FreeGrace2 said:
In fact, there IS a verse that indicates WHEN He does leave heaven, He doesn't go back there again.
Acts 3:21. The Greek word for "receive" means "to contain, to retain". So, heaven contains Him "until the time of restoration of all things".
That is obviously a reference to His Millennial reign.
What this means is that raptured believers NEVER EVER see heaven.
I want to understand what the Word of God teaches. And what I KNOW the Bible teaches is this:
1. there is ONE resurrection of the saved and ONE of the unsaved. Acts 24:15, Rev 20:5,6.
2. all believers from Adam on are resurrected at the same time. 1 Cor 15:23
3. The Second Advent and gathering (rapture) occur together. 2 Thess 2:1
4. The resurrection described in Rev20:5 is AFTER the Tribulation and is the FIRST resurrection.
These points are firmly established in the Bible. I believe them. You seem to reject all of them.
Yet, you haven't even tried to refute any of these points with Scripture that plainly and unambiguously says anything differently.
Actually, a whole lot of things have "escaped" you. Like clear and unambiguous verses that say what you claim.
Because the Bible doesn't teach this.
No, I don't wonder "why" about what I very clearly grasp. Unlike yourself.
If we do ever meet during the Millennium, I'm sure you will apologize all over yourself.
You believe what you can't prove. I HAVE proved what I believe. I am sure my "plan" will work.
In fact, there IS a verse that indicates WHEN He does leave heaven, He doesn't go back there again.
Acts 3:21. The Greek word for "receive" means "to contain, to retain". So, heaven contains Him "until the time of restoration of all things".
That is obviously a reference to His Millennial reign.
What this means is that raptured believers NEVER EVER see heaven.
I want to understand what the Word of God teaches. And what I KNOW the Bible teaches is this:
1. there is ONE resurrection of the saved and ONE of the unsaved. Acts 24:15, Rev 20:5,6.
2. all believers from Adam on are resurrected at the same time. 1 Cor 15:23
3. The Second Advent and gathering (rapture) occur together. 2 Thess 2:1
4. The resurrection described in Rev20:5 is AFTER the Tribulation and is the FIRST resurrection.
These points are firmly established in the Bible. I believe them. You seem to reject all of them.
Yet, you haven't even tried to refute any of these points with Scripture that plainly and unambiguously says anything differently.
Actually, a whole lot of things have "escaped" you. Like clear and unambiguous verses that say what you claim.
Because the Bible doesn't teach this.
No, I don't wonder "why" about what I very clearly grasp. Unlike yourself.
If we do ever meet during the Millennium, I'm sure you will apologize all over yourself.
You believe what you can't prove. I HAVE proved what I believe. I am sure my "plan" will work.
You are mistaken on 1 Cor. 15:23, that states that resurrection is for those born again, which agrees with 1 Thes. 4: those "in Christ." Since that does not fit your theory, you have to have all the Old Testament saints "in Christ" when that is impossible.
The second Advent, but its very title is speaking of the SECOND time He will come, but you ignore that He comes the second time ONLY TO THE AIR. Since that don't fit your theory, you ad lib his coming all the way to the ground, forcing two comings into one. The truth is, His second coming is only to the air. From there He will take us to the homes he has prepared, EXACTLY as a groom would take his bride in Jesus' day. How amazing then that after that comes a marriage and a marriage supper in heaven. But since what is written (these events take place in heaven) does not fit your theory, you either ignore them or MOVE them to earth.
Finally, the "first" resurrection is first in HONOR, not in timing. John did not write in English.