Holy Ghost School: September 2020

THE MYSTERY OF THE RAPTURE

The First Resurrection

“The Rapture of the Saints” occurs immediately after “the Great Tribulation”.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of The Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see The Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Matt. 24:29-31 KJV

Remember, that at the Mount of Olives, the disciples of Jesus asked Him: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy Coming, and of the end of the world? ” (Matt. 24:3 KJV).

His disciples came to Him, to show Him the buildings of the temple, It was a stately and beautiful structure, “one of the old wonders of the world”; no cost was spared, no art left untried, to make it sumptuous. Though it came short of Solomon's Temple, and its beginning was small, yet its latter end did greatly increase. It was richly furnished with gifts and offerings, to which there were continual additions made. They showed Christ these things, and desired Him to take notice of them, either, as being greatly pleased with them themselves, and expecting He should be so too. They had lived mostly in Galilee, at a distance from the temple, had seldom seen it, and therefore were the more struck with admiration at it, and thought He should admire as much as they did all this glory.

The temple was indeed glorious, but, its glory was sullied and stained with the sin of the priests and people; that wicked doctrine of the Pharisees, which preferred the gold before the temple, they believed that it sanctified it.

The glory of this temple was eclipsed and outdone by the Presence of Christ in it, who is “The Glory of this latter house” (Hag 2:9), so that the buildings had no glory, in comparison with that Glory which excelled.

He went out, and departed from the temple. He not only went out of the temple, but departed from it, took His final farewell of it; He departed from it, never to return to it anymore; and then immediately follows a prediction of its ruin.

In this chapter of the Gospels, The LORD Jesus perfectly prophesied the destruction of the temple; He prophesied of: ‘the deception of the final hour’, wars and conflicts, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, which are: “the beginning of sorrows”.

Also, He prophesied of “the Great Tribulation”, false prophets with lying signs and wonders, ‘the mystery of iniquity’— which is ‘the secret power of lawlessness’, ‘the rise of the antichrist’ (the lawless one), “the abomination of desolation”, and the preaching of the Gospel to the ends of the earth (fulfillment of the Great Commission)—all of which are: “the signs of the times”.

He also spoke of “The First Resurrection” (which will take place at “the Sign of The Son of Man” in the clouds) and He spoke of “the End of the Age”.

The stars will fall from the universe, and “the powers of the heaven” will be shaken before “The Son of Man” is revealed in the clouds.

“The Second Coming of Christ” will take place just after “The Wedding Supper of The Lamb”.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

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.

And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His Name is called The Word of God.

And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a Name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Rev. 19:11-16 KJV

In Heaven, “the Rapture” is called “The First Resurrection”.

‘All martyr saints’ of Jesus will be a part of “The First Resurrection”—they shall attain the resurrection when THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is revealed in the sky. The saints who are martyred in “the Great Tribulation” shall be raised to life, and they shall reign with Christ here on earth as priests of GOD and of Christ, for 1,000 years—this is called: “The Millennial Reign of Christ”.

“The Millennial Reign” occurs after “The Second Coming of Christ”.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Rev. 20:4-6 KJV

“The Rapture” will bring to a close—“the Church Age”.

Not only that, the event of “the Rapture” will give way for “the Great Day of GOD’s Wrath” upon the earth; which will extend till—“the Battle of the Great Day of GOD ALMIGHTY” at the time of “The Second Coming of Christ”.

All children of GOD—the patriarchs, the apostles, the prophets, and saints of all time who have fallen asleep in The LORD, shall take part in “The First Resurrection” (‘the Rapture’).

The saints who are physically alive at the time of “the Rapture” shall be ‘caught up’, together with ‘those who fell asleep’, and are ‘awake’ in The LORD.

It is important to note that, “those who fell asleep in The LORD” will rise first.

“The Rapture” will take place in the air when The LORD Himself shouts with “the Voice of the Archangel”, and with “the trumpet of GOD”.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

For this we say unto you by the Word of The Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the Coming of The Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet The Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with The Lord.

I Thess. 4:13-17 KJV

Christ is risen from the dead, and has become “The Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (I Cor. 15:20)—who shall be raised first, at “the Rapture”.

Therefore, this is “The First Resurrection”.

First Corinthians 15:22-23 states:

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

But every man in his own order: Christ the Firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His Coming.

This comes first in ‘the divine order of the resurrections’.

GOD’s children who are physically alive at the time of “the Rapture” will by no means precede “those who are asleep in The LORD”.

Just like “the Ascension of Christ” (Acts 1:9-11), we shall be raptured—taken up, through the clouds.

While the men of Galilee watched steadfastly toward the sky as The LORD Jesus went up into the clouds, two angels appearing like men stood by them in white apparel, and said:

“Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (KJV).

In what manner will our LORD Jesus Christ appear at “the Rapture”?

Matthew 24:30 KJV

So many people have read this passage of Scripture, ‘time without number,’ but yet cannot comprehend the truth revealed in it—which is “the First Resurrection” (‘the Rapture’). They do not understand that “the Great Tribulation” comes first, before “the First Resurrection” (“the Rapture”) as The LORD Jesus prophesied in this passage.

Well, verse 31 says:

And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (KJV).

“Great sound of a trumpet”—that’s “the trumpet of GOD” revealed in First Thessalonians 4.

The LORD Himself will shout with “the Voice of the Archangel”, and with “the Trump of GOD” and we shall be raptured in the air!

Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen (Rev. 1:7 KJV).

Only at the event of “the Rapture” will both “the voice of an Archangel” and “the trump of GOD” sound.

The sounding of “the trump of GOD” at “the Rapture” will reveal the Glory of GOD. It will effect changes both in the natural and in the supernatural seasons.

“The Rapture” is ‘a mystery’ as Apostle Paul wrote:

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Cor. 15:51-52 KJV

“The Rapture” will take place in a time of global crisis. It will happen in a “moment”, in the twinkling of an eye, at “the last trumpet”. The Spirit of GOD will raise those who fell asleep in The LORD; they will come forth with incorruptible bodies—as they are already glorified heirs of salvation.

And, He shall quicken the mortal bodies of the saints who are physically alive, so that they too will be “changed” and put on celestial bodies.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Cor. 15:53 KJV

All who take part in “The First Resurrection” (‘the Rapture’) will become victorious over natural death.

Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 11:25-26 KJV

And, they shall become victorious over “the second death”.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Rev 20:6 KJV

On account of them, ‘death will be swallowed up in victory’.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1 Cor. 15:54-55 KJV

Isaiah 25:7 describes death as a “veil that spreads over nations”—a “covering cast over people”. But, to all who are part of “The First Resurrection”, it shall be swallowed up forever! (See verse 8).

Not all believers will be martyred in “the Great Tribulation”—there are GOD’s children who witness to “the Word of GOD” and to “the Testimony of Jesus” in the worst of perilous times who will remain till “the Rapture”.

This is why First Corinthians 15:51 says, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (KJV).

In Matthew 16, The LORD Jesus said to His disciples:

“Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see The Son of Man…”

There are saints in different parts of the world, in this present age, who have lived since ‘the First Century’ of Bible days. They have been around since the times of the apostles and saints of the New Testament. This, have been confirmed and proven by a few living witnesses.

When The resurrected Christ revealed Himself to Apostle John in the Island of Patmos, John first, heard behind him, “a loud Voice as of a trumpet” (see Rev. 1:9-10).

Likewise, when he saw ‘a door standing open in Heaven’. The first Voice which he heard was “like a trumpet” speaking to him, saying, “Come up here…” (Rev. 4:1).

John heard “the trump of GOD”—he heard the Voice of The One Who is “The Resurrection and The Life”.

“The Trump of GOD” is the Voice of “The Alpha and The Omega”—“The First and The Last” Who will rapture His Bride out of ‘a greatly troubled world’. At the neck-of-time; at an hour when no-man expects Him, He shall appear and take His ‘pure virgin’ bride away.

“The Voice of an Archangel” is a loud ‘cry of summons’.

Jesus Christ will give “a shout of command” just as He did outside the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:43). ‘All who have fallen asleep in The Lord' will hear His voice.

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice” (John 5:28 KJV)

While the sounding of “the trump of GOD” will reveal the Glory of GOD—at the Resurrection, “the Voice of the Archangel” will herald The LORD’s Glorious Appearing.

By “the Voice of the Archangel”, Christ will witness to the angelic hosts as “The Resurrection and Life”—by this, He will validate His testimony to them, of “The First Resurrection”; which is for “the sons of GOD”. By this, the angelic hosts will share in the victory shout when our Lord Jesus Christ is revealed at ‘the Resurrection’.

“The trump of GOD” usually accompanies His glory (Ex. 19:16; Ps 47:5)

“The voice of the Archangel” is so loud that it will wake up the dead on ‘the day of the resurrection’.

For The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first (1 Thess. 4:16 KJV).

A ‘summon’ is a call, request, or demand to do something.

A legal document prepared by the plaintiff and issued by a court that informs the defendant that he or she has been sued.

A legal court can issue “a summons to surrender”—which by Law is ‘a call or citation by authority to appear before a court or a judicial officer.

The right by which the call is made is a ‘summon’.

At ‘the Resurrection’, “The Voice of the Archangel” will be a loud ‘cry of summons’—for The LORD Himself is “The Righteous Judge”—He is our Advocate.

“The Voice of the Archangel” will vindicate and redeem GOD’s elect from ‘a world of tribulation’.

Michael the Archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, said: “The LORD rebuke you!” (Jude 9)

When Joshua the high priest stood before the Angel of The LORD, and satan stood at his right hand to accuse and oppose him, The LORD Himself said to satan: “The LORD rebuke you!” (Zech. 3:1-2)

“The Voice of the Archangel” rebukes “the accuser of the brethren”—it rebukes ‘the adversary of the saints’.

“The Voice of the Archangel” is the voice of strength and victory in The Name of The LORD.

“The Voice of the Archangel” is the voice of strength and victory in the Presence of The LORD.

‘A cry of summons’ will call out the true bride to meet with the Bridegroom.

Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.

Matt. 25:1-6 KJV

After the event of “The First Resurrection” (the Rapture) in the air, “The Marriage Supper of The Lamb” takes place in Heaven.

Reading “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” further, The Lord says:

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut (v. 7-10 KJV).

The sounding of “the trump of GOD”—will unveil “the Glory of The Father”.

For The Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works (Matt 16:27 KJV)

With the great sound of ‘a trumpet call’, The LORD will send His angels, and they will gather together ‘His elect’ (His chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the firmament to the other (see Mt. 24:31).

There are ‘four winds of the earth’, and there are ‘four corners of the earth’.

The Four Winds of the Bible

The north wind is said to bring rain (Prov. 25:23).

The north and south winds appear to go round and round in an unending course—indicating that ‘the world is vanity’ (Eccl. 1:6). The north and south winds are welcome winds; when they blow on the garden, its fragrance is spread abroad—pointing to the Bride’s praise of The Bridegroom (SOS 4:16). The south wind could be hot—which is not as weighty as “discerning the times” (Lk. 12:55) or it could be soft and gentle—masquerading a storm (Acts 27:13-14).

Unlike the east wind of the Bible which is a distinctly powerful, dry and hot wind, the winds from the other three directions do not appear to have any particular attributes. In fact, the west wind finds a mention just once, in connection with the plague of locusts, in which it was used to send the locusts away from Egypt (Ex. 10:19).

The four individual winds blowing from the east, west, north and south directions are described in the Bible in the same way as a human observer would describe, even today. We get an idea of the strength of these winds, the weather phenomena associated with them, and their effects. However, the phrases ‘four winds’, ‘four winds of the earth’ or ‘four winds of heaven’ are used in the Bible in a very different manner. ‘The four winds’ are referred to in the context of extraordinary events or situations as foreseen by prophets, made known to select persons by GOD in the form of visions, or revealed by Jesus Himself to His disciples.

‘The four winds’ are sometimes associated with ‘the four corners of the earth’— meaning the whole earth. Likewise, the four winds should be construed not as winds blowing literally in only four directions, but as winds blowing in all directions. Such an interpretation is indeed justified, because a wind having any speed or direction can be regarded as a combination of two north-south and east-west components.

A look at the weather charts used by today’s meteorologists would tell that the earth’s atmosphere at any given time is made up of high and low pressure areas in different regions. Winds blow out of and around an area of high pressure or anticyclone, and they would randomly scatter whatever that came in their way. On the other hand, over an area of low pressure or cyclone, intense winds would blow around and into it from all directions, and thus gather instead of scatter.

The power of “the four winds of heaven”, we read of in the Bible is tremendous, both figuratively and practically. It can churn the great sea, it can uproot and scatter powerful empires (Daniel 7:2, 8:8, 11:4, Zechariah 2:6). The combined power of “the four winds of heaven” from “the four quarters of heaven” was to be deployed against the nation of Elam, to scatter the people in all directions (Jeremiah 49:36).

In another situation of a positive nature, ‘the four winds’ were called upon to gather together and breathe life into the slain so that they may live (Ezekiel 37:9).

But, of greater significance is the reference to ‘the four winds’ in the event of “The First Resurrection” when “The Son of Man” will be revealed in His glory (Matthew 24:31). He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from ‘the four winds’, from one end of the heavens to the other.

There is a third kind of role that ‘the four winds’ will be playing in the last days. Apostle John, in his vision, saw four angels standing at ‘the four corners of the earth’, holding back ‘the four winds of the earth’ to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree (Revelation 7:1). This would amount to a circulation pattern of the atmosphere in which there are no highs or lows whatever—an atmosphere of infinite calm!

A north wind is a wind that originates in the north and blows in a southward direction.

A south wind is a wind that originates in the south and blows in a northward direction.

Easterly winds blow from the east, while westerly winds blow from the west.

Wind direction is reported by the direction from which it originates. For example, a northerly wind blows from the north to the south. Wind direction is usually reported in cardinal directions or in degrees.

Westerlies or prevailing westerlies, are prevailing winds from the west toward the east in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude. They originate from the high-pressure areas in the horse latitudes and trend towards the poles and steer extratropical cyclones in this general manner.

Westerlies are prevailing winds that blow from the west at midlatitudes.

Four Corners of the Earth

“The four corners of the earth” are the far ends of the world; representing all parts of the world.

This expression appeared in the Bible (Isaiah 11:12) “And gather the dispersed of Judah from “the four corners of the earth.”

“The elect” in Matthew 24:31 are GOD’s chosen people in whom He greatly delights. They are His saints.

At “the Rapture”, ‘the Excellent Glory of Christ’ shall be revealed in them. This is what all creation awaits for—the manifestation of the sons of GOD.

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19 KJV).

GOD was manifested in the flesh (I Tim. 3:16), and when His awesome glory and majesty is revealed, all who have received adoption as sons of GOD will be received up in glory.

GOD’s angels will gather together His “elect” from different points of the earth’s horizon; out of every tribe and tongue, and people and nation.

They are “the elect” according to the foreknowledge of GOD.

The word “elect” in the Bible is used interchangeably to represent a group or a remnant of GOD’s people, called and chosen by His divine predestination. GOD Himself in the Old Testament called Israel “My elect” (Isa. 45:4).

In the New Testament, GOD Almighty certainly did not cast away Israel—“His election and call is without repentance”. Even so now, the remnant that is by “the election of grace”, contrary to nature, shall together with “the Israel that is by faith” be raptured out of the earth.

“And then shall appear the sign of The Son of Man in heaven…” (Matt 24:30 KJV)

“Behold, He cometh with clouds…” (Rev 1:7 KJV)

He will come with “the clouds of Heaven”—He will be revealed in the air, to all men!

He is The LORD “Who is and Who was and Who is to come—THE ALMIGHTY”,

The tribes of the earth will look on Him whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn (Read Zech. 12:10).

As it was in the days of Noah (Lk.17:26), likewise as it was in the days of Lot (Lk. 17:28), so shall “The Coming of The Son of Man” be.

First Thessalonians 5:2 refers to “the Rapture”, while it states: “For you yourselves…the day of The Lord …”

In verse 4, it speaks of “the Rapture” using the phrase: “this Day”.

The glorious appearing of “The Son of Man” in His ‘Day’, will be as the lightning that comes from the east, and flashes to the west.

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the Coming of The Son of Man be” (Matt 24:27 KJV).

This is “the sign of The Son of Man” when He is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels, in bringing many sons to glory.

He is THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!

“Who was and is and is to come!”

Holy Ghost School

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The Counsel of The LORD Stands Forever!

THE MYSTERY OF THE RAPTURE - The First Resurrection

Sparkling Gems from the Greek (Volume 1)

The Seven Living Prophecies

How to Become a Mature Christian