The Better Hope Belongs Only To "The Body of Christ"
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Acts 28

The ‘Better Hope’ that Belongs To “The Body of Christ”

Please read to the very end.

Herein we will examine twelve similarities between Jesus’s words in Matthew 24 concerning His 2nd “coming” to earth and Paul’s words concerning believers of “the Israel of God” possibly being “caught up” in I Thes. 4:15-17, I Cor. 15. From the beginning, Paul’s ministry in Acts 13 up to Acts 28:20 was unto “to the Jew first, then the Gentile.” Paul had held the “hope of Israel” for “thy kingdom come on earth” until his Acts 28:28 judicial declaration of ‘the fall of Israel,’ then turning to the ‘Gentiles.’

Paul’s 2nd ministry began a few years after Acts 28:28 as he gained the added knowledge of “the revelation of the Mystery [secret].” Paul first alludes to this “Mystery” in his Romans 16:25 Post-script. With that revelation Paul began his 2nd ministry… now unto ALL men seen equally as Gentiles, opening a whole new Gentile “dispensation of the grace of God” (cf. Eph. 3:1-2).

Romans 16:25-26 “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the Revelation Of The Mystery [Grk. musterion, secret], which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest [revealed], and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to All Nations [nationalities] for the obedience of faith:”

This study compares Paul’s 1st ministry Acts period epistles with Jesus’ words of Matthew 24. This will require serious consideration of the details of the Scriptural comparisons drawn below in order to appreciate the implications thereof. The Bible facts unveiled below may overthrow one’s end-times views concerning “things to come” as to what applies to who, and when, particularly the so-called ‘Rapture.’

You will see how Paul in 1Thes. 4 and 1Cor. 15 is speaking of the Very Same ‘2nd coming event when compared with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 concerning Israel’s end-time 2nd Coming events. You will see that Jesus in Matthew and Paul are both talking about Christ’s 2nd coming (parousia, presence) on Earth to save Israel’s believing remnant of that day and to set up His Millennial Kingdom on Earth… AFTER the Tribulation Period. Israel will ultimately become Christ’s agent reigning ON EARTH.

The “far above” “Heavenly places” of Paul’s later Post-Acts epistles of Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians concerning the Spiritual “Body of Christ” are nowhere related to the destination of those being “caught up to meet the Lord in the air (Grk. aer, atmosphere)” (1Thes. 4:17).

Let’s begin by comparing and noting the similarities between what Jesus prophesied with what Paul said; noting see how much they agree concerning Israel’s ‘Hope’ of the Christ 2nd Coming … to bring the Kingdom ON EARTH.”

#1 - Note Jesus’ words concerning His ‘2nd COMING’ in Matt. 24.

  • Matt. 24:29 “… shall also the COMING of the Son of man be”;
  • Matt. 24:30 “then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall SEE the Son of man COMING In The Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory.”

Now compare the above with Paul’s 1Cor. 15 and 1Thes. 4 concerning Christ’s 2nd ‘COMING.’

  • 1 Cor. 15:22-23 For since by man [Adam]came death, by man came [Jesus]also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s At His COMING”.
  • 1 Cor. 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
  • I Thess. 4:15 For this we say unto you by The Word Of The Lord [i.e., OT Scripture], that we which are alive and remain unto THE COMING OF THE LORD shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [in the grave]

It is clear that the “hope” of the Acts period Judeo-Christian believers (Jews and Gentiles, including Paul) was “the COMING of the Lord.” Paul mentions ‘His coming’ 10 times in his Acts period epistles (cf. 1Cor. 1:7, 4:5, 11:26, 15:23, 2Thess. 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23, 2Thess. 1:10, 2:1) while Paul was going to “the Jew first” “for the hope of Israel” (Acts 28:20). Paul never mentions this in His Post-Acts epistles.

Now, we know the Lord has already come once to die for all men as sinners, so the ‘the Coming’ we read about in Matt. 24 and as well as Paul’s 1Thes 4:15-18 and 1Cor 15:51-55 must be His Second Coming. The word ‘Coming’ (Grk parousia] refers to His literal ‘presence’ on earth. Why is it so hard for Bible believers to admit these Pauline verses refer to His 2nd coming? Some Bible believers say their hope is not the second coming of Christ, but the ‘rapture,’ quoting 1Thes. 4:15 (below). But doesn’t Paul say “by the (O.T.) word of the Lord” they (the dead and the living) would be caught up unto The COMING of the Lord”?

“For this we say unto you by the (OT Mal. 3:1) word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto ‘the COMING of the Lord’ shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [in the grave].” 1 Thess. 4:15 (KJV)

As you will see, what Paul teaches during the Acts period epistles is “the hope” of the resurrection of Israel’s Kingdom believers at Christ’s 2nd COMING at the CLOSE of the Tribulation period, for the living and the dead kingdom believers to enter Christ’s Millennial Kingdom on earth (NOT GO to heaven).

#2 – Note in Matt. 24:30 that Jesus Comes ‘In The Clouds of heaven’ and compare it with Paul’s words.

  • Matthew 24:30 “They shall see the Son of man coming in the CLOUDS OF HEAVEN”

Paul writes of the same:

  • 1 Thes. 4:17 says, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them IN THE CLOUDS, to meet the Lord in the air (Grk. aer, atmosphere, not the high heaven).” 

The clouds are up “in the air.” That is the clouds in the lower atmosphere that are being referenced in these Scriptures, not the “heavenly places” “far above all heaven” (cf. Eph. 1:3, 4:10).

#3 - In Matt. 24:31 when Jesus ‘Comes In The Clouds’ He Will Come ‘With Angels.’

  • Matthew 24:31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
  • In 1Thes. 4:16 HE will descend from heaven with... the voice of the ARCHANGEL.” Michael the Archangel is the “prince of Israel’” (Dan. 12:1-2), where Michael goes so do his angels (cf. Rev. 12:7).

#4 - In Matt. 24 Jesus Comes In The Clouds With Angels and a ‘TRUMPET’ IS BLOWN.

  • Matt. 24:31 “And he shall send his angels with a great SOUND OF A TRUMPET”

In 1 Thes. Paul says Jesus comes In The Clouds With Angels and A TRUMPET IS BLOWN.

  • I Cor. 15:52 says, “FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND and the dead shall be raised”
  • I Thes. 4:16 says “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven ...WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD”.

#5 - The Trumpet Blown In Matt. 24 Is The “Last Trumpet,” blown AFTER The Tribulation

  • Matt. 24:29 says “Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days... vs. 31 “he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet.”

The Trumpet in Paul’s 1 Thes. 4 and I Cor.15 is specifically called THE LAST TRUMPET.

  • I Cor. 15:52 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMP: for the Trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised [resurrected].”

Since Paul said they would be raised at ‘the last trump’ that means there are other trumpets blown before it. There is no denying the fact that before the 2nd Coming of Christ trumpets are going to be blown. In Rev. 8-9-10-11 there will be at least 7 trumpets blown before Jesus comes. In I Cor. 15 Paul said the dead would be raised at “the LAST TRUMP.” If there are 7 Trumpets blown before He comes which Trumpet is Paul referring to? It’s number 7 in Rev.11:15, and it so happens that when the seventh trumpet is blown in Rev. 11 a resurrection of the Judeo-Christian believers takes place, their works are judged as to their “sort,” and rewards are given. For detail read John’s Rev.11:15-18 and Paul’s 2 Cor. 5:8-11.

Every trumpet that is going to be blown before Jesus comes is found in the book of Revelation. So, we should not waste our time running all over the Bible, trying to find another trumpet to get around the last trumpet in I Cor. 15. If a trumpet is going to be blown, if a seal is going to be opened, if a vial is going to be poured out in the tribulation, YOU WILL FIND IT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION OR DANIEL. If it’s not in those books don’t waste your time running through the Bible to come up with another trumpet, vial, or, seal.

Just believe The Book. If you are grace-saved “faithful” one who has believed the Pauline Truth of “the revelation of the Mystery” for today, as written in Paul’s 7 Post-Acts Prison Epistles beginning with Ephesians, You Won’t Be Here At Last Trump Anyway, I Cor.15 and I Thes.4 is not your hope. I say this because God gave us a New and “better Hope” which is found in the Post-Acts Prison Epistles of Paul and It Takes Place BEFORE EVEN THE FIRST (1st) TRUMPET BLOWS. We will lay out the details of this hope in another study. During the Acts period writings of Paul, a Pre-Tribulation Hope Was Unheard Of, since they expected His 2nd Coming to EARTH with The Kingdom as their hope.

#6 - In 1 Thess. 4 And I Cor. 15 The Lord Descends From Heaven, Into The Clouds, With Angels, with The Sound of A Trumpet, and A VOICE Will Be Heard.

When This ‘Resurrection’ of the dead and the living occur, Not Only Will The Lord Descend From Heaven In The Clouds With Angels And A Trumpet, but also a VOICE Will Be Heard.

  • The Voice is not mentioned in Matt. 24 but it is in JOHN 5:25, 28. It says “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead [believers] shall hear THE VOICE of the Son of God: and they that hear Shall Live”
  • In I Thess. 4:16 Paul said “the Lord shall descend from heaven WITH A SHOUT”

#7 - In Matt. 24 we see how When Jesus Comes with His Angels, A Shout, A the Sound of a Trumpet, and His Elect Will Be Gathered Together.

  • Matt. 24:31 Jesus says “They shall GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds [atmospheric], from one end of heaven to the other” (Also read Mk.13:27)

Paul in 1 Thess. 4 and 1 Cor. 15 says when Jesus comes WITH A SHOUT, A TRUMPET, AND ANGELS, HIS ELECT WILL BE GATHERED TOGETHER UNTO HIM.

  • In 2 Thess. 2:1 Paul wrote and Paul expected “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by OUR GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO HIM [The Lord Jesus].”

#8 - In Matt. 24 When Jesus Comes In The Clouds, It Will Be Sudden And Unexpected

  • In Matt. 24:42 Jesus said “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

In these verses Jesus compares His coming with a thief breaking into a house. A thief comes suddenly and unexpected. He comes in and then gets out as fast as he can With The Valuables and Jewels He Came For.

In these verses, Jesus Christ is as a thief breaking into a house. The house is this world where the devil is god (Matt.12:29). As a thief breaks into a house, to take something of value; His coming is to take his elect out of this ‘world,’ so that he can lock up and ultimately destroy it along with the devil’s troops (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10).

Likewise, the Resurrection seen in Paul’s 1Thes. 4 and I Cor. 15 also will Be Sudden and Unexpected.

  • In I Cor. 15:52 Paul said: “IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump: For the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised ...”

When Paul says: “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” he is showing you HOW QUICKLY that resurrection will take place. But when he says “AT the last trump,” he is showing you WHEN it will take place. It will be sudden and unexpected, just like the hope of Matt. 24:42.

#9 - When The Resurrection of Matt. 24 Takes Place, Believers Who Are ALIVE at His Coming Will Be “Caught Up” Without Dying.

This fact is brought out by the Lord in John 11. There, Lazarus who was Martha’s brother died and she wanted Jesus to raise him from the dead. Jesus said unto her in John 11:23 “Thy brother shall rise again”. Martha saith unto him, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus also said unto her:

  • John 11:25 “I am the resurrection; and the life: he that believeth in me; though he were dead, yet shall he live. AND WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE BELIEVEST THOU THIS?”

When Jesus said, “he that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live” He is referring to those who are dead when the resurrection of the last day takes place. And when He said “whosoever liveth and believeth in me” He is referring to those who are alive when the resurrection of the last day takes place and he says: “THEY SHALL NEVER DIE.” When the resurrection of Matt. 24 takes place, those believers who are dead will be raised and those believers who are alive will be ‘gathered together.’

When The Resurrection of Paul’s 1 Thes. 4 and I Cor. 15 Takes Place, at Christ’s 2nd COMING, The Believers Who Are ALIVE Will Be Caught Up Without Dying. Paul said:

  • I Cor. 15:51 “I shew you a mystery [secret]; WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP [die], but we shall be changed”

The “mystery [Greek. musterion, secret]” of I Cor. 15:51 is not the resurrection of the dead, but rather the fact that there will be Some Caught Up WITHOUT DYING. But this is a mystery [secret] hidden in the Scriptures. Note that in 1 Cor 15:55 Paul quotes Isa. 25:8 which says “O Death where is thy sting?” In other words, it was written in the Old Testament Scriptures, vaguely implying that some were going to get out of this life Without Experiencing ‘The Sting Of Death.’

This is what Jesus is referring to in John 11 when he said “He that liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” That was the only time that Christ mentioned that fact to anyone. Prior to Paul it was the consensus that by the time that resurrection took place all believers… would be dead. Later God opened the Scriptures to Paul and he was the first man to fully understand that fact and write about it. Nevertheless, it was in the Old Testament Scriptures, even though it had been concealed. It is wonderful how the Bible opens to us when we just believe what the words say and ignore what the preachers say?

#10 - The Resurrection Hope of Matt. 24, was Prophesied By The OT Prophets whom Paul quotes.

  • I Cor. 15:54 “THEN SHALL BE BROUGHT TO PASS THE SAYING THAT IS WRITTEN, Death is swallowed up in victory, O Death where is thy sting?” O Grave where is thy victory?”

When the resurrection of I Cor. 15 takes place, Old Testament prophecies of Hosea 13:14 and Isa. 25:8 concerning resurrection will be brought to pass.

  • “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.” Hosea 13:14
  • “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 25:8

#11 - The Hope of Matt. 24 Was ISRAEL’S HOPE and Paul’s Hope at that time.

The Resurrection Jesus describes in Matt.24 is the hope of Israel’s New Covenant that God made WITH ISRAEL. The Hope of Paul’s Acts Epistles Was also the same Hope of Israel.

  • Acts 28:20 “For this cause therefore have I [Paul] called for you [the chief of the Jews in Rome], to see you, and to speak with you: because that for THE HOPE OF ISRAEL, I [Paul] AM BOUND WITH THIS CHAIN.”

Paul refers to the Hope of Israel 4 times in Acts.

In Acts 23:6, 24:15; 26:6-8; 28:20-23 Paul mentions the Hope that is in connection with the Kingdom of God to Come On Earth. The Hope of Israel was to be resurrected into “the Kingdom” on earth, as a matter of fact; the only way they could get into the Kingdom of God was to be by resurrection, whether from the dead or alive. Paul wrote that ALL the resurrected “shall be changed” (1Cor 15:52).

That’s exactly what Paul is showing the Corinthians in I Cor. 15. In that chapter he is showing them how to get into the Promised Kingdom of God on earth. Paul told them they had to be resurrected and changed. WHY? Because in 1Cor. 15:50 he said: “Now this I say; brethren, that flesh and blood CANNOT inherit the Kingdom of God [on earth] …”

Then in 1Cor. 15:51 he told them they would all be changed, and the change would take place in their resurrection. So, the I Cor. 15 and I Thess. 4 resurrection was ‘the hope of Israel.’ The hope of Israel was resurrection into the Kingdom of God on earth, which is exactly what Paul is writing about in 1Cor. 15.

NOW YOU MIGHT ASK: “How did Gentiles in that Acts period church end up with Israel’s Hope?”

ANSWER: Because in the Acts period, believing Gentiles Were Grafted Into Israel As The Good Olive Tree, according to Rom.11:17. Being grafted in, the Gentiles partook of the fatness (riches) of the olive tree. The “fatness of the olive tree” were the blessings and promises made to the Fathers Of ISRAEL, who were the root of the tree.

  • Romans 15:27 (KJV) “For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their [Israel’s] spiritual things…”

One of those “spiritual things” is the promise of the RESURRECTION to THE KINGDOM On Earth

#12 - BEFORE The Hope of Matt. 24 for Israel Takes Place There Will Be; 1) A *Falling Away, which is the Apostasy of Israel, and 2) The Revelation or Appearing of The Anti-Christ. That’s Not Pre-trib.

  • Matt. 24:11 “Many False Prophets shall rise and shall Deceive Many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (a reference to ‘apostasy’)
  • Matt. 24:15 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the Holy place...” (a reference to the Anti-Christ’s Image in the Temple, Dan. 11:31)
  • Matt. 24:24 Jesus said “there would be false Christ’s [false Messiah’s]; and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (a reference to the Devil working miracles)

Note below how that Paul said virtually the Same 2 Things Would Take Place Before The Resurrection of 1 Thes. 4 And 1 Cor. 15.

“Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him; 2 that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by [a Satanic] spirit, nor by word [false teaching], nor as by letter as [as if] from us that ‘the day of Christ’ [2nd coming] is at hand.” 2 Thes. 2:1-2

The “day of Christ” in verse 2 was prophetic of Christ’s ‘Coming’ and their ‘Gathering together unto him’ as seen in verse 1. The Thessalonians were shaken because somebody had written them a false letter that told them “The day of Christ” [His wrath] was “at hand,” saying that “the day of Christ” had already taken place. And, IF it were true, they were left behind to face the wrath of 2Thes. 1:8-9. So, Paul to assured them that Christ had not yet come, telling them in vs. 3;

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [of Christ] shall NOT come, except [until] there came a Falling Away FIRST and That Man of Sin [Anti-Christ] Be Revealed, The Son of Perdition; 4who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he [Anti-Christ] As God Sitteth In The Temple Of God, Shewing Himself That He Is God.”

For years Bible believers have wrestled with these scriptures because they have been taught that the so-called Rapture in 1Thes. 4:17 was a Pre-tribulation rapture. I once believed that also. I did what so many continue do today, I did everything but… believe the words of Scripture. But, when I finally made up my mind to just believe what the words say, the verses opened to me to what Paul is saying?

In 2 Thes. 2:1-2 (below) Paul was saying that “the day of Christ” is the hope of Israel At Christ’s 2nd COMING when the believer’s “gathering together unto Him” as seen in verse 1, is the same ‘Hope’ found in I Thes. 2:19 and 4:13.

“For what is Our [Israel’] Hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ AT HIS COMING? 1 Thessalonians 2:19 (KJV)

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [dead], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV)

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by The COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by Our Gathering Together Unto Him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by [lying] word, nor by [a false] letter as [as if] from us, as that the day of Christ [that His 2nd COMING] is at hand.” 2 Thes. 2:1-2 (KJV)

Someone had written a letter to the Thessalonians, forging Paul’s name to it, telling the Thessalonians the day of Christ’s 2nd coming was at hand, that it had taken place. They obviously were “shaken” at that, for if that were true, then they had missed the resurrection, which would mean the Thessalonians would be destroyed by “the wrath of God” as seen in 2Thess. 1:8-9. Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians specifically to address this LIE and assure them that they had not missed “the Day of Christ,” which is His 2nd Coming, as their Hope. Paul goes onto say that “the day of Christ” would not take place until AFTER; 1) a period of APOSTASY, and 2) the revelation of the ANTI-CHRIST, which they knew, had not taken place. The point that I’m making is the Hope of I Thes. 4 and 1Cor. 15, which is “the Day of Christ” would NOT take place until AFTER a period of apostasy and the revelation of the Anti-Christ.

Jesus spoke of this in Matt. 24:11-13. Note Matt. 24:13 “But he that shall ENDURE UNTO THE END [of “the Day of Christ” – HIS 2ND COMING], the same shall be saved.” If they “Endure To The End” in faith, they will be “saved” from the “wrath” of the “day of Christ” as seen below.

1Thes. 1:10 KJV “And to Wait For His Son From Heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, Which DELIVERED US FROM THE WRATH To Come.” [Not delivered from the Trib that must be “endured”.]

They would be those who, in the “time of the harvest,” Christ’s angels will gathered securely into “the barn” (cf. Matt. 13:30). Thereafter, they will then enter the Millennial kingdom On Earth. Most think God’s deliverance is to delivered OUT of trials, but God by the power of His indwelling Spirit, will inwardly deliver Israel’s believing remnant while we are IN the and Go Through the trial (cf. Jn. 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.).

So, as a “faithful” grace-age believer of today’s Pauline “revelation of the Mystery,” we don’t get upset thinking we’re going to be here when the Anti-Christ is revealed because we won’t be here at that time anyway. If you have believed the truth of “The Mystery” you are a “faithful” member of “the Body of Christ.” Thereby 1Thes. 4 Rapture is NEVER WAS OUR HOPE. We have the NEW AND BETTER HOPE that is found only in Paul’s Post-Acts Prison Epistles, where we find our Hope, Promise, Calling and eternal destiny. And that Hope, which is of Our Appearing With Him (Col. 3:4), which takes place BEFORE the Tribulation ever begins, likely 21 YEARS EARLIER.

These 12 similarities between Jesus’ Matt. 24 and Paul’s I Cor. 15 and I Thess. 4 are enough to convince any fair-minded believer that we have been looking at the very Same Resurrection For Israel all through. If not the very same, then there would be two resurrections that would take place in the future at the same time because they are identical. The reason they are identical is because they are the same.

The family of God consisting of Israel, the Bride, the Wife, and the believing Guests, all have the ONE HOPE in Resurrection, which will occur when He Who is ‘The Resurrection and The Life’ appears in His 2nd COMING.

The Thessalonians as well as ALL the believers saved under Paul’s ACTS PERIOD ministry, were LATER offered the “Revelation” of a Better Hope of Resurrection that God Revealed to Paul AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE ACTS PERIOD and it is found mainly in his POST-ACTS Prison Epistles (Eph. Col..).

So, by contrast with the earthly hope of Israel, the Pauline Post-Acts “revelation of the Mystery” concerns the Gentile “Body of Christ” which has its “citizenship” not on earth at all, but rather “IN HEAVEN” (cf. Phili. 3:20-21), having ONE HOPE. This hope is not the hope of the kingdom On Earth, as found in Paul’s Acts period epistles of 1Thes. 4 and 1Cor. 15. We of “His body” today have the “blessed hope” of Titus 2:13 that is found among Paul’s Post-Acts Prison Epistles. Our eternal destiny is to “appear in” and dwell “with Christ” “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3).

If you are a “faithful” believer in “the Revelation of the Mystery” that Paul taught in His 2nd ministry, one day soon;

“When Christ, Who Is Our Life, Shall Appear, then shall Ye Also Appear With Him In [Heaven’s] Glory.” Col. 3:4

 

    • Portions Adapted from Charles H Welch by Arthur J Licursi