The Second Coming Of Christ

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< > Chapter Nine When will the Resurrection of Christians take place? Paul informs us in 1Thes.4v13-18., that the resurrection immediately precedes the rapture. In 1Cor.15v51-54., Paul states that the transformation and glorification of our earthly bodies takes place almost instantly, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet,” Therefore, as the resurrection and rapture of the Church take place in a matter of seconds or minutes, if the time of the resurrection can be accurately fixed, the exact time of the rapture of the Church can be fixed at that time too. The Scriptures unanimously state that the resurrection will take place after the great tribulation. In.1Cor.15v54., Paul writes that death will be swallowed up in victory at the resurrection; this promise is quoted from Is.25v7,8., and states that this will occur at the time when the Lord begins to reign, and Israel is restored to her land, and receives the Millennial promises, and takes pride of place in the world. The wicked are also said to be judged at the same time. Is.26v19-21. Dan.12v1,2. Rev.19v1 to 20v6. There are three resurrections stated in 1Cor.15v23,24. The resurrection of Christ has already occurred, the Scriptures clearly state that there are only two general resurrections, and they have yet to take place. Jn.5v28,29. Rev.20v4-15. Christ the first fruits. The partial resurrection of many Old Testament Saints when Jesus was resurrected in Mt.27v51-53., was an act of mercy from God to give absolute proof of the resurrection of Christ. The Jews did not see the resurrected body of Jesus, but many of them saw the resurrected bodies of many saints, probably some godly relatives or people they knew, and they noised abroad what they had seen and heard. This created an enormous stir and was a major reason for the revival on the day of Pentecost. "They that are Christ's at His coming." In Rev.20v4-6., this is referred to as “the first resurrection.” At this resurrection the faithful saints of Israel come to life as well as Christian believers. Ez.37v1-28. Hosea.13v14. Dan.12v1-3. Is.24v21. 25v7-9. 26v19-21. 1Thes.4v13,14. This is called the resurrection of the just, Lk.14v14.; and the resurrection of life. Jn.5v28,29. Paul states that the resurrection of all Christians will take place at the last trumpet, and the transformation of their bodies will take place in the twinkling of an eye. 1Cor.15v51-53. In 1Thes.4v13., Paul speaks of the bodies of Christians as being “asleep;” our word “cemetery” is derived from the Greek “koimeterion,” which means “sleeping place.” The Christians who have died are in no sense asleep, they are enjoying the glories of paradise in the presence of God in heaven. Jn.11v25,26. 2Cor.5v1-10. 12v1-4. Rev.2v7. 6v9-11. 21v2. 22v2. The souls of the saints will return with Jesus and will be clothed upon with glorified bodies at the resurrection. 1Thes.4v14-16. The resurrection and the rapture are so closely linked in time, that to fix the time of one is to fix the time of the other. N.B. It must be remembered that though the wicked do not come before Christ for judgement at the first resurrection, they are judged in the sense that they are weighed and found wanting and not worthy of that resurrection because of their wickedness. Jn.12v48. The public judgement of the wicked does not take place till 1,000 years later at the Great White Throne judgement, the wicked are resurrected for this judgement. Lk.20v35. Phil.3v11. Heb.11v35. Rev. 20v5,6,11-15. "Then cometh the end." This is the second general resurrection, and is called the resurrection of damnation, it occurs at the end of the Millennium, just prior to the Great White Throne judgement, this is in contrast to the first resurrection, the resurrection of life. Jn.5v28,29. THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE LAST TRUMPET. 1Cor.15v52. This can only be the seventh trumpet of Rev.11v15.. The word “last” means last, so trumpets must sound before it, and none sound after it, if it is the last trumpet. What other trumpets can these be but the seven trumpets of the book of Revelation? Some have made this last trumpet anything but the last, by saying that it sounds before the seven trumpets of Revelation. In Rev.11v15., God says that at this seventh trumpet, “The kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.” To confirm that the resurrection takes place at this seventh trumpet, verse 18 says, “thy wrath is come AND THE TIME OF THE DEAD THAT THEY SHOULD BE JUDGED,” and that at this time the saints are rewarded. The seventh trumpet of Rev.11v15., is the “great sound of a trumpet” of Mt.24v31., “the trumpet of God” of 1Thes.4v16., and “the great trumpet” of Is.27v13.. It is necessary to state that the seven trumpets of Revelation are in chronological order. Rev.8v13. 9v12. It is also essential to note that the vials are not poured out after the trumpets have finished, but that they also finish on that great last day, the day of the Lord, as do the trumpets and the seals. This can be proved to be true from a comparison of the following Scriptures. Mt.24v27-31. Acts.2v19-21. Rev.6v12-17. 11v15-19. 16v12-21. with Zech.14v1-21. N.B. v1,4,5. THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL OCCUR JUST BEFORE THE SAINTS BEGIN TO REIGN. The Scriptures state that ALL Christians will be resurrected and receive their glorified bodies in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, at the first resurrection, on the last day, at the end of the great tribulation. 1Cor.15v51-54. Is.25v8. Phil.3v20,21. Some do not accept this and say that the first resurrection covers several years and has several stages. This directly contradicts Rev.20v4-6., which states that the resurrection takes place at the start of the Millennial reign of Christ. It is folly to say that there is a resurrection of Christians that takes place several years before the first resurrection. To say that first does not mean first, makes words devoid of any meaning and worthless. THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE LAST DAY. John.6v39,40,44,54. 11v24. 12v48. Jesus taught that those who believed in Him were to be raised from the dead at the first resurrection on the last day. This “last day” is the day of the Lord, or as it is also called, the day of Christ. These phrases denote the last day of this age, the great and terrible day of the Lord, when the Lord Jesus sets up His kingdom upon earth. It is the last day of five things. The mystery, that is, the gracious plan, of God Rev.10v7. Eph.3v9-11. The word “mystery” does not mean mysterious, but rather the secret plan of God, which He has made known unto His children. The world does not think that God has got any plan at all, but He has always had a very complex and wonderful plan, “the plan of the ages,” and at the coming of Christ this plan will have been completed. Eph.3v10,11. God has planned to put Heaven and earth under faithful loving rulers, these He has found in His Son Jesus and His faithful brethren and the faithful angels. The Lord has also to fulfil His promise to the faithful Israelites, that they should have an earthly inheritance. Both of these things will come to pass on the last day when the seventh trumpet sounds, God's plan will then be finished. Rev.10v7. Dan.9v24. This is the day that God is waiting and longing for, He can then start and bestow upon His children all the riches of His grace, the pleasures and joys that will last forever. During the ages of ages we shall be astonished again and again at the blessedness of the glorious plans that God has for His children. Heb.10v13. Eph.2v6,7. The mystery, that is, the evil plan, of Satan. 2Thes.2v7. Rev.2v24. Satan and his angels are doomed to Hell forever because of their impenitence and wickedness. Sin has destroyed their characters, and they only find pleasure in causing misery and destruction. They are filled with a murderous hatred of God and man, and their only desire is to hurt and damage God and mankind as much as possible before their final ruin. The Devil’s kingdom is ruled by the most fierce and most powerful evil angels, it is a kingdom of violence, hatred, suspicion and every evil work. The only thing that binds these evil angels together is a common hatred of God, and that which is good. God has restrained these evil beings from their plans of destruction in the past, they have only been allowed to go so far, but during the last 7 years, and particularly in the last 3½ years, they will have their plan fulfilled. They will stage a mock kingdom of heaven upon earth, a kingdom of death and destruction, which brings terrible misery and suffering upon mankind. God will allow this to take place in order to show to all the horror of sin, and the folly of preferring Satan's evil rule to His gracious rule. God will destroy this evil plan of Satan at the seventh trumpet on the last day. Jn.8v44. 10v10. Rev.11v18. 6v1-17. 12v12. 20v1-3. The times of the Gentile nations. "Hou plerothosin kairoi ethnon." Lk.21v24. Rev.11v1,2. This appears to have begun with the Babylonian captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar, and will end with the destruction of Gentile power at the coming of Christ. Dan.2v31-45. During all this time, Jerusalem has only known temporary periods of freedom from foreign rule, like the one she is at present enjoying, and even now her sacred Temple area has the Mosque upon it, which was built by Caliph Omar in the 7th. century, and so it is being “trodden down of the Gentiles,” (“pateo” 3961, to trample underfoot, and treat with contempt) and it appears will continue to be so trodden under, “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Lk.21v24. (In Heb.10v29. the strengthened form “katapateo” 2662, is used to speak of the even more serous sin of trampling under foot the Lord Jesus) The rule of Jerusalem by foreign powers will only cease when Christ returns to reign. “Kairoi,” “times,” is used to show these are special divine times and epochs which are ordained by God, and prove that, “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will.” Dan.4v17,25. The times of the Gentiles is the period when God has allowed Gentile nations in sequence to have empires and rule large areas of the world, and for much of this time Israel has been subjugated under Gentile nations. The sinfulness of these nations and their leaders has allowed Satan to dominate and control them, as we can see from the seven heads of the beast in Rev.13 and 17.. God has allowed these Gentile nations to have empires in order to reveal their hearts and break the pride of the Gentiles by their total failure to produce justice and the desired happiness of their subjugated nations. This will demonstrate that without God's loving rule, sin will dominate and happiness will be impossible and all will fail. The appalling misery, carnage and destruction brought about by Satan and Antichrist will demonstrate the fearful end of evil, and break the pride of man. It will be obvious that man cannot manage to rule the world without the grace of God. The nations entering the Millennium will realise the wisdom and righteousness of God's ways, and also be willing to learn from the despised Jew. Zech.8v23. When we consider the plans and purposes of God we are left in wonder and amazement at God's unsearchable wisdom. When Jesus comes returns He will terminate the times of the Gentiles, the age of grace, and the fullness of the Gentiles. The fullness of the Gentile nations. "To pleroma ton ethnon." Rom.11v25,26. 15v16,18. The apostle Paul says, “I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery ... that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Rom.11v25,26. In Rom.11v25,26., Paul is quoting and explaining the prophecy of Is.59v16-21.; which confirms that the fullness of the Gentiles and the times of the Gentiles finish at the same time, the day when Christ comes to set up His kingdom and judge the wicked. The fullness of the Gentiles is the time when Christ returns and the purpose of God in calling out Gentile believers into Christ's Church is completed. Eph.1v22,23. 2v11-22. Acts.15v14. 1Cor.12v12,13. In Rom.15v16., Paul writes of “the offering up of the Gentiles,” “he prosphora ton ethnon.” Paul looks upon himself as a minister (“leitourgon,” someone who performs a public service, and particularly a religious service), who is ministering the Gospel, (“hierourgounta,” to serve as a priest, to work in sacred things, particularly of sacrifices), and he sees his sanctified Gentile converts as a pleasing and acceptable offering to God. This is the “obedience of the Gentiles,” “to hupakoen ethnon,” which Paul refers in Rom.15v18.. The blindness of the Israelites will continue until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in at the close of the age, when Christ appears in His glory to deliver the godly seed of Jacob. If the Church were to be removed before the great tribulation it would make nonsense of Paul's statement in Rom.11v25,26., that Israel experiences a “blindness in part until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in;” for Israel is almost completely deceived and corrupted by Antichrist and experiences her time of greatest spiritual blindness during the great tribulation. The fullness of the Gentiles takes place on the same day that the times of the Gentiles closes, the same day that Jesus, “The Deliverer,” comes out of Zion and sets up His kingdom on earth, this is when “the fullness of Israel” starts, and the reproach of Israel is taken away. Rom.11v12. Which, according to Is.25v6-9., is when the marriage supper of the Lamb, the resurrection, and the binding and execution of Satan and his angels occurs. “The fullness of the Gentiles” is a major part of the divine purposes for this age of grace. The age of grace. John.1v14,17. Gal.1v3. Rom.1v1-5 5v1,2,15,20,21. The age of grace commenced at the first coming of Christ and will continue right up to the day when Christ comes to judge the wicked as Peter is careful to make quite clear. Mt.11v13,14. Lk.16v16. Jn.1v17. 2Pet.3v9,10.. Acts.2v19-21. Many people accept Christ and are kept by Christ in the great tribulation, and opportunity for salvation is given right to the end of the great tribulation, an angel even preaches the Gospel right at the very end of the age. Rev.7v14. 14v6,7. The Church of Christ is assured of His presence right up to the close of the age of grace. Mt.28v18-20. 24v14. N.B. “then shall the end come.” Mt.13 10. We know from Acts.2v16-21 and 2Pet.3v9,10., that the age of grace continues right up to the commencement of the Millennium on the last day. To say, as some do, that this “last day” is the rapture of the Church years before the Millennial kingdom is set up, is without any Scriptural foundation. There is a great multitude of Christians out of every nation who overcome the darkness of the great tribulation. In the parables of the tares and the wheat, and the drag net, our Lord tells us that the age of grace will continue up to the start of the Millennial Kingdom. Mt.13v24-30. 36-43, 47-50. The wheat and the tares grow together until “the end of the age,” and at the same harvest the wheat and tares are gathered, not two different harvests. Jesus said that this is a parable of the kingdom of heaven, not of the nation of Israel, and He also states that the wheat are gathered by angels, as in Mt.24v31., again proving that they are speaking of the same event. Jesus tells us in Mt.11v11-13. 4v17,23. 13v11,17. and 16v18., that the Church age has superseded the nation of Israel. God is now calling people out of all nations into the Church of Christ, to inherit a heavenly kingdom. Lk.16v16. The parable of the drag net also teaches that at the consummation of the age, there will be a severing of the wicked from the just; and again there is the same insistence that these events occur together. When the age ends, the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Mt.13v43. These parables make it quite clear that the close of the age of grace, and the commencement of the Millennial kingdom occur at the same time. Our Lord gives a solemn and striking warning of a furnace of fire. Jesus also tells how the wicked will react on this day, they will wail with remorse, but not with repentance, and they will gnash their teeth in bitter hatred and anger against God. It is quite clear that the last day is the day when the age of grace is consummated and the Millennial kingdom is set up. There is also overwhelming evidence to convince the honest mind, that the resurrection of life, the first resurrection, occurs after the great tribulation on the last day, at the seventh trumpet, in a moment of time, and that the rapture follows immediately after it. N.B. THIS RESURRECTION IS CERTAINLY NOT A SECRET RESURRECTION. It will be accompanied with tremendous noise. The Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, there will also be the mighty voice of the archangel, and the great trumpet of God. 1Thes.4v13-18 Is.27v13. Mt.24v31. There are also mighty thunderings and great voices. Rev.19v6. 11v15. It will be accompanied with tremendous glory and a blaze of light. Christ coming will be as visible and more glorious than a mighty lightening flash; He will come with power and great glory.Mt.24v27. Lk.17v24. Is.24v23 1Tim.6v12. Millions of glorious saints and angels will accompany their conquering and glorious Lord. Rev.19v11-16. It will be accompanied by a rocking heaven and earth. Many Scriptures state that there will be great earthquakes. Is.24v18-20 Joel.2v30-32. Zech.14. all. Mt.24v29. 2Pet.3v10-13. Rev.6v12-17. 11v13,19. 16v18,20,21. Anyone who can make a secret rapture out of these Scriptures is straining both their imagination and the Scripture, and having heard someone use 2Pet.3v10-13., as the basis of a sermon on a secret rapture, I can assure you that some do try to manage this astonishing perversion of Scripture. I have never known anyone who has been able to explain away the fact that the first resurrection takes place after the great tribulation, at the seventh trumpet, on the last day. This is an unanswerable argument in favour of the post-tribulation rapture of the Church. OUR CHRISTIAN WALK IN THE LIGHT OF OUR LORD'S RETURN. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come... Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” Mt.24v42-44. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day came upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all of them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Lk.21v34-36. “Therefore, my beloved brethren be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1Cor.15v58. “Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” 1Cor.4v5. THERE IS NO PRETRIBULATION RESURRECTION OF THE CHURCH. In Mt.24v29-31., Jesus states that the “parousia” will not take place until “immediately after the tribulation of those days.” Paul writes in 1Cor.15v23,51-53., that Christ's coming, “parousia,” takes place at the last trumpet of Rev.11v15-19., at the end of the tribulation. The martyrs killed by Antichrist in the great tribulation are partakers of the first resurrection at the start of the Millennium. Rev.20v4-6. 1Cor.15v23,24. Jn.5v25-29. Acts.24v15. This is confirmed by Dan.7v21,22,25., which tells us that Antichrist will make war with the saints and prevail against them, until the Lord comes to judge him, and the saints possess the kingdom. Jesus tells us in Mt.13v30-41., that tares and wheat are “both” to “grow together until the harvest;” and that “in the time of harvest” He “will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into My barn:” this is explained as “the harvest” at “the end of this age,” when, “the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.” Jesus promised to be with us, “unto the end of the age.” Mt.28v20. Antichrist will be destroyed “with the brightness, “epiphaneia,” of Christ's “Parousia.” 2Thes.2v8. Christians who are being persecuted will rest at Christ's “Apokalupsis.” 2Thes.1v7. < >
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Chapter Nine

When will the Resurrection of Christians take place?

Paul informs us in 1Thes.4v13-18., that the resurrection immediately precedes the rapture. In 1Cor.15v51-54., Paul states that the transformation and glorification of our earthly bodies takes place almost instantly, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet,” Therefore, as the resurrection and rapture of the Church take place in a matter of seconds or minutes, if the time of the resurrection can be accurately fixed, the exact time of the rapture of the Church can be fixed at that time too. The Scriptures unanimously state that the resurrection will take place after the great tribulation. In.1Cor.15v54., Paul writes that death will be swallowed up in victory at the resurrection; this promise is quoted from Is.25v7,8., and states that this will occur at the time when the Lord begins to reign, and Israel is restored to her land, and receives the Millennial promises, and takes pride of place in the world. The wicked are also said to be judged at the same time. Is.26v19-21. Dan.12v1,2. Rev.19v1 to 20v6.

There are three resurrections stated in 1Cor.15v23,24.
The resurrection of Christ has already occurred, the Scriptures clearly state that there are only two general resurrections, and they have yet to take place. Jn.5v28,29. Rev.20v4-15.

Christ the first fruits.
The partial resurrection of many Old Testament Saints when Jesus was resurrected in Mt.27v51-53., was an act of mercy from God to give absolute proof of the resurrection of Christ. The Jews did not see the resurrected body of Jesus, but many of them saw the resurrected bodies of many saints, probably some godly relatives or people they knew, and they noised abroad what they had seen and heard. This created an enormous stir and was a major reason for the revival on the day of Pentecost.

"They that are Christ's at His coming."
In Rev.20v4-6., this is referred to as “the first resurrection.” At this resurrection the faithful saints of Israel come to life as well as Christian believers. Ez.37v1-28. Hosea.13v14. Dan.12v1-3. Is.24v21. 25v7-9. 26v19-21. 1Thes.4v13,14. This is called the resurrection of the just, Lk.14v14.; and the resurrection of life. Jn.5v28,29. Paul states that the resurrection of all Christians will take place at the last trumpet, and the transformation of their bodies will take place in the twinkling of an eye. 1Cor.15v51-53.

In 1Thes.4v13., Paul speaks of the bodies of Christians as being “asleep;” our word “cemetery” is derived from the Greek “koimeterion,” which means “sleeping place.” The Christians who have died are in no sense asleep, they are enjoying the glories of paradise in the presence of God in heaven. Jn.11v25,26. 2Cor.5v1-10. 12v1-4. Rev.2v7. 6v9-11. 21v2. 22v2. The souls of the saints will return with Jesus and will be clothed upon with glorified bodies at the resurrection. 1Thes.4v14-16. The resurrection and the rapture are so closely linked in time, that to fix the time of one is to fix the time of the other.

N.B. It must be remembered that though the wicked do not come before Christ for judgement at the first resurrection, they are judged in the sense that they are weighed and found wanting and not worthy of that resurrection because of their wickedness. Jn.12v48. The public judgement of the wicked does not take place till 1,000 years later at the Great White Throne judgement, the wicked are resurrected for this judgement. Lk.20v35. Phil.3v11. Heb.11v35. Rev. 20v5,6,11-15.

"Then cometh the end."
This is the second general resurrection, and is called the resurrection of damnation, it occurs at the end of the Millennium, just prior to the Great White Throne judgement, this is in contrast to the first resurrection, the resurrection of life. Jn.5v28,29.

THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE LAST TRUMPET. 1Cor.15v52.
This can only be the seventh trumpet of Rev.11v15.. The word “last” means last, so trumpets must sound before it, and none sound after it, if it is the last trumpet. What other trumpets can these be but the seven trumpets of the book of Revelation? Some have made this last trumpet anything but the last, by saying that it sounds before the seven trumpets of Revelation.

In Rev.11v15., God says that at this seventh trumpet, “The kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.” To confirm that the resurrection takes place at this seventh trumpet, verse 18 says, “thy wrath is come AND THE TIME OF THE DEAD THAT THEY SHOULD BE JUDGED,” and that at this time the saints are rewarded. The seventh trumpet of Rev.11v15., is the “great sound of a trumpet” of Mt.24v31., “the trumpet of God” of 1Thes.4v16., and “the great trumpet” of Is.27v13.. It is necessary to state that the seven trumpets of Revelation are in chronological order. Rev.8v13. 9v12. It is also essential to note that the vials are not poured out after the trumpets have finished, but that they also finish on that great last day, the day of the Lord, as do the trumpets and the seals. This can be proved to be true from a comparison of the following Scriptures. Mt.24v27-31. Acts.2v19-21. Rev.6v12-17. 11v15-19. 16v12-21. with Zech.14v1-21. N.B. v1,4,5.

THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL OCCUR JUST BEFORE THE SAINTS BEGIN TO REIGN.
The Scriptures state that ALL Christians will be resurrected and receive their glorified bodies in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, at the first resurrection, on the last day, at the end of the great tribulation. 1Cor.15v51-54. Is.25v8. Phil.3v20,21. Some do not accept this and say that the first resurrection covers several years and has several stages. This directly contradicts Rev.20v4-6., which states that the resurrection takes place at the start of the Millennial reign of Christ. It is folly to say that there is a resurrection of Christians that takes place several years before the first resurrection. To say that first does not mean first, makes words devoid of any meaning and worthless.

THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE LAST DAY. John.6v39,40,44,54. 11v24. 12v48.
Jesus taught that those who believed in Him were to be raised from the dead at the first resurrection on the last day. This “last day” is the day of the Lord, or as it is also called, the day of Christ. These phrases denote the last day of this age, the great and terrible day of the Lord, when the Lord Jesus sets up His kingdom upon earth. It is the last day of five things.

The mystery, that is, the gracious plan, of God Rev.10v7. Eph.3v9-11.
The word “mystery” does not mean mysterious, but rather the secret plan of God, which He has made known unto His children. The world does not think that God has got any plan at all, but He has always had a very complex and wonderful plan, “the plan of the ages,” and at the coming of Christ this plan will have been completed. Eph.3v10,11. God has planned to put Heaven and earth under faithful loving rulers, these He has found in His Son Jesus and His faithful brethren and the faithful angels. The Lord has also to fulfil His promise to the faithful Israelites, that they should have an earthly inheritance. Both of these things will come to pass on the last day when the seventh trumpet sounds, God's plan will then be finished. Rev.10v7. Dan.9v24. This is the day that God is waiting and longing for, He can then start and bestow upon His children all the riches of His grace, the pleasures and joys that will last forever. During the ages of ages we shall be astonished again and again at the blessedness of the glorious plans that God has for His children. Heb.10v13. Eph.2v6,7.

The mystery, that is, the evil plan, of Satan. 2Thes.2v7. Rev.2v24.
Satan and his angels are doomed to Hell forever because of their impenitence and wickedness. Sin has destroyed their characters, and they only find pleasure in causing misery and destruction. They are filled with a murderous hatred of God and man, and their only desire is to hurt and damage God and mankind as much as possible before their final ruin. The Devil’s kingdom is ruled by the most fierce and most powerful evil angels, it is a kingdom of violence, hatred, suspicion and every evil work. The only thing that binds these evil angels together is a common hatred of God, and that which is good. God has restrained these evil beings from their plans of destruction in the past, they have only been allowed to go so far, but during the last 7 years, and particularly in the last 3½ years, they will have their plan fulfilled. They will stage a mock kingdom of heaven upon earth, a kingdom of death and destruction, which brings terrible misery and suffering upon mankind. God will allow this to take place in order to show to all the horror of sin, and the folly of preferring Satan's evil rule to His gracious rule. God will destroy this evil plan of Satan at the seventh trumpet on the last day. Jn.8v44. 10v10. Rev.11v18. 6v1-17. 12v12. 20v1-3.

The times of the Gentile nations. "Hou plerothosin kairoi ethnon." Lk.21v24. Rev.11v1,2.
This appears to have begun with the Babylonian captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar, and will end with the destruction of Gentile power at the coming of Christ. Dan.2v31-45. During all this time, Jerusalem has only known temporary periods of freedom from foreign rule, like the one she is at present enjoying, and even now her sacred Temple area has the Mosque upon it, which was built by Caliph Omar in the 7th. century, and so it is being “trodden down of the Gentiles,” (“pateo” 3961, to trample underfoot, and treat with contempt) and it appears will continue to be so trodden under, “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Lk.21v24. (In Heb.10v29. the strengthened form “katapateo” 2662, is used to speak of the even more serous sin of trampling under foot the Lord Jesus) The rule of Jerusalem by foreign powers will only cease when Christ returns to reign.

“Kairoi,” “times,” is used to show these are special divine times and epochs which are ordained by God, and prove that, “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will.” Dan.4v17,25. The times of the Gentiles is the period when God has allowed Gentile nations in sequence to have empires and rule large areas of the world, and for much of this time Israel has been subjugated under Gentile nations. The sinfulness of these nations and their leaders has allowed Satan to dominate and control them, as we can see from the seven heads of the beast in Rev.13 and 17.. God has allowed these Gentile nations to have empires in order to reveal their hearts and break the pride of the Gentiles by their total failure to produce justice and the desired happiness of their subjugated nations. This will demonstrate that without God's loving rule, sin will dominate and happiness will be impossible and all will fail. The appalling misery, carnage and destruction brought about by Satan and Antichrist will demonstrate the fearful end of evil, and break the pride of man. It will be obvious that man cannot manage to rule the world without the grace of God. The nations entering the Millennium will realise the wisdom and righteousness of God's ways, and also be willing to learn from the despised Jew. Zech.8v23.

When we consider the plans and purposes of God we are left in wonder and amazement at God's unsearchable wisdom. When Jesus comes returns He will terminate the times of the Gentiles, the age of grace, and the fullness of the Gentiles.

The fullness of the Gentile nations. "To pleroma ton ethnon." Rom.11v25,26. 15v16,18.
The apostle Paul says, “I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery ... that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Rom.11v25,26. In Rom.11v25,26., Paul is quoting and explaining the prophecy of Is.59v16-21.; which confirms that the fullness of the Gentiles and the times of the Gentiles finish at the same time, the day when Christ comes to set up His kingdom and judge the wicked. The fullness of the Gentiles is the time when Christ returns and the purpose of God in calling out Gentile believers into Christ's Church is completed. Eph.1v22,23. 2v11-22. Acts.15v14. 1Cor.12v12,13. In Rom.15v16., Paul writes of “the offering up of the Gentiles,” “he prosphora ton ethnon.” Paul looks upon himself as a minister (“leitourgon,” someone who performs a public service, and particularly a religious service), who is ministering the Gospel, (“hierourgounta,” to serve as a priest, to work in sacred things, particularly of sacrifices), and he sees his sanctified Gentile converts as a pleasing and acceptable offering to God. This is the “obedience of the Gentiles,” “to hupakoen ethnon,” which Paul refers in Rom.15v18..

The blindness of the Israelites will continue until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in at the close of the age, when Christ appears in His glory to deliver the godly seed of Jacob. If the Church were to be removed before the great tribulation it would make nonsense of Paul's statement in Rom.11v25,26., that Israel experiences a “blindness in part until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in;” for Israel is almost completely deceived and corrupted by Antichrist and experiences her time of greatest spiritual blindness during the great tribulation. The fullness of the Gentiles takes place on the same day that the times of the Gentiles closes, the same day that Jesus, “The Deliverer,” comes out of Zion and sets up His kingdom on earth, this is when “the fullness of Israel” starts, and the reproach of Israel is taken away. Rom.11v12. Which, according to Is.25v6-9., is when the marriage supper of the Lamb, the resurrection, and the binding and execution of Satan and his angels occurs. “The fullness of the Gentiles” is a major part of the divine purposes for this age of grace.

The age of grace. John.1v14,17. Gal.1v3. Rom.1v1-5 5v1,2,15,20,21.
The age of grace commenced at the first coming of Christ and will continue right up to the day when Christ comes to judge the wicked as Peter is careful to make quite clear. Mt.11v13,14. Lk.16v16. Jn.1v17. 2Pet.3v9,10.. Acts.2v19-21.
Many people accept Christ and are kept by Christ in the great tribulation, and opportunity for salvation is given right to the end of the great tribulation, an angel even preaches the Gospel right at the very end of the age. Rev.7v14. 14v6,7. The Church of Christ is assured of His presence right up to the close of the age of grace. Mt.28v18-20. 24v14. N.B. “then shall the end come.” Mt.13 10. We know from Acts.2v16-21 and 2Pet.3v9,10., that the age of grace continues right up to the commencement of the Millennium on the last day. To say, as some do, that this “last day” is the rapture of the Church years before the Millennial kingdom is set up, is without any Scriptural foundation. There is a great multitude of Christians out of every nation who overcome the darkness of the great tribulation.

In the parables of the tares and the wheat, and the drag net, our Lord tells us that the age of grace will continue up to the start of the Millennial Kingdom. Mt.13v24-30. 36-43, 47-50. The wheat and the tares grow together until “the end of the age,” and at the same harvest the wheat and tares are gathered, not two different harvests. Jesus said that this is a parable of the kingdom of heaven, not of the nation of Israel, and He also states that the wheat are gathered by angels, as in Mt.24v31., again proving that they are speaking of the same event. Jesus tells us in Mt.11v11-13. 4v17,23. 13v11,17. and 16v18., that the Church age has superseded the nation of Israel. God is now calling people out of all nations into the Church of Christ, to inherit a heavenly kingdom. Lk.16v16.

The parable of the drag net also teaches that at the consummation of the age, there will be a severing of the wicked from the just; and again there is the same insistence that these events occur together. When the age ends, the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Mt.13v43. These parables make it quite clear that the close of the age of grace, and the commencement of the Millennial kingdom occur at the same time. Our Lord gives a solemn and striking warning of a furnace of fire. Jesus also tells how the wicked will react on this day, they will wail with remorse, but not with repentance, and they will gnash their teeth in bitter hatred and anger against God.

It is quite clear that the last day is the day when the age of grace is consummated and the Millennial kingdom is set up. There is also overwhelming evidence to convince the honest mind, that the resurrection of life, the first resurrection, occurs after the great tribulation on the last day, at the seventh trumpet, in a moment of time, and that the rapture follows immediately after it.

N.B. THIS RESURRECTION IS CERTAINLY NOT A SECRET RESURRECTION.
It will be accompanied with tremendous noise.
The Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, there will also be the mighty voice of the archangel, and the great trumpet of God. 1Thes.4v13-18 Is.27v13. Mt.24v31. There are also mighty thunderings and great voices. Rev.19v6. 11v15.

It will be accompanied with tremendous glory and a blaze of light.
Christ coming will be as visible and more glorious than a mighty lightening flash; He will come with power and great glory.Mt.24v27. Lk.17v24. Is.24v23 1Tim.6v12. Millions of glorious saints and angels will accompany their conquering and glorious Lord. Rev.19v11-16.

It will be accompanied by a rocking heaven and earth.
Many Scriptures state that there will be great earthquakes. Is.24v18-20 Joel.2v30-32. Zech.14. all. Mt.24v29. 2Pet.3v10-13. Rev.6v12-17. 11v13,19. 16v18,20,21. Anyone who can make a secret rapture out of these Scriptures is straining both their imagination and the Scripture, and having heard someone use 2Pet.3v10-13., as the basis of a sermon on a secret rapture, I can assure you that some do try to manage this astonishing perversion of Scripture. I have never known anyone who has been able to explain away the fact that the first resurrection takes place after the great tribulation, at the seventh trumpet, on the last day. This is an unanswerable argument in favour of the post-tribulation rapture of the Church.

OUR CHRISTIAN WALK IN THE LIGHT OF OUR LORD'S RETURN.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come... Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” Mt.24v42-44. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day came upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all of them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Lk.21v34-36. “Therefore, my beloved brethren be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1Cor.15v58. “Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” 1Cor.4v5.

THERE IS NO PRETRIBULATION RESURRECTION OF THE CHURCH.
In Mt.24v29-31., Jesus states that the “parousia” will not take place until “immediately after the tribulation of those days.” Paul writes in 1Cor.15v23,51-53., that Christ's coming, “parousia,” takes place at the last trumpet of Rev.11v15-19., at the end of the tribulation. The martyrs killed by Antichrist in the great tribulation are partakers of the first resurrection at the start of the Millennium. Rev.20v4-6. 1Cor.15v23,24. Jn.5v25-29. Acts.24v15. This is confirmed by Dan.7v21,22,25., which tells us that Antichrist will make war with the saints and prevail against them, until the Lord comes to judge him, and the saints possess the kingdom. Jesus tells us in Mt.13v30-41., that tares and wheat are “both” to “grow together until the harvest;” and that “in the time of harvest” He “will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into My barn:” this is explained as “the harvest” at “the end of this age,” when, “the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.” Jesus promised to be with us, “unto the end of the age.” Mt.28v20. Antichrist will be destroyed “with the brightness, “epiphaneia,” of Christ's “Parousia.” 2Thes.2v8. Christians who are being persecuted will rest at Christ's “Apokalupsis.” 2Thes.1v7.

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