The Resurrection: When Shall It Come? Series

In our study of the Resurrection and what scripture tells us, we read the introduction of the topic of a resurrection by our Lord, Jesus Christ. (The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail) Last week we studied the resurrection as spoken by Jesus and his Apostles. (Resurrection?) We have determined there will be a resurrection of the saints. Jesus shall come in the clouds and harvest the earth of all the saints; all who are held in Paradise first and then all who are alive at his coming following them.

The next logical question is, “When shall the Resurrection come?” Many have pondered this question over many years. Many have made predictions of a time and date. They all have been wrong.

Today, I will tell you when the Resurrection shall take place. Let us investigate the coming Resurrection which some call a Rapture. We will define this term, Rapture in our lesson today.

First, when shall the resurrection take place? There are certain events which must take place before the resurrection occurs.

First, the vine must be ripe. Last week we read Revelation 14:14-16 proving there shall be a harvest or resurrection of the saints to be with the Lord. In verse 14-15 we read, 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

The time of the resurrection shall be when the vine or earth is ripe. We realize the author is referring to a vine in reference to the saints being a part of a vine. John 15 tells us Jesus is the vine and the saints are the branches. We will see this same analogy a moment further in Revelation 14.

Let us understand this analogy of becoming ‘ripe’ and the ‘vine’. We associate a vine being a vineyard of grape vines. A husbandman tends the vineyard. John 15:1. 15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Jesus tells us God is the husbandman over the vineyard. It is the husbandman who determines when to harvest the vineyard at the peak of harvest of good grapes.

Angels are servants to God as well as to the saints. God tells an angel to tell Jesus, the being upon the white cloud, to thrust in his sickle and reap. To reap is to harvest. What is he harvesting? The saints. When will this take place? When the harvest of the earth is ripe. Who determines when the vine is ripe? The husbandman–God Almighty, Jehovah. It is at this point the harvest shall be declared and done.

Jesus told his apostles while he was physically alive upon the earth this same message. Matthew 24 speaks of the message Jesus gave his apostles. In verse 36 Jesus says, 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. The Husbandman knows when the vine is ripe. He alone calls for the resurrection.

What will happen at this event? In truth, a Rapture shall occur. What, therefore, is a Rapture?

Many believe a rapture is a one thousand year reign in which all the saints shall reign over the earth and all souls not taken at the harvest of the earth shall have a period of time to overcome their evilness. Let us see the true definition from a dictionary: the term ‘Rapture’.

dictionary.com gives these three definitions associated with Holy Scripture:

the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence.

the Rapture, Theology. the experience, anticipated by some fundamentalist Christians, of meeting Christ midway in the air upon his return to earth.

Archaic. the act of carrying off.

These definitions strongly suggest an event which happens in a very brief moment and is therefore over. Does this coincide with the teachings of Apostle Paul to Corinth? Let us see.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54. 51 Behold, I shew 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. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (i.e. ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail’)