A reader who read our friend Colin’s article on what happens after we die thought we had tied ourselves in knots about the pre-Tribulation Rapture. No, not so. To clear up any confusion, here is the reader’s question and Colin’s reply.
Dear Alan, I have just read the latest articles on your website.To quote Colin Lyne: "So today Old Testament saints are in heaven awaiting the resurrection of their bodies. This will occur just prior to the Second Coming..." I would assume that Mr Lyne is referring to the pre-tribulation rapture?
But, wait a minute! I thought you didn't believe that the OT saints were part of the NT Church? Because, if they are, then the pre-tribulation rapture theory becomes untenable! God bless, Colin…(another Colin!)
Colin Lyne responds: This is my position on the resurrection of the body: At the pre tribulation rapture it is only the church that is resurrected as it is the dead in Christ and living saints that He comes for at that time.
In 1 Thessalonians 4 v 16 He comes for those who are in Christ, a term always used for the church, never Old Testament saints. Those who have died rise first followed by the church saints who are still alive: v 17. When Jesus returns, at the end of the seven year Tribulation, all saints in heaven will return to earth with Him: 1 Thessalonians 3 v 13. This includes all true believers from the church age.
The church will marry Christ in heaven as Revelation 19 shows, then all other saints (those other than the church saints) will have their bodies resurrected just prior to the marriage supper, in the 75 day period between the Second Coming and the start of the Millennial Reign of Christ. This includes those who come to faith in the Tribulation period, the Tribulation Saints who are killed by Antichrist.
So today Old Testament saints are in heaven awaiting the resurrection of their bodies. The call in Rev 19 v 9 is made to all these other saints to come to the marriage supper which will take place on Mount Zion.
At that time Gentiles from all around the world will sit down with people like Abraham, Matthew 8 v 11. It will take place on Mount Zion as Isaiah 25 v 6 to 6 shows. It is from here that Christ rules in the Millennial Kingdom: Isaiah 24 v 23 and 27 v 13 .(This is the location of The Temple Mount, site of past and future temples.)
Bodily resurrection must not be confused with the soul, spirit or inner man as Paul calls it. For Old Testament saints theirs went to be with the Lord at the Ascension; for church saints it happens when they die as 2 Corinthians 5 v 8 to 10 shows.
The body goes into the ground as Genesis 3 v 19 says: ....."For you are dust, and to dust you shall return," but only the body came from dust. Life itself came from the breath of God: Genesis 2 v 7. I hope that clarifies rather than confuses things!
