Oct. 3, 2008
Note from Wayne: The rapture is mentioned in this commentary which was originally written in 2008. There are many who believe Jesus is returning on May 21, 2011; I don't believe that for one instant and I will still work to serve you in the coming days, as long as Christ will let me. You will never find date setting here, just a firm belief in the promises of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of his imminent return, whether it's tomorrow or a thousand years from now.
Praise be, we serve a risen Savior.
For those who don't believe, I am sure eyebrows are raised. Non-believers, I am sure, feel Christians who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ think we believe in vain, because there is no one raised from the dead.
Christ was raised so that we may have everlasting life through him. Without him, there is no hope.
The entire gospel is predicated upon Christ rising from the dead and leaving the tomb. I am willing to stake my life and reputation on this fact. I am afraid, though, there are some even in the church who do not believe Christ is risen and will return and take his saints, both dead and alive, with him.
“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Let's think back to Paul and what he went through; he was stoned, beaten a few times, shipwrecked a couple of times, bitten by a snake and I am sure countless other hardships.
He wasn't alone; all of the apostles went through torture for the name of Christ.
Now, do you think Paul, or any of the apostles, would have went through all of this for nothing.
Remember what Christ and Ananias talked about when Jesus told him to go and restore Saul's (Paul's) sight after he was struck blind on the road to Damascus.
“Lord,' Ananias answered, 'I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.' But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” - Acts 9:13-16
Those are ominous words Christ said of Paul. I am not sure, in fact, I just don't know if I could take the sufferings Paul had to go through, I believe though; the Holy Spirit would give me, or anybody, the strength they needed at any particular time.
So, if anybody realized their faith was not in vain, then it had to be Paul. Paul knew what was waiting for him — an eternity with Christ. That was his hope.
It's easy to think Christ is not with us in times like these. We see wicked people becoming wealthy and politicians spending our money like it grows on trees as they take away or livelihood and our freedom.
Don't think of these as perilous times, though; think of these days as opportunities. Take advantage of these hardships, like Paul did, to carry out the work of Christ.
Even nearing his death, Paul looked forward to his life with Christ. Every fiber in his being was dedicated to Christ and the thing he looked forward to most was shedding this corrupt body and putting on the glorified body we will receive when Christ calls us to him.
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown perishable, it is raised imperishable, it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” - 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
Now, Israel just celebrated the Feast of Trumpets, where trumpets are sounded to ring in the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah. Many believe this feast will play directly in to the Rapture of the church.
I will save that discussion for another day, but I would like to finish out on 1 Corinthians 15, which I believe ends with a discussion of the Rapture.
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immorality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.'” - 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
Christ will come for us, and rest assured, our faith is not in vain. We serve a risen Savior; and someday soon I truly believe, Jesus will tell his church to “Come up here,” and the final chapter of earth will begin with the Tribulation.
Now, I will close with Paul's closing remarks in this chapter of hope.
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58
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