We may have noticed that the event of the harpazo is not something that has been referenced just once or twice in the Bible, but something that is spoken of in several different ways throughout. We have the word itself, harpazo, and we have the word episunagoge, the “above congregation”. We have the “rising up and away” as we saw last week. We have Paul’s comparison to the feast of trumpets. We have the redeemed singing around the throne before the seals are opened and we also have the resurrection. If we listen to people who do not read or understand Paul’s revelation regarding the harpazo and resurrection, we end up misunderstanding the timing of these events. We have Daniel’s revealings, but as we know most of Daniel’s words were not to be revealed until the time of the end. Sometimes prophets give us knowledge in part, sometimes prophets give us many details.
Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Many people witnessed Jesus on the earth for forty days after his murder. There were also many people on the Mount of Olives who witnesses Jesus rising up in a cloud. Many people have risen from the dead, but eventually they all died. Two people were taken without seeing death, but they will come back to the earth during the tribulation and then be killed. These two individuals are known as the two witnesses, Enoch and Elijah. Yes, it is appointed for every man to die; Enoch and Elijah will die and the whole world will see them dead for three days, but they will rise while the world is watching.
Jesus was in the grave, witnessing to the imprisoned spirits. Then he set the captives free, taking back the keys to hell and death, and opened the way into paradise once again as he tells us in His epistle to the church at Ephesus. The biggest contention of the first century, the one point that cost many disciples their lives, was the good news that Jesus was resurrected. From that point in time until today, those that believe that Jesus rose from the dead are redeemed. Those that make Jesus their Lord and Savior are then filled with the Holy Spirit.
Now we want to ask ourselves a very serious question. Are we listening to the right people? If someone does not make Jesus Lord, they cannot be a prophet because the Holy Spirit will not dwell in them. Therefore, since the day of Pentecost, the only prophets from the Living God are those who make Jesus Lord. Before the day of Pentecost, the prophets were of the order of the Essenes, Nazarenes, Therapeutaes, and the Damascus Community, the same order of the Zadok/Zedek priests that were taught by Shem and Eber. There were no prophets among the Pharisees, Sadducees, or the temple scribes. Those people were defiled when they stayed and served in the temple along with Jonathan Apphus, a politically appointed, non Aaronic high priest around 161BCE.
Therefore, are we calling people prophets who have never publicly confessed Jesus as Lord? How many rabbi’s have we seen that people claim are prophets? That is technically impossible, because if a rabbi made Jesus Lord of his life he would be excommunicated from the rabbinical priesthood if not killed outright. There are no rabbinical prophets because they do not believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Be wise. Think about who you learn from and remember that if the prophet does not believe in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, then that person is not a prophet from the Living God. Jesus himself explained the resurrection to Martha.
John 11:24-26 (KJV)
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Jesus expressly states that whoever believes in Him shall live. Then Jesus alludes to the harpazo simply by saying that whoever lives and believes shall never die. We would not understand Jesus’ words if Paul hadn’t explained the mystery. The word anastasis is a rising up. Jesus is the resurrection.
John 11:24G3004[2says G14733to him G*1Martha], G1492I know G3754that G450he will rise up G1722in G3588the G386resurrection G1722in G3588the G2078last G2250day.
25G2036[2said G14733to her G3588 G*1Jesus], G1473I G1510.2.1am G3588the G386resurrection G2532and G3588the G2222life. G3588The one G4100believing G1519in G1473me, G2579even if G599he should die, G2198he shall live.
26G2532And G3956every one G3588 G2198living G2532and G4100believing G1519in G1473me, G3766.2in no way G599should die G1519into G3588the G165eon. G4100Do you believe G3778this?
368 LSJ Gloss: ἀνάστασις a raising up
Dodson: ἀνάστασις a rising again, resurrection.
Thayer:
1) a raising up, rising (e.g. from a seat)
2) a rising from the dead
2a) that of Christ
2b) that of all men at the end of this present age
2c) the resurrection of certain ones history who were restored to life (Heb.
11:35)
ἀνάστασις
anastasis an-as'-tas-is From G450; a standing up again, that is, (literally) a resurrection from death (individual, general or by implication (its author)), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth) KJV Usage: raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. If one doesn’t believe this, one is not going to be resurrected until after the Millennial Kingdom, as Revelation 20 tells us. John gave us those prophetic details. He tells us the first resurrection after the tribulation is only for those who confessed Jesus as Lord and/or were martyred during the tribulation. The second resurrection occurs after the Millennial Kingdom at the white throne judgment. Remember, the Holy Spirit seals the redeemed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Confusion regarding the resurrection comes from Daniel 12. Generally, people believed there would be a rising or a waking from the dead. But there is something that Jesus said that explains Daniel 12 better. At the end of the tribulation there will be a gathering of the righteous line of Jacob to populate the earth during the millennial kingdom. This gathering is done by angels and they gather from heaven. Pay attention to the words, “they gather from heaven”.
Matthew 24:30-31 (KJV)
30 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.
31 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.
This is the “Day of the Lord”; Jesus comes to earth with his armies. Everyone on earth mourns. Angels gather the elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. These are the children of Jacob who believed on Jesus. Jesus witnessed to the imprisoned spirits. Abraham walked with Him. Jesus even told people “before Abraham was, I Am”. Moses also saw the back of His glory, and since no man has seen the Father at any time, except the son, who did Moses see? Many people knew Him and believed in Him before he came to earth. Didn’t David write quite explicitly about his personal relationship with Him? David even called Him “my Lord”. The prophets all knew Him. Many men and women who are the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew Him, they called Him Lord as well. They will be gathered from the ends of the heavens. But these people have already been resurrected. They are in heaven. Notice what Solomon says.
Wisdom of Solomon 1:3-7 (KJVApocrypha)
3 For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.
4 For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.
5 For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.
6 For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.
7 For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice.
As we know, after the kingdom split the temple endured about three hundred and thirty seven years of defilement until the Spirit of the Living God left. By the first century, during Jesus’ day, after 190 years of rejecting the Spirit of the Living God, the Pharisees and Sadducees could not hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Fishermen heard it. Tax collectors heard it. Shepherds, and Centurions heard it. The sick, lame, blind, deaf, and the dead heard the voice. They knew Jesus was the resurrection and the life because they heard the Spirit of the Living God. These are the people from the line of Jacob who will be first harpazo’d, resurrected, then gathered from the heavens on the Day of the Lord to start the Millennial Kingdom with Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Daniel says at the end of the tribulation His people shall be delivered.
Daniel12:1 And at that time Michael the great prince shall stand up, that stands over the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of tribulation, such tribulation as has not been from the time that there was a nation on the earth until that time: at that time thy people shall be delivered, even every one that is written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproach and everlasting shame. 3 And the wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and some of the many righteous as the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel gives us a broad view here. He doesn’t give a lot of details, just a general overview. The son’s of Jacob will be delivered and many will awake to everlasting life or everlasting shame. Not all people awake, but many. What is the difference between what Jesus says and what Daniel says? There are many that have not believed on Jesus while they were alive. They did not know Jesus before they died. They did not believe he was Messiah. The righteous dead, who are really alive along with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are going to repopulate the earth in the millennial kingdom, gathered by the angels. Remember that the Living God is the God of the Living.
Technically, Daniel never calls this a “resurrection”, he calls it an “awakening”, and only an awakening for many people not all people. This is what we assume to be a resurrection, just as Martha assumed it was a resurrection in the last days. But if Jesus witnessed to the imprisoned spirits and set the captives free when he took back the keys to hell and death, these heirs of Jacob will be part of the harpazo first, resurrected in the first resurrection. Then the heirs of Jacob will be gathered from heaven. Jesus says they are in heaven, not in paradise or hades when the angels gather them. They are written in the book. We know people only get to heaven at the harpazo. That means that many of the heirs of Jacob are first awaiting the harpazo, and then secondly the angels gathering them from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. These people along with those who believe on Jesus are resurrected in the harpazo, or what Paul very specifically calls the out resurrection.
Those who rise to eternal shame, rise at the white throne judgement; they stay dead until after the millennial kingdom. Yes both groups rise, to either everlasting life or everlasting shame. They do not rise at the same time. If the devil would have known, he would never have crucified Jesus. The only other group of people to rise do so after the tribulation. These are those people who did not take the mark of the beast or were martyred for Jesus as Revelation 20 tells us.
If Abraham walked and talked with Yahweh as a friend, then others did as well. The people of the first century did not believe Jesus was “I AM”, they rejected him. The miracles that Jesus did spoke for themselves. It was prophesied that the Messiah would open blind eyes. Jesus opened at least 10 blind peoples’ eyes. Yet many people still did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. So to substantiate their disbelief, they altered Isaiah 61, erasing that part of the prophecy. Now the Jews could claim others to be the Messiah. Yet it still stands, Jesus opened blind eyes. No other made up messiah did that.
Paul finds another way to describe the resurrection of the harpazo. He calls it an “out resurrection”. Paul is giving us a better visual understanding of the timing by saying that this is a group coming out from the dead. Paul is not confident of his status among the out resurrection, the harpazo. He was a murderer, and he persecuted the called out before his conversion, so Paul was humble and was hoping that he would receive mercy. The point he makes is that he will pursue Jesus until his death.
Phillipians 3:11G1513if by any means G2658I should arrive G1519at G3588the G1815resurrection G3588of the G3498dead.
1815LSJ Gloss: ἐξανάστασις a rising up from, resurrection
Dodson: ἐξανάστασις a resurrection a rising up and out, resurrection.
Thayer:
1) a rising up, a rising again
2) resurrection
2) resurrection
3498 νεκρός
nekros nek-ros' From an apparently primary word νέκυς nekus (a corpse);
nekros nek-ros' From an apparently primary word νέκυς nekus (a corpse);
dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun) KJV Usage: dead.
The word translated “out resurrection” (of the dead) is a word used only once. Paul is differentiating the resurrection of the harpazo from any other rising. In other words, Paul was hoping to attain to this out rising, not the one at the end of the age. The resurrection of Jesus and the saints are a common topic of Paul’s writings. He wants us to understand that people will come out from the dead. It is not the living only that rise, like Enoch or Elijah, but the dead in Christ rise first. But not all the dead rise at that time. Only the redeemed dead because it is the day of redemption.
Using this specific word, exanastasis from the nekros, Paul says he will pursue it and seize it just like Jesus Christ seized him.
Philippains 3:12G3756Not G3754that G2235already G2983I received, G2228or G2235already G5048I have been perfected; G1377but I pursue, G1161 G1499if even G2638I should overtake G1909upon G3739which G2532also G2638I was overtaken G5259by G3588the G5547Christ --G*Jesus
2983LSJ Gloss: λαμβάνω to take
Dodson: λαμβάνω I receive, take
(a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.
Thayer:
1) to take
1a) to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it
1a1) to take up a thing to be carried
1a2) to take upon one's self
1b) to take in order to carry away
1b1) without the notion of violence, i,e to remove, take away 1
1a) to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it
1a1) to take up a thing to be carried
1a2) to take upon one's self
1b) to take in order to carry away
1b1) without the notion of violence, i,e to remove, take away 1
λαμβάνω
lambanō lam-ban'-o A prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively [probably objective or active, to gethold of; whereas G1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while G138 is more violent, to seize or remove ])
KJV Usage: accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).
5048LSJ Gloss: τελειόω to make perfect, complete
Dodson: τελειόω I complete, accomplish, make perfect (a) as a course, a race, or the like: I complete, finish (b) as of time or prediction: I accomplish, (c) I make perfect; pass: I am perfected.
Thayer:
1) to make perfect, complete
1a) to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end
2) to complete (perfect)
2a) add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full
2b) to be found perfect
3) to bring to the end (goal) proposed
4) to accomplish
4a) bring to a close or fulfilment by event
4a1) of the prophecies of the scriptures
1a) to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end
2) to complete (perfect)
2a) add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full
2b) to be found perfect
3) to bring to the end (goal) proposed
4) to accomplish
4a) bring to a close or fulfilment by event
4a1) of the prophecies of the scriptures
τελειόω
teleioō tel-i-o'-o From G5046; to complete, that is, (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character) KJV Usage: consecrate, finish, fulfil, (make) perfect.
1377LSJ Gloss: διώκω to pursue
Dodson: διώκω I pursue, persecute I pursue, hence: I persecute.
Thayer:
1) to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away
2) to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after
2a) to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal
2b) to pursue (in a hostile manner)
3) in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one
3a) to persecute
3b) to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something
4) without the idea of hostility, to run after, follow after: someone
5) metaph., to pursue
5a) to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire
2) to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after
2a) to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal
2b) to pursue (in a hostile manner)
3) in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one
3a) to persecute
3b) to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something
4) without the idea of hostility, to run after, follow after: someone
5) metaph., to pursue
5a) to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire
διώκω
diōkō dee-o'-ko A prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb δίω diō (to flee; compare the base of G1169and G1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication to persecute KJV Usage: ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute (-ion), press toward.
2638LSJ Gloss: καταλαμβάνω to seize upon, lay hold of
Dodson: καταλαμβάνω I seize tight hold of, overtake, comprehend (a) I seize tight hold of, arrest, catch, capture, appropriate, (b) I overtake, (c) mid. aor: I perceived, comprehended.
Thayer:
1) to lay hold of
1a) to lay hold of so as to make one's own, to obtain, attain to, to make one's own, to take into one's self, appropriate
1b) to seize upon, take possession of
1b1) of evils overtaking one, of the last day overtaking the wicked with destruction, of a demon about to torment one
1b2) in a good sense, of Christ by his holy power and influence laying hold of the human mind and will, in order to prompt and govern it
1c) to detect, catch
1d) to lay hold of with the mind
1d1) to understand, perceive, learn, comprehend
1a) to lay hold of so as to make one's own, to obtain, attain to, to make one's own, to take into one's self, appropriate
1b) to seize upon, take possession of
1b1) of evils overtaking one, of the last day overtaking the wicked with destruction, of a demon about to torment one
1b2) in a good sense, of Christ by his holy power and influence laying hold of the human mind and will, in order to prompt and govern it
1c) to detect, catch
1d) to lay hold of with the mind
1d1) to understand, perceive, learn, comprehend
καταλαμβάνω
katalambanō kat-al-am-ban'-o From G2596 and G1983; to take eagerly, that is, seize, possess, etc. (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: apprehend, attain, come upon, comprehend, find, obtain, perceive, (over-) take.
Paul has not been made perfect yet nor has he received perfection, so he is going to pursue and seize the out resurrection. Jesus stopped Paul on his way to Damascus, he apprehended him. Just like Jesus apprehended Paul, Paul is going to apprehend Jesus. By doing this he may attain the out rising from the dead, the harpazo.
If we consider Jesus’ seven epistles to the the church, Jesus tells us what rewards there are for the over-comers. If there are rewards for overcoming, then one must stay faithful until the end of one’s own life. This is what Paul is talking about. He is not going to sit around taking it easy until he dies, he is going to pursue and eagerly seize this out resurrection from the dead by pursuing Jesus. And then in the out resurrection he will receive and be made perfect.
This is why the first century Jews were persecuting the disciples. The Jews thought they would be resurrected at the end of the age, but Paul says there is an out resurrection from the dead for those who believe on Jesus as Messiah. And those in the out resurrection will go to heaven and be perfected; the corruptible will put on incorruption, the mortal will put on immortality. Paul wants us to understand that Jesus is our example.
Romans 6:5 (KJV)
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
How did Jesus go up? How was he resurrected? The disciples watched him being carried up into the clouds. In His likeness; we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. This was the contentious argument during the first century between the disciples and the non-believers of Jesus as Lord and Christ. Paul explains the position of the first century disciples to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (KJV)
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Paul is speaking/writing to the church at Corinth, not to Jesus rejecters. He is explaining the resurrection because someone else told them something different, just like in Thessalonica. The people at Corinth were convinced that there was no resurrection. Yet Jesus rose, and that is Paul’s point. If they believe Jesus rose, then there will be a rising of Jesus’ people. Paul is most concerned about being a pseudomartur, “a false witness”. If Paul is a pseudo witness, then all of us will die in our sin. Either Christ rose, or he did not. If he did, then we will rise too. What did Luke record for us?
Acts 1:1-11 (KJV)
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also 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.
People witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. He was crucified, but then rose from the dead and hung around with the disciples for forty days. If you study this, you will see that they primarily stayed in Galilee about 90 miles north of Jerusalem until the day that he ascended. Peter reiterates the words of the prophet David on the day of Pentecost to explain what the resurrection of Jesus had to do with the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:29-33 (KJV)
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Peter claims that they are all witnesses, not just 12 apostles, but many many disciples saw him in his resurrected body before he ascended. Because there were witnesses and an empty grave, the disciples of the first century up through today are all willing to die for this truth to be made known. Paul goes on.
1 Corinthians 15:20-26 (KJV)
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Death is an enemy to mankind. Death can be fatal, as in not having eternal life; one will then be judged by their own works which may not be enough to save them. Man was created to be immortal. But to some, death will be their ending, when death and hades are thrown into the lake of fire.
Paul points to some people who were spreading false teachings. Paul wasn’t trying to protect the false prophets and teachers, he was trying to expose their error so it would not spread like cancer.
2 Timothy 2:16-18 (KJV)
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
2 Timothy 2:18G3748who G4012concerning G3588the G225truth G795miss the aim, G3004saying, G3588The G386resurrection G2235already G1096has taken place; G2532and G396are upsetting G3588the G5100belief of some.G4102
225ἀλήθεια
alētheia al-ay'-thi-a From G227; truth
KJV Usage: true, X truly, truth, verity.
1096Dodson: γίνομαι I come into being, am born I come into being, am born, become, come about, happen.
Thayer:
1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen
2a) of events
3) to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage
3a) of men appearing in public
4) to be made, finished
4a) of miracles, to be performed, wrought
5) to become, be made
γίνομαι
ginomai ghin'-om-ahee A prolonged and middle form of a primary verb; to cause to be (“gen” -erate), that is, (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literally, figuratively, intensively, etc.)
KJV Usage: arise be assembled, be (come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, be done, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
If we remember from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians how important alētheia (truth) is, we recognize Paul’s need to correct this erroneous teaching. The idea that the resurrection has been birthed is a great visual of what it will look like. The resurrection will look like a birth, people coming out from the paradise and the earth, rising up and away into the clouds. The resurrection will be an assembling of saints who will form the above congregation, the episunagoge. People have a choice to believe the witnesses or not. Yes it was a long time ago, but if one can hear the voice of the Spirit of the Living God, one will know the witnesses are speaking the truth, alētheia.
This brings us back to who we listen to and believe. Is it possible that those who reject Jesus and His resurrection cannot know the truth because they do not know the Holy Spirit? The only people the gifts are poured out on are the believers in Christ. There are no other competing religions under the roof of the Living God. There are no other competing religions outside of the Living God. The Holy Spirit is poured out on those who believe Jesus died and rose from the dead. The simplicity of the matter lies in Romans 10 for the unsaved.
Understanding the resurrections, the harpazo, the above congregation, the rising up and away, the saints singing around the throne before the seals are opened, and the comparison that Paul made to the Feast of Trumpets, then we can see that seizing the out resurrection is both understandable and attainable. The out resurrection will be like a birthing, out from the earth, rising up and away. The disciples who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection gave their lives to spread the good news. We are like Jesus in His death and in His resurrection. Paul explains it enough times so that we may understand it fully.
