ESCHATOLOGY: THE STUDY OF THINGS FUTURE
(contributed)
With particular reference to the relationship between ‘the rapture’ and ‘the reign’:
1. Amillenialist teaching: (‘a’ denotes negative)
It has no place for ‘the rapture’ of the church and insists that ‘the coming’ has only one stage, His coming to earth.
2. Postmillenialist teaching:
Again, has no place for ‘the rapture’ or for the distinction that Scripture makes between Israel and the Church.
3. Premillenialist teaching:
It is believed that the church will be ‘raptured’ before both the millennium and also the tribulation which precedes it.
a) The Lord will come to earth with power and great glory to commence His thousand year kingdom upon earth (Isa.2:2-4; Dan.2 & 7:13-14; Matt.25:31-46).
b) Of course, before this happens there will be a seven year period of tribulation to fulfil the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy (Dan.9:24-27). In the second half (the tribulation, the great one) Israel in particular will suffer. (The day of Jacob’s trouble) Jer.30:4-7; Dan.7:7-8; Matt.24:3-31 and so on.
c) Before this period of tribulation the Lord will come for His people (1Thess.4:12-18) and translate them to heaven to commence ‘the day of Christ’ which will include the judgment seat of Christ and the marriage and culminate in coming with them to reign (the epiphany of His parousia – the outshining of His Presence (2 Thess.1:10).
What of course encourages us as believers is the future hope set before us and revealed in the Scriptures.
i) Phil.1:23 – ‘to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better’, i.e. the soul and spirit – with the body experiencing corruption in the grave (‘to dust thou shalt return’).
ii) Phil.3:20-21; 1 Cor.15:51-58 – The change from corruption to incorruption as to the bodies of those who ‘sleep through Jesus’ (1 Thess.4) or ‘the dead in Christ’.
iii) 2 Cor.5:1-9 – The living saints clothed, i.e. putting on immortality. (ii) and (iii) incorruptibility and immortality, are the respective changes required to fit our bodies for glory for there are bodies celestial and bodies terrestrial. This change of body will take place of course when the Lord comes for His own and will precede the rapture itself. It will take place ‘in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye’(1 Cor.15:52).
‘A moment’ – the shortest period of time.
‘The twinkling of an eye’ – the fastest movement of the body.
Remember, this is associated with ‘the change’, not necessarily with the catching away!.
iv) 1 Thess.4:-15-18 – The saints ‘raptured’ together. Note again, ‘Those who sleep through Jesus’, the situation when the soul and spirit are separated from the body (in death). ‘The dead in Christ’, when they are reunited (with the body changed), see 1 Kings 17:21-22.
v) John 14:1-3 – In the Father’s house with changes in body suitable for that sphere. (Compare with dying thief who believed, “today thou shalt be with me in Paradise,” [the orchards], no less with Christ, but not yet in ‘the house’)
vi) Rom.14; 1 Cor.3 & 2 Cor.5 – The ‘Bema’ or judgment seat of Christ. We will be judged with respect to three things:
§ Rom.14 – as to our brethren
§ 1 Cor.3 – as to our building in the assembly
§ 2 Cor.5 – as to our spiritual behaviour in the body.
vii) 2 Thess.1:10 – His coming with His saints to reign.
Please keep this outline of events in your heart and mind as, with truths relative to the gospel, it encourages us in difficult times. I thought I might just touch on this personal aspect of coming events before, with the Spirit’s help, dealing with the more ‘public’ nature associated with the Lord’s future coming, as revealed in ‘the prophetic Word’ relative mainly to Israel.
In dealing with the Lord’s return, I would rather be ‘touched’ than mere ‘technical’.
Matthew 24:
Often referred to as the Olivet discourse, coming last in the five main recorded teachings by the Lord in this kingdom gospel.
Chapter 5-7 The principles of the kingdom (the sermon).
Chapter 10 The preaching of the gospel in the kingdom
Chapter 13 The parables of the kingdom
Chapter 18 The problems of the kingdom
Chapters 24-25 The prophecy of the kingdom
Notice the common phrase found at the close of each of these discourses, 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1 and 26:1 and the concluding word added at 26:1 – all these sayings.
We must allow for the development and progress of doctrine in the Scriptures, especially the NT and the subject of the Lord’s future comings is no exception, i.e. the advent in the synoptics and the rapture in John’s gospel and the epistles.
The Messiah, ‘the Son of Man’ and then ‘the Lord Himself’.
The nation of Israel in Matthew, the preparation for the assembly in the upper room in John’s gospel.
The ‘Sun of Righteousness’ and the ‘bright and morning star’ (which concludes first, Malachi or the Revelation?!).
So we could go on with the contrasts, illustrating the uniqueness of the prophetic word in Matthew.
Notice also the setting of the Olivet discourse.
Chapter 23 The denunciation of the nation’s leaders
Chapter 23:38-24:3 The desolation of Jerusalem
Chapter 24:2 The demolition of the temple by Titus?!
Chapter 24:3 The desire of the disciples (‘when’ and ‘where’ – privately!)
Chapter 24:4-5 The deception of false prophets.
On the basis of this background alone, it would be strange to see the future church referred to by the Lord in discourse as the elect, vs. 22,24 and 31.
Election is mentioned in Scripture with respect to:
§ Israel – Isa.45:4 (see Rom.11)
§ The Lord – Isa.42:1; 1 Pet.2:6
§ Angels – 1 Tim.5:21
§ Believers – 1 Pet.1:2; Col.3:12; Titus 1:1; 1 Thess.1:4; 2 Peter 1:10.
Judaism was laid aside judicially at the cross, historically in ‘the Acts’ and doctrinally in the epistles. The ‘turning point’ in Matthew is found in chapter 13:11-17 when the Lord refers to Isa.6:9 in verse 14, “by hearing …… shall not understand and seeing ……… shall not perceive”, also verse 13, “Therefore speak I to them in parables” because they seeing see not and hearing they hear not”. Following this point, only parables are used by the Lord although the miracles continue due to the need amongst the people.
To summarise:
Isa.6:8-10 Israel rejects God (Jehovah)
Matt.13 & John 12:37-41 Israel rejects the Son (Messiah)
Acts 28 They reject the ministry of the Holy Spirit
Note Acts 28:28 “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and that they will hear it”.
Notice in each case “Isaiah said “ but in Acts 28, “well spake the Holy Spirit by Isaiah”. Because of the nation of Israel’s rejection here in Matthew 13, it is evident that the Lord finds consolation in anticipating the future period of the Gentiles as seen in His reference to the church in chapters 16 and 18. I believe this is the explanation. Since ‘the abomination of desolation’ Matt.24:15 is quoted from Dan.9:27, then this chapter in Daniel provides the necessary background to Matthew 24. Notice the reference to ‘thy people’ and ‘thy holy city’ (Dan.9:24), i.e. the Jews and Jerusalem. The church is not seen in Daniel’s vision and prophecy. The church is not a subject of prophecy (Eph.3:5) although the Lord, His sacrifice and exaltation are. It would seem as already hinted at that only verse 2 of Matthew 24 refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70; this involves the bringing together of the immediate and the ultimate, which happens also in other scriptures.
1 and 2 Thessalonians
It is interesting that the first NT letter, probably written to an assembly deals mainly with last things and its effect on the believer’s life and testimony. No doubt their letters were written as a consolation for the sufferings experienced by the Thessalonian believers at that time, see 2 Thess.1:7. What is often referred to as the key to 1 Thess., namely ‘the rapture of saints’ in chapter 4, is really a parenthesis in the letter, chapter 4:15-18. This is the third of three things revealed to the apostle, two already known (the gospel and the breaking of bread).
1 Cor.15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received ……”
1 Cor.11:23 “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you ……”
1 Thess.4:15 “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord …….”
The main context of the letter continues from chapter 4:14 on to chapter 5:1 with the details of ‘the rapture’ as a parenthesis passage in between. This, I believe, puts in proper perspective the other references to His comings including 2 Thess.2.
1 Thess.1:10-2:19; 3:13; 4:13-14
These earlier references to the Lord’s coming for His own, in this first letter, all anticipate the outcome of it and deal with a period beyond it in His presence (parousia).
Chapter 1:10 The consequence of the rapture – His person, as our deliverer from coming wrath.
Chapter 2:19 The consolation following the rapture – His people (the Thessalonians) in the Lord’s presence in heaven.
Chapter 3:13 The character of the saints – their position and place with the Lord at the advent (at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints – v.13)
Chapter 4:13-14 The comfort for those who sorrow – the prospect of the reunion of believers.
This raises the question re. v.14 – “will God bring with Him” – is this an upward or a downward coming? There are at least three alternatives:
i) The coming together of the soul and the resurrection body
ii) The coming with all His heavenly people at the advent
iii) The resurrection of ‘the dead’ with ‘the living’ at the rapture, ignoring the parenthesis.
In chapter 5:1-2 the apostle continues to deal with the consequences of the Lord’s coming to reign; times and seasons are always associated with the prophetic word and coming events, i.e. times with quantity and seasons with quality. The day of the Lord is now introduced in verse 3. The consolation of anticipating His first coming is finally brought before these believers from verse 4 to 11. Virtually back to the idea of deliverance and salvation mentioned in chapter 1:10.
2 Thessalonians
Chapter 1 The object of His coming (verse 10)
Chapter 2 The order of His coming (verse 3)
Chapter 3 The obligations of His coming for the believer (verse 5)
It is evident from 1 Thess.5:1-2 and 2 Thess.2:5 that these believers had already been taught re. future events, when the apostle was with them yet these same believers had been misled concerning ‘the Day of the Lord’ having arrived already. Accordingly, the apostle writes again to correct their ideas concerning the coming (parousia=presence with Him) and the Day of the Lord which will follow.
2 Thess.2:1-3 – “Now we beseech you brethren touching (the Greek preposition ‘luper’ – literally on behalf of, i.e. with a view to correcting your thoughts about) the coming (the parousia) of the Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together unto Him (i.e. at the rapture 1 Thess.4:17) to the end that ye be not quickly shaken (i.e. become unsettled in your convictions ….. upon them) nor yet be troubled, either by spirit or by word or by epistle as from us as that the Day of the Lord is now present (i.e. has already commenced). Let no man beguile you in any wise, for it will not be (not set in) except the falling away (the apostacy from God and His truth) come first and the man of sin be revealed”.
Briefly summing up, the parousia is a period which commences with the coming of Christ into the air to raise the dead saints, change the living and receive all together to Himself. They will render an account of their stewardship at His judgment seat, receiving rewards or suffering loss according to their faithfulness. At the conclusion of His heavenly presence with them (the parousia) the Lord will come with His angels and His saints in manifested glory for the overthrow of His foes, an event which is described as “the epiphany of His parousia”.
The trumpets
The failure to distinguish the dispensations in scripture leads, among other things, to confused thinking re. the trumpets of scripture and when they will sound. There will be three particular occasions when the tumpet(s) will be heard:
Matthew 24:31 The restoration of Israel (Jews).
1 Cor.15:51-52 The resurrection of believers (joy)
1 Thess.4:16
Rev.8:2 & 6 The retribution on the earth (judgment)
Notice the threefold description of the sound which will be heard (1 Thess.4:16). In each case the definite article is omitted, each sound being characteristic.
§ Shout – energy (Divine persons express energy by speaking)
§ Archangelic voice – authority
§ Trump of God – dignity
(Figuratively – creatorial, politial, military).
Resurrection
i.e. the resurrection of the just and the unjust, approximately 1,000 years apart – John 5:28-29 “All that are in the graves shall hear His voice …… resurrection of life ….. resurrection of (judgment)”. Rev.20:5 “but the rest of the dead lived not again, until the 1000 years were finished”.
However, the first resurrection is in three stages according to the Scriptures:
i) 1 Cor.15:23 “But every man in his own order Christ the first fruits”
ii) 1 Cor.15:23 “afterwards they that are Christs at His coming”
iii) Rev.20:5-6 “This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.
(There is another aspect of resurrection seldom referred to in Heb.11:35 – “women received their dead raised to life again, others were tortured not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection [as to reward]).
The Revelation
It is helpful to notice the parenthetic chapters 7, 10 and 14 and their contents. The highlights of the book would seem to be as follows:
Chapter 1:13-16 The Person of Christ
Chapter 4:1 The Point of the rapture of the church
*Chapter 7:14 The Preaching of the gospel and its results (the gospel of the kingdom).
Chapter 12:12 The Presence of Satan upon earth (Great Tribulation)
Chapter 13:1 & 11 The Power of the world rulers (Beast and Antichrist)
Chapter 17 & 18 The Punishment and destruction of Babylon
Chapter 19:16 The Pre-eminence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Chapter 21:2 & 10 The Presentation of the holy and the great cities.
*Some feel that there may be a period of time between the rapture and the commencement of the tribulation period, to allow for this time of gospel activity.
Israel’s unique position amongst the nations, following the judgment at Babel, must ever be kept in mind.
Deut.32:8 “When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel”. Eleven chapters of Genesis suffice to cover the two thousand years before the call of Abraham and the rest of the OT relates to the Abrahamic race! If for a while the light of revelation rested on Babylon, it was because Jerusalem was desolate and Judah in exile. Notice, for a time the Gentile has now gained the foremost place but the normal order of God’s dealing with men is again to be restored.
Rom.11:25-26 “Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall be saved” as it is written – read Rom.11:26. Compare Luke 21:23-24 “For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people ……. and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”. The term “the fulness of the Gentiles” refers to the end of this day of grace and the term “the times of the Gentiles” refers to the period when Gentile rule will come to an end with the coming of the Son of Man.
Luke 21:27 “Then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory”.
Finally a ‘bird’s eye view’ of the book of Daniel.
Chapters 1-6 Personal details as to the public sphere
Chapters 7-12 Prophetic dreams in the private sphere
Chapter 1 The food for Daniel
Chapter 2 The features of the great image (Babylon/Medes & Persians/Grecians/Romans)
Chapter 3 The fiery furnace
Chapter 4 The figure of the tree
Chapter 5 The feast of Belshazzar
Chapter 6 The freedom from the lions
Chapter 7 The four beasts described
Chapter 8 The fight between the ram and the he-goat
Chapter 9 The fulfilment of the 70 weeks of prophecy
Chapter 10 The form of a man
Chapter 11 The forces of the north and south
Chapter 12 The final tribulation and kingdom.
This present time is ‘the odd dispensation from the rest’, when the Lord is not dealing with Israel nationally as to His overall ways with them but including them as to salvation in the ‘whosoever’ of the gospel.
I conclude with quoting part of Rom.11:7-15
“For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?”