Covenant Commission

Christian Expectations is a series of articles from Covenant Commission dealing with the implications of the Covenant of Grace. Due to Dispensationalism's faulty worldview, many Christians only expect defeat in this life. Whether it is personal victory over the tyranny of sin or institutional victory, modern American Christians have little hope. In the Introduction to the series, Devin Maddox explains the issues and what is at stake. In Part One, Resurrection: The True Hope of the Saints, Devin sets forth the Biblical expectations of Christians after death. Many American Christians are hoping in an abdicating rapture to steal them away from the failure of the Church. However, our hope is in the power of the Gospel, which will ultimately defeat every enemy of Christ. Death is the last enemy that will be defeated making resurrection our hope, not escape. In Part Two, The Dominion of Christ, Pastor James Brown Jr explains this victory will also be measured in the complete fulfillment of Christ's dominion over every nation. In Part Three, and the final article in this series, Devin concludes with how the Church will be victorious over darkness.

"I am the resurrection and the life." -Jesus Christ

This article will reveal the resurrection at the Second Coming as the hope of the Church. The rapture doctrine as taught in the modern American church is creating a mindset of retreat instead of victory over death.

Things we will cover in this article include:

1. The Resurrection is Fact
2. The Comfort of the Resurrection
3. The Method of Resurrection
4. Orthodox Resurrection vs. Pre-Tribulation Rapture
5. A "Last Days" Parallel
6. The True Hope Conclusion

1) The Resurrection is fact:

In 1st Corinthians Ch. 15, the resurrection is defended by Paul in primarily three ways. First, there is the testimony of a multitude of witnesses; second, the witness of nature and of nature's God; thirdly, the witness of living faith.

Paul declares that the risen Savior, "...was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once..." This multitude of witnesses not only saw the risen Lord, but also talked with him, ate with him, walked with him, and touched him. The witness is true and so is the resurrection.

Paul also gives illustration of grain. The grain falls in a dead state, yet is risen to a new glorified life of growth. This witness of God’s nature is His ability to recreate the things we do see to give us a glimpse of things yet to come.

The faith of the apostles and the church is the third proof of the resurrection. Along with all the miracles that followed, for it would all be vain and unreal if the resurrection was not true, but God has called the apostles and early church to service with signs and wonders following in confirmation of the ministries that proclaimed Christ's resurrection.

The great Baptist commentator, John Gill comments:

"But inasmuch as it is a certain point that Christ is risen, it is as clear a case that the saints will rise, which is argued from Christ being the first fruits of those that are fallen asleep in him, which secures their resurrection to them, (1 Corinthians 15:20) and from his being their covenant head, as Adam was to his posterity; so that as all his offspring died in him, all the saints will be quickened by Christ, death coming by the one, and the resurrection by the other, (1 Corinthians 15:21,22). And whereas it might be objected, if this is the case, why did not the saints, who were dead before the resurrection of Christ, rise from the dead when he did, or quickly after? To which it is answered, there is an order observed agreeable to the first fruits and lump: Christ, the first fruits, is first, and then they that believe in him, (1 Corinthians 15:23) and this will not be until the second coming of Christ, and the end of all things, when all the elect of God shall be gathered in; and then they will be raised and presented to the Father complete in soul and body, and all rule and authority among men will cease, (1 Corinthians 15:24). But in the mean while Christ must reign until all enemies are subject to him, and the last of all that will be destroyed by him is death." -John Gill's Exposition of the New Testament Vol. 8 pg. 723

2) The Comfort of the Resurrection (1st Th. 4:13-18):

We read in 1st Thessalonians 4:18 that we are to, "comfort one another with these words." The words that provide comfort to the saints are the words of resurrection. At the coming of the Lord, both dead and alive saints will be restored in resurrected bodies. When we read the preceding context, we find that Paul exhorts the church to continue, "to abound more and more" in their walk to please God. He commends their love toward one another and warns them about living like Gentiles with the lusts of fornication and defrauding of brothers.

As he continues Paul states in verse 13, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."

The subject shifts to their way of sorrowing for the dead. When a person dies, loved by family and church, it is natural for us to lament the death. Paul however, is telling them not to sorrow as "others which have no hope." In other words, they are not to go through long exaggerated periods of mourning. The reason for his appeal is the hope of the resurrection. Though we see one's body laid down in the earth corrupted, we shall see that person with a restored body again at the resurrection!

So, this portion of scripture is dealing primarily with the comfort of those that have lost loved ones in the church. As Paul continues, he explains the event of the resurrection.

First, those that have died and gone on to be with the Lord are called those, "which sleep in Jesus". Those, which sleep in Jesus, are going to be brought with God.

Second, he states a fact that those who are alive during the event will not prevent those that are asleep. The word "prevent" simply means to "hold back." Therefore, both dead and living will be caught up together in a simultaneous rapture of the saints.

Third, "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God." When we read this, it is erroneous to imagine that only certain people are hearing this. The Word plainly states that a shout, voice of the archangel, and the trump of God will accompany the Lord's descent.

3) The Method of the Resurrection:

"The dead in Christ shall rise first." This seems to signify the order here below as Christ returns. Since their bodies have returned to dust, the dead in Christ will be brought forth out of their state of decay. They will come forth out of the ground, the graves, and the tombs during resurrection and be at the same level of the living. Sequentially, they are then united for simultaneous elevation into the presence of Christ, as the scripture states, "caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Therefore, Paul's explanation of the events of the second advent of Christ and the resurrection is a comforting word to those who have lost a loved one in the church. It is not an imagery of Pre-tribulation rapture, in which, the Lord and His saints stay in the sky while a "great tribulation" occurs for seven years. Dispensational adherents have inferred those things into the text.

Furthermore, we can see that all of these things are instant, fluid, with great grandeur, glory, noise, and union. Christ comes with the authority of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with the shout of a Commander of an army, with the trump, as the great resurrection breaks forth. The rapture is a mechanism of the resurrection. The resurrection is the true hope of the saints. Our comfort to one another is victory over death! The resurrection is a fulfillment of Christ's eternal life promise. There is no secret about it; Christ will come in power and glory, not in hidden tranquility.

4) Orthodox Resurrection vs. Pre-Tribulation Rapture:

"At the last day, such of the saints as are found alive, shall not sleep, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other; although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever. ( 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Job 19:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 43 )The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious body. ( Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29; Philippians 3:21 )" -Ch. 31, 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith (Emphasis mine)

The Pre-tribulation Rapture proponents don't all agree, but most hold to a timeline of events that starts with a rapture of the Church, followed by Anti-Christ ruling the world during a Great Tribulation of seven years, ending with the return of Christ with His saints, then a 1,000 year earthly reign, and finally judgment accompanied by a renovation of the world. (See: The Book of Revelation (Illustrated), Clarence Larkin, 1919, pg. 30)

In contrast, a more orthodox view of the resurrection is that Christ returns at 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." (1st Cor. 15:24) This resurrection is to life and damnation. At the time of harvest the tares (ungodly) will be gathered to be burned, and the wheat (elect) will be gathered into the barn. (Matt. 13)

As an interesting note, the early dispensationalist, C.I. Scofield has commentary of this verse that actually reverses the order of it. The Bible reads, "Gather ye together first the tares...", but Scofield states in his notes, "The gathering of the tares into bundles for burning does not imply immediate judgment. At the end of this age (vs40) the tares are set apart for burning, but first the wheat is gathered in to the barn." -Scofield Reference Bible, pg.1016

In 1st Corinthians chapter 15, the only timeline indicators of the resurrection/rapture of the saints is, "in the end","when he has put all enemies under his feet", "when all things shall be subdued", and "at the last trump". (Emphasis added)

According to the context, all this will happen in a single event and time period when Christ returns at the end. But followers of LaHaye and other dispensationalists feel it is necessary to add timeline to what the Bible says is, "the end". In refuting LaHaye's claims, Gary DeMar comments on 1st Corinthians 15: 51-57 in his book End Times Fiction:

"This section of Scripture falls into the same category as 1st Thessalonians 4: 13-18. Again, no one denies that Christians are going to be raised; the dispute is over when the event takes place and what happens afterward. The passage makes no mention of a secret rapture or Jesus coming for His church before a future Great Tribulation and then later returning with His church after the Great Tribulation. Nowhere in this passage will you find a discussion of the Great Tribulation, the rise of Anti-Christ, God's redemptive program for the Jews, or an earthly millennial reign of Christ. All of these events must be read into 1st Corinthians 15:51-57. The chapter deals with the general resurrection, not a rapture of the church. In the book of Acts, which is the only inspired historical account of the early church, we read that the apostles preached the doctrine of the resurrection to both Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem (2:31), Pisidian Antioch (13:14-37), Athens (17:18), and Rome (23:3-6). Not once did anyone mention a two-stage coming of Christ separated by a Tribulation period. Paul was "on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead" (Acts 23:6), not the rapture of the church." *^{See note 1. Use of the term "rapture".}

Notice that the victory promoted by the apostle is not the escape of earthly tribulation by the hand of the Devil, but the victory over sin and the sting of death. (1st Cor. 15:55-57)

The difference between the pre-tribulation rapture and the orthodox view of the resurrection is the presence of a Church escape, Great Tribulation, and a two-stage advent. The pre-trib rapture view teaches a great escape before all hell breaks loose on earth, but the orthodox resurrection is a belief of Christ's return at the end to restore the saints with glorified bodies and execute judgment upon the tares.

5) A "Last Days" Parallel:

"And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" -Matt. 24:1-3 (Emphasis mine.)

The "end of the world", in context, is distinct from the end of history or the "restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21). These are separate events altogether. One refers to the end of history, as we know it, and the other, to the ending age of the Old Covenant.

In the text, we read that the disciples wanted to know the signs of when Jesus would come and of the end of the world. Before I discuss the "coming", let us think on the "end of the world." The term, "world" can have many connotations, such as, the religious world, the economic world, the political world, and so forth. Here, the question is in context with the destruction of the temple, which Jesus had just declared. Biblical exegesis shows us this, "world" refers to the Jewish economical and religious world. The old covenant is coming to an end, the temple will be destroyed, and there will be no more animal sacrifices, nor will the temple of God be with that made of hands, but Christ is, at the time of the discourse, preparing to lay down His life for the sheep.

The old aspects of the ceremonial law are fulfilled in Christ, our Prophet, Priest, and King. A new covenant is now in place and is inclusive of every tribe, tongue, and nation. The New Covenant has been realized through the work of Christ and is actually a renewing of the covenant promise of grace that God secured before the foundation of the world. Therefore, the disciples are inquiring of, "these things", when will the temple be destroyed and what shall be the signs for the new kingdom.

Even C.I. Scofield references the phrase, "the end of the world" to the, "consummation of the age." -Scofield Reference Bible, pg. 1032

In addressing the "coming" term used in this passage, sometimes a question is a better way to focus our thinking. For instance, one could ask, "How many times has God come to man?" If you are thinking in a purely advent type of coming, then you have to conclude the answer to be once, for the incarnate Christ, the Lord Jesus has "come" only once.

However, if your not thinking along the lines of an advent type of coming, then one could recount that, God met with Adam in the garden, the Son of man was seen with the three Hebrews, God spoke to Moses on the mount, and so forth.

Let's think about the idea of "coming" in judgment. After all, that is what Jesus refers to when telling the disciples, "not one stone here shall be left upon another", and later in verse 21, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time..."

In the previous chapter Jesus tells the multitude of Jerusalem, "That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the alter. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate." -Matt.23: 35-38 (Emphasis mine)

How can someone read this warning, proceed into the next chapter, keeping the context, and think that the disciples questions are referring to an "end" that is still thousands of years away? To do so would be a stretch of the Scriptures. This content leading into Matt. 24 is in the context of judgment for Jerusalem and for signs to the end of the Old Covenant.

Besides this, we read of God coming down in judgment in the O.T., "And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians..." -Exodus 3:7-8 (Emphasis mine)

This coming was not a physical advent of the Lord. Though it was a physical deliverance of the Hebrews, it still yet was in judgment upon Pharaoh, with all the plagues that followed after God hardened his heart. The consummation of judgment came when the Egyptians were drowned in the sea by the hand of God.

Another example of God "coming" down in judgment is the account of the Tower of Babel. Genesis 11:5 reads, "And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded." In verse seven God said, "...let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

The point of discussing the, "end of the world" and the, "coming" of the Lord, is to point out that these phrases do not necessitate an interpretation of timing in the end of history at the second advent of Christ. The "end of the world" was the end of the Jewish economy and Old Covenant age. The "coming" down of Christ was in judgment upon Jerusalem. (see Matt. 23: 35-38 leading into Matt. 24)

To reiterate this point, I will again quote from the Baptist commentator John Gill in reference to Matt. 24: 27, "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

Dr. Gill states, "..which must be understood not of his last coming to judgment, though that will be sudden, visible, and universal; he will at once come to, and be seen by all, in the clouds of heaven, and not in deserts and secret chambers: nor of his spiritual coming in the more sudden, and clear, and powerful preaching of the Gospel all over the Gentile world; for this was to be done before the destruction of Jerusalem: but of his coming in his wrath and vengeance to destroy that people, their nation, city, and temple: so that after this to look for the Messiah in a desert, or secret chamber, must argue great stupidity and blindness; when his coming was sudden, visible, powerful, and general, to the destruction of that nation, as the lightning that comes from the east, and, in a moment shines to the west." -John Gill's Exposition of the Old and New Testaments pg. 292-293

The aspect of great tribulation was accomplished as the Roman siege left Jerusalem "desolate." After quickly surrounding and besieging the city, the Romans even presented their pagan gods and offered sacrifices while setting the temple on fire in Jerusalem. (This is most likely the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel.)

So what parallels do we see in the Scriptures regarding those last days? What is the timeline? Who is addressed?

There are parallels between passages found in Matthew 24, 1st Thessalonians 5, and Revelation that are timeline indicators of the last days of the O.T. age, the coming of Christ in judgment, and we also see the first century Church as the audience addressed. The seven literal churches in Revelation are warned of things that will take place "shortly."

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." -1st Thessalonians 5:1-2 (Emphasis mine)

"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." -Matt. 24:32-34 (Emphasis mine)

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass..." -Revelation 1:1 (Emphasis mine)

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." -Rev. 1:3 (Emphasis mine)

"..I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." -Rev. 3: 10-11 (Emphasis mine)

Clearly, the timeline is "shortly" and in "this generation." The audience is the saints, disciples, and churches of the first century, as we read, "brethren", "ye", "yourselves", "you", "thee", and "thou". In addition, the events are the coming of Christ in judgment, the tribulation period, and the end of the old covenant world.

Another notable phrase is, "all these things". We should remember the question of the disciples, who asked, "When shall these things be?" Jesus said, "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matt. 24:34)

"These things" are going on in the lifetime of the first century saints. Because they were privy to and warned of them, they were to be watchful about them in the coming of God’s wrath. They were in a period of time leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. In fact, the Thessalonians received their epistle about twenty years before the destruction of A.D. 70.

Throughout this period leading up to A.D. 70, we find Jesus' warnings to be accounted for in history. The Roman Empire was constantly at war, there were earthquakes during the time of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, as well as, famines in the land. (See, Matt. 24:7, 27:54, 28:2; Acts 11:27-30)

Though complete works have been written about the book of Revelation, the end times, and the Second Coming, I hope that my small discourse on the "last days" will show that context and timing is everything. How we understand events in the Scripture will ultimately shape our future.

Many take these warnings given to the first century saints and revive them into a "rapture fever", while some, such as myself, wish American Christians could see that we are not in the "last days" of the Old Covenant, but in the days of the Great Commission!

Instead of fearing the tribulation to come awaiting secret rapture, we should be fearlessly proclaiming the truth of Christ while taking dominion of the whole earth!

6) The True Hope Conclusion:

So is the pre-tribulation rapture Biblical? Or is it a popular concept that gets emotional hype from Christian fiction?

Rapture theology teaches that things are supposed to get worse and worse. For some reason, Pre-trib. rapture proponents say that the rapture will occur before the Great Tribulation, however, the "signs" of that tribulation are seen already and things are already getting worse in our current times. Therefore, no distinction is clear to tell how bad it will get before the rapture, yet the proclamation still remains that, "the Church will be caught up before the tribulation."

Also, we have seen in the historical event of the destruction of Jerusalem the perils that suddenly overtook the city, as well as the signs of famine, wars, and earthquakes as mentioned in Matt. 24. "These things" have been fulfilled during the period leading up to, and in A.D. 70.

What is interesting for today is that patriotism, work ethics, and political activism is promoted in circles of the pre-tribulation camp. Yet, there is a constant dilemma: "Are these things vain?" This must be the question many people never ask, but have echoing through their mind.

The rationality as I have heard it goes something like this, "things are going to get worse, but we are still required to do what's right, we're still required to get in the fight." So, does that mean we are required to fight a loosing battle? Ultimately, they say, we are going to win in the end, but that is not in the natural course of human history, that is after the rapture and long after we are gone. That is when God finally steps in, according to the popular theology.

The problem with this worldview is that it fails to see the Sovereignty of God in the acts of the Church. God has worked and will continue to work through His Church. We the Church, are still required to, "Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." -Matt. 28:19-20

So what has the pop-eschatology of dispensationalism produced? According to Gary North, author of Rapture Fever, a constant circle of "endless unfulfilled prophecies", "headline eschatology", and "theological schizophrenia".

These schizophrenic circles in American evangelicalism keep the institutional transformation of society for the glory of God to a minimized level, and leave the door open for the enemy wolves to take dominion. There will not be a multi-generational plan to reconstruct our society when a majority of our people are looking for the end to get here and get us out. Unfortunately, it is like the saying, "hurry up and wait".

Another frustration is that many look through the glasses of Western life only, and fail to see that there are tribulations going on in other parts of the world right now. Christians who are preaching the Gospel in China are in danger of their very life. Attacks and beheadings are frequent by Muslims in Africa against Christian tribes.

I believe the absence of Christian political leaders in America can partly be attributed to Dispensational Eschatology. The unwillingness to rouse people to action, or for the people to be roused themselves, might just come from a worldview that teaches worse times are ahead in the "last days", which they say we are living in. How can we make a difference when our defeat is a done deal?

Covenant Commission believes in the true hope of the saints. Victory over the sting of death is a sure promise for the elect. The resurrection will be at the end, but until then, Christ is at the right hand of Power and his foes are surely falling under His foot. However, just like Israel had to suffer for their disobedience, so will America if we continue in apathy waiting for a secret escape!

Please, stay tuned for our next article to be published on Covenant Commission's web page, in which Pastor James Brown will address Church victory in history and the dominion of the kingdom of God.

Notes:
1. Use of the term "rapture".
It is important to notify the reader of the uses and views of the term, "rapture". In this article, the author uses the term as a, "mechanism of resurrection". Therefore the term is considered to mean, "being caught up". However, the older use of the word carried an intent of being taken away violently. Therefore, many preterists associate the word, "rapture" with the ungodly receiving judgment or the gathering of tares to be burned. In the quote by DeMar, a negative use of the term is used because of the differences between the orthodox view of resurrection/judgment and the dispensational pre-tribulation rapture.
2. All Bible quotations used are from the King James Version.

Resources for this article:
1. Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, John Gill, 1746-1766, Pub.1809
2. End Times Fiction, A Biblical Consideration of the 'Left Behind' Theology, Gary DeMar, 2001
3. Rapture Fever, Gary North, 1993
4. Scofield Reference Bible 1909
5. The Book of Revelation, Illustrated, Clarence Larkin, 1919
6. The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

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