THE GREAT DEBATE ...THE RAPTURE

[Larry H]

Hi Res

I am trying to sort out what you're getting at Res. concerning a better resurrections. Are you suggesting the better resurrection is a "BRIGHTER HOPE OF HEAVEN"  match up to a  BIOLOGICAL FUTURE RESURRECTION here on earth. Something like the Jehovah Witnesses believe, but not exactly,  that a 144k meet God face to face while the great crowd spend eternity right here on earth. Rev. 14 And in some way the 144 k will rule with Christ over that great crowd living in a paradise environment with no pain, no death etc  Rev.21:4

Although I think you are presenting a different twist to the idea, is this the gist of the final outcome. If so how should we view Eph. 4:4-6 where it speaks of  in so many words  ONE HOPE for all. And for all to share the same glory mentioned in Heb. 2:10 Rom. 8:30 That Christians have the same hope, and they should therefore be one. They are looking forward to the same heaven to reside in, they hope for the same happiness beyond the grave.

[Larry H]

Hi Res I reread your post, and perhaps missed something when I first read it.

"Don't underestimate the whole "Face-to-face" experience.  It's the ultimate pinnacle of union and fellowship that Rev. 22:4 anticipated for the glorified, bodily-resurrected saints."

When saying bodily resurrected saints, they preserve their fleshly body, but it will be an immortal  glorified body. The same type of  that Christ  now maintains in heaven.  Acts 1

What is the prospect for the believers post AD 70. If there is a diverse promise what do we make of one hope mentioned in Eph. 4:4-7

I do see the better resurrection as heavenly in the presents of God, but the body will be changed for the heavenly environment. 

[3 Resurrections]

Hi again Larry,

You'll get no disagreement from me that all the saints from creation to the end of human history will eventually receive the very same type of inheritance of a biologically-resurrected body made immortal, standing in God's presence.  The only difference is in WHEN they each receive the full terms of that inheritance. 

That's because God has designed the main resurrection events that "harvest" the bodies of the saints out of the ground to be spread out in THREE STAGES over all of history's timeline.  These were each scheduled to fall on the calendar on the same days that the three required harvest feast celebrations used to take place under Mosaic law, which was all meant to provide a picture type of God's redemption plans for His saints.

First Resurrection event: Passover AD33 at the end of the Rev. 20 millennium, with Christ the First-fruits, and the 144,000 First-fruits Matthew 27:52-53 saints (the "remnant of the dead" raised to life again).  These then "remained" on earth waiting until the second resurrection event for their rapture to heaven.  Satan was loosed to deceive the nations for a "little season" from AD 33 until he and his angels and the unclean spirits were all "imprisoned" (Rev. 18:2, Is. 24:21-22) in the city of Jerusalem from AD 66-70.

Second Resurrection event: Pentecost Day, AD 70, the "BETTER resurrection", with all the rest of the great multitude of saints from creation until that 1,335th day on Pentecost Day in AD 70 being raised to life again and raptured to heaven.  Satan and the entire demonic realm was destroyed to ashes, and the ages under the New Covenant without the presence of the demonic world began.

Third Resurrection event: Feast of Tabernacles, AD 3033 at the end of 7 millennia of fallen man's history on this planet.  This will be the last bodily resurrection for all saints who will have lived and died since AD 70's resurrection.  There's no rapture and no destruction of the globe predicted for us, so once Christ returns to earth, it's possible He might stay this time, once He purges the planet by destroying all wicked humanity out of it.

Since He "formed this earth to be inhabited" (Isaiah 45:18),  it stands to reason that there is destined to always be a human presence on this earth, though the entire universe might also be a sort of  "playground" for the resurrected saints, as well as our having free access to heaven and God's presence.

[Larry H]

Hi 3 Res

You see, it's not good enough just to be raised to life again, and have your physical body above ground once more, never to die again.  No, the ultimate experience we long for, and that we were MADE FOR is to be FACE-TO-FACE in intimate fellowship with our Creator, wherever He happens to be.  THIS is that "better thing" of Heb. 11:40.

Are you suggesting the resurrected saints will have the same fleshly body taken to meet God face to face.  Can two different natures share fellowship in an intimate way as face to face in the presents of God. It seems to me to make it work the fleshly body has to be changed to a spiritual one.