is withdrawn. This was true in
David’s time, during the Law as well, for he prayed, “Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit from me” when he
sinned with Bathsheba. Believers in our period of time cannot pray that prayer.
There are other Scriptures that talk about being “born of God.”
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The Circumcision epistle of I John also refers to being “born of God.” The way the term is used, we can
see it’s a spiritual birth, not physical. It refers to the same cleansing we have been talking about under
the term, “born again.”
 I John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he
cannot sin, because he is born of God.
 I John 5:4 – For whoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that
overcomes the world, even our faith.
The Apostle John was “kept alive” until Jesus’ return, figuratively, by being transported by the Spirit to
the Day of the Lord to see the things that will transpire at that time. In a figure, he was kept alive until
the Lord returned. The epistles of I, II and III John is written to those who will survive and remain alive
during the time of Jacob’s trouble.
John’s account of our Lord’s life also refers to being born of God.
 John 1:12,13 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of
God, even to them that believe on his name:
Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Spiritually, those of the Circumcision and proselytes who believed prior to the inauguration of the body
of Christ which is his body, the present-day church, were “born from above.” Those who turned back to
the Law and tried to kill the apostle Paul and prevent the Word from going to the Gentiles had their
salvation revoked. Those be who believe during the day of God’s indignation which is “Jacob’s trouble”
will also be “born again.” The Four Accounts of our Lord and the Circumcision epistles testify to this.
The term “born again” has nothing to do with the church which is the body of Christ in the
administration in which we live. We are a “new creation.” We’ll investigate this term next.
A New Creation
It might surprise you to learn that the apostle Paul never uses the term, “born again” in his 13 epistles.
Not once. As widely as it is used today, you would think it would be all through his writings. The Word
of God is explicit in what it teaches and there’s a good reason why Paul never used the term. That’s
because those who believe during our Administration of the Secret have not been, nor will we ever be,
“born again.”
The vertical aspect of the Conciliation between God and man had already been revealed at the start of
Paul’s third phase of ministries in Acts 19, but the God-designed distinction between Israel and the
Gentiles remained in effect until Israel’s Kingdom was held in abeyance in Acts 28:28ff. The following
revelation coincides with the events around Acts 19:20.
 II Corinthians 5:14-21 – For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one
died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him
who died for them, and rose again.
Therefore from now on [summer AD 57; Acts 19:20) know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we
have known Christ after the flesh, yet from now on know we him no more.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new.
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And all things are of God, who has reconciled [Greek, katalasso: conciliated] us to himself by
Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry [dispensation] of reconciliation [Greek, katalage:
the conciliation];
That is, that God was in Christ, reconciling [Greek: katalasso, conciliating] the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of
reconciliation [Greek, katalage: conciliation].
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you on
Christ’s behalf, be reconciled [Greek: katalasso, conciliated] to God.
For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
Paul said, “…we know no man after the flesh.” Because of that, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is
a new creation.” The old distinctions between classes of people has vanished; behold, all things have
become new! This new creation in Christ is the first phase of the new creation to come. It has come to
the body of Christ spiritually already, while Israel and her proselytes must wait until well after Christ’s
return. In fact, on the New Heaven and New Earth, earthly distinctions will still be enforced. Not so
with us who are at that time citizens of heaven.
Note that the new humanity in Christ was not yet announced because Jews still had superiority over
Gentiles at that time. Only the new creation in Christ was announced.
At the close of the book of Acts, the final opportunity for Israel to believe, as a nation, was offered by
the apostle Paul in Rome. Some believed and some did not. Because the nation as a whole did not
believe, Paul issued the declaration that their Kingdom would be held in abeyance until the fullness of
the Gentiles came in (Romans 11:25). This national rejection of the testimony of the Holy Spirit about
the risen Christ closed off Israel’s supremacy over the Gentiles “for a season.” Thus, the Gospel of the
Circumcision was suspended and the Gospel of the Uncircumcision was superseded by new revelation
to the apostle Paul, in his prison epistles, about the Secret of Christ and the Administration of the
Secret.
The Secret of Christ that God revealed to the apostle Paul is recorded in Ephesians chapter 1.
 Ephesians 1:9,10 – Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good
pleasure which he has purposed in himself:
That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Never before had it been revealed that Christ would Head up all things on heaven as well as on earth.
His earthly reign was all that had been announced. Nothing about his heavenly reign was even hinted
at in the writings of the prophets. That aspect of Christ’s glories could not be revealed until Israel’s
political supremacy had been set aside.
 Romans 11:29 – For the gifts and calling of God are unchangeable [irrevocable].
God promised Israel superiority over the nations. With their Kingdom set aside temporarily, Gentiles
could not approach God. Therefore God, who is God of the Gentiles also, created a “new creation”
with new rules. But He revealed little about it at that time because of His promises to Israel.
Christ will reign over all things in heaven and earth “in the dispensation of the fullness of times.” I’ll
explain when this will occur in a moment. His Headship over all is being brought about in phases. The
first phase is Christ being made Head over all things to the church which is his body.
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 Ephesians 1:22,23 – And [God] has put all things under his [Christ’s] feet, and gave him [Christ]
to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills All in all.
A new administration was inaugurated with the rejection of the Kingdom message by Israel in the book
of Acts. This too was a secret, only revealed to the apostle Paul. This secret is part of the larger Secret
of Christ which we just read in Ephesians 1:9,10.
 Ephesians 3:1-12 – For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me toward you:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,
By which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his
holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in
Christ by the gospel:
Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the
effectual working of his power.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among
the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship [Greek: “oikanomia,” “administration”] of the
mystery [Greek: “musterion,”, “secret”], which from the beginning of the world [Greek: “aiōnōn,”
“the eons”] hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by
the church the manifold wisdom of God,
According to the eternal [Greek: “aionion,” “eonian”] purpose which he purposed in Christ
Jesus our Lord:
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him.
This revelation of the Administration of the Secret is in force until Christ returns for the church of his
body. During this period of time, all barriers between Israel and the Gentiles has been removed. Both
are equal and there are no distinctions. Three things are given in which both Israel and Gentiles share
fully.
1) Both are fellow heirs – joint heirs of a new allotment which is in heaven
2) Both are of the same body – joint members of the new humanity
3) Both are partakers of his promise in Christ – joint sharers of God’s promise in Christ through
Paul’s gospel
Let’s briefly go through each of these three provisions. Both Israel and Gentiles share equally as:
Joint heirs of an allotment
This allotment is not the Kingdom of God on earth, but is the new inheritance which is “in the
celestials.”
 Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
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“Heavenly places” is “the celestials.” Our inheritance is not on the earth as Israel’s is – it’s in heaven.
The Gentiles along with a remnant of Israel inherit the celestials.
 Philippians 3:20,21 – For our citizenship is in heaven; from which also we look for the Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ:
Again, we see that our citizenship is not in the Kingdom of God on earth, but is in heaven itself, a
completely different realm.
Joint members of the new humanity
There is a “new creation” coming; it’s the New Heavens and New Earth. It is mentioned in the following
Scriptures.
 Isaiah 65:17,18 – For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not
be remembered, nor come into mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing,
and her people a joy.
 II Peter 3:12,13 – Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, in which the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which
dwells righteousness.
 Revelation 21:1,2 – And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband.
God is already creating a new humanity for the new creation. There is no distinction or preference
among its members. The new humanity reaches past the Millennial Kingdom to the New Heaven and
New Earth. Gentiles and the remnant of Israel who believe now are joint-members of this new
humanity. Our inheritance in the celestials demands new physical bodies that are suited to that
environment. God tells us that we will receive a glorified body like the Lord Jesus has now.
 Philippians 3:20,21 – For our citizenship is in heaven; from which also we look for the Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our humble body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Those in the body of Christ during the Administration of the Secret are joint-members of this new
humanity now.
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Joint partakers of God’s promise in Christ
The word “promises” as translated in the KJV is actually singular in the Greek. There was only one
“promise” that God revealed to the young body of Christ that differed from Israel’s promises, and that
is the “prior-expectation” of meeting Christ in the air. This had never been revealed. God gave the
infant body of Christ hope that their dead would be raised and those alive when Christ returned for his
church would meet the Lord in the air, and that this event would happen before Christ returned to the
earth for Israel. That is all that was revealed. Nothing about the celestial inheritance has been revealed
to the young body of Christ at that point in time. God’s promises to Israel are not referenced here in
“God’s promise” given to the Gentiles, because God is addressing the body of Christ, not Israel.
The infant body of Christ was told what God had accomplished for them in Christ – justification;
sanctification; being baptized into one body by the Spirit of God, the Conciliation; the truth that the
church will not suffer the wrath, or indignation, of God, and that those in the body of Christ would
receive eonian [translated “eternal”] life; but they were told nothing of their future destination or their
celestial jurisdiction.
The old humanity which was “in Adam” was crucified with Christ; the new humanity is “in Christ” and
those in it will, at Christ’s return for his church, receive glorified bodies suited to the heavenly realm.
Summary: The New Birth vs. A New Creation
The new birth is for Israel and Gentile proselytes to prepare them for entry into the Kingdom of
Heaven on earth. It’s obtained by repentance and baptism. It’s probationary, and can be withdrawn.
It’s the spiritual counterpart to the renaissance of the Kingdom. It’s earthly and suits those who will live
on the earth. In that Millennial Kingdom Israel will still have supremacy over the Gentiles and Christ the
King will rule the nations with a rod of iron from Jerusalem. Physical distinctions will remain in force.
When that administration fails with the rebellion instigated by the Adversary when he is loosed from
his chains, the present earth will be destroyed by fire and a New Heavens and New Earth will be
created. On that new earth, Israel will still be Israel, and the nations will still exist as individual nations.
Israel will no longer serve a priestly function because all people will be joined to God through Christ.
No priest will be needed. But Israel will still have political supremacy and Christ will reign over Israel
and the nations.
Believers, both Jew and Gentile, in the body of Christ during the Administration of the Secret currently
in force, are joint-members of a new humanity in Christ. The new humanity is made up of the church of
the body of Christ who are citizens of the new creation in Christ. Eventually, all mankind will be
included and become part of this glorious new humanity.
The new humanity spiritually skips over the entire “renaissance,” the Millennial Kingdom, where Israel
will grow from their “spiritual birth” to maturity. Members of the body of Christ in our Administration
of the Secret are made fully mature when they receive their glorified bodies at the return of Christ for
his church. The new creation is a spiritual precursor to the physical new creation of the New Heavens
and New Earth.
Gentiles and the remnant of Israel who believe during this period of time are made one. Spiritually, all
physical ties are rendered meaningless through the Conciliation; all barriers between the two are
removed. Both share jointly in a heavenly allotment where no physical distinctions exist.
The new birth is of the earth, terrestrial. The new creation is of the heavens, celestial. The first
prepares Israel for entrance into their earthly Kingdom; the second prepares the church of the body of
Christ for our celestial citizenship.
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Let’s leave “the new birth” for Israel and her proselytes and keep “a new creation” for the body of
Christ during the Administration of the Secret where they belong. Mixing these two phrases together,
“born again” and “a new creation” results in both doctrinal and practical error with far-reaching
implications. May we grasp the truth God has revealed about each of these two distinct phrases and
hold fast to the written Word of God so that we may enjoy the fullness of the spiritual blessings God
has provided for us through the death and resurrection of His Son.
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When the Body of Christ and the Joint-Body of Christ Began
New Birth
The Infant Body of Christ
From Israel’s inception to
Acts 28:28, Israel’s coming
Kingdom announced:
Gentiles without God and
without hope in this world
(unless they become
proselytes of Israel)
Acts 13:1,2 Paul and
Barnabus “severed”
from the Circumcision
to go unto the Gentiles
Israel has priestly and
political preference over
Gentiles
Israel has priestly and
political preference
over Gentiles
Israel (the Circumcision)
has political preference
over Gentiles only
(priestly function fails in
Ephesus)
Israel and Gentiles equal “In
Spirit;” Israel has no priestly or
political authority over those in
the joint-body of Christ
The Circumcision Church
started by John the baptizer
and Jesus in the 4 Accounts
of our Lord: Jews and
proselytes “added to” that
church in Acts
Body of Christ Began:
Inheritance not yet
revealed but Gentiles do
not have to adopt
Israel’s customs: do not
need to become
proselytes
The Conciliation and the
New Creation in Christ
revealed: Access to God
unrestricted to Gentiles
and Jews who believe;
no priest of Israel
required
The Secret of Christ and the
Administration of the Secret
revealed; The joint-body
announced: The New Humanity
in Christ revealed
The Kingdom Message: The
Gospel of the Circumcision
The Gospel of God, also
called The Gospel of the
Uncircumcision
preached to Gentiles:
Justification by the faith
of Jesus Christ alone
The ministry of
Conciliation and the
Word of Conciliation
committed to the body
of Christ: Peace with
God; believers
reconciled to God
through the cross of
Christ: Salvation
permanent: Cannot be
lost
The “Gospel of the Transcendent
Riches of Christ:” Seated in the
heavenlies (the celestial realm) in
Christ Jesus; Christ among the
Gentiles
Fourth and fifth secrets
revealed: The Secret of Christ
and the Administration of the
Secret revealed; The New
Humanity in Christ revealed
Repentance and baptism to
prepare for entrance into the
Kingdom of Heaven on earth
Acts 19:20, Israel’s
priestly function fails:
But Gentiles not
abandoned by God
The Joint-Body of
Christ
Acts 28:28, Israel’s
political function fails:
Israel held in abeyance
Salvation not permanent:
Can be lost
Salvation permanent:
Cannot be lost
Earthly Jurisdiction not
hidden; promised to Israel
Inheritance not
revealed, but first secret
revealed: The body of
Christ will be meet the
Lord in the air (not
heaven) and will receive
a spiritual, celestial body
Second secret revealed:
The Conciliation, the
“Secret of the Gospel:”
Access to God
unrestricted to both
Jews and Gentiles
New Creation not yet
announced
Completely new
creation in Christ
before the New Heaven
and New Earth even
exist
Israel’s Regeneration for
entrance into the coming
Kingdom of Heaven on
earth
Ephesians 1-3, The Secret of
Christ and the Administration of
the Secret revealed
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Third secret revealed:
Israel held in abeyance
until the fullness of the
Gentiles comes in
Salvation permanent: Cannot be
lost
Celestial (Heavenly) Jurisdiction
promised to the body of Christ
Completely new humanity in
Christ; God takes up His
habitation in the body of Christ
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The Bride and the Body of Christ
The distinction between the Jewish Christian church and the body of Christ during the Administration
of the Secret is clearly seen in the terms the Word of God uses for each. The Jewish Christian church is
called “the bride” of the Lord, while the present-day church is called “the body” of Christ of which
Christ is head.
The two terms, “bride” and “body,” are not interchangeable. A bride marries a bridegroom; there are
two separate bodies before the marriage. The body of Christ has Christ as its Head, so there is only one
body. The fact that the Bride of the Lord is not yet married to Christ shows the distance between them.
The members of the body of Christ, being joined to Christ already shows their close intimacy with
Christ.
The Bride of Christ
The phrase, “bride of Christ” never appears in the Word of God. It’s always called the “bride of the
Lamb.” This title alone makes it Israeli-centered, corresponding to the ultimate sacrifice God promised
them. When we describe things the Word of God teaches, we should restrict our vocabulary to the
words God uses. Using different words introduces different concepts that often contradict the Word of
God. There is safety in using the words and phrases that God uses.
Let’s investigate this topic in the Word of God so we can be sure of the truth.
The Wife of Jehovah
The covenant of the Law was a contract between God and Israel. God made provisional promises based
on Israel’s performance of their accountability to the contract. In Deuteronomy, this contract is
presented as a marriage contract.
 Deuteronomy 6:13-15 – You shall fear Jehovah your God; and him shall you serve, and shall
swear by his name.
You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that are round about you; for
Jehovah your God in the midst of you is a jealous God;
Lest the anger of Jehovah your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the
face of the earth.
The prophet Ezekiel also presents Israel as the wife of Jehovah.
 Ezekiel 16:8 – Now when I passed by you, and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time
of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yea, I swore unto you, and
entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord Jehovah, and you became mine.
Because of Israel’s unfaithfulness, “whoring after other gods,” the Lord Jehovah threatened to divorce
her.
 Jeremiah 3:1-5 – They say, If a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him, and becomes
another man’s, may he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but you
have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, says the Lord.
Lift up your eyes unto the high places, and see where you have not been lain with. In the ways
have you sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and you have polluted the land with
your harlotries and with your wickedness.
Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain; and you had a
harlot’s forehead, you refused to be ashamed.
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Will you not from this time cry unto me, My father, you are the guide of my youth?
Will he reserve his anger forever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, you have spoken and done
all the evil things that you could.
 Jeremiah 3:20 – Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt
treacherously with me, O house of Israel, says the Lord.
 Hosea 2:2-5 – Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband:
let her therefore put away her harlotry out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her
breasts;
Lest I strip her naked, and make her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a
wilderness, and make her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.
And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they are the children of harlotry.
For their mother has played the harlot: she that conceived them has done shamefully: for she
said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil
and my drink.
A period of separation normally precedes a divorce. God separated Himself from Israel because she
continued in idolatry.
 Isaiah 50:1 – Thus says the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have
put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities
have you sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
The bill of divorcement was not yet written, but there was a separation. Israel still did not repent. So,
100 years later, Jehovah divorced his wife, Israel, for spiritual adultery.
 Jeremiah 3:6-15 – The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Have you seen that
which backsliding Israel has done? she has gone up upon every high mountain and under every
green tree, and there has played the harlot.
And I said after she had done all these things, Turn you unto me. But she returned not. And her
treacherous sister Judah saw it.
And I saw, when for all the causes for which backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her
away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and
played the harlot also.
And it came to pass through the lightness of her harlotry, that she defiled the land, and
committed adultery with stones and with trees.
And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned unto me with her whole heart,
but in pretense, says the Lord.
And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel has justified herself more than treacherous
Judah.
Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, you backsliding Israel, says the
Lord; and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, says the Lord, and I will
not keep anger forever.
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Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God, and
have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed
my voice, says the Lord.
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Turn, O backsliding children, says the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one
from a city, and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and
understanding.
With the divorce came punishment. The curse of the Law brought this on.
 Ezekiel 16:35-43 – Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord:
Thus says the Lord God; Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered
through your harlotries with your lovers, and with all the idols of your abominations, and by the
blood of your children, which you did give unto them;
Behold, therefore I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all them
that you have loved, with all them that you have hated; I will even gather them round about
against you, and will uncover your nakedness unto them, that they may see all your nakedness.
And I will judge you, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring
blood upon you in fury and jealousy.
And I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your shrine, and shall break
down your high places: they shall strip you also of your clothes, and shall take your beautiful
jewels, and leave you naked and bare.
They shall also bring up a company against you, and they shall stone you with stones, and
thrust you through with their swords.
And they shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments upon you in the sight of
many women: and I will cause you to cease from playing the harlot, and you also shall give no
hire any more.
So will I make my fury toward you to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from you, and I will be
quiet, and will be no more angry.
Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have enraged me in all these
things; behold, therefore I also will recompense your way upon your head, says the Lord God:
and you shall not commit this lewdness in addition to all your abominations.
Hosea also talks about Israel’s plight.
 Hosea 2:6-13 – Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and make a wall, so
that she shall not find her paths.
And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them,
but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was
it better with me than now.
For she did not know that I gave her grain, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold,
which they prepared for Baal.
Therefore will I return, and take away my grain in its time, and my wine in its season, and will
take back my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.
And now will I uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of
my hand.
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I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all
her solemn feasts.
And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, of which she has said, These are my rewards that
my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat
them.
And I will punish her for the days of Baalim, when she burned incense to them, and she decked
herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgot me, says the
Lord.
God used the prophet Hosea’s personal life as an object lesson to instruct idolatrous Israel. To present
His case, God told Hosea to marry an idolatrous woman, to represent Israel’s faithlessness in serving
other gods. Hosea had three children by his wife, Gomer. Their names depicted God’s judgment of the
nation. The first child, a son, was named Jezreel (God scatters). God judged (scattered) the northern
Kingdom with the Assyrian invasion (722 B.C.). The second child was a daughter named Lo-ruhama (not
pitied) and the third child, a son, was named Lo-ammi (not my people).
But God’s disfavor would be temporary. He promised that the nation would repent of its unfaithfulness
and return to Him.
 Hosea 2:14-20 – Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak
kindly to her.
Then I will give her her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she
will sing there as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of
Egypt.
It will come about in that day, declares the Lord, That you will call Me Ishi and will no longer call
Me Baali.
For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, so that they will be mentioned by
their names no more.
In that day I will also make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds of the sky
and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword and war from the
land, and will make them lie down in safety.
I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in
lovingkindness and in compassion,
And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord.
It was against the Law for a man to remarry the wife he divorced, but through God’s mercy and grace
He said He would take Israel back. This would be through the “New Covenant.”
 Jeremiah 31:31-34 – Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a New Covenant
with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the
hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; my covenant which they broke, although I was a
husband unto them, says the Lord:
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says
the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their
God, and they shall be my people.
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And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know
the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the
Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
The restoration of Israel as Jehovah’s Wife is also described in Isaiah 54:1-8, and the remarriage is
further described in Isaiah 62:4-5. Hosea, who had much to say about the adulteries of Israel, also
spoke of Israel’s reunion with her husband. Hosea 2:14-23 describes the courtship and the wooing
in the wilderness and shows the four results of this reunion.
The Bride and the Bridegroom
John the baptizer tells us who the bride and bridegroom are. Those of Israel who believe are the bride,
and Jesus is the bridegroom.
 John 3:27-29 – John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from
heaven.
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and
hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
The marriage of the bride and bridegroom occurs after Jesus returns to the earth for Israel. This
wedding and wedding feast are anticipated in Revelation 19.
 Revelation 19:6-9 – And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God
omnipotent reigns.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and
his wife has made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine
linen is the righteous acts of saints.
And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they who are called unto the marriage supper of the
Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am your fellow
servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony
of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
These verses immediately precede the return of the Lord to the earth for Israel. The marriage does not
take place until Jesus inaugurates his Kingdom, after the Resurrection of the Just (the first, or “former
resurrection.”)
There is one more reference to the bride of the lamb and that’s when New Jerusalem descends from
heaven to earth.
 Revelation 21:9-14 – And there came unto me one of the seven angels who had the seven
bowls full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the
bride, the Lamb’s wife.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great
city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Having the glory of God: and its radiance was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper
stone, clear as crystal;
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And having a wall great and high, and having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and
names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west
three gates.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles
of the Lamb.
The city itself is not the bride of the lamb, but the inhabitants are. These are those who came through
the great tribulation, who were saved along with those who came out of the first resurrection. They
shall inhabit the New Jerusalem.
The body of Christ is not the bride of Christ. We are the body of Christ. These are two completely
different groups of people.
Scriptures of Contention
There are two sections of Scripture in the Pauline epistles that have been construed to teach the body
of Christ is the bride of the lamb. We’ll look at each of these to clear up the confusion.
 II Corinthians 11:2 – For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to
one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ
Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to remain faithful to Christ and his gospel (I Corinthians 15.1-4).
Paul’s choice of words to the Corinthians, “that I may present you as a pure virgin” was to illustrate his
desire for holy living for these believers, not to teach that the Church is the bride of Christ. Paul also
said that he was the Corinthian believers’ mother (Galatians 4.19) and father (1 Corinthians 4.15), but
neither description was literal. Familial intimacy is what is being described.
 Ephesians 5:25-27 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave
himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such
thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
In these verses, Paul argued that as a husband is the head of a wife even as Christ is the head of the
church. Therefore, the husband and wife are “one body.” This fits with Paul’s teaching that the church
is the body of Christ with Christ Himself is the Head (Ephesians 1.22; Colossians 1:18). Paul noted that
husbands should love their wives as their own bodies because they are “one flesh,” and no one ever
hated his own flesh. A man nourishes and cherishes his own body. Paul made an analogy between
Christ and the church to emphasize the care a husband should have for his wife as his own body. The
church is Christ’s body, not his bride. Paul quoted Genesis 2.24 to emphasize the care that Christ has
for his own body, the church. Paul declared this was a “secret” regarding Christ and His church.
The apostle Paul is the only apostle to use the term, “the body of Christ.” He never uses “the bride of
Christ.”
Conclusion
Wife and bride are titles that belong to Israel, not the Church. Our title is “the body of Christ.” We are
his body. Since the church is the body of Christ and Christ is the bridegroom, then we are part of the
bridegroom, not the bride. Let’s keep these two congregations, or churches, separate and distinct as
God does in His Word. Let’s not confuse what’s written concerning Israel with that which is written to
the body of Christ.
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The Rapture of the Saints: True of False – Golko
Meet Richard
Richard’s full name is Richard Allen Golko. Richard enjoys being outside in the sunshine,
swimming and fellowshipping with God’s people. He plays guitar and writes Christian
songs, and he’s played at various churches and gatherings over the years.
Richard’s chief passion is studying and teaching God’s Word. God woke him up
spiritually in his early twenties, and through a series of events, led him to do a five- day
fast to seek His will. Richard found himself in a class on Biblical research on the fifth
night of his fast. When the teacher looked at him, he said, “You’re here because you
want to know what God’s Will is.” That’s exactly why Richard was fasting, though he told
no-one.
The teacher went on to say, “God’s Word is God’s will. If you want to know what God’s
will is, you have to learn God’s Word.” God had come through, as He always does.
Richard had the direction he asked God for.
45 years later, Richard is still researching and teaching God’s Word to those who seek
truth.
The Rapture of the Saints: True of False – Golko
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The Rapture of the Saints: True of False – Golko
Read Richard’s Other Books
Richard has written a number of other books to help you bask in God’s Word. Some are listed here.
Visit LiveFaith.TV for an up-to-date list.
Faith, Hope and Love
A fun study of the three most desirable traits and virtues a child of God can have, and how to increase
and abound in all three.
The “Unto Perfection” Series
God wants us to mature in Christ. The word “perfect” often means “mature” in God’s Word. I have
written a three-volume set to help God’s people learn and apply more of God’s Word with a view
toward maturing in Christ.
The three volumes in this series are designed to bring people up to speed on some of the most
significant things God has revealed to us. My goal is to help believers mature in faith, hope and love.
This three-volume set will help you do just that.
1) What the Word of God Says About Life, Death and Life Beyond Death
Volume 1 explains why people die, why the world is the way it is, and what the only way out of
the death state is (resurrection).
The Rapture of the Saints: True of False – Golko
89
2) What the Word of God Says About Salvation: The Forgiveness of Sins, Conciliation,
Justification and Reconciliation
Volume 2 investigates all the key words related to the subject of “soteriology,” or “salvation.”
Learn about the means of salvation and the process of salvation for different classes of people.
3) God’s Purpose in Creation: The Consummation of All Things
Volume 3 reveals the “Eonian Times” trough which God is bringing about His purpose in the
eons as well as His purpose in creation. This volume reveals the plan of God, the judgments of
God and how and when God will become All in all.
In these three volumes you will find detailed information about each of these topics and you will learn
more about the multi-faceted Wisdom of God. You will gain a larger, more complete scope of God’s
Word in the process.
The Eonian Times: Charts: God’s Mater Plan to Become All in
All
This 44-page flip-book of charts was prepared to provide a visual journey of God’s plan to accomplish
His purpose to become All in all. The pdf version is best viewed on a tablet, laptop, hope computer or
projected to a screen.
Why? The Definitive Answer to the Most Asked Question in
Life
This is a very short (several page) book that gives the only answer to man’s most pressing question,
“Why?” It’s worth a read and introduces you to the “Unto Perfection” series.
Indisputable Proof of Universal Reconciliation
A thorough study of 12 Biblical texts that prove, indisputably, that God will reconcile all His creatures,
both in heaven and on earth, to Himself through the cross of Christ. These verses cannot be ignored or
thrown away to suit traditional doctrine. The main objections to what these clear Scriptures teach are
also refuted in this brief but thorough book.
One of the most hotly debated subjects of our time is what will happen to the unredeemed and the
wicked at the time of death. This book, excerpted from Volume Three of the “Unto Perfection” series,
presents the indisputable evidence that God will save and reconcile every single one of His creatures at
the Consummation of all things.
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The Rapture of the Saints: True of False – Golko
Between the Gospels:
The Chronicle of Israel’s Apostasy and Gentile Belief
Take a journey with me through the book of Acts. It documents the re-offering of the Kingdom to Israel
after the leadership of Israel rejected Christ in his earthly ministry. This book, over 400 pages,
documents exactly what happened in the book of Acts and why. It explains the transition from Law to
grace that occurred during the Acts period and defines The Gospel of the Circumcision and The Gospel
of the Uncircumcision, and the transition to the Administration of the Secret when Israel rejected the
risen Christ in the book of Acts. This book presents a thorough exposition of the book of Acts, allowing
the Word of God to interpret itself to us.
(473 Pages)
All these works are available from the LiveFaith.TV website.
I invite you to study all of them, so you can mature in Christ
and hold forth the rightly divided Word of God.
The Great White Throne
and the Extermination of Sin
by Richard Allen Golko, LiveFaith.TV
Find out what happens at the final judgment of humankind!
We’ve all heard about the “day of reckoning,” but is what we’ve heard true?
Richard says, “The only way to learn the truth about any Biblical subject is to let God’s Word speak
for itself. That’s why it’s called The Word of Truth.”
Join Richard as he consults God’s Word, in detail, on what The Great White Throne Judgment will be
like. The following questions are answered within the pages of this timely book:
• Why is the Great White Throne Judgment Necessary?
• When Will the Judgment Take Place?
• Who Will Be Judged?
• What Will the Judgment Throne Be Like?
• Who Will Judge?
• What Standard Will Be Used to Judge?
• What Will People Be Judged For?
• What Are the Sentencing Guidelines?
• What Evidence Will Be Presented?
• How Might the Judgment Proceed?
• What Will the Final Outcome Be?
This book will help you clear up the confusion in your own mind regarding the final
judgment of humankind. Do you know people who do not believe Jesus is Lord? Find
out what they will experience at The Great White Throne, and for all of eternity.
Visit https://LiveFaith.TV
To learn God’s Word
accurately
About LiveFaith.TV and Live Faith Ministries
LiveFaith.TV is a website devoted to the research and teaching of God’s Word. It contains inspirational
videos, articles, blog posts and educational courses designed to present and teach God’s Word to
whoever has a willing mind and heart to learn.
Jesus told his apostles, “Freely you have received, freely give.” I do not merchandize God’s Word. Most
of the content is made available for free consumption. I only charge for things that cost money to
produce. If you find the work there valuable to you, and you would like to contribute, you will find a
Donate button on the Contact Us page. Your contribution will be used for the work we are doing, and
the distribution of content worldwide.
If you find this content valuable to you, and you would like to get involved in Live Faith Ministries,
contact us through the LiveFaith.TV website.
If you are one who would like to learn how to study God’s Word, my course on “How to Study God’s
Word” will help. You’ll learn how to let God’s Word interpret itself to you, and how to approach and
solve apparent Biblical contradictions. If you’d like to join in on the research being conducted at
LiveFaith.TV, let us know.
If you want to participate in any other way, however our Lord leads you, let’s discuss it.
Please pray for me and for this ministry, and for God to open doors of utterance for me and for all of
God’s people who are involved in speaking the secret of the gospel, as we ought to speak. I invite you
to tell others you know and meet, who hunger and search for righteousness and truth, about
LiveFaith.TV.
I am available for live teaching and course presentations as time permits. If your group or church would
like to take advantage of this opportunity, contact me. My contact information is available on the
LiveFaith.TV website.
Finally, if you are already involved in teaching God’s Word, and you want further instruction in these
new truths you may have not previously been acquainted with, please contact me for a personal
discussion. We are building a network of teachers with “sound words” and deeds to refer people to for
God’s Word and fellowship.
God bless you and yours, and may God enrich your knowledge and understanding of His Word which
He magnified above His own name.
Richard Allen Golko
Visit LiveFaith.TV!
https://LiveFaith.TV and https://youtube.com/c/FaithIgnitor
See you there!
The Rapture of the Saints:
True or False?
Correcting False Doctrine About the Lord’s Return
Richard Allen Golko
Which View is Accurate?
There are many different “views” of
the sequence of events that takes
place at the return of Christ.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pre-Millennial
Post-Millennial
Amillennial
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Mid-Tribulation Rapture
Pre-Wrath Rapture
No Rapture at All
Find out which “view” is correct
according to the Scriptures
Some say the Rapture is a recent
theological development that
cannot be found in the Bible.
Is this statement TRUE or FALSE?
Find out, definitively, in this book by
Richard.
All the pertinent Scriptures are
consulted in arriving at the obvious
conclusion that YES!
Christ will rapture the body of Christ
BEFORE he returns to the earth for
Israel!
Find out why this is the only
acceptable “view” in Scripture.
Learn About Your Blessed Hope!
The Lord’s return is one of the most
important subjects in Scripture.
Whether we believe it or not, Jesus
Christ will return from heaven to
save the body of Christ and Israel.
The debate being answered in this
book is whether Christ will gather
the church which is his body to
himself at the same time he returns
to save Israel, or sooner. Join
Richard as he consults God’s Word
to arrive at the truth.
Will Christ Gather his body to himself before He
returns to the earth for Israel or not?
Find out what the Scriptures say!
Visit https://LiveFaith.TV
To learn God’s Word
accurately