The First and the Last - by J. Leland Earls

THE FIRST AND THE LAST
(Rev. 1:11)
by Leland Earls

"This is the revelation of Jesus Christ—His unveiling of the divine mysteries. God gave it to Him to disclose end make known to His bond servants certain things which must shortly come to pass in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to his bond servant John, who has testified to and vouched for all that he saw (in his visions), the Word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ... I (John) was in the Spirit—rapt in His power—on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a war trumpet, saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the FIRST AND THE LAST. Write promptly what you see (your vision) in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia." (Rev. 1:1-2, 10-11 Amplified Version).

Please prayerfully read and meditate on the above words. It is important to under­stand that the book of Revelation contains "divine mysteries" which had not been previously unveiled - either by Jesus Himself, or anyone else. Furthermore, to make the matter em­phatic, the glorified Christ characterizes Himself in this final revelation as the "Alpha and the Omega, the FIRST and the LAST." (Rev. 1:11). “Alpha” is the first letter in the Greek alphabet and "Omega" is the last. Letters make up syllables and words. Words communi­cate ideas. Thus Jesus was emphatically declaring that He alone (as THE WORD - John 1:1, 11; Rev. 19:11) has the first and the last "word" on matters of Divine Revelation.

Why is this so important? Because so many Bible students seek to find in the epis­tles of Paul, Peter. John, etc. the "final word" on various aspects of Christian truth. Certain­ly the apostles have made a contribution to our understanding. But only in the words of Jesus in the Gospels and the book of Revelation do we have the FIRST and LAST authorita­tive "word" on all spiritual truth. And all the revelations of Jesus are FOUNDED in that which the mighty Yahweh-Spirit had made known to Moses and the other prophets in the Old Testament. "To the law (Moses) and to the testimony (of the other prophets)! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Is. 8:20).

[Does Paul Contradict the Teachings of a Two-Stage Translation?]

In order to illustrate this principle, I will now deal with a couple of questions sub­mitted by a Canadian reader regarding apparent contradictions between statements made by the apostle Paul, and that which is founded in the revelation of Jesus Christ, concerning end-time truths. The questions are as follows:

1. Paul says in I Cor. 15:15 that "we shall all be changed" at the time of translation. This appears to contradict the word in your book “Let My People Go " that only those who have attained the proper maturity by the end of the tribulation shall be changed while the rest remain on earth to enter the earth-based Kingdom. What is your solution for this?

2. Paul indicates in I Thess. 4:15 that the translation of the living ones does not pre­cede the resurrection of the dead. Despite the abundance of evidence to scripturally support otherwise the taking of a "first fruits sheaf” before the tribulation, how do you reconcile the apparent contradiction?

First, I will go to the heart of the matter and answer briefly the above questions. Secondly, since Paul's statements quoted in the above questions deal with climactic events to take place at the close of this age, I will go into the Scriptural pattern for the "harvest" and show how Paul's statements fit into this pattern. Third and finally, I will seek to probe somewhat deeper into Paul's understanding and draw out some points which perhaps you had not noticed before.

[The Incompleteness of Paul’s End Time Teaching]

First, Paul was honest enough to admit that he understood only "in part," and as "in a mirror, dimly" (I Cor. 13:12), Therefore it is impossible to build a pattern of end-time events on the writings of Paul alone. Read again what I have already written in the first part of this article. I repeat, there is only ONE who has the "first word" and "last word" on all divinely revealed truth: Jesus Christ. Whatever was revealed to Spirit-tutored men such as Peter, Paul, etc., was but partial and incomplete; only "pieces" of the over-all puzzle and will not be contradictory if fitted into the proper place.

I point out in my "Three Comings of Jesus " booklet that even Jesus' words in the gospels do not give a complete picture of end-time events. For example, in John 5:29, Jesus speaks of the resurrection of some unto life, and others unto judgment. Based on that statement, we might conclude that both resurrections would take place at the same time, but according to Rev. 20:4-6 there is more than one resurrection, separated by at least a thousand years. To give additional revelation that had not been given before was the very purpose of Jesus sending a special messenger to John on the isle of Patmos (Rev. 1:1). If Paul was given the "last word" on end-time prophetic events, why would John receive ad­ditional details from a special messenger long after Paul's ministry was over (ponder that much until its truth has sunk deeply into your consciousness). As to Paul saying in I Cor. 15:15, that "we all" shall be changed, we must understand that there are different catego­ries of Christians. I will seek to show as we proceed that we need to understand WHO Paul is including when he uses such pronouns as "we" "our" and "us."

[The Harvest Parables: Foundational Paradigm to Understanding the End Time “Rapture”]

We need to understand God's end-time pattern for the "harvest" if we are going to fit the pieces into the over all picture. Jesus emphatically declared in Mt. 13:39 that "the harvest is the end of the age (not "world," as it is in the King James version). It is quite common for the word "harvest" to be used to denote the "winning of souls" to Christ. From a limited perspective, I believe this is a legitimate analogy. However, scripturally speaking, we are dealing with epochal events which consummate six thousand years of human history, and open a new cycle and dimension of God's dealings with the earth and its inhabitants. The very metaphor of a "harvest" implies that seeds have been planted, and have grown to maturity over a process of time under the right conditions. Then follows the reaping and threshing that they might be transported to another place. Even so, the Lord's harvest in­volves the planting of His word-seed in the soil of human hearts (Mt. 13:19,23) followed by the right conditions for growth to maturity, in order that a great multitude of humans will be prepared for transport to another realm (the heavenly Kingdom) by having their physical bodies glorified at the close of this age.
- [Three Stages of Salvation Revealed in the Parable of the Sower]
In several of His parables, Jesus used the figure of the harvest to portray truths of His spiritual Kingdom. Mt. 13:3-9 records the parable of the Sower and Jesus gives the inter­pretation in Mt. 13:.8-23. I will not go into detail, but simply state that the parable speaks of the different kinds of soils (human hearts) and the different degrees of response to the Word of God, typified by the 30, 60 and 100 fold. In Mark's account of the same parable, Jesus follows with the statement, "Do you not understand THIS parable? How then will you understand all parables?" (Mk. 4:13). In other words, this is the KEY parable. It un­locks the other parables.


For my purpose here, I will just focus on one verse - Mt. 13:23, where Jesus states that the seed on the good ground brought forth "some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty fold." Thus declaring that there are THREE groups or categories of Christians and each of these three groups has a different destiny. This can be established and amplified on by nu­merous other teachings of Jesus, as well as seen in many pattern truths in the Old Testament. That is beyond the scope, however, of what I want to cover in this article, I will just quote one more parable given by Jesus to focus on the "maturity" question raised by the Canadian reader. I will quote in part Mark 4:26-29: "The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. . . for the earth yields crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But, when the grain ripens, immediate­ly he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." Notice the three groups again. The "blade" corresponds to the 30 fold Christian, "the head" (but still green and partially filled) corresponds to the 60 fold, and the "full" (ripe) grain in the head corresponds to the 100 fold. Not only do we have pictured here the three categories of Christians, but also three stages of progress or growth.

In order to better understand the end time harvest picture, and just WHO is to be "harvested," I want to share briefly what takes place in the life of a believer in Christ in each of these progressive stages. The "thirty fold" or "blade" Christian is an intellectual believer only. Those in this category give "mental assent" to the truths of Christ, and believe that they should at least TRY to live somewhat of a respectable life. This group forms the bulk of church people in the world today. But there is no "seed" in a blade; therefore the thirty-fold have NOT been "born of the incorruptible seed" of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:23). Theirs is but a provisional salvation, conditioned upon their continued going TOWARDS Christ. Such, said Jesus, would by no means be cast out (John 6:37). However, they can (and many do) "drawback to perdition" (He. 10:39) returning to their former ways (II Pet. 2:20-22). The blades who fail to follow through are pictured in the parable of the Sower as those which "sprang up," but were either "scorched out" by tribulation or persecution (Mt. 13:5-6, 20-21) or "choked out" by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches (Mt. 13:7, 22).

The "sixty-fold" are the HEART receivers (John 1:12-13). They have come to a deep seated repentance and have invited Christ to "come in" (Rev. 3:20) being "born anew" (John 3:3) of His deathless life seed, which is engrafted into the soul (James 1:21) causing them to pass from death to life (John 5:24). Theirs is a secured salvation which can never be lost (John 10:28-29). But pause now and THINK! This second stage in Mark 4:28 is called the "head" (or "ear" as it is rendered the King James Version). But in the context the clear im­plication is that the head of grain is yet green and not fully developed. It is not ready to be harvested (removed) from the earth realm (either by translation or out-resurrection) into the heavenly or glorified realm. The salvation of the thirty-fold or sixty-fold groups has nothing to do with heaven. Theirs is but to be preserved to remain on earth, or to be res­urrected back to earth to continue to progress in God's plan. Their harvest from physical to glorified bodies is yet far into the future (a thousand years or more). The exception will be those now living who let the Lord prepare them in the coming tribulation for the harvest at the close of this age, now near at hand.

It is the hundred-fold who have the potential to become the full (ripe) grain in the head (Mk. 4:28) Christian, ready for harvest. That which introduces one into the hundred­fold estate is the Holy Spirit baptism (Mt. 3:11, John 1:33). No, I am NOT referring to speaking in tongues, although that gift may or may not accompany the experience. The one who is immersed in the fire of God's Spirit does not need a special sign as an evidence of something that is in itself a life-transforming encounter with the living Christ. When prop­erly understood and received according to the Divine pattern and intent, this infusion sanctifies the human tabernacle with the glory of the Lord (Ex. 29:43), purging the heart from bondage to carnality, being the "circumcision made without hands by the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ" (Col. 2:11).

This estate of Spirit-sanctification, however, must be maintained by whole-hearted devotion to Christ and separation to Him. There must also be continued testing, proving, overcoming, and spiritual growth before being approved for the harvest. That approval is spoken of in James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of Life which the Lord has promised to those that love Him." That "CROWN of life" is life on the glorified plane, in contrast to the earthly. Read I Cor. 9:24-27, and note that Paul indicates he is "running" and "fighting" for that crown, lest he should be disqualified and lose out on that prize.

[The Two-Stage Rapture Defined by the Harvest Principle]

Look with me briefly at a parable in Mt. 13:24-30. Jesus speaks of the tares (the counterfeit) growing together with the grain until the harvest. Then the tares are gathered in bundles to be burned (in the vials of wrath at the close of the tribulation), but the wheat is gathered into the heavenly barn. Notice it is only the ripened wheat (100 fold) that is taken, not the blades (30 fold) or the partially filled green heads (60 fold). Do you go out to your garden or field and pick blades that are just sprouting up? Or pluck half filled ears or heads to take into your house? Or do you wait for the ripe grain, corn, etc. to harvest for use? Is not God at least as smart as man? You answer that! The ripe grain (100 fold) will be gathered into the heavenly barn (kingdom) in two groups. First the "first fruits" at the beginning of the tribulation, and then the "main harvest" at the close of the tribulation.

This two-fold harvest is graphically portrayed in Rev. 14:1-5 and 14:14-16. In between (14:6-13) there are three angels who give three proclamations relating to the great tribulation conditions:

1. the preaching of the everlasting gospel,
2. the fall of Babylon, and             
3. the warning against being subservient to the beast and his image.

Notice that only after the main harvest has been gathered (14:14-16) do we see the vine of the earth (the wicked) cast into the "wine press of the wrath of God" (14:17-20). This encompasses the seven vials of wrath described in Rev. 16:1-21.

[Paul’s Limited Rapture Teaching Seen within the Harvest Paradigm]

With the foregoing background in the foundational teachings of Jesus, I believe we can now fit Paul's "in part" understanding into the whole picture, keeping in mind that when Paul wrote, the complete picture of the end-time harvest had not yet been given by the One who is "The First and the Last" (Rev. 1:11). What Paul writes in I Thess. 4:13-18 must be placed at the end of the tribulation when the main harvest takes place, for at that time a great multitude of the elect (100 fold) will be glorified, both of those whose bodies are "asleep in Jesus" and those who are alive and remain (having survived the great tribulation). In the chronology of the harvest in Rev. 14, this would be encompassed in 14:14-16.

It becomes evident by the visions given to John in the book of Revelation that there will be martyrs during the great tribulation. I point this out here because it relates to the main harvest picture. In Rev. 20:4-5 John says, "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, AND I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they LIVED and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the FIRST resurrection."

Now please notice carefully. The first statement in Rev. 20:4 would refer to those translated and glorified without experiencing death. Then in the next statement in the same verse, John sees the SOULS of those who had been martyred; that is, he saw these saints clothed in their saved (preserved) soul bodies, before their physical bodies are re­stored to them (compare Rev. 6:9). But in the next statement he says, "and they LIVED." The Amplified version says, "and they LIVED AGAIN." This would refer to the resurrection and glorification of their physical bodies. Then in Rev. 20:5, John says, "This is the FIRST resurrection." It is obvious there can be more resurrections after the first, but certainly none before. The context of Rev. 20:4-6 clearly shows that this first resurrection comes AFTER the tribulation. I point this out because of the teaching of many evangelical funda­mentalists that the resurrection and translation which Paul describes in I Thess. 4:13-15 takes place at the beginning of the tribulation. Impossible!! Otherwise the resurrection described in Rev. 20:4 would NOT be the first! This becomes conclusive, as far as I am concerned, that Paul's Thessalonian passage must be placed at the end of the tribulation. It also reinforces the fact that the "first fruits" of Rev. 14:1-5 are to be taken from among the LIVING only.

 [Prophetic Significance of the Jewish Harvest Process]

Before I comment further on some of Paul's statements, I want to amplify on God's pattern for the end-time harvest as it is portrayed in Israel's natural harvest; for the natural is a type of the spiritual.

I know that I have written on these matters before, but I don't recall ever setting forth a step by step complete scenario of the end-time harvest, so here goes! First, just a brief summary of the progression of the natural harvest. In the land of Palestine, the harvest began in the spring with the ripening of the barley. This took place in the month of Nisan, the first month of their religious calendar, during which the feast of Passover was held at Jerusalem. As a part of the Passover "rites," God commanded the High Priest to cut out a sheaf of the ripening barley and present it as a first-fruits offering to the Lord, "waving" it before the Lord in a special ceremony. Also, in the spring, the "latter rains" fell, which were necessary to provide moisture to ripen the crops. This was the second of the two major rainy seasons; the first being the "early rains" which fell in the Fall season to soft­en the soils for planting (see Lev. 26:4; Jer. 5:24; Ho. 6:3; Joel 2:23; Zech. 10:1; James 5:7). After the intermittent rains of the winter months (with snow in the higher eleva­tions), and the heavy spring (latter) rains, came the heat of the summer which was also necessary for the harvest to ripen in preparation for cutting and threshing. In the late summer there was the vintage which also has great prophetic significance.

Based on the above pattern, there are three things that are absolutely necessary for a spiritual harvest to God at the close of this age.

(1)   A first fruits company ("sheaf”) presented to God.
In the natural pattern, the harvest could not begin until God received His special portion. Does God give a pattern and then ignore it? No way! We must see the pattern fulfilled in the spiritual harvest at the end of this age exactly as it is portrayed in Rev. 14:1-6. No first fruits - No harvest!
In I Cor. 15:20, Paul speaks of Jesus as the "first fruits of them that slept." Jesus Himself was the first fulfillment of the first fruits wave-sheaf of the barley harvest when He was resurrected and glorified; ascending to the Father and then descending (the "wave" motion). But like so many prophetic types there is more than one fulfillment. To fulfill the complete pattern, Jesus, as High Priest and Lord of the harvest, must Himself "wave" a first fruits sheaf of them that are alive to begin the end-time harvest. This will take place in the spring of the year, whenever that epochal year arrives. Three and one-half years later (1260 days), in the fall of the year, the main harvest will take place, both of those whose bodies are "asleep in Jesus" and those who are "alive and remain" as Paul states in 1 Thess. 4:15-17.

(2)   The "latter rain" outpouring.

The heavy spring rains were necessary to insure enough moisture for growth and harvest, Even so in this end-time, following the transla­tion of the first fruits, there must be a "latter-rain" outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This will be the full and complete Pentecost, of which that described in Acts, chap. 2, was an earnest and foretaste. Read Acts 2:16-21. In his message, Peter quotes from Joel 2:28-32, which declares that when God pours out His Spirit, He will also show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and notable day of the Lord." This connection of God's outpouring with the climactic events which terminate this age should make us realize that the full Pentecost is yet to come.

This "latter rain" is absolutely necessary for the fulfillment of Jesus' words in Mt. 24:14, "And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." The gospel of the Kingdom which Jesus and His disciples preached was with POWER. Not since the days of the early church has that di­mension of supernatural divine endowment been manifested through God's people. When the church compromised and "went in unto Rome" in the early fourth century, God "shore her hair" (removed the Glory and Power). Yes, there have been "waves" of refreshing and renewal down through the years as the Holy Spirit has moved to accomplish the Lord's purposes in His church. But the FULL ANOINTING will not be restored until the "Second Pentecost." Then will the works of Jesus be done, and even greater works (John 14:12) will be done by chosen vessels. This outpouring will also be needed as millions of "foolish virgins" lay "all on the altar" in order to "buy" the baptismal fire, and then go on to be prov­en and prepared.

(3)   The heat of the summer for maturing, followed by the threshing.
What does this typify in our end-time picture? The great tribulation, which has been designed by God to do a quick purifying and maturing work in Christians. No tribulation; no harvest! Ponder long and prayerfully these statements. Your future destiny in God's Kingdom is at stake, God must turn up the heat! Lest multitudes of Christians "miss the bus" for translation to the glorified realm. Most will miss the first "bus" to glory, for only the elect "first fruits" are scheduled for that trip. But because our gracious God has scheduled a multitude to "take off” on the second trip, He has prepared the "heat" of the great tribulation. Yes, for Christians has He prepared it; not for the world, except in a secondary sense; for God is well able to accomplish multiple purposes in a given period of time. 
                                                                                       
[Distinguishing the Great Tribulation from the Wrath of God]

One of the grossest errors being perpetuated by many evangelical fundamentalists is that the "great tribulation" and the "wrath of God" are synonymous. They perpetuate this error by a well known but inaccurate syllogism which goes something like this;
1) Because the great tribulation is the same thing as the wrath of God, and
2) Since our Redeemer King has delivered us from the wrath to come, therefore
3) It is impossible that the church should go through the great tribulation
This conclusion certainly appeals to the emotions, because no one relishes the idea of passing through of any kind of tribulation. The problem with this syllogism, however, is that the first premise is false, thereby rendering the conclusion false. The great tribulation is simply NOT the same as the wrath of God. A careful study of every passage in which the Greek term for tribulation, that is thlipsis is found, clearly displays that fact that it is con­sistently used as a term for the testing, trials, and afflictions of the people of God, which are by a loving heavenly Father to either correct of perfect. The ancient Greeks used the word thlipsis to express ideas related to varying degrees of pressure, both external and in­ternal. It is therefore translated by such words as affliction, vexing, harassing, crushing, pressing down and tribulation.

Wherever thlipsis is found in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), as well as the Greek of the New Testament, the context must be examined to see whether the tribulation is external, internal or both. It will be discovered that in no instance does this term ever refer to the wrath of God being poured out on the world. In the Septuagint, thlipsis and its cognates are used of several Hebrew terms which all more or less express the troubles and afflictions of life. These Hebrew words, held in common bond by the Greek word for tribulation, are consistently used to describe the various difficulties which are allowed to come upon the people of God.
- [Tribulation: the Threshing Phase of Harvest]
It is beyond the scope of this article to deal with tribulation and how God uses it in the lives of His people. However, there is another aspect of the harvest picture that fits in­to the scenario I am presenting and symbolically portrays the very idea of tribulation that is before us. Our English word "tribulation" comes from the Latin term tribulum, which means "a threshing sledge," as it was used for dragging over grain when pulled by a donkey or an ox. The verb form means to "press down or rub hard." Ripened grain cannot be re­moved from the earth (realm) and gathered into a barn (higher realm) until it passes through the threshing floor. Threshing floors were placed in the open air, leveled and tramped hard, generally on elevated ground, so that in winnowing, the wind might carry away the chaff.

Threshing was done by oxen driven over the grain to tread out the kernels with their hoofs, or by pulling threshing machines over the grain, made either of planks with stones or bits of iron fastened to the lower surface to make it rough and rendered heavy by some weight on it, or small wagons with low cylindrical wheels like saws, This process of threshing separated the grain from the chaff (husks and broken straw). Then in the evening, when the wind would pick up, the winnowing would take place. Winnowing was done with a broad shovel or wooden fork, with bent prongs. The mass of chaff, straw, and grain was thrown against the wind so that the chaff might be blown away. The chaff and stubble were burned, lest, with the changing wind, it might be blown again among the grain.

As we apply this pattern to our spiritual development, it should become apparent that "threshing floor experiences" (tribulations) are absolutely necessary if we are to be proven "fit" for transference to the coming Kingdom of glory. But let us look at the thresh­ing symbolism a little more closely.

During the growth of each kernel of grain, it is surrounded by a husk. The kernel is IN the husk but not OF it, even as Jesus declares in John 17:16 that those who are HIS, al­though in the world, are not of the world. Our being IN the world is necessary for our ma­turing, even as the husk surrounding the grain is necessary until the time for harvest is come. Thus in the life of the saints, the threshing floor stands for the special dealings of God (He. 12:1-11), which He periodically brings into our lives: the tests, trials, pressures, proving; the disciplines and chastening; that all the "husks" of this world might be sepa­rated, no longer "clinging" to us in any way. It is the final phase of the purging process be­fore the "gathering together" unto Jesus (II Thess. 2:l).

The end time import of the threshing process is clearly declared in the prophetic words concerning Jesus as spoken by John the Baptist, recorded in Mt. 3:11-12, "I Indeed baptize you with water to repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Here we have a graphic picture of Jesus as the FIRST and the LAST with reference to the course of this present age. He launched the church for its work during this age by pouring out the Holy Spirit fire on the 120 in the upper room (Acts 2:1-4), and He will consummate this age by purging His threshing floor (this earth). This latter will involve a two-fold work:

1. Preparing of the wheat for gathering into the "heavenly barn;" and for most Christians this will include the "threshing floor experience" of the great tribulation.

2. After the gathering of the wheat (by translation), the "chaff” (the wicked of the world) will be destroyed in the fiery wrath of the seven last vials (Rev. 16:1-21). Also sum­marized in Rev. 6:12-17.

- [Further Distinction between Tribulation and Wrath]

In order to more clearly distinguish between tribulation (thlipsis) and the wrath of God, please note closely the following verse; "Immediately AFTER the tribulation (thlipsis) of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Mt. 24:29). Here I believe is a helpful clarification between the great tribulation and the wrath of God which comes AFTERwards. The word "wrath" is not used in the above verse. However, the descriptive picture given is in complete harmony with what we read concerning "the great day of His wrath" as given in Rev. 6:12-17. This "wrath" will be accomplished primarily by man's folly returning upon his own head. In the expression in Mt. 24:29, "the powers of the heavens will be shaken," the Greek word for "heavens" is ouranos, from which we get our English word uranium; the fissionable material from which atom bombs are made.

Thus the words in Mt. 24:29 are descriptive of an atomic war. The fact that the sun and moon will be darkened stems from the fact that tons of dirt and debris will be thrown into the atmosphere, obscuring the light of these celestial bodies. Read Rev. 16:1-17 and I think that it is quite apparent that the effects of these vials of wrath are descriptive of atomic explosions and radiation. These matters are covered in my booklet on "The Shaking of All Things ."


It is very helpful to keep in mind the time patterns involved. The first fruits will be translated in the spring of the year, whenever that momentous year arrives. Then follows the great tribulation of 1260 days (42 months or 3 1/2 yrs; Rev. 11:2; 12:6), the end of which will come in the Fall of the year on the Jewish feast of Trumpets, when the main harvest host will be translated. This is why Paul especially mentions the "sound of the trumpet" in connection with this momentous event (I Cor. 15:51-52; I Thess. 4:16-17). Now note carefully. [The Feast of] Trumpets falls on the 1st day of the Jewish month Tishri. Two weeks later, on the l5th of Tishri, is the Feast of Tabernacles: the very day Christ will return in power and glory with all His saints (Mt. 24:30, Jude 14). The wrath of God falls during the two weeks between these dates! At the same time the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" (Rev. 19:6-10), takes place in Heaven. Then Christ (with His saints - Rev 19:11-16) streaks to earth to both consummate that wrath and stop the madness of atomic warfare, lest "no flesh would be saved." (II Thess. 1:7-8; Mt. 24:21-22).

What? Do you think it takes God a long time to pour out His wrath? In Noah's day it took God just 40 days and nights (Gen. 7:4). He took care of Sodom and Gomorrah in a one-day block buster (Gen. 19:24-29). The ten plagues came upon Egypt in rapid succes­sion (Ex. 7:14; 10:24; 12:29-30). I don't know the over-all time period, but it had to be a relatively short period of time. Are we then to accept the unscriptural notion that it is go­ing to take God 3 1/2 or even 7 years (as some teach) to pour out His wrath in destruction of the wicked at the close of this age? The answer should be obvious.

Now that we know, Scripturally founded, that the wrath of God is poured out after the tribulation, then this affirms what I have also Scripturally shown, that "tribulation," in both Old and New Testament, is for the people of God. It is a part of our "wilderness expe­rience" of testing on this earth, that God might know what is in our hearts, whether we will obey His Word or not (see Deut. 8:1-3); and to help develop in us the character of Jesus Christ, even as Paul declares in Rom. 5:2-5, that we "rejoice in hope of the glory of God, and not only that, but we also glory in Tribulations (thlipsis), knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance character; and character hope." I will leave it there even though more scripture could be used.

- [Wrath Portrayed in the Harvest Pattern]

Although I have already dealt with the final wrath of God, as it is portrayed in the burning of the chaff, there is further symbolism in the harvest picture. After grains had been harvested, later in the summer came the time for the vintage (the gathering of the grapes, as well as their crushing in the wine press in preparation for the making of wine). Each vineyard had its wine press. These presses were generally hewn out of solid rock, consisting of two receptacles or vats placed at different elevations. In the upper one the grapes were trodden, while the lower one received the expressed juice. God uses the pro­cess of the treading out of the grapes as a symbolic picture of His taking vengeance on the wicked. Grape juice is symbolic in the scriptures of mortal human blood.

In the harvest chapter, Rev. 14, we see the exact pattern that I have presented to you. In 14:14-16, Jesus Christ, with a sickle in His hands, reaps the harvest of the earth (the ripened grain of His saints). This takes place at the close of the tribulation. Then, im­mediately following, in 14:17-20, an angel with another sickle is seen (14:17). Then we read; "And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire (this will be atomic fire), and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe. So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God." (Rev. 14:18-19). We see Jesus consummating this wrath as He returns, with His robe symbolically "dipped in blood" as He "treads the wins press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." (Rev. 19:11-15). Compare Is. 63; 1-6.

Thus we see that God's entire plan for the closing stages of this age are conformed to the pattern of Israel's natural harvest in the land of Palestine, and also "choreographed" to dovetail with the major festival dates of Israel 's religious calendar. Hallelujah! How beauti­ful is God's plan when all of the pieces of the puzzle are fitted together.

[Paul’s Changing Perspective on the Resurrection]

In seeking to answer the questions proposed by the Canadian reader concerning statements by Paul, I have been seeking to show how they cannot be understood apart from fitting them into the Master plan given by the FIRST and the LAST (Rev. 1:11). Where any statement by Paul seems to be in contradiction, then a closer look at what Paul has said must be taken and evaluated accordingly. We have already assessed the fact that Paul under­stood only "in part;" he did not have the complete picture of God's end time plan. Now I want to proceed further and deal with two other matters. First, there was a progression in Paul's understanding as seen in His earlier epistles as compared to later ones. Second, in certain passage when Paul uses such personal pronouns as "we" "us” or "our," we must real­ize that Paul was referring to himself and to those in his own category.

It is generally agreed by Biblical scholars that I & II Thessalonians were the earliest of Paul's epistles. It also seems evident that when writing these epistles, Paul believed that he would be alive at the time of the Lord's second coming. This is why he states in I Thess. 4:17 that, "We who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet the Lord." I and II Corinthians were also written early in Paul's ministry. And in similar fashion Paul spoke of the coming of the Lord and declared "we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed" (I Cor.15:51).

However, when we consider the Philippian epistle, which was written later, as Paul was imprisoned in Rome, he expresses no thought of being alive at the Lord's coming. In­stead, he is looking forward to attaining to what he calls an "out-resurrection out from among the dead" (literal rendering of the Greek of Phil. 3:11). As one who knew God's plan for a future resurrection of ALL—the just and the unjust (Acts 24:16), based on Jesus words in John 5:29—Paul also knew that there was nothing he needed to do to eventually experi­ence a resurrection of his physical body. The resurrection was a SURE THING! What Paul was hoping to attain to, as expressed in Phil. 3:11, was something special and exclusive, for he says, "IF by any means I might attain." Paul knew at this time that he was not going to live until the Lord's coming, and he wanted to be sure that he would be among those quali­fied to participate in a resurrection BEFORE other resurrections, and also to a HIGHER plane—glorified life.

As Paul expressed his hope in Phil. 3:11, he used the Greek preposition ek two times, which means "out from" or "out from among." It is first used as a prefix to the Greek word anastasia, meaning "resurrection," and should be translated "OUT-resurrection." It is then used again just before the Greek word nekcron, meaning "dead," and together they should be translated "out from the dead." The latter expression implies the resurrection of some while others are left behind; that is, a special resurrection, which is called in Rev. 20:5, the FIRST resurrection, and which obviously must be followed by one or more later resurrections. The "OUT-resurrection" expression (ek-anastasis), I believe, indicates NOT a resurrection back to this earth, but rather OUT FROM this earth into the glorified life.

The entire context of Phil. 3:1-21 is extremely important and affirms that which is clearly established in the teachings of Jesus that there are different categories of Christians. As you read of Paul's desire and willingness to go "all out" to WIN a certain "prize," it be­comes obvious that he is aspiring to something more than just believing in Jesus (the 30-fold) or even being "born again" (the 60-fold). It is the UP-ward call (3:12-14) to the "sum­mit" that Paul seeks to "lay hold of." This is the 100-fold who will be called UP to inherit the heavenly Kingdom and glory as co-heirs with Christ in His coming Kingdom.

It is in the above context that Paul states in Phil. 3:20 that "our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body." In such passages as this, as well as numerous others in Paul's epistles, when he uses such personal pronouns as "we" "us" and "our," he is referring to himself and those in his own category. After reading the entire context of Phil. 3:1-21, if you can honestly say that you have "this mind" of the mature (3:15) and are going "all out" as Paul was to "attain" the prize (3:11-14), then perhaps you can include yourself in the "our" and the "we" of Phil. 3:20 (the "heavenly citizen­ship").

We do not have to appeal to epistles to determine that not all believers will be glori­fied when Jesus comes. That is established by the FIRST and the LAST. But epistles, rightly read, will not contradict the basics from Jesus words. Perhaps you have never read II Thess. 1:10 where Paul speaks of Jesus: "when He comes, in that day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe." Note the distinction; saints (separated ones) will be glorified; believers will admire. Or, consider Col. 3:4, "when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory." Is Jesus your very life? Does everything in your life revolve around Him? Has His love become a "consuming fire" in you, increasingly refining every thought, motive and desire? Then perhaps this promise of "appearing with Him in glory" can apply to you. As you read such promises, and many others, note the qualifying conditions given before you hastily include yourself.

[Relating Matured Sonship to the Prophetic Harvest Pattern]

I will deal briefly with just one more statement by Paul. In I Cor. 16:50 he declares that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God." Notice that word "inherit." Ac­cording to Jewish custom, inheritance was for a son who had "come of age;" who was given his portion of the Father's inheritance and thus became a joint-heir. When this time came, as appointed by the father (Gal. 4:1-2), the son (sometimes in a special ceremony) was offi­cially acknowledged and given (or placed in) his inheritance. There is a special Greek word which Paul uses as the spiritual counterpart for the sons of God. It is huiothesia - a combination of huios (son) and tithemi (to place, appoint, ordain, put, or set forth). Unfortunately, the translators of the authorized (King James) version used the English word "adoption" to translate the Greek word. The concept, however, which Paul was seeking to convey when using this word in his epistles has nothing to do with adoption as we use it in our culture. Paul makes this clear in Rom. 8:23 where he states that we "who have the first fruits of the Spirit (through the Holy Spirit baptism), even we ourselves groan within our­selves, eagerly waiting for the adoption (placing as a son), the redemption of our body." Thus it is something yet in the future. When that redemption (glorification) of the body takes place, then will fulfill Rom. 8:19.

Since "flesh and blood" cannot enter into that inheritance, it becomes evident that for those sons who become sufficiently purified, proven, and prepared, the "redemption of the body" refers to the glorification of the body, so that it becomes like to Christ's glori­fied body, able to function at will either in the heavenly realm or manifest as "flesh and bone" in the physical realm (Luke 24:39). So whether we see it in the metaphor of the harvest, where the grain must reach a certain stage of ripeness before it can be reaped, or in that of a son, who must reach a certain stage of maturity and responsibility before he can be placed in his inheritance, the truth is the same; God must do a work within those He is preparing to gather into the glory-realm.

What God is primarily after is PURITY; for it is the "pure in heart" who will see God (Mt. 5:3), and "without holiness no one will see the Lord" (He. 12: 14). The heart must be purged from the bondage to carnality. But there must also be a proving, with sufficient overcoming and mastery over self that equates to an "acceptable maturity." I use that ter­minology to distinguish it from an absolute maturity or perfection, for we will be growing towards the stature of the Father for many eons to come. But during this age, only those who have "come of age" as God sees it, can be "placed as sons" in the heavenly inheritance. This is the meaning of the words spoken of the firstfruits company in Rev. 14:5, that they are "without fault before the Throne of God."

Have you ever stopped to think that a glorified body is a powerful vessel or vehicle? Supposing you had a child 3 or 4 years old still riding a tricycle. Would you give that child the keys to your powerful automobile and tell him to use it whenever he wanted to? Stupid, you say. Well, not as stupid as claiming that all Christians, whether babes in Christ, children, or just plain carnal ones, are going to receive glorified bodies all at the same time. Absolute chaos would break out in the heavenly realm in a hurry if God did that.






[The Pre-Tribulation First Fruits in the Prophetic Harvest Pattern]


Let us now return to the “harvest pattern” and I will conclude this article with some final thoughts. In the pattern of Israel’s natural harvest it took the “latter rains” to insure a bounteous increase for reaping. However, for the barley crop, the intermittent rains and increasing warmth of late winter (especially at lower elevations) caused some barley heads to ripen before the heavy spring rains came in their fullness. Thus there were sufficient ripened barley heads to make up the first fruits wave sheaf to be offered at the time of the Passover feast. Even so will it be in the end time spiritual harvest. The first fruits will be translated and glorified BEFORE the full “latter rain” outpouring takes place. Hallelujah! All things will be conformed to the “harvest pattern” given by the ONE who is the FIRST and the LAST.

In. Zech. 10:1, the prophet admonishes: “ASK of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain.” We must understand God’s strategy! Not until the Lord springs His SNARE or trap and unexpectedly translated the first fruits (who are “counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man,” Luke 21:34-36, Rev. 3:10), will the remaining church be SHOCKED TO ITS KNEES, crying out to God and ASKING for RAIN; for it will then be the TIME for the “latter rain.” And when it “falls” the real power of God will be manifest as never before in church history! Lord, hasten the day!

“And behold, I am coming quickly (suddenly, unexpectedly) and my reward is with me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the FIRST and the LAST.” (Rev. 22:12-13).

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly’ (suddenly unexpectedly). Amen. Even so come Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Rev. 22:20-21.


                        Leland Earls

                        Concluded: 11/29/88


Note: All scripture quotations in this article are taken from The New King James Version, except where otherwise indicated.




[Ed. Post Script – As affirmed before the article, the Lord provided me other explanations capable of reconciling Paul’s statements on the rapture (which appear to teach only one all-inclusive event) with brother Leland’s teaching of a conditional two-phased rapture based in the prophetic harvest paradigm. I later posited these explanations to him and he found them agreeable in addition to what he had presented here.

My first question regarded Paul’s statement that “we shall all be changed” at the last trumpet, “in the twinkling of an eye.” How can we all be changed at the same time like this if, as brother Earl’s asserts, some will be changed before the tribulation and others afterward? What the Lord showed me however is that this question is based in a false assumption regarding the term “twinkling of an eye.” The assumption is that the term “twinkling of an eye” demands simultaneous translation of all.

In truth, this assumption is unwarranted. The fact that we all shall be changed “in the twinkling of an eye” is not forced to mean that we are all changed “at once together in the SAME moment.” Yes, we will all be changed “in a moment” of time. But it does not have to be the same moment for everyone. Some can be changed in an earlier moment, and others at a later moment. Everyone is still changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” Paul is emphasizing the instantaneous suddenness of the translation, not its point in time.

My second question regarded Paul’s statement that the rapture does not occur until after the dead are first raised. How could a first fruits “sheaf” be translated before the dead are raised if this is to be so?

However, the Spirit drew my attention more carefully to Paul’s words. He says that “we who are alive and remain shall not precede those who are asleep.” I had always assumed that the phrase “and remain” was simply a redundant way of saying “alive.” But actually, the words “and remain” allow for the possibility that some do not remain because they have already been translated! Subtle? Yes. Impossible? Not at all. The Spirit is in fact known to be very prophetically subtle. Now, brother Earl’s interpreted the phrase “and remain” to refer to those who escape martyrdom during the tribulation. Also quite valid. The truth is that the Spirit is not limited to a single meaning in His words. Thus there is nothing in Paul’s statement about the resurrection of the dead that precludes all possibility of any prior partial translation! As brother Earls would exclaim, “Hallelujah!”

The Three Comings of Jesus - by J. Leland Earls

The Three Comings of Jesus

by J. Leland Earls

INTRODUCTION

There are multitudinous signs in the world today that indicate the nearness of the return of Jesus Christ to planet earth. A study of those signs is very important, but is beyond the scope of this particular booklet.  Herein, I shall deal only with the HOW of Jesus’ return. Is it all at once, in stages, etc.? Does He come secretly, visibly, or what? And what about the “rap­ture”? Is it scriptural? Are Christians to be taken or left? And if taken, where to? And for how long? I hope that this study will clear up many of these and other questions; I have chosen to divide the material into three sections:

• The Coming of Jesus TO His saints.
• The Coming of Jesus FOR His saints.
• The Coming of Jesus WITH His saints.

I hope you will carefully study this booklet, trying to keep an open mind and heart to the Lord. My only desire is to let the truth that is contained in these pages bring joy and com­fort to your heart, and challenge you to further study of this important subject. I make no claim to have the final word on this or any other scriptural truth, but only want to be faithful to present the insights I have received to the praise of the Lord, I am open to further light which will amplify or modify what has been written. I would suggest that you read through the whole booklet first, to get a complete perspective;   then review and study.

THREE COMINGS OF JESUS

Come, Lord Jesus! 

Probably no man on earth, other than the Lord Jesus Himself, has ever had such an awe-inspiring, dra­matic and revealing experience, than the one granted to the apostle John on the isle of Patmos as he had unveiled to him in symbolic and prophetic vision what he chose to call “The Rev­elation of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:1). After recording faithfully what he had seen and heard with a hearty “Amen,” he no doubt began to contemplate what he had written. The joy and antic­ipation of his heart was beyond description. How he longed to see this wondrous vision fulfilled to himself and to all of the church. Perhaps he quickly picked up his pen again and appen­ded that which was not only the cry of his own heart, but also the longing in the heart of every true Christian from that day to this: “EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS” (Rev. 22:20).

Different Phases.

However, we need to see that there are dif­ferent phases to the coming of the Lord. Whenever I long for the Lord to move by His Spirit and make Himself real by His spiritual presence, I say in my heart “Come, Lord Jesus!” And this is scriptural, for Jesus Himself said, when promising anoth­er Comforter in the person of the Holy Spirit, “I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL COME TO YOU” (John 14:18).    But the Lord’s coming TO the church through the ministry of the Holy Spirit is NOT His only coming, as some are erroneously teaching. Jesus also promised to come FOR His church when He said: “I will come again, and RECEIVE you to myself; that where I AM, there you may be also (John 14:3).  Please note, He was not speaking in this verse of His coming in the ministry of the Holy Spirit; for had He been. He would have said, “that where YOU ARE, there I will be also. For that is the purpose of His sending the Holy Spirit, that we might experience His spiritual presence where WE ARE (here and now). But He said He would come to RECEIVE us that we might be where HE IS. Since He is no longer an earthly being walking this earth, that means being translated into His own heavenly kingdom realm, with a body like to His (Phil. 3:21).

Final.

But there is a final coming of the Lord Jesus expressed in the words of Jude in the 14th verse of his book: “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes WITH ten thousands of his saints’.” Some say this refers to angels only, but though there will be myriads of angels returning with Him (Mt. 25:31), I believe it is quite clear that the glorified saints also return with Him in His final descent, as in Rev. 19:14 the “armies” of heaven follow Him to earth. And also in Luke 19:12 we read where Jesus told of a certain noble­man (representing Jesus Himself)who went into a far country to RECEIVE for himself a kingdom, and to RETURN. Notice that He receives the kingdom (His people) to Himself first; then returns with it. Since His people return WITH Him, it is quite obvious that previous to that they have BEEN somewhere. But that is just one of the “mysteries” which I will seek to unveil in this study. Are you ready? Then come and let us LOOK!

Taken and left?

Before dealing with the various phases of the Lord’s coming in detail, I want to jump right into what seems to be a difficult scripture passage, and which has been fre­quently misinterpreted.  I refer to Mt. 24:37-41, where it speaks of some being taken and others left. After dealing with this passage, a certain writer that I read recently, said: “Lord, we want to be left!” I hope that by the time you have finished reading this booklet, that you will say with me, “Lord, we want to be taken!” Another end-time writer that I read not too long ago, also ridicules the idea that anyone would want to be taken; for, he says, according to this passage only the wicked are to be taken. But does it? NOT if we examine carefully and understand the TWO kinds of “taking” the Lord was talking about.

The Key.

So often the truth is missed because our English trans­lations do not give the distinction between different Greek words that are used. Let me quote the passage under consider­ation and then I will show you what I mean. “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, mar­rying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,and the other left. WATCH THEREFORE: for you know not what hour your Lord comes” (Mt. 24:38-42). The Greek word translated “took” in the first instance, where it speaks of the fact that he “took them all away” (in judgment), is an en­tirely different Greek word than that used in the verses follow­ing where He says that “one shall be taken, and the other left. ” Let me illustrate this by using the numbers and definitions in Strongs concordance as follows:

Strongs: #142, Greek, AIRO: “to lift; by implication, to take up or away; away with, put away, remove, take.” This is the Greek word that is used in Mt. 24:39 where it says that God “took them (the wicked) all away.” It is the same word used in Lk. 19:26 where of the “wicked servant” it is said that “even that which he has shall be taken away from him.”

Strongs: #3880, Greek, PARALAMBANO: “to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by anal. to assume an office; receive, take (unto, with).” WOW!  Does not this word literally SHOUT at us? And this is the word used in Mt. 24:40-41 where it says that “one shall be taken, and the other left.” Here it is not the wicked being taken away in judgment, but rather Christians who are READY (this will be discussed later) being taken to be near Jesus in intimate relationship, to be associated with Him in a particular work or ministry, where they will “assume an office “or function in His consummating plan for this age. Note the following other scriptures where this Greek word is used.

Mt. 1:20:”…fear not to take to you Mary your wife.”

Mt. 2:24: “…and (Joseph) took to himself his wife.”

Lk. 9:28: “He (Jesus) took Peter, John, James, and went. . .”

Mt. 26:37: “…and He (Jesus) took with him Peter.”

All indicate a taking or receiving to a person for an intimate re­lation and purpose. Hallelujah! Lord, we want to be taken!

Watch.

Immediately following His statement that some would be taken and others left, Jesus gives the admonition, “Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord comes.” Mt. 24:42.  Now WHY the admonition to “watch” if the Lord is only talking about the wicked being taken away? But if, as we have pointed out, the Lord is warning Christians lest they be left behind when He comes to take some to Himself, THEN the admonition to watch makes sense. All we have to do is to con­tinue to read the verses following the admonition (24:43-51), and the misty fogs of man’s confusion will disappear.  “But know this, that if the goodman (head) of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have permitted his house to be broken up. Therefore BE YOU ALSO READY: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes” (Mt. 24:43-44). Thus Jesus is coming to break into the household of the church to TAKE those who are READY, and leave others behind. The same thought is presen­ted under a different analogy in 24:45-51 as the faithful and wise servant who is ready when the Lord comes, is contrasted with the unfaithful and careless servant who is to be “cut asun­der” (separated from those who are ready by being left behind), so that his portion (during the tribulation) will be appointed with the hypocrites. These thoughts will be developed more fully little later.  I have been seeking to show now that the whole context of the passage has to be studied to grasp the signifi­cance of some being taken and others being left because of READINESS, as well as STRATEGY in dealing with the house­hold of the church.

Leland Earls

Word of Life Fellowship

Will You Miss Being Taken in the First Rapture?

by C. Gordon Wolcott

Jesus said He is coming in a day or hour which you do not understand. To those not ready, His coming will be as a thief in the night. Those not ready will not be part of the “watch” in which He will come and they will miss Him. Mt. 24:42-45. To be alert to the hour of His coming requires getting ready. Readiness requires preparation. Besides understanding, one should also do some things before He comes. Or, as Jesus said, you will miss the event. The Bible also says the children of Light will not be surprised. 1Thess. 5:2-6. Here, Light describes those being enlightened, with facts clearly in mind. If they are not surprised, those must previously have been in possession of true facts on what He will find acceptable at the time of His coming.

Can there be any other reading of these passages? Read them again carefully, and then associate them with Amos 3:7, Mk. 4:22 and Jhn. 16:4. It is not the Lord who keeps man in the dark about anything He is about to do. In order not to miss out on the event and the concurrent events of His coming, one should involve himself. For adequate preparation he should accurately gather the truths enabling qualification prior to the time of His coming. He says we surely can! Deut. 30:14.

How many of these Christ-spoken facts do Christians know? How many work hard to better understand more of them? Understanding is different than being aware. How is adequate preparation completed? Anyone “just resting in the Lord,” anyone “just trusting in Jesus,” or “just loving Him,” will surely miss Him. Actual truths He taught must be applied, in order not to miss Him. Would an instructive example be useful?

Perhaps you recall that John the Baptist described himself as the voice in the wilderness, preparing people for the Lord’s coming. He did a good job. It was John the Baptist who subsequently introduced the Lamb of God. He was very accurate in recognizing the beginning. Surely he should have had possession of the necessary facts; surely he should have known much about the Lord’s coming. Jhn. 1:23-24. But do you realize that although John knew His assignment, ultimately he was deficient in understanding enough of the facts concerning the Lord’s purpose at His coming?

You have read that he sent two of his disciples to further investigate this Jesus. Why did He refuse to keep God’s “promise” to use His mighty power to neutralize and terminate Rome’s rule over the Holy Land – for all time? Seemingly, this Jesus was refusing to set up His Kingdom on earth, as prophesied. Could He really be the promised Savior of the Chosen People? John stumbled over what he saw, because he had preconceived ideas derived from what the priests and theologians had taught. Lk. 7:18-23. John stumbled because he could not recognize the “day” he saw, and he missed out on deliverance from prison. He literally lost his head over what he thought he should be seeing.

What preconceived ideas of the Lord’s actions at His second coming are in your own mind? Will they match what He taught about His coming? Or are they derived from the teachings of ministers and theologians who have received their information from other ministers and other theologians? Remember that both Daniel and the Apostle John were instructed to “seal up” certain previews given them so that there would not be full revealing until the end of the age in which we live. Dan. 12:4, Rev. 10:4. How could some of our fathers and their fathers be so sure they knew so much about the time and the manner of our Lord’s coming? That is only now being revealed within and to the generation which shall not pass away before all these things prophesied are completed. Mt. 24:33-34. Only man’s inventiveness has made so much “knowledge” available previous to about 1930. It failed. Because of preconceived notions, most people will miss the coming of the Lord. Will you?

How often the Lord emphasized dangers in Satan- devised traps! The ways of God were well known in the days of Noah. Adam had died only about 126 years before Noah was born and only about 14 years had elapsed from the death of Seth. Noah was born only 69 years after Enoch was translated. Methuselah lived as a contemporary with Adam about 242 years; he was a contemporary of Noah about 600 years. It was a time when relatively few men populated the land. The knowledge of God’s requirements was readily available through a plurality of human sources. However, not being coordinated with God’s ways, most men, except Noah and seven others, missed preservation in the boat – a type of Christ.

During the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, the ways of God were not hidden. Abram was born about 60 years before Noah died, and Abram’s life was contemporary with that of Noah’s son, Shem, during 210 years. Lot was also contemporary with Shem. Isaac was contemporary with Shem during 110 years. But of all people living in the fertile valley of Sodom, only Lot and his family knew enough about God’s requirements to pull away – and preserve their lives. As a young man, Joseph received visions from God describing his family’s inter- relationships. The family had other views, and totally missed what God was doing. As a result, wheat harvests were poor and they left the Promised Land. During the Exodus wilderness travels, the Chosen People insisted on following their own ideas, instead of what God was showing and doing through Moses. The whole adult generation missed preservation in the Promised Land – except for two who prefigured two groups and the Rev. 11 two witnesses in our time.

Although much warning and exhortation was given the Hebrew people prior to the victories of the Assyrian and then the Babylonian armies, the Hebrews stuck to their own ideas and lost even what they had. The church- nation of the Jewish people had all the information needed, and more than it wished to use about the timing and work which their Messiah would undertake. The priests and learned men could tell Herod, a Gentile, when and precisely where the Messiah would be born. But because of preconditioned notions of Christ’s coming and the work of His ministry, they willfully missed taking part in His Kingdom. They said Jesus was an anti-Christ, an outgrowth of Satan. Man-organized Christendom has long held to its own opinions and views of what Jesus is doing to form His Glorious Church on earth, full of power and with no blemish. Eph. 5:27. Because of that, Christendom failed to cooperate and has a lame, ineffective part in building the Kingdom Christ came to establish on earth. Further, all in Christendom adhering to its man-conditioned ideas will yet miss any function in the heavenly New Jerusalem Kingdom.

What is necessary to ensure enlightenment by which one can make himself ready for the Lord’s coming? One reason for His first coming was to bring the gift of His immortal seed for immediate preservation from death of the human soul. Ro. 6:23, 1Pet. 1:23. He intended that would then initiate a process leading to inner Kingdom rule and then physical immortality on earth. Jhn. 6:49-51, Heb. 9:28. However, when He comes the second time, it will be not to deal with either sin or man’s total preservation. He comes to lift all who are prepared into glorified heavenly Kingdom status in the New Jerusalem above (Rev. 12:5) and to put the rest of the world back on the course rejected during His first coming. When He comes again, He will bring wages for work accomplished. Rev. 22:12. When He comes again, it will be to shake down and pulverize into “dust” everything not pure and having God as its source. Heb. 12:26-29, Dan. 2:35.

A reward is different than a gift. A reward is paid only to those proven worthy to receive, having earned it. Therefore, after granting the gift of preservation for the soul, God’s plan moves on into the preparation phase so that the one preparing may become ready and worthy to stand in His presence – before He comes. Lk. 21:36. He will reward and recompense those who have worked and sacrificed to make themselves ready. Man’s initiative in responding, man’s cooperation in working out the Lord’s plan, is the only way provided toward adequately earning the prize of the heavenly calling. Phil. 3:13-17. But there can be no timely and objective cooperation at all, without adequate specific and accurate knowledge of God’s requirements for qualification. What are you doing now to gain this specific and accurate knowledge of His righteous requirements and how and when He will reveal Himself? What is being done to prepare for it?

Transmission of specific and accurate knowledge requires teaching. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will teach all things – and that is true. But we also need to note the manner of His teaching. The Holy Spirit will teach and guide in (clarify) only what has been spoken by the Christ-Spirit (Old and New Testament) – as all the Word of God is being studied and compared within itself. Jhn. 14:26, 16:13, Mt. 4:4. Always in the Record, God has chosen to bring His teaching through the mouths of men who are His specially chosen vessels, those who have made themselves available exclusively to the Lord’s training. Isaiah was such a vessel; the Apostles were trained to be such vessels. Of course, those men were not the only vessels chosen to bring illumination on how to become ready and worthy through cooperation. Nor has the Lord withheld His vessels or His illumination in this final decade of the Church Age. Nevertheless, most church groups still fearfully refuse association with “controversial” teaching on how the Lord will bring about His work of consummating all that the Prophets have spoken throughout the ages. Acts. 3:21. Very few, though the number is growing, have begun to take interest in associating current events with Bible prophecy. A few of the few are motivated by desire to know so as to cooperate in the Lord’s work and become prepared and useful. Others are motivated by intellectual curiosity, to learn what is going to happen, just for the sake of knowing.

If you are among those receiving teaching of the Faith from the Word of the Lord, you now know there is more in His plan than soul preservation and more than a subsequent Holy Spirit Baptism. In that case, you may be motivated to go far beyond that “nursing infant” stage and on toward maturity. Heb. 5:11-14, 6:1-3. Eph. 4:12-13. Christ has provided the way, but the way is the Lord’s way and not man’s way. It is needful to home in on the Lord’s requirements for qualifying and it is necessary to have been cooperating prior to His coming again among men. There are no acceptable substitutes.

It is fruitless to learn and accept the man-developed opinion pervading Christendom about what is acceptable to the Lord when He comes. It is fruitless because that faith is not at all the Faith presented by Christ. Lk. 18:8. All of religious man’s brainwashing taken in has to be blasted out and removed before the Lord’s Truth can replace it. Blasting and removal is painful – almost unbearable for some. Those who would prepare may have to make painful decisions.

Will you continue in Christendom’s presentation of (and in teaching it, for that matter) the alleged requirements of Jesus Christ? Is a claimed “born again” status sufficient? Or will you freshly learn about His new and strange (not as expected) work – differing in all aspects from traditions of man – and learn only through the revealing of Jesus Christ? Isa. 28:21-24, 43:18-19. The question is not whether you should engage in preparation. It is vital for pleasing the Lord, because He yearns to give out His rewards. The question is how to go about preparing. Man’s traditions always lead one way. The revelations of Jesus Christ lead another way.

In the period preceding His first coming, the traditions of man became the stumbling block for almost the whole Jewish nation. Only a few hundred out of several millions were willing to accept even a portion of what our Lord was offering. The pattern is true. Today in the period preceding His second coming, the traditions of man have become the stumbling block for multitudes. Again, leaders in tradition have themselves refused to enter into the fulness of God’s Truth and have obstinately prevented multitudes from entering in. Lk. 11:52.

How important it becomes for all people living in this decade of the 1990s to learn what God Himself has said. How important it becomes to back away completely from all doctrine of man-chosen teachers – and permit God to teach new and fresh from His sound foundation.

Once more He will shake all things. “Once more” indicates the final removal of that which can be shaken, all that does not have its source in God. Only that which can not be shaken will be able to stand. Heb. 12:26-29. No person, no person at all, lacking prior and adequate preparation, readiness and worthiness will be able to stand and overcome the unimaginable, unthinkable, intolerable pressures now mounting to engulf every nation and every individual not adequately prepared.

Preparation under the teaching of the Lord will be fruitful. There is blessing in studying, teaching and conforming to the whole Word of God. In the Book of Revelation is a special and noteworthy statement not occurring in any other Book.

“Blessed are those who read aloud with comment the Word of this prophecy. Blessed are those who hear it and who obey it, for the time is near (once these things begin). Rev. 1:3, 22:10, Jhn. 14:21.

How can any thinking person neglect such specific admonition to prepare for the time and manner of the Lord’s coming? The title of the Book means revealing or unveiling. To the wise, it is the unique unveiling of God’s end-time work.

The man who either ignores the call or refuses to cooperate with the end-time unveiling will surely miss the Lord’s coming. Without change of heart and mind, he will be unable to stand through 3.5 years of “shaking.” But to him who refuses the tradition of man and accepts full revealing from the Lord Jesus, there is strengthening into invulnerability. In the midst of terrible pressures and environment of intolerable anguish man is now swiftly bringing upon himself, the overcoming one will be as a spectator – it cannot touch him. Mt. 24:21-22, Lk. 21:25- 26, Ps. 91:1-10. In the world, men will have tribulation, but in Christ, not a touch of tribulation. Jhn. 16:31.

How is the Lord calling to you? Are you actively engaged in preparation? Will you adhere to comfortable traditions of religious man, or do you insist on preparing exclusively within Jesus Christ’s current prophetic revelations, as confirmed by His whole Word? Both approaches are available. Will you know when He is coming? Will you know precisely how He is coming to put down the foolishness of man and establish His Kingdom? If you know and conform, you will meet Him as He comes. If you “know” something different, you will miss Him – as a householder who belatedly discovers a thief was there.

C.Gordon Wolcott

Preparation is not so much having well developed religious skills, but is more in having learned to trust the Lord in “impossible” situations – all of them.