APO:The Resurrection of the church  by Pastor Don Chapman 3/82

   1) Jesus Christ was the first person to be resurrected from the
dead. No one else will be resurrected until the Rapture occurs. The
Rapture will be the resurrection of the Church (both living and dead
believers). I Cor.15:23; I Thess.3:13; 4:13-18

   2) The Rapture will be the way God protects the Church from the
tribulation. I Thess. 1:10 w/2:19; 3:13

   3) Believers should strive to keep their mind on spiritual things
for Phase 2 Sanctification, so that they will not be ashamed when they
meet the Lord in the Rapture. I Thess.5:23; I John 2:28

   4) Believers who do not understand this doctrine will never become
spiritually mature. II Thess.2:1-3

   5) Having the heart stabilized with this doctrine is the only way a
believer can patiently wait for the Rapture when he is under pressure.
James 5:7-8

   6) In the last days of the Church Age, people will laugh at this
doctrine. II Peter 3:4

   7) The Rapture is not the same event as the Second Advent of Christ.
The following is a comparison of the two:

   A) The doctrine about the Rapture (R) was a mystery in the Old
Testament; whereas the Second Advent (SA) of the Messiah was clearly
taught. Zech.12; I Cor.15:51-53

   B) At the R, Christ will meet the Church in the air; BUT at the SA,
He will descend upon the Mount of Olives. I Thess.4:13-18; Zech.14:4

   C) The R will take place BEFORE the tribulation; whereas the SA will
occur AFTER the tribulation. I Thess.1:10 II Thess.2:1-3; Mt.24:29-31;
Rev.19

   D) The Church will be given its rewards AFTER the R; but it will
have already been rewarded BEFORE the SA. Rev.19:7-9

   E) At the R, only the BELIEVER will be taken from the earth; BUT at
the SA only the UNBELIEVER will be removed. Mt.25:31-46; I Thess.4:13-18

   F) The R will be private; however, everyone will see Jesus Christ at
the SA. I Cor.15:51-52; Rev.1:7

   G) After the R, the Holy Spirit will no longer restrain Satan's
attempts to promote the antiChrist; whereas after the SA Satan will be
imprisoned for 1,000 years, and the antiChrist will be put into the
Lake of Fire. II Thess.2:6-12; Rev.19:19-20; Revelation 20:1-3

   H) The R could occur at any time; BUT the SA cannot occur until
after the tribulation. II Thess.2:1-5; Rev.6-20

   I) At the R, the Church will be resurrected and escorted to heaven;
BUT at the SA, the Church will return with Christ to the earth. I
Thess.4:13-18; Rev.19:6-14; Jude 14

   Copyright 1989 by Don Chapman You are allowed to reproduce this
article only in its entirety and without additions or deletions.
