Resurrection Evidence?

Evidence Of A Resurrection

Q. Do you believe that when the bodies from the graves are resurrected at the rapture it will be evident to those left behind? Will there be disturbed ground at the cemeteries and empty urns? Or will there be no physical evidence indicating that the rapture has taken place?

A. All we know about the physical evidence of a resurrection of the dead is what Matthew 27:52-53 says.

“The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”

According to this description, it appears there was evidence at the grave sites that the people buried there had left the premises. If it happened then, it should happen now.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

What is the "White Stone" that Jesus spoke about?

The White Stone

Q. I was reading C.S.Lewis this week and in one of his books he said that the white stone we will be given by Jesus when we reach heaven will be the only possession we will have in heaven. Private ownership evidently will not exist. God will (and does) own everything except that white stone with a new name on it which only yourself and Jesus will know. It must be a very precious thing Do you have any comments or teaching on this White Stone?

A. You’re referring to the last part of Rev. 2:17. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it , known only to him who receives it.

In Biblical times, the white stone was a sign of trust. When an important businessman had to complete a transaction in a distant city, he didn’t travel there himself. It was too dangerous. Instead he sent a trusted servant empowered to act on his behalf. The servant carried a coin-like form of identification made of baked white clay. The seal of the businessman being represented was pressed into the clay as was a secret name, known only to the other party in the transaction. By the presentation of the white stone, the servant authenticated himself as being entitled to all the rights and privileges due his master. This symbolizes the way our Lord Jesus will identify us as being entitled to all the rights and privileges due Him, when we enter into the Presence of our Father in Heaven.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Rapture?

Is The Rapture Still 300 Years Away?

Q. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your website. I pray for you, that you always teach God’s Truth with love in your heart. Thank you for so kindly answering my questions. I have another:

Today (a writer on another website) said that in Ezekiel God promised the Jews that in 3 days they would get their kingdom back and a thousand years is as a day and this was in about 600 BC so we’re halfway thru the 2nd millenium and the 3rd will be the promised millenium after the Tribulation – I think I’m explaining that right – so he says there should be about 300 more years til the rapture.

I like his articles, he seems like a knowledgeable and sincere Christian – I’m just a common saint. I look to people like you who are more learned than I to explain scripture – and I’ve read a lot of your articles including the ones about why the rapture is imminent. What do you make of what he said. His thinking is flawed, right? Could you explain why he’s wrong?

A. There are several errors here. First of all the passage is from Hosea and here’s what it says.

Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me.”

“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. (Hosea 5:15-6:2)

When you look at the whole passage it says that the Lord was going to go back where He came from until they admit their guilt. This can’t refer to the Babylonian captivity which began in 586BC because its duration was fixed before hand at 70 years and wasn’t dependent on them admitting their guilt.

No, it was fulfilled when the Lord left the Earth after His Resurrection. He confirmed this in Matt. 23:39 when He said, For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ He’s not coming back until they admit that He is who He claims to be. So the count began with the Resurrection, not the Babylonian captivity which began about 600 years earlier.

Then Hosea’s prophecy continued, saying that after 2 days God would revive them. If a day is as 1000 years that means 2000 years after He left, He would revive them, bring them back to life. The reviving began in 1948 and will be complete after the Battle of Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 39:28)

Then on the third day they’d be restored. Not after the third day but on the third day, at it’s beginning, after they’ve admitted their guilt (Zechariah 12:10). This refers to the Davidic Kingdom which will be restored at the beginning of the Millennium, the third thousand years after the resurrection.

Finally, we should note that in this passage the concluding event is the restoration of the Kingdom for Israel. It has nothing to do with the Rapture of the Church which can happen at any moment. Using his calculations and beginning at the Resurrection, Hosea’s prophecy of Israel’s restoration will be fulfilled around 2032, within the window of time I’ve previously established of 2018-2037.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Where is 'Rapture' in the Bible?

No Mention Of The Rapture?

Q. I just want to thank you and thank the Lord for blessing you with all the devotion you put into studying and teaching his word.

I have listened to all your messages and read your articles on the rapture. The Holy Spirit has lead you to doing a great job of studying the scriptures and coming up with your reasoning on the rapture coming at pre tribulation. You left no doubt in my mind as to agreeing with you fully, until I was listening to a pastor that was being interviewed about the rapture and his point of view was how he didn’t believe in any rapture of the church, and that even the scriptures don’t come right out and mention the word rapture in them. I even looked up rapture in the bible dictionaries, and the word rapture is not listed.

The pastor being interviewed did not convince me to change my mind, but I was just wondering why God left such a grey area when writing about his church being raptured from ones way to interpret it to another’s?

A. The timing of the Rapture of the Church is part of God’s secret wisdom that has to be kept from His great adversary for strategic reasons, and therefore it has to be kept from us as well. But although it is impossible for any man to know the exact day of its arrival in advance, we have been told clearly of its existence. (1 Cor. 15:51-52, 1 Thes. 1:10, 1 Thes. 4:16, Rev 3:10)

Any one who teaches that the word Rapture doesn’t appear in the Scriptures is counting on our ignorance. He hopes we don’t know that Rapture is a Latin word, whereas the New Testament was written in Greek . The Greek word from which it comes is harpazo, found in 1 Thes. 4:16 where it’s translated “caught up.” The Latin word for caught up is Rapture. You might tell him that Lucifer, another Latin word, doesn’t appear in the original Bible either, but no one would be silly enough to use that as an excuse to deny the devil’s existence.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Abortion?

What Happens To Aborted Babies?

Q. What happens to the souls of aborted babies? If the answer is they go straight to heaven, does this not make infanticide the greatest form of evangelism ever discovered and Dr. George Tiller one of the greatest evangelists of all time?

Although the scriptures do not speak to this hypothesis, are these souls possibly born in the Millennial reign of Jesus? Such an assertion would logically suggest the same for all children that die before the age of accountability and the mentally incapacitated.

A. Both the Old and New Testaments make it clear that from the moment of conception until the age of accountability, children belong to God. In Romans 7:9 Paul said that he was alive apart from the Law until the commandment came, when sin sprang to life and he died. Since he lived for many more years, it’s obvious he was talking about the spiritual death that comes upon reaching the age when we’re held accountable for our sins. After that we must make the choice to be born again in order to remain in God’s family and avoid the penalty for our sins.

Aborted babies are just like other children who die before the age of accountability. They belong to the Lord. At the Rapture they’ll receive resurrection bodies and will dwell in the New Jerusalem as part of the Church.

Dr. Tiller repeatedly and with malice aforethought violated the commandment against taking an innocent life. Although the result was beneficial for the victims, Dr. Tiller is accountable for their lives (Genesis 9:6) unless before his death he sought forgiveness.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

The Church

How Can The Church Be Considered Pure?

Q. I love your site, it gives me insight into the bible that I cannot get nearly anywhere else. Here is my question. I have been following where you are saying that the “church” is the “bride” of Yeshua. Here is a scripture from one of your entries:

Ephes. 5:25-27 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

I know through and through that I need Christ’s salvation as much as any, and I am humbled to think that Yahweh would consider us without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish. In my experience the Church is anything but pure, and many don’t even seem to care. Are we not supposed to be working on ourselves? I am in a messianic bible study and they are saying that God could not bring a church like this to himself because of these things and mixing in the world, practice of pagan worship. Yahweh put out part of Israel for that very reason.

A. If you read Ephesians 5:25-27 carefully, you’ll see that Jesus gave His life to make the Church holy. It’s something He did, not something we do. If you are in Christ you already are a new creation. As far as God is concerned the old you has gone and the new you has come (2 Cor. 5:17). At the cross Jesus took upon Himself all your sins and in return gave you all of His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).

Many Messianic believers confuse the old and new covenants. In the old covenant people had to work to achieve and maintain their righteousness. In the new covenant righteousness is imputed to us by faith. The Church was made free of stain, wrinkle or any other blemish at the cross. Not because of what we do, but because of our faith in what the Lord did.

Teaching us to live holy lives is commendable, but making our inclusion in the Raptured Church dependent upon it is wrong and relegates the Lord’s death to the same status as the death of bulls and goats. For by His one sacrifice He has made us perfect forever. (Hebr. 10:14) Don’t get me wrong, I’m not condoning sin. But for the Church it’s not about how we behave, it’s about what we believe.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

O What A Glorious Body He Gives!

Resurrection Bodies

Q. As I understand it, when the rapture occurs, all believers will be ‘translated’ to heaven leaving their earthly bodies behind. Additionally as I understand it, we don’t get our new ‘perfect’ bodies until the ‘end of the age’/ judgment timeframe.

However all/most believers who will be raptured will be coming back with Jesus to ‘assist with ruling’ on the earth during the millennium, which would means we would need a suitable body.

If we get a body like Jesus had during his resurrected time on the earth we would be able to move through solid objects, perhaps move through time, etc.

In your opinion, is my ‘thinking’ biblically correct?

A. The way I read 1 Cor. 15:51-53 those of us alive at the rapture will receive perfected bodies immediately, just as those being resurrected receive theirs. The living don’t discard their earthly bodies at that time, they’re just changed. Think of it like a massive upgrade to your computer. Afterward it’s still the same computer, but it works a whole lot better. I’m not aware of any additional changes to our physical nature subsequent to that.

And my understanding of 1 John 3:2 is that our new bodies will be similar in capability to the Lord’s. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Rapture

Do We Really Vanish?

Q. For some time now, I’ve wondered if we will simply disappear at the Rapture. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, He did so visibly. Also, the saints that were raised up appeared in the city to hundreds of people. So where do we get the idea that we would vanish, leaving our clothes behind? Am I missing something here?

A. In 1 Cor. 15:51 Paul wrote that we would be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye. Since the Greek word for changed is transformed, it’s been assumed that this instantaneous transformation will include both location and composition. In John 14:1-3 Jesus said after He prepared a place for us in His Father’s house, He would come to take us there, and in 1 Thes 4:17 Paul said that when this happens we’ll be with the Lord from then on. I think vanishing is a lot more likely explanation than having the world watch while we float up into the air.

Also in Isaiah 26:20 the word translated come (KJV) or go (NIV) means to come away, depart, or vanish. I believe this is an Old Testament reference of the Rapture.

As for the clothes, we’ll be getting new ones so it makes sense we’ll leave the old ones behind.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Is the times and fullness of the gentiles different?

Times Of The Gentiles And Fullness Of The Gentiles

Q. In Luke 21: 24 it is mentioned, ‘times of the Gentiles’. I checked several translations, all translation say, ‘times of the Gentiles’, instead of ‘time of the Gentile’. This is one of the puzzles to me, how to differentiate between ‘times of the Gentiles’ versus ‘time of the Gentiles’. Is it because Jerusalem is occupied by different gentile nations at different time period?

In Romans 11:25, it is mentioned ‘until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in’. But, according to Revelation 7:9 and 7:14, there will be Gentiles that will be saved during the great tribulation. I have difficulty to explain Romans 11:25 together with Revelation 7:9,14.

Is the ‘times of the Gentiles’ and the ‘fullness of the Gentiles’ pointing to the same time?

A. The times of the Gentiles mentioned in Luke 21:24 runs from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar to the 2nd Coming. The reason it’s plural is because there are four major kingdoms involved, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome (twice).

The fullness of the Gentiles in Romans 11:25 refers to the number of people who become believers during the Church age. When this number is reached, the Rapture will take place. Gentiles saved after the Rapture (Rev. 7:9,14)are called Tribulation Saints and don’t belong to the Church.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Millennium

Who Lives Where?

Q. Thanks to God and to your explanations, I’m slowly gaining a greater understanding of what I believe. But, I still have very, very much to learn.

In the Millennium, I now understand that All Israel will live in the land of the Covenant; and the New Testament saints will live . . . is it in Heaven or in the New Jerusalem?

Who will live on the rest of the earth during the Millennium; that is, outside the Covenant Lands?

As I don’t subscribe to harps and clouds, I believe that, surely, God will have jobs for the Church to do. So, what does Scripture imply/hint will be our jobs for 1,000 years? Will we help govern the earth? Teach?

A. In the Millennium, Israel will live in the Promised Land and fulfill the promises from the Old Testament about their Kingdom Age such as Isaiah 65:17-25. The Church will dwell in the New Jerusalem, incorrectly called heaven by some. The rest of the world will be populated by gentiles who became believers after the Rapture and survived the tribulation. Since they are taken live into the Millennium, they’ll bear children during the 1000 years. It’s the offspring of these children who rebel at the end of the Millennium.

We’re not told what we’ll do to occupy our time during the Millennium, but since we’ve been promised that it’ll be a time of unrestrained joy and since the sin-imposed limits to our creative intellect will have been removed, there must be some truly unimaginable adventures awaiting us. And no, they won’t involve harps and clouds.

Will The Church Live On Earth?

Q. I am confused on a question about the Millennium. I had come to believe that the Church would also dwell on the earth with the Tribulation Saints during this time. Is this not the case, will those of us raptured, not dwell also on earth?

A. The answer to your question lies in John 14:2-3:

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus didn’t promise to come back to be with us where we are. He promised to go to His father’s house to prepare a place for us there. Then He’ll come to get us and take us there, where He is. The Church will dwell in the New Jerusalem, which is too big to be located on Earth, but will be in its proximity. I see it as a low orbit satellite.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Crowns of a Believer!

Crown Him with Many Crowns

The Lord has given you a gift and a chance to earn some incredible prizes.

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

This verse from the old hymn obviously refers to the Lord in His position as King of Kings. But did you know that you may also receive multiple crowns? There are five crowns mentioned in the New Testament and they’re given to believers immediately after the Rapture. A hint of this is found, right after the promise that we’ll be kept from the coming tribulation, in Rev 3:11. “Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown.”

The crowns are identified as the Everlasting Crown (Victory) in 1 Cor 9:25, Crown of the Soul Winner in Phil 4:1 and 1 Thes 2:19, Crown of Righteousness in 2 Tim 4:8, Crown of Life in Jas 1:12 and Rev 2:10, and the Crown of Glory in 1 Peter 5:4.

And You Thought the Emmys Were Something

The Award Ceremony described in 1 Cor 3:12-15 clearly distinguishes these crowns from the free gift of Salvation by sequence and purpose. The Gift of Salvation is granted at the moment of belief (Ephe 1:13-14) before any behavior, good or bad, has occurred and marks the beginning of our new life. The events of 1 Cor 3 take place on the Believers’ Judgment Day, and reflect the fruits of our life after salvation. It’s important to realize that everyone involved in this ceremony is a believer (vs. 15). Simply put, salvation is the gift at the beginning that makes it possible for us to earn the crown at the end.

I Want One Of Those

The requirements are explained in 1 Cor 4:5. If the motives of our hearts are pure when we perform certain “acts of righteousness,” we may be earning one or more of these special prizes. But if there’s any thought of personal recognition or of earning some special credit for ourselves, we’re disqualified. The Lord told us in no uncertain terms; if we perform for the praise of men, we’ve gotten all the credit we’re going to get. If we keep our good deeds secret He who sees all things will remember and reward us (Matt 6:1-4).

Matters of the Heart

The only permissible motive in earning these crowns is what I call an “attitude of gratitude.” Selfless acts of love performed for no other reason than to express the gratitude we feel for the free gift of salvation we’ve received. Both the reactions of others and the immediate outcome are irrelevant. It’s the one area of our life where we’re not held accountable for results as long as the motive of our heart is pure.

I’m persuaded that our Lord’s ways are so different from ours, and our motives so difficult for us to discern, it’s impossible to tell what we may be earning. And the minute we try we’ve probably disqualified ourselves anyway. Hence the admonition in 1 Cor 4:5. “Judge nothing before the appointed time.”

The Gift and the Prize

Understanding the difference between the Gift (Salvation) and the Prize (Crowns) gives you great advantage in interpreting scriptures that speak of these things. The words themselves hold the clue. One doesn’t earn a gift. It’s freely given out of love with no strings attached. And it’s never taken back. So it is with our salvation.

A prize on the other hand is something you qualify for and work to earn. It’s a reward for behavior, and if it’s later determined that you violated the rules and should be disqualified, it can be revoked. So it is with our crowns. “Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown.” (Rev. 3:11)

When you understand that the Bible is God’s Word and therefore can not contradict itself, you know that if He says even once that our salvation is guaranteed, then its guaranteed. He can’t say it is in one place and then say it isn’t in another. If it appears that way, He has to be talking about two different things. And sure enough, He is. When He speaks of the gift of salvation, it’s unconditional irrespective of behavior. (2 Cor 1:21-22) When He speaks of the rewards we can earn, He’s speaking of our crowns. (Phil 3:13-14)

Where’s My Crown?

By the way, what do you suppose we do with these crowns, once we get them? According to Rev 5:10 we immediately turn and, bowing before His throne, place them at His feet. In so doing, we acknowledge that even our acts of service were made possible because of His gift to us.

If you’re working to earn the gift He’s already offered for free, you’re wasting your time and your life, and missing out on the joy of service. If you’re working to enhance or preserve His gift you risk offending Him, saying His effort was not sufficient. If you’re overwhelmed by the fact that He has accepted you just as you are, and just can’t restrain yourself; passing His love along every where you go with out any thought of reward, then one day soon He will crown you with many crowns.

More On Our Crowns

Q. I don’t know about you but I feel like I’m going to be the only Christian without a crown. I’m not sure I’ve ever done anything without some sort of hidden selfish motive. Even when I think I’m being selfless, just thinking that suddenly ruins everything. I guess I’ll just be grateful finally being with the Lord. That will be my reward. Being sinless and being with him is reward in itself. I can’t wait!!!

A. You’re just like the rest of us. I think what we considered to be our greatest accomplishments will get burned up in the fire, and the things we don’t even remember doing will earn us crowns. Remember 1 Cor. 4:5 says,

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

This applies to the way we judge ourselves too. And please note the word “each”. Each will receive his praise from God. It doesn’t say “some” or “many” or even “most” but “each”. To me this means that the Lord will find something good in each one of us.

Crowns For Believers, Literally?

Q. My question concerns crowns and the meaning of the term. I know the Bible mentions a crown of rejoicing, a crown of righteousness, a crown of life, etc., but are these literal crowns to be eventually awarded the believer, or are they metaphors for something else? The old hymn says “Crown Him with many crowns..” so maybe Christ is the only one worthy to be crowned? Thank you and God bless your ministry.

A. There’s no reason to think of the crowns symbolically. Rev. 4:10 says that as soon as we receive them, we lay them before the Throne at the Lord’s feet, signifying that He is the only one who is worthy to receive them. That would be hard to do that with a metaphorical crown.

The hymn you quoted refers to Rev. 19:12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Rewards At The Bema Judgment

Q. Hi, I love your website. My question is on what works are our Rewards at the Bema Seat based upon? Is it our obedience to the Lord’s commandments on a day to day basis, struggling to be obedient in times of Temptation, etc. Or are they something different, like seeing a starving person on the street, and getting them a sandwich to eat, or giving someone some clothes that are in need? Or is it a combination of both?

A. In Matt. 6 Jesus warned us to perform our “acts of righteousness” in private, as well as our prayers and fasting, to avoid getting immediate credit on Earth at the expense of future credit in Heaven. He also said the be careful not to store up earthly treasure, but use our earthly substance to build up treasure in Heaven.

In rewarding tribulation believers at the 2nd Coming, He said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:40) By this He meant protecting and caring for other believers, especially Jews.

In 1 Cor. 4:5 Paul said that the random acts of kindness we perform have to be done with pure motives, expecting no recognition for ourselves.

He also spoke of crowns for the Church as rewards for certain kinds of behavior. These crowns are identified as the Everlasting Crown (Victory) in 1 Cor 9:25, Crown of the Soul Winner in Phil 4:1 and 1 Thes 2:19, Crown of Righteousness in 2 Tim 4:8, Crown of Life in Jas 1:12 and Rev 2:10, and the Crown of Glory in 1 Peter 5:4.

The Crown of Victory is for believers who overcome the temptations of this world and live a victorious Christian life. The Crown of the Soul Winner is for those whose evangelistic endeavors bring others to salvation. The Crown of Righteousness is for those who long for His appearing. The Crown of Life is for those who persevere under trial, and the Crown of Glory is for those who are shepherds of God’s flock, elders, preachers, teachers and mentors of the young.

It seems clear that to qualify for all these rewards our motives have to be expressions of gratitude to the Lord for what He’s done for us, and cannot be for the purpose of earning any sort of recognition, position or favor.

Eternal Consequences For Believers?

Q. I just read ‘Best Of Both Worlds? Not!’ and came across this:

‘And when they stand before the Bema Seat judgment (1 Cor 3:10-15) with their salvation intact but absent any rewards, this will become most obvious to them as they experience eternal consequences for a few years of rebellious behavior.’

What do you mean by eternal consequences? As in restrictions placed on us in eternity? The more rebellious we were on Earth, the more consequences (like what?) we have in eternity?

I held the view that all the Church would be equal in eternity, with no class structure. How do you see it?

A. In 1 Cor 3:10-15 Paul wrote about the works of believers being judged. He used the analogy of subjecting them to the fire to see if they’d survive. Those of gold, silver or precious stones will withstand the heat, but those of wood, hay,and stubble will be consumed. It’s a test of the value, if you will, of the things we do with our life after becoming believers. In chapter 4 verse 5 he said that the basis for establishing the value of these works is the motive of our hearts when doing them. He made it clear that the judgment wouldn’t affect our salvation, but would determine the rewards we’d receive.

In other letters he called these rewards crowns. There are five of them listed in Scripture, the Everlasting Crown (Victory) in 1 Cor 9:25, Crown of the Soul Winner in Phil 4:1 & 1 Thes 2:19, Crown of Righteousness in 2 Tim 4:8 , Crown of Life in Jas 1:12 & Rev 2:10, and the Crown of Glory in 1 Peter 5:4. Here’s a link to a more detailed study on Crowns.

http://www.gracethrufaith.com/selah/eternal-security/crown-him-with-many-crowns

In 1 Cor. 9:24-27, using an Olympic analogy, he wrote that no athlete is satisfied to just qualify for the race. They all want to run in such a way as to win the victor’s crown. In the same way, no believer should be satisfied with just being saved. We should all want to live our lives in such a way as to win crowns too.

Jesus also hinted at some kind of reward system. In Matt.6:19-21 He advised us not to work to accumulate treasure on Earth, but to store up treasure in Heaven. The idea is that things we do here may have value for us when we get there. It’s another take on the judgment of 1 Cor. 3:10-15. In the Parable of the 10 Minas (Luke 18:11-27) He tells of giving His servants rewards commensurate with their effort on His behalf.

Some believers by their ongoing sinfulness fail to produce any fruit in their lives. Others take their salvation for granted and never do anything to express their gratitude for being saved. I took the position in my answer that they’ll probably fail to qualify for these rewards. There are several theories on just what our rewards will be, and in my limited understanding, none is conclusive. But if we all achieve exactly equal status in Heaven, then why these teachings?

One final note. Doing good works just to earn recognition for ourselves disqualifies us for any further reward.(Matt. 6:1) Our motive has to be purely that of expressing our gratitude to the Lord for what He’s done for us.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Rapture of Believer's

Partial Rapture Theories

Q. I love the insight you have into Revelation you make it so clear.

I have been interested in End Times since I was first saved 33 years ago and I feel that I have a good understanding of it all BUT willing to learn more.

Now…..I have a question which has troubled me since I read it and because you may know the person who wrote it I won’t mention his name although you may be able to guess. He says that not all the Christians will be going in the rapture but only the Bride of Christ. The rest will have to face the consequences and go through the tribulation and could be martyred or lost.

Now I find this extremely worrying as my belief is that all those that are born again will go in the rapture even if they are what you would call luke warm Christians. The Bible says…’believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved’. I see that as saved from the wrath to come.

My personal interest in this is that my eldest daughter and granddaughter have given their lives to Jesus and have been water baptized but unfortunately both are married to husbands that are unsaved so they don’t go to church and after reading the article they won’t be in the rapture either but will have to face the wrath to come and I can’t see them being able to do that.

Please give me your answer to this problem I value it and would appreciate if very much.

A. There are a couple of different sources for the notion of a partial rapture. One was developed by church leaders who believe that there needs to be some kind of behavioral qualification to receive such a blessing. It’s a combination of grace plus works that has no biblical basis and denies the sufficiency of our Lord’s death on the cross.

The other one comes from a major denomination that teaches that only its members are the Bride of Christ. All other Christians are “Friends of the Bridegroom” and are not privy to the blessings of the Bride. This is an equally un-scriptural view. There is but one church and all who accept the Lord’s death as payment in full for all their sins belong.

I don’t know which of these two applies in your family’s case, but the fact is that we are saved by what we believe, not by how we behave, and certainly not by what denomination we’ve joined. It’s true that our behavior as believers can earn heavenly rewards for us, but the Rapture is not such a reward. It’s a basic promise to everyone who believes that Jesus died for all of our sins.

More On Partial Rapture Theories

Q. I have a question about a comment you left to a person that was asking you a question about partial rapture theories. You stated:

“Now I find this extremely worrying as my belief is that all those that are born again will go in the rapture even if they are what you would call luke warm Christians.”

I was wondering why you did not point him to Rev 3:16. “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

I was just wondering what your reason was. I am not perfect by any means we have all fallen short so I am no one to judge. Just wondering why it was never pointed out?

A. You’re referring to the letter to the church in Laodicea. If you read it carefully you’ll see that this is not a church in the sense of being a body of born again believers. It’s only a church in the sense that many liberal denominations are today. They meet on Sunday and they talk about Jesus, but they don’t teach the need to be born again, they don’t take the Bible literally, and they don’t believe in the validity of prophecy. They’re not just Christians whose faith is only lukewarm, they’re Christians in name only and are not born again. When the Rapture comes they’ll be left behind.

The proof of this is in Rev. 3:20 which shows the Lord standing outside the church knocking on the door asking to come in. The Lord should be inside His Church.

The partial rapture theory holds that only those born again believers who are deemed worthy of escaping judgment will be taken in the rapture. They think that even some believers who have trusted Jesus for their salvation will be left behind because their lives didn’t measure up. There’s no Biblical basis for this belief.

Laodicea And Me

Q. I believe that because I am saved that there is nothing that can separate me from the Lord and He will never forsake me. I have read that our sins are cast as far as the east is from the west but does that mean they are forgiven, Past, Present and Future as some term it?

If that’s so then why when the Lord speaks to the Church at Laodicea, does he warn them to not be lukewarm for He will spew them from His mouth? How can I begin to judge if I’m lukewarm?? If He spews me from His mouth, doesn’t that mean I can no longer be His? I know there is a great debate about “once saved always saved” within the Church - but I just believe that not only by the Word but by the nature of God as we come to know Him personally would assure us that once truly saved is forever and eternal. Can you explain this?

A. If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior then all the sins of your life, past present and future are forgiven, and you’re saved forever. The big difference between you and the Church in Laodicea is the Lord’s position and that changes everything. You’ve let Him into your heart, but Rev. 3:20 says in Laodicea He’s standing at the door knocking, trying to come in. That means He’s on the outside and they’re not saved. They’re a church in name only, the ones left behind after the Rapture. They think they’re rich and don’t need a thing, even Him. They don’t even realize how poor they are.

You don’t have to worry about being lukewarm but the fact that you do worry actually confirms that you’re His. The Laodiceans should be worried about it but aren’t and that confirms that they’re not His.

Who Are The Luke Warm Christians?

Q. I hear all the time that Lukewarm Christians will miss out on the Rapture, being left behind. Can you tell us who are the Lukewarm Christians? On a scale of 1-10, where is the cut-off? Do I need to be a 10, and never sin to go? I hear people say that Lukewarm Christians will miss out on the Rapture. Does scripture paint this picture in your opinion?

A. The so-called partial rapture view always gets my dander up. Just who are the like warm Christians, you ask? Well let’s look at what current polls say. 93% of those who claim to be born again Christians live secular lives and have a secular world view. About 50% don’t believe in the Holy Spirit or that Satan is real. Nearly 40% have never given the first penny to Kingdom work. The divorce rate among Christians is the same as among non-believers and so is the abortion rate. A much better question to ask is who are the Christians who aren’t luke warm?

The partial rapture theory is promoted by “holier than thou” Christians who want to scare everybody into behaving the way they think we should. Of course they all believe they are going. It’s just the rest of us who have a problem.

There’s not one word in the Bible that supports a partial rapture. According to the Bible, there is just one condition for being included in the Church. “Believe in the One He has sent.” (John 6:28-29) Everything else you hear is some form of Pharisaical legalism invented by man in an effort to impose behavioral standards on others. This is a control issue not a theology issue.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Who is worthy?

Worthy To Escape

Q. Would you be kind enough to explain Luke 21:36? I am a born again Christian depending on what Christ sacrificed on the cross for me. I do not believe I am worthy to escape what is soon to happen, except for Christ in me, He alone is worthy. I am confused as to why it states in Luke 21:36 to pray always that I may be worthy to escape.

A. The correct understanding of this verse depends on knowing what it takes to be worthy. Throughout the New Testament we’re told that no one will be made worthy by attaining a certain standard of behavior. In 2 Thes. 1:3-5 Paul used the same Greek words found in Luke 21:36 to explain that it’s our faith, even through times of persecution and suffering, that makes us worthy. When we pray that we’ll be counted worthy to escape, we’re praying that our faith will be sufficient to sustain us in spite of what may be happening around us.

Am I Worthy To Escape?

Q. RE:Luke 21:36 - Jesus says “pray that you be counted worthy to escape these things” - meaning the horrors of God’s judgment. This scripture troubles me as I sometimes wonder if I AM worthy, even though I am a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian who loves the Lord and is serving Him to the best of the talents and abilities that He has given me. I have always believed in the pre-Trib Rapture, but this verse seems to suggest that there are some Christians who won’t make it.

Also - it has been reported that we, meaning the Church of this age, is the Laodocian church - the one that Jesus said He would spit out of His mouth because it was neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. I tend to agree with this as I see very few churches, including my own, that are truly on fire for God.

A. A couple of corrections are in order. First, the Lord’s words in Luke 21:36 concerned the first century destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, not the Great Tribulation. We know this because He said “what is about to happen” in the verse. If you read Luke 21 carefully you’ll see that He jumps back and forth between 70 AD and the end of the age.

But actually the same qualifications apply to both events. We are made worthy by the shed Blood of the Lamb, and by that alone. If you’re saved you’re worthy.

Second, the Laodicean Church (apostate) is alive and well on Earth today, but so are Thyatira (Catholic) Sardis (Main Line Protestant) and Philadelphia (Church of the Rapture). Just because you’re here on Earth and part of the Church doesn’t mean it’s the Laodicean Church.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com