What are the differences between the Law and the Mystery programs?
This important question, neglected by many believers is answered by Paul’s epistles. Knowing the mystery program (as opposed to the Law) will help us to live according to the plan and will that God administers in the world today, as well as prevent confusion and malpractice of His Word. (Qualifying scriptures: Rom.11:13; 1 Cor.14:37–38; Rom.16:25–26)
The Catching Away (aka the Rapture)
Continuing in this series of new content introduced by Paul, the next new truth given to Paul was about the rapture, the calling up of the Body of Christ.
1 Cor 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, ...
Here's a truth that's been hidden in the mind of God since before the foundations of the earth, but it's now revealed to Paul to share with the believers of his gospel. Everything that was revealed to the apostle Paul is a mystery, and this is no different. Nobody in Paul's day has ever heard or read about this. It was not prophesied, it was not written in the Torah, it was not mentioned by any scribe or teacher. Only Paul ever mentioned that one day, we who are alive, at that predetermined moment, will be caught up into heaven to be with the Lord, prior to the prophesied tribulation. Israel's 12 apostles only knew about Christ's return, and that Christ would return at the end of the tribulation. They never had a clue about the rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ.
The Rapture of the Body of Christ is Silent
The first part of Christ's return is when He will appear in the heavenly position which is filled with an inapproachable light, which no man has seen, not can see, 1 Tim.6:13. The purpose of appearing here is to call unto Himself the agency of the Body of Christ, who are to fill the heavens with His glory.
Throughout the epistles of Paul, the Body of Christ is illustrated as a 'mystery'. Though this agency was always part of God's great redemption plan, it only came about through the ministry of Paul and due to the unbelief of Israel, who, through the Old Testament and the Gospels, was the vehicle of God to bring salvation unto the Gentiles. The Body of Christ, and salvation for the Gentiles through Israel's fall, was never prophesied in the Bible and it is why Paul refers to this Grace program as a mystery.
It is this very point of mystery that brings me to the conviction that the catching away of the Body of Christ will be silent, without any visible and audible signs in the earth, with no trumpet blasts, no graves being opened and the dead rising up, and with the living, to meet the Lord in the clouds. Our rapture will be uneventful and in secret and will be the primary instigator of confusion amongst unbelievers and contributing to delusions and false beliefs.
Have a look at what the Word says about our silent rapture,
Col.3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
When Jesus appears in that place of light, and calls to us [with a shout], then we shall appear [suddenly, instantaneously] with Him in glory. There is no meeting Him in the clouds, and there is no need for any resurrection of the dead as all members of the Body of Christ who passed away while on earth are already with Him in heaven already, 2 Cor.5:1-8.
Phil.3:20-21 For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change [instantaneously] our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
We look for our Saviour from this heavenly position, not like his disciples, and Israel, who will be looking for Him in the clouds according to Act.1:9-11. The above verse also clarifies that our 'vile bodies' will be changed, in a moment, or instantaneously, in the context of 1 Cor.15:52, into glorified bodies at this event. As a matter of fact, Paul describes to the Colossians that we will be 'translated' into His kingdom,
Col.1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
What does translated mean?
The definition of "Translated" is: to be moved from one place or condition to another (conveyed, transferred)
An interesting point is that this word only appears twice in the King James Bible. The first one is in the Colossians verse above, and the second instance is in Hebrews. Now, for those who know that Hebrews is a Jewish transitional book, you might be wondering why 'translated' appears here if it is used in connection with the Body of Christ. Well, don't be concerned, because it is in reference to Enoch, who is a shadow or type to represent the Body of Christ. Enoch lived before the nation of Israel began and the word is used in reference to Him being 'raptured' off this earth. The verse reads as follows,
Heb.11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Something else of interest is the pattern of seven between Enoch's genealogy and the current church age. I'm not saying there is any definitive detail connecting Enoch and the church, but numbers are interesting in Bible patterns and have their value. Enoch is seventh in line from Adam while we are in the seventh church age (ie: the Laodicean age) according to the list in Rev.2-3. This is just an interesting point, and certainly not of primary significance.
One of the biggest confirmations I can provide to validate a silent rapture is comparing how the Lord appeared to Paul (or Saul) on the Damascus Road. Although Saul's companions witnessed some obscure physical experience, ONLY Saul saw and heard the words of the Lord. It was a personal and secret appearance, according to these two accounts,
Acts 9:6-7 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice* [indistinguishable sound], but seeing no man.
Acts 22:7-9 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the [discernible] voice* of him that spake to me.
* KJV translators did not account for the fact that the same Greek word [ακούω, akoúo] can translate to both "hear" and "understand" and can also imply both "sound" and "voice", being derived from acoustics. Another example can be taken from Moses on Sinai. Israel heard what sounded like thunderings, and not a distinguishable/intelligible voice.
It is my conviction that the same will happen at our rapture. The world will be confused and deluded. They will believe all manner of lies and will explain the disappearance of millions from earth as some form of mass abduction of aliens or something similar. They will have seen something, but won't know how to describe it. They will have heard something, but won't be able to make any sense from it.
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Each item below has contrasting differences between the Law and Grace Programs
1. The Dispensation of Grace, 2. The Gospel of Grace, 3. The Body of Christ, 4. The Catching Away (aka the Rapture), 5. Holy Spirit Baptism, 6. Water Baptism, 7. The Blinding of Israel, 8. The Abolishing of the Law, 9. The Judgement Seat of Christ, 10. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit, 11. Equality of Jews and Gentiles, 12. The Bread and the Cup, 13. Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, 14. Christ's Resurrection, 15. The Greatness of Salvation, 16. Our Heavenly Destination and Inheritance, 17. The Two Programs of Heaven and Earth, 18. The Count of Apostles, 12-Apostles versus 1-Apostle, 19. The Churches, 20. Signs and Wonders, 21. Prayer, 22. Hope, 23. Forgiveness
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