My walk with the Lord has been quite a journey and as time goes on my understanding of many things is becoming clearer and more settled in my mind & heart. One such understanding has been to try to figure out when and how the resurrection (yes, that's singular) will come. I went from believing what I was taught, that being a "pre-trib rapture", to studying my bible (several years worth of studying now) and then changing my mind to a pre-wrath belief.
I defended both views during the times I believed them with much scripture quoting and passion, until recently. Now I believe differently, BOTH views and pretty much all in between are true. My article, http://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2016/06/060116-three-harvests-resurrections.html, which is still a work in progress (WIP), explains my position on that. I now believe that the resurrections (yes I said it plural) of the saints is in more than one phase ... all part of ONE resurrection but in three phases or timings that align perfectly with Israel's holy feasts, or more correctly their three main harvests. Since I've already done an article on that concept I'll not repeat it here.
God clearly loves the number three (3): of His One Being, He is three parts (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); we are also three parts in one (spirit, body, soul) being made in the image and likeness of God; and He does things in threes when they represent something of the Spirit, such as the three main harvest seasons in Israel {Spring=Barley, Summer=Pentecost, Fall=Grapes & gleanings of the corners}. Those harvests are a type and shadow from ancient time that were foretelling of things to come in the future. In relation to the resurrection of the just (righteous) and it's three phases, one has already been fulfilled (barley harvest/resurrection), two are yet to be fulfilled (the summer wheat harvest at Pentecost, and then the fall grapes -n- gleanings harvest of the four corners at the Feast of Trumpets). You can read more about those from my article link above.
The idea of this present article is to challenge those that don't understand three harvests = three resurrections (aka: raptures, catching away). I don't believe we'll simply be "caught away" (raptured), I don't feel that adequately describes what will actually happen, it's only part of what occurs. Yes, many believers will be caught up to be with the Lord forever more, and where ever He is we shall be also ... but we must remember that our blessed hope also includes a new body. This is what resurrection truly is, not the raising of the dead in their current physical body only to die again at some point, or just our spirits go with Him but our bodies stay/die here on earth ... no ... resurrection is about us receiving our new body! We aren't simply caught up in the Spirit ... we are CHANGED, we receive our new resurrected bodies at the time of our departure off this earth.
Well, this article isn't about that either. Rather, it's a challenge to all the pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, pre-wrath, pan-trib (it'll all pan out in the end), no-trib, preterists, and amillennials, etc, to FIRST read my article above; and THEN consider these scriptures carefully. These are the scriptures that put me on the path to understand that there will be three harvests in their exact seasonal timings. The church is going up in the air to be with the Lord forevermore, in a new resurrected, glorified body like Jesus' body.
But, now for the stark warning ... some (possibly half or more of the church) will not make it in the next resurrection because they're not ready (their lamps are not lit, they have no oil)! Read and understand what Jesus Himself is saying to His people! Yes, some will be *left behind*, Matthew 25's "parable of the 10 virgins" spoken of by Jesus makes it clear that they'll be left; perhaps they'll be ready by the time of the Grape Harvest in a future fall season ...
{Mat 24:40-42 KJV} Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. {The ones taken are the Lord's ready bride, the ones left are the foolish.}
{Mat 24:48-51 KJV} But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. {Those foolishly not watching will be appointed their portion with the hypocrites and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those *left behind* because they will have to go through the coming wrath of their fellow man and satan.}
{Luk 12:45-48 KJV} But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes]. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. {Notice the servant that is not actively watching for the Lord will be "appointed his portion with the unbelievers" (left behind). Notice also what the following terms mean: "beaten with few stripes" ends with the summer harvest, "beaten with many stripes" ends at the grape harvest.}
{Mat 25:1-13 KJV} Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. {The bridegroom here is Jesus, the virgins are the waiting brides.}
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. {the door? what door??? the door in heaven where Christ the bridegroom takes His bride the ready church/believers for the marriage!}
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. {Jesus often used the term: "the Son of man" as referring to Himself. Jesus IS the "Son of man" (born of the virgin Mary) AND the Son of God through the Holy Spirit, and also the Bridegroom for His waiting (wise virgins) church.}
{Luk 12:35-40 KJV} Let your loins be girded about, and [your] lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. {Notice here we get a little more info. At Jesus' 2nd coming when He actually comes to the earth (not just in the air) to rule and reign ... He is returning from a heavenly wedding ... and when He comes and knocks the next time (grapes & gleaning fall harvest) it is His wish that those at that time will open up to Him immediately ... in other words, by that time those that weren't ready at Pentecost summer wheat harvest (ready wise virgins) should be ready by the Trumpets/Tabernacles fall grapes/gleaning harvest (foolish should by then become wise).}
Blessed [are] those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find [them] so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
I'm hoping you get the idea now. Some (ready virgins/bride) are taken to be with the Lord and enjoy a marriage supper, while others (foolish virgins) are left to suffer what's coming on this earth (some people call them "tribulation saints" ... time will tell whether they then pursue the Lord with their whole heart or leave Him altogether).
{Luk 21:36 KJV} Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
If you are not a believer in Jesus ... that He is the Son of God, He was born of a virgin (Mary) and lived a sinless life and died for YOUR sins (an atonement for your offenses against God), and resurrected on the third day after His death and is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven awaiting His Father's command for Him to come and get His bride ... consider giving your heart & life to Him, in faith. He is coming! Be a part of this next great summer harvest. Whether this summer, or next, or the next, He is coming, He has so promised. Don't put off until tomorrow what you should do today because where you will spend eternity is at stake.
{Jhn 14:2-3 KJV} In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.
If you have strayed away from the Lord please come back now, while there's still time. It's not that He has forsaken you, but you that forsook Him, He is still with you and waiting ...
Trust me when I say, you DON'T want to miss the upcoming Pentecost summer harvest of wheat (ready & wise bride).
Maranatha Lord Jesus! I'm ready & watching!!!
{Curly bracket comments are mine. Red text is Jesus speaking.}
Keywords: pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, pre-wrath, pan-trib, no-trib, preterists, and amillennials, barley, wheat, grapes, gleaning, four corners, harvest, season, seasons, resurrection, resurrections, rapture, Jesus, Yeshua, Adonai, Elohim, YHWH
