Preaching The Grace Of God
From The King James Bible – Dispensationally Delivered
Berean
Bible Church – Edgewater, Florida – Doug Dodd s.b.g. - Pastor
INTRODUCTION
In 1982 or so I was hauled into the "chaplain's" office at the Orange County Correctional
Institute by the head chaplain and two of his associates. They were not very happy with me or the message
I was proclaiming at their facility. They brought me into an inner office and began to shoot questions
at me faster than a speeding bullet. Every time I opened my Bible to answer their questions I was told
not to open the word of God just answer the questions. Over a period of about an hour I quoted to them
about 80 - 120 verses from memory defending the gospel of the grace of God and the Word of God rightly
divided.
Finally, red faced and exasperated with me the "chief" chaplain asked me the crunch question…
" Who ever believed or taught this before you did?" My simple answer, which caused me to be
ejected from that fair facility where the inmates were being saved and beginning to understand and enjoy
their Bible, was simply - Paul! The apostle to the Gentiles, writing in the dispensation of the grace
of God!
This story is relevant because I hear the same question being asked about the "rapture"
of the church. "Who ever believed in the rapture before you did?" - Paul did!
It is common to hear the Post - Millennial crowd say that the "catching away" of the body
of Christ was never preached before the 1800's. This is simply not true. Paul taught a "mystery
resurrection" for the church the body of Christ. It really does not matter, when you get right down
where the rubber meets the road, as J. Vernon McGee was fond of saying, it really does not matter if
the "mystery resurrection" was never preached after Paul did or not - this in NO WAY invalidates
the truth of the scriptures.
More than that the Post-Millennial-Rapture rests firmly on the sandy soil of misconception.
There are many misconceptions that occur in bible study due to a failure to "rightly divide the
word of truth". When we "rightly divide the word of truth" we give to Israel what belongs
to Israel and we give to the body of Christ what belongs to the body of Christ.
In denominational circles Matthew chapter 24:37 & ff. is taught as being the same as 1Thessalonians
chapter 4:13 & ff. when they are not. It is alleged that Matthew 24 is talking about the "rapture
or catching away" of the body of Christ. In this lesson we will look at why this is not so.
VERSES FOR CONSIDERATION
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in
the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,
and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other
left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
COMMENTS:
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
VS 37 – The conditions of Christ return are compared with the days of Noah. A few righteous people
in the midst of unbelief. The term "son of man" is a term associated with Christ and the nation
of Israel at the second coming set forth in type in the book of Ezekiel - not the body of Christ and
the rapture.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving
in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
VS 38 – All things continue as they have from the beginning. The status quo is "don’t bother
me with that judgement stuff I am too busy right now." Religious Israel has never bother itself
with the coming of Christ. For example: When the wise men showed up looking for Him the religious system
knew where he would be born - Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose
goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
May I say that they knew:
Where he would be born - Micah 5:2
How he would be born - Isa 7:14
And When he
would be born -Dan 9:24-27, Gen 41:46, Luke 3:23, (they could date the time within 2 weeks from
the OT scriptures)
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son
of man be.
VS 39 – Now here is where you have to begin to pay attention to the wording in the verses. The key
to this verse is "took them all away". Several questions must be asked and answered here so
as not to confuse this passage with others (like 1Thes.4).
Question: Who was taken away believers or unbelievers?
Answer: According to the context unbelievers not believers. The believers were
in the ark!
Question: Where were those, who were taken away, taken away to heaven or judgement?
Answer: Unbelievers are taken to judgement, not to heaven.
Question: Can this passage then be talking about Christ returning to "take or catch away"
the church the body of Christ in any context?
Answer: No. This passage is a second coming passage directed to the nation of Israel.
When he comes back to set up his literal, visible, physical, earthly, Davidic kingdom unbelievers will
be taken away in judgement. Those who are saved will "walk" into the kingdom.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall
be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
VS 40 – 41 One taken to judgement just like in Noah’s day the other left to go into the kingdom.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
VS 42 – Just as those in Noah’s day "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away"
– so it will be when Christ returns to set up his kingdom.
The second coming of Christ to and for the nation of Israel is in view here. Not the rapture of the
Church the body of Christ.
Lets give to Israel what belongs to Israel and to the body of Christ what belongs to the body of Christ.
As we do so we will be following God’s approved plan of bible study - 2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The Mystery Resurrection Or The Rapture Or The Catching Away
There are two Pauline passages detailing the mechanics of the "catching away" of the church
the body of Christ, and several more congruent, corresponding passages.
The 2 major Pauline passages are of course:
1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4
It is in 1 Corinthians 15 that Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, calls this resurrection
a "mystery". This mystery was revealed to Paul to give to the Gentiles.
1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall
not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put
on immortality.
It is of critical importance that you understand that Paul IS THE Apostle to the Gentiles.
He is not writing to Israel. Israel has her promise of resurrection that is applicable to her prophetic
program.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times
of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before
was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things,
which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Christ is coming back for Israel and when he comes it is THEN that THEY will receive
redemption, it is then that they will have THEIR resurrection.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the
souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their
hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy
is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall
be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Where are they going to rule and reign? In heaven? No… that is where the body of Christ will be. We
will be filling up the ranks of power and authority vacated by the "god of this world".
Also… there are only 3 resurrections in the Bible.
- The first resurrection mentioned here in Revelation and has to do with the righteous saints
- The second resurrection in Rev 20:11-15 and is a resurrection of the doomed.
- The mystery resurrection mentioned only by Paul because of its relationship to his Gospel.
The mechanics of the "mystery" resurrection
1 Th 4:13 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.
Why would the be ignorant of this information? What OT information could be applied to those who had
received salvation, justification and redemption APART from the source of salvation, justification and
redemption - the nation of Israel?
Could it be, that Paul had a revelation that applied to saved Gentiles that up to this point had not
been written down?
It must be clearly understood that the gospel that Paul preached had nothing to do with the gospel
of the kingdom. Paul's message to the Gentiles was something that could be had right now as opposed to
the nation of Israel having to wait. Notice: Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Those which are asleep are those who have died - "in the Lord"
"even as others which have no hope" is, I believe to the corrupt religious systems surrounding
the gospel of grace. See Galatians 1 for more details.
1 Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him.
This is how a person gets saved and Paul now identifies his distinctive message. Again this is not
the same as what was taught by Peter and the eleven as the following passage clearly demonstrates.
Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem,
and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For
he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34
And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew
they the things which were spoken.
These men had been with the Lord Jesus Christ for three years and either they did not know what was
going on or what was going on was something different. The latter is true.
1 Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto
the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
There will be kinds of believers when Christ returns for his body. Alive ones and dead or asleep ones.
Here is where we begin to get into the mechanics of the catching away.
by the word of the Lord - This is mystery truth not OT prophecy.
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep
- i.e. , we shall not go ahead of those who are asleep.
1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
For the Lord himself - Personal attention!
shall descend from heaven - This would be the third heaven, the one Paul was caught up to.
There are 3 parts to the fanfare of His coming
- Shout
- voice of the archangel
- trump of God
I do not know what the significance of these 3 things are… I could give a lot of speculation, but
I am not very good at that… I can say that the number 3 is very important in scripture. It signifies
completeness, unity and strength. So there could be something there
1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The dead "in Christ" and those who are alive are caught up (raptured) together to meet the
Lord in the AIR. We are to rule and reign in the heavens, we are to fill up the vacated ranks of authority
that are taken from the devil and his hordes.
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to
the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Compare
with:
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him
should all fulness dwell;
This is Pauline, Gentile, Heavenly information. We are the body of Christ! The "all things"
in Eph.1:22 are the thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that we, the body of Christ is going
to "fill".
When we meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air it will be forever. God will use the nation of Israel
to subdue the earth while he uses the church the body of Christ to rule the heavens.
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things
in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
We can see then how these can be …… comforting words!!
1 Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
When will the catching away take place?
#1 We do not know - the date can not be predicted by prophetical time tables because we are dealing
with an unprophesied period not revealed in the Old Testament.
#2 We do know the reason that triggers this cataclysmic event of Biblical proportions! Paul tells
us in Romans chapter 11 ( see our study on this web site dealing with Romans 11. The link is: http://www.bereanbiblechurch.com/studies/study63.html
) that this age will end when the Gentiles become unreachable because of their unbelief. I.e. , when
the Gentiles stop their ears to the truth the light will go out and we will go with it. This again is
a unknown variable. How long will the grace of God reach out?
#3 We know that when we leave Satan will have full reign and all those who have not believed the gospel
of grace, in the dispensation of the grace of God, will be doomed. Therefore it behooves us to be getting
the message of grace out, so that more will miss the judgement to come!
