ANSWER TO AN ENQUIRY
[p. 476] ANSWER TO AN ENQUIRY
It has been noticed, I suppose by all who paid any attention to the Revelation, that there is no mention historically of the rapture or the resurrection of the dead at that time. We know from other scriptures that the living saints will be caught up, and that the dead in Christ will be raised. But the Revelation gives no account of either of these great events.
There is no specific mention of saints of the assembly or of Old Testament saints in Revelation 20: 4 - 6. Certain persons are seen sitting on thrones. Those beheaded on account of the word of God, and those who had not done homage to the beast, are specially mentioned. It is easy to see the reason for this — that saints killed in tribulation times should know that they would live and reign with Christ a thousand years. It is for their special comfort that this is said. Others, as we know, will reign with Christ, but they have special mention, I believe, on account of their special sufferings. Then we are told, “The rest of the dead did not live till the thousand years had been completed”. And it is added, “This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy he who has part in the first resurrection” (Revelation 20: 5, 6). It is clearly the first resurrection in contrast with that of the rest of the dead. I learn from this scripture that the first resurrection is a resurrection of blessed and holy persons, and that all who will reign with Christ will have part in it. It does not say that all who have part in it will be raised at exactly the same moment. We know that some saints have already been raised; we also know that saints of the assembly will be raised when the Lord descends from heaven with a shout; and we know from the very scripture before us that saints who die or are killed in tribulation times will be raised to reign with Christ. But all have their part in the first resurrection, for it covers all the blessed and holy dead. It must [p. 477] be borne in mind that we could not prove from Revelation 20: 4 - 6 that the saints of the assembly will have part in the first resurrection. They are not mentioned. The special object of the Spirit of God was to show that dead saints of the tribulation period would have part in the first resurrection. This would not at all be affected by the fact that the mass of dead saints had been raised, as I believe they will have been, a certain short period before. The assumption that all who have part in the first resurrection must necessarily be raised at exactly the same moment is not at all established by the Scripture. What it does establish is that all who reign with Christ will do so as having had part in the first resurrection.
As to the “last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15: 52), Scripture makes it quite clear that there will be a trumpet which will sound after the trumpet spoken of in that verse. When “all the tribes of the land ... see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24: 30), they will most unquestionably see the saints coming with Him. This is a matter of revelation, and the Scripture cannot be broken. “When the Christ is manifested who is our life, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory” (Colossians 3: 4). “The Lord has come amidst his holy myriads” (Jude 14). “And Jehovah my God shall come, and all the holy ones with thee” (Zechariah 14: 5). It is clear that if the saints come with Him, as they undoubtedly do, the last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15 has already sounded to raise them and to give them their place on high with Him. Then, following upon His coming, “He shall send his angels with a great sound of trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect ... from the one extremity of the heavens to the other extremity of them” (Matthew 24: 31). It is clear that His sending His angels with sound of trumpet is subsequent to His being seen coming on the clouds of heaven, having His raised and changed saints with Him according to the unmistakable testimony of the above scriptures. Your contention that “the last trumpet” must be literally the last seems to be [p. 478] conclusive, but when it is examined in the light of Scripture it is found to be without force. This shows the importance of humbly learning not only what words mean, but how the Holy Spirit is pleased to use them.
I have no doubt that “the great trumpet” (Isaiah 27: 13) which will be blown for the gathering of Israel will be after “the last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15. It corresponds with “a great sound of trumpet” in Matthew 21: 31 which is for the gathering of the elect of the Son of man for earthly blessing after the heavenly saints have been manifested with Him at His coming on the clouds of heaven. Scripture is explicit, as we have already seen, that they will come with Him.