According to Jesus, the gathering of the elect took place immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:29-34)It was at that time the first resurrection took place (Rev. 20:4-6) In coming into his kingdom, Jesus Christ cleansed his threshing floor and all of the dead going all the way back to Abel, wee judged and…
The dead unrighteous souls, like the righteous, were disembodied spirits after their death. They were never promised resurrection to life, nor a glorified body. They were consigned to a state of misery and separation from the face of God. While there is evidence that they will be resurrected, with what body is not so clear. …
An example of this resurrection is found in Revelation 11. It’s always difficult to express “the evidence of things unseen” which is the bedrock of our faith. This is why Jesus always used parables to express the invisible realities of our existence. However, John is given a revelation of two witnesses (Revelation 11), who were…
Once Jesus died, it placed him in a position to bind the strong man (Satan) and take the spoils, including the keys of death and hades. While he need not have the keys to call forth the dead from their graves, the statement sets the stage for the resurrection of the dead. Death and the…
This day is, also, associated with the blast of a trumpet that signals the day has arrived and the culminating events of the age are upon them. Notice the following passages connecting the trumpet to the end of the age. Matthew 24:3,31 – …Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of…
According to Joel, the timing for the Spirit’s work is described as preceding “the day of the Lord” for a time of judgment and reward of the righteous. As we come to the fulfillment of this prediction, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that began in Jerusalem in chapter 2 occurred “before the great and…
The New Testament speaks of the “day of the Lord.” The following chart links that day to a time of judgment for the wicked and resurrection as a reward for the righteous. Matthew 7:22 – Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name…
After the seven days in the bridal chamber, the bride and bridegroom would join their guests (‘children of the bridechamber’) for a joyous marriage feast. The first meal that the bride and bridegroom shared with their guests was a festive meal that had religious significance. The purpose of the meal was to instill joy in…
The second half of the wedding ceremony called the “hometaking” refers to a part of the wedding ceremony and the actual bridal canopy that covers the bridal couple. The original meaning was “room” or “covering.” It was a special room built in the bridegroom’s father’s home and is referenced in Psalm 19:5 and Joel 2:15. …
A bride in ancient Israel did not know what day or hour her groom would return for her. In fact, the groom himself didn’t know when he’d go to claim her. Only his father knew as he was the person who decided when everything was ready, including the chamber (Mark 13:32). The time frame…