Rapture-Away or Roll-Away?

William Swetcharnik

 

If you haven't heard the Take Six rendering of "Get Away Jordan," you might want to queue up any of their great renderings in the background, whilst you ponder this, the Quintessentially Painful Prophetic Quiz of all.

As with many quizzes, you can skip to the bottom. But if you want a significant scriptural challenge, follow the clues one by one and see -- if you can -- where they lead ahead of time.

Tic-tic-tic-tic-tic...

Preamble:

During the past four decades, so many of us have debated so many questions about raptures and qualifications and how we might possibly fit into the glorious culmination of God's Master-plan for usn's here meanwhile on Earth.

You know what we mean? Whereby different levels of "salvation" become available at crucial stages of the ages, as Christians strive to achieve the high crowns of resurrection and glorification?

And that most vexing and perplexing perspective: purification. (To which we should add: persecution.)

But maybe the quiz will fall in the hands of someone unfamiliar. If so, you must check out two tracts by Leland Earls: "The Voice of the Bridegroom" and "The Gift and the Prize." There is much more, of course, but suffice it here to mention a key concern:

So: if only the TOTALLY PURE in heart get to see God, how in the world can most of us even hope to participate in a Rapture?

- As readers of Leland Earls will remember, Israel's crossing of the Jordan on 10 Nisan represents the Rapture of the "Firstfruits."

- And as Deoram Bholan, the most talented of Leland Earls' explainers, points out, the 10 Nisan crossing was followed by a mass circumcision event at Gilgal. (Read all about it in Joshua 5 -- that is, if you aren't faint of heart!)

Now: as most of us remember, Jesus was resurrected before he was glorified. (Refresher: listen to Deoram Bholan on that subject.)

- Which brings us to that vexing perspective: purification is necessary before glorification!

- But, how many can claim to have achieved TOTAL SANCTIFICATION? (Hands up, anybody?)

- Really, demonstrably???

So: where in the world have the Firstfruits been hiding?

- Or maybe, some of them are almost-but-not-quite-purified, just waiting for that final glorious Holy-Spirit touch?

- And if so, might some of them be about to get a green light for resurrection, followed by that final glorious Holy-Spirit touch?

- (Refresher: listen to Deoram Bholan talk about the two stages: 1) resurrection, and 2) glorification.

Ergo: even if some lack total sanctification, they could yet get a full "Gilgal" prior to glorification?

- And if so, might some members of the "Harvest Group also" get resurrected and then experience a "Gilgal" purification?

Which brings us to that other qualification few of us have seriously pondered: persecution.

- Because bear in mind the numerous promises that martyrs get white robes in the New Jerusalem. (Just look up all the key words!)

- Which to usn's, this explains all the other passages regarding promises to persecuted believers, including those in the persecuted Thessalonian congregation.

- Those who willingly endure persecution simultaneously undergo sufficient purification. That, to usn's, is the clear implication.

Under the Mercy,

 

Usn's, los diásporiados de San Diego