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God Protects

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags Abrahamic Covenant, Apostle Paul, apple of the eye, bride, church, Egypt, Esther, Exodus 9, Genesis 12, God the Father, hail, Israel, Jesus Christ, Rapture, Zechariah 2 on February 18, 2023 by paulthepoke

How many hairs do you think are on your head? Well, if you have red hair, you have about 90,000. If you have black hair, there are about 103,000. On the other hand, if you have brown hair, there are more than 109,000 hairs on your head. If you are a blond, you probably have 140,000 hairs.

Each of you has many, many hairs on your head, and I am sure that if you started to count them you would tire very quickly. But do you know that God knows how many hairs are on your head? Listen to this verse:

Matthew 10:30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

This verse shows us the loving care of God, who numbered all the hairs of our heads. If God knows how many hairs are on your head, don’t you think He also knows every detail in your life? There’s no problem in your life that He cannot solve, and there’s no need that He cannot meet. He certainly knows when you need strength to overcome temptation, or when you need help in telling someone else about the Lord Jesus.

Remember this little lesson, boys and girls. Every time you comb your hair, for instance, remember just how much your heavenly Father cares for you. But also remember that this is true only if you have believed in the Lord Jesus.

Object Lesson provided by Charles Ryrie, Easy Object Lessons, p.64.

Key Theme: God protects His people.

God’s provision and protection are indicated from the outset of time. God chose the family line of Abram to demonstrate His protection. These are the people of promise.

Genesis 12:2-3 “And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great, And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse you. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God states that Israel is “the apple of His eye.” The “apple” of the eye is the pupil. It is the part of the eye that regulates light and the part we instinctively protect. God protects His people like we instinctively protect our eyes. God means business when He states that He will protect Israel.

Zechariah 2:8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”

There are multiple occasions throughout history where God protects His people. The two stories being studied are examples. Paul is protected in his travels on the sea.

Judgment was brought against Egypt with the plague of hail. Israel was in exile in Egypt during this hail storm yet they were spared.

Exodus 9:26 “Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail.”

Although God is never directly mentioned in the Book of Esther, His hand of protection is noted throughout the book. The Jewish people are protected from the plots of Haman’s evil intentions. It was Haman’s intent to exterminate the Jews. As the story goes, Persian King Ahasuerus chooses a Jewish girl, Esther, to be his queen. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, works behind the scenes to protect his people. In the final analysis, Haman’s plot is foiled and he ends up dead. The Jewish people are spared from extinction.

In the future, Jesus will “snatch” His bride the church from a troubled world. That event is the rapture of the church.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The church will be spared from the coming judgment against the world in the seven year tribulation. Again, God will protect His people.

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Paul’s Apostleship

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags 2 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, apostleship, false doctrine, false teachers, giving, money, suffering on November 27, 2022 by paulthepoke

“You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? –Romans 2:23

Scripture: 2 Corinthians

Doctrinal Emphasis: Overview and Themes of 2 Corinthians

A significant theme of the second letter to the Corinthians is Paul’s defense of his apostleship. His credentials are defined throughout the epistle. He was appointed by God (1:1).

False teachers and false doctrine are addressed by Paul. Not one to shy away, he takes this issue head on and full steam ahead. False teachers were undermining Paul’s work in the church (11:4). Paul answers his accusers in Chapters 10-12:13. Paul withstood personal attacks on his character, bravery, and speaking skills. He offers a defense which is motivated by his love for Christ (10:1, 10:17) and concern for believers (Chapter 11).

Paul addresses the issue of money in Chapters 8 and 9. In short, fund raising should be completed with a sense of purpose, organization, and accountability. As Christians, we should give cheerfully (9:7). We are to be mindful and generous of fellow believers and their needs in other parts of the world.

Suffering is a hallmark of Paul’s apostleship. To say he had “a thorn in his flesh” is putting it mildly. He was persecuted and jailed many times over. He escaped with his life on many occasions. Paul was expelled from cities and left for dead. Riots resulted because of his belief in Christ and the stance he took. He received 39 lashes five times, was beaten with a rod three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, and nearly drowned. He faced dangers from robbers, fellow countrymen, foreigners, false teachers, wildlife, and sea life. Paul was often hungry, thirsty, cold, naked, weary, and suffered pain (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Shavuot/Pentecost/Feast of Weeks, 5782/2022

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Pentecost/Shavuot/Feast of Weeks, Prophecy with tags Apostle Paul, church, Ephesians 2, Gentiles, God's Appointments, High Priest, Jesus Christ, Jews, leaven, Leviticus 23, sin, two loaves bread on May 29, 2022 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 23:15-16 ‘You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete Sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord.

On a Gregorian calendar in the year of 2022, the holiday of Shavuot/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost begins at sunset on Saturday, June 4. The God Appointed holiday ends at sunset Monday, June 6. The Feast takes place in the month of Sivan on the 6th and 7th of a Hebrew calendar. This is the Hebrew year 5782.

Exodus 23:14-17 “Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before me empty-handed. You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor. Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord GOD.

Shavuot is one of the three holidays where Jewish men are required to come to Jerusalem. The men were to make their presentation and sacrifice before God at the Temple. This holiday is one of seven holidays appointed by God.

Shavuot/Pentecost, Part 1

Two loaves of bread are made from the new wheat harvest. The loaves are made with leaven. The Biblical symbol for sin is leaven. The two loaves of bread at Shavuot are the only sacraments made with leaven.

Some believe that one loaf represents the Jewish people and the other loaf represents the Gentiles. The loaves represent the church which is comprised of Jews and Gentiles. Sinful people, Jews and Gentiles, are formed with the first fruits of the wheat harvest. (And yes, the church was and is still sinful despite being saved by the grace of God.) The loaves are brought and waived by the Son, the High Priest, before the Father.

http://www.messiah3.org/pentecostfeast.htm

Ephesians 2:11-22 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands, remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Together, sinful Jews and sinful Gentiles sealed with God the Spirit worshiping God the Father through the sinless God the Son.

Which begs the question…

How long before the two loaves of bread, the church, are waived by our High Priest before the Lord in Heaven?

Shavuot/Pentecost, Part 2

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Resurrection: The Atheist Always Demanding Proof

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Gospel, Prophecy, Resurrection, Spring Feasts with tags 1 corinthians 15, 1 John, A Treatise on the Law of Evidence, Apostle Paul, apostles, atheist, Cleopas, First Fruits, James, jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Passover, Simon Greenleaf on April 16, 2022 by paulthepoke

The atheist, always wanting proof. The arguments are all the same. The Bible does not count as evidence so they say. Jesus is imaginary. The Bible is a fairy tale and just a book of stories. Religion is for the weak minded. Insert next cliché here…

You all spend a lot of time on “imaginary things” as you see it.

The atheist claims to have read the Bible. They usually studied the Bible at a liberal university and read it cover to cover of course. They took a class under a liberal, tenured professor. And they were brainwashed and told what to think.

Here is my challenge to the atheist. Sit down by yourself. Read. Comprehend… and think. Stop regurgitating what somebody told you. Be an independent thinker. Stop acting like the collective Borg.

As an introductory to Jesus, I recommend the book of 1 John. This will not take more than 10 minutes.

So you want proof…

Eye Witness Accounts

1 Corinthians 15:6-8 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

In the passage above, there are 512 plus eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

John 20:11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;

Luke 24:10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.

Salome is included with this group in Mark 16:1 for a total of at least 4 women.

Luke 24:13-15 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.

Cleopas and friend are two other witnesses.

Matthew 27:54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

And to close out the list, a Roman atheist and his fellow guards. Seeing was believing for these boys.

But Jesus was not the only person resurrected. He was the first but there were others.

Matthew 27:52-53 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

The events took place during Passover. Jews were required per Mosaic Law to come to Jerusalem for the holiday. Tens of thousands of people would have been in the city visiting in addition to the population.

The evidence provided in Scripture would stand in a court of law. Harvard Law Professor Simon Greenleaf wrote A Treatise on the Law of Evidence. The document is viewed as “the greatest single authority in the entire literature of legal procedure.” The United States judicial system functions on the rules of evidence established by Greenleaf.

Professor Greenleaf, an atheist, took up the issue of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The facts changed his mind.

Professor Greenleaf’s legal standard of proof is not the issue. The case for the resurrection of Jesus is legally tight. Who cares if the facts stand in a man-made court of law??? The issue is this…

DO YOU BELIEVE THE RECORD?

Your eternal destination is in the balance.

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Quakes in Various Places, Izmir, Turkey, October 2020

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Earthquakes/Volcanoes, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Apostle John, Apostle Paul, Ephesus, Izmir, Patmos, Revelation, Smyrna, Turkey on October 30, 2020 by paulthepoke

Luke 21:11a There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences.

October 30, 2020: A 7.0 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks have struck southwest Turkey in the Aegean Sea. Izmir, Turkey appears to have taken the brunt of the damage.

As of this post, 21 people have died and over 725 have been injured. Small tsunamis were reported throughout coastal populations on the Aegean Sea.

For video and pictures of the event. Click on the link below from the Daily Mail.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8897247/Powerful-6-6-magnitude-earthquake-hits-Turkey-Greek-islands.html

This area is the home office to the seven churches in the book of Revelation.

Patmos is an island in the Aegean Sea. The word “Patmos” means: my killing. The Apostle John was sentenced to the island of “my killing”. Where are you going? My killing.

Patmos is a small island approximately 10 miles by 6 miles. It is a rocky island. Tradition has John receiving the “Revelation” in a cave on the south side of the island.

Historical Ephesus was the largest city of the seven churches.

This is the city for Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesus was located on the Cayster River. The city was between the Maeander River to the south and the Hermus River to the north. The city was also a great seaport on the Aegean Sea. The geography allowed Ephesus to be a significant commercial destination. It was the most important port in the Aegean.

Ancient Smyrna today is Izmir, Turkey. It is located about 35 miles north of Ephesus. Smyrna was founded by the Greeks approximately 3,000 years ago. Ancient Smyrna was a port city and relied on commercial trade. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 178 AD.

Today, Izmir is the most populous Aegean port city in Turkey. The city is predominantly Muslim. It is the third most populous city in Turkey. Izmir is home to Turkey’s second largest Jewish community of about 2,500. (Wikipedia)

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Predestined With Free Will: Apostle Paul and Israel’s Future

Posted in Jude, Millennial Kingdom, Prophecy with tags Apostle Paul, free will, Israel, predestination, Romans on January 27, 2019 by paulthepoke

The Apostle Paul in the New Testament book of Romans makes it very clear. God is not finished with nation Israel. He makes this statement writing to members of the church in Rome. His writings included the idea of Israel’s election, Israel’s rejection, and Israel’s future restoration. Paul is in serious angst and agony regarding his fellow countrymen. He would go to Hell for Israel. God has not kicked Israel to the curb let alone replaced them with the church or any other group of people or nation.

Romans 9:3-4 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises…

The Apostle Paul is emphatic. There is NO way God has broken His promise to His people and nation, Israel. The idea is consistent in the Old Testament and New Testament. God has not changed His mind.

Romans 11:1-11:2 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

Malachi 3:6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”

Romans 11:26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

Focus on the word “saved”. It is the Greek word σοζο/sozo. The word is defined as to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction; one (from injury or peril); to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health (Strong’s Concordance).

The tense of the verb is future. The verse is prophetic. Israel will be spared and preserved in the future. At the time of the writing in the first century, Israel had yet to be dispersed to the world let alone regathered back to the land. The nation will not be destroyed.

Today in the early 21^st century, Israel is back in the land and a nation as prophesied. Israel has resurrected as a nation. Ultimately, they will not reject their Messiah. A little detour with the Antichrist will come first. The statement below is becoming more of a reality as time passes. There are Jews who believe in Jesus and the number is growing. The world will ultimately receive blessing.

Romans 11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

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Jude: Peace

Posted in Jude with tags Abram, Apostle Paul, epistle, Genesis 15, Peace, Philippians 4, Romans, Shalom on October 21, 2018 by paulthepoke

Jude 1:2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Peace or εἰρήνη/eiréné in the original Greek…

Strong’s Concordance defines the word as: a state of national tranquility; exemption from the rage and havoc of war.

peace between individuals, that is harmony, concord, security, safety, prosperity, felicity.

of the Messiah’s peace; the way that leads to peace through salvation; of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot; the blessed state of devout and upright men after death.

The term εἰρήνη/eiréné is used 92 times in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul frequently introduced readers of his epistles with a greeting of peace. Below are a couple of examples.

Romans 1:7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The same greeting of peace is noted in the letters of 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, twice to the Thessalonians, Titus, Philemon, and both books of Timothy. Paul makes this point repeatedly as an introduction in his epistles. God (Father, Son, and Spirit) is the source of our peace.

As believers in Christ, we are called to be at peace with others. Seek peace with your fellow man. Do your part. There is nothing one can do about another’s attitudes, beliefs, lifestyle, words, and actions. We are not going to get along with everyone. But as for the individual believer, pursue peace in relationships.

Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Jewish people will use “peace” as a greeting or farewell to others. The term is “shalom” in the Hebrew.

Per Strong’s, shalom is defined as: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, health, prosperity, quiet, tranquility, contentment, friendship; of human relationships and with God especially in covenant relationship.

Shalom is used 237 times in the Old Testament.

The first time “peace” or “shalom” is used in the Bible is in Genesis 15:15. God was revealing His covenant to Abram regarding his descendants and their future. Part of God’s promise is peace. Abram was in a deep slumber. God was communicating to him in what many might consider a nightmare. The specific reference to Abram was with his future death and burial. God, the author of peace, revealed the concept to humanity in darkness, slavery, oppression, terror, death, and fear. This is how God chose to introduce “peace”.

Genesis 15:15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age.

Peace is like a military guard. Peace crushes rebellions and it protects hearts and minds. Jesus is the answer, embodiment, and fulfillment of peace. In the end, peace wins.

Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Pentecost/Shavuot/Feast of Weeks: Two Loaves of Bread

Posted in Pentecost/Shavuot/Feast of Weeks with tags Apostle Paul, church, Ephesians 2, Gentiles, God's Appointments, High Priest, Jesus Christ, Jews, leaven, Leviticus 23, sin, two loaves bread on May 16, 2018 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 23:15-20 You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the LORD. And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, and one bull from the herd and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.

In the Old Testament and in the Hebrew, this holiday is referred to as Shavuot. The word means: weeks.

Shavuot is one of the three holidays where Jewish men are required to come to Jerusalem (Exodus 23:14-17). The men were to make their presentation and sacrifice before God at the Temple. This holiday is one of seven holidays appointed by God.

Shavuot and Pentecost are synonymous. Shavuot is often associated with God giving the Torah, the birth of Judaism. Pentecost is often associated with God giving the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church.

On a Gregorian calendar in the year of 2018, the holiday of Shavuot/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost begins at sunset on Saturday, May 19. The God Appointed holiday ends at sunset Monday, May 21.

http://www.messiah3.org/pentecostfeast.htm

Together, sinful Jews and sinful Gentiles sealed with the God the Spirit worshiping God the Father through the sinless God the Son.

Which begs the question…

How long before the two loaves of bread, the church, are waived by our High Priest before the Lord in Heaven?

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Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, 5778/2017

Posted in Fall Feasts, Gospel, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags 1 corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4, Apostle Paul, Colossians 2, Feast of Trumpets, Jesus Christ, John 3:16, last trumpet, Leviticus 23, Numbers 29, Revelation 12 Sign, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Teruah on September 19, 2017 by paulthepoke

Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

Revelation 12 Sign: Resurrection First

Posted in Prophecy, Rapture, Resurrection, Revelation, Signs: Sun, Moon, Stars..., Teshuvah/Repent, Trend Update with tags 1 corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4, Apostle Paul, clouds, Feast of Trumpets, Jesus Christ, Revelation 12 Sign, Rosh Hashanah, sleep, Yom Teruah, Zombie Apocalypse on August 30, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 12:1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

One of the customs of the 40 day period of Teshuvah is to visit a cemetery. Jewish belief is the resurrection will occur during the period of Teshuvah. Specifically, the resurrection is to occur on the new moon holiday of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Christians refer to this as the Feast of Trumpets.

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/01/elul-blow-the-horn/

The Revelation 12 Sign occurs within the 40 day period of Teshuvah in the Gregorian year 2017 on September 23rd. Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets will start the civil Hebrew year 5778. When the new moon is identified by two witnesses and confirmed by the high priest, this will initiate Tishri 1.

The notion the rapture is a signless event is false. The rapture is not the next imminent prophetic event. Scripture is very clear. The resurrection of the dead comes before the rapture. The dead in Christ will rise first and ascend into Heaven before the rapture occurs. Yes, there is a historical event that will precede the rapture. It is the resurrection. The Apostle Paul points this out on two occasions.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

The idea of sleep communicated by the Apostle Paul is physical death. When we die, our body is buried and sleeping in the ground like a seed as stated earlier in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. Sleep implies the body will wake up at some point in the future.

The new information conveyed is we will not all sleep. Translation, believers will not all physically die. The sequence of events is described next. One, the dead will be raised imperishable (resurrection). Two, believers in Jesus who are alive and remaining…we will be changed (rapture).

The order of events is confirmed a second time in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. The resurrection happens first. Then the rapture occurs second. Dead believers go first.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Living believers will be tipped on the coming of the rapture by the resurrection of the dead. The issue is the time gap between the two events. The time frame between the resurrection and rapture is not stated. There is no time marker. It could be seven seconds or seven years or whatever. The text does not say. But, the resurrection of the dead in Christ does come first. I suppose the timing of the two events would be relative to “imminent”.

When the inhabitants of planet earth see thousands upon thousands of people arise from their graves and rise into the air, this will cause a variety of responses which will likely include chaos and confusion. This is not the Zombie Apocalypse the culture is expecting. Living believers should know their ascent into the clouds to join the resurrected and Jesus Christ is next in the order of events.

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