Who are the Dead in Christ?

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When attempting to answer the timing of the rapture, it must first be seen who the players are in this event. Those players consist of two groups, those who are alive and caught up to be with the Lord which all scholars agree are those who are raptured, and those who are Dead in Christ! Who are those dead in Christ must be answered as it gives the timing of the rapture. Unless one sees this, all the other passages of Scripture just may never be read correctly. This question must be answered.

Let's take a look at the passage of Scripture that clearly tells of the rapture or catching away that is to come, the harpazo. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 ¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. It is the Greek word, arpazw/harpazo that was translated from the Latin Vulgate and where we get the English word, rapture. There is a rapture as this passage clearly dictates, also found in this passage is the timing of this much talked about issue. Everywhere one goes there is a great debate concerning the rapture timing to the point that people have started new churches and new denominations because they sharply disagreed at the timing.

726 arpazw harpazo har-pad’-zo

from a derivative of 138; TDNT-1:472,80; v

AV-catch up 4, take by force 3, catch away 2, pluck 2, catch 1, pull 1; 13

1) to seize, carry off by force
2) to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly
3) to snatch out or away

Notice the concern that has been asked about is spoken to directly by Paul. The concern, those who have died and are gone, so where are they. These Thessalonians were concerned about loved ones in Christ and their desire to see them again or if relationships ended at some point when death happens. Paul spoke the Lord's Word to this very issue. Paul heard the Spirit tell him that He didn't want His people ignorant nor feeling sad nor grieving outside of what is healthy and normal. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. As a side note, we have Jesus uniting the dead who are with Him with their bodies, we will soon see these are glorified bodies given, but the side note is important as there is much wrong teaching about those who die. Many have taught that when a Christian dies, they go to sleep and are unconcious of sorts in the grave (soul sleep), but Paul states clearly that Jesus brings these people with Him when He returns, people like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, people like David and Moses and Samuel, people like Paul and Peter and Timothy. Jesus brings those who died in Him and all those who were led to heaven in His ascension. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Jesus doesn't bring the dead in Christ with Him if He has them sleeping in death in some grave that has decayed bodies or worse yet DNA floating in the ocean because one was shark bait and process through the shark's digestive system. To be absent from the body (2 Corinthians 5:8) means that the soul is absent from the body, the body is dead in the ground or somewhere on the earth, but the soul is present with the Lord for all who died in Him.

Now ask yourself this, why does the Lord bring those who died in Him with Him at His coming? For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. This answers the question, but one needs to consider what the answer is. Those who alive are raptured, yet before they are raptured, those who are with Jesus have a union also, one that takes place with their soul and their new house for their soul. It is at this time that their soul is united with a body to house them, a temple of the Lord that will last eternity. Jesus brings the dead in Christ so that they may have a house to hold their souls in order that they may be a part of the bride and rule and reign with Him for the 1000 years. 1 Corinthians 15:35 ¶ But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? In the great resurrection Chapter, Paul details some very critical information, this is preached at that famous bunny holiday and usually no other time, but it is vital for our understanding because of the details. Paul restates an asked question from the unbelieving and skeptical about those who died in Christ, and their bodies. At the time of Jesus' Parousia or coming, He unites those who died in Him with a body, a house to rule with Him. Paul answers this question of the skeptics! 1 Corinthians 15:36-40 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. It is from this passage that we get the common term, glorified bodies. At the coming or Parousia, those who died in Christ receive their glorified bodies. This is critical to answer who the dead in Christ are.

The bride of Christ consists of three groups: those who died in Him before the Parousia, those who alive in Him at the Parousia, and the Jew who ...looks on Him whom they pierced, ALL those who mourn and repent that they crucified Him- the 1/3 who remain in Israel after the cataclysmic battle (Zechariah CH 12-14). The bride of Christ is also the elect of Christ which Matthew (CH 24:29-31) and Mark (CH 13:23-27) tell us are gathered together at His Parousia in the clouds. So who the dead in Christ are actually details the timing of the rapture. Why? Paul tells the Thessalonians why! For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The dead in Christ rise FIRST to receive their glorified bodies, then those who alive in Christ have their bodies sown in order that they may have their glorified bodies.

For years, some eighteen plus years, I never read this passage for what it says, I read this passage for what I wanted it to say. I never saw the dead in Christ as the setters of the timing of the rapture. Because of my own biases, I could not see what was written. Look again at what Paul told the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 15:41-44 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. Paul calls the union of those dead in Christ receiving their glorified bodies the resurrection of the dead! Can you see what Paul is talking about? It is absolutely astounding to me after all these years! Why? Look at what Paul told the Thessalonians again, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: But that is not the complete sentence! Look at the next part of that sentence! 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Clearly those who alive in Christ FOLLOW those who are dead in Christ. This has always been written in the Word, yet I was never able to see it!

Paul goes on to explain this event to the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. The apostle John tells of this event also. John gives more details of other events that are timed with the resurrection of the dead, the rapture, and final judgment. John even describes some of those in the body of Christ that many in years gone by have called less worthy without realizing that this position is actually very prejudiced. Revelation 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Both John and Paul agree about the resurrection, the dead are raised first, they receive their glorified bodies to rule and reign with Christ Jesus for 1000 years, and all who are in the first resurrection reign with Him and spend eternity with Him. This clearly shows the rapture timing to follow the dead in Christ because we are all part of the bride of Christ and rule and reign with Him for the 1000 years, then those who are on the earth are deceived and join the devil once again and the white throne judgmebnt follows Satan's ultimate defeat and eternal judgment!

However some would try to tell us that these priests are just a select group from the tribulation, but is that really what John is saying?? Let's look at another passage of Scripture by John. Revelation 1:4-6 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. John is telling this to the seven churches, so the only correct conclusion is the bride consists of kings and priests who rule and reign with Him, and the first resurrection has all of the bride receiving their glorified bodies. However it doesn't stop here because the rapture has those who are alive in Christ sowing their corruptible bodies and receiving their incorruptible bodies AFTER the first resurrection to rule and reign with all those who are dead in Christ, praise God! Thuse those in Revelation 20 is the whole body of Christ, and we rule and reign with Him.

Paul tells us that there is something that we are to do. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. If part of the body of Christ must be different, somehow treated as foreigners, as outsiders, then we don't understand the Lord! He is just and righteous. The Lord is sovereign and treats no one any better or worse especially the self-centered westerner who thinks he is somehow special and will be raptured before the tribulation. The comfort comes for many reasons: those who are dead we will see again, and those who will face hardships in the tribulation can stand on the truth that it is a 3 1/2 year time frame with God's wrath poured out during a 45 day period that we can again trust the Lord as He showed a difference between His people in Goshen and the remainder of the Egyptian populace, our God protects His people. This was realized by me in the natural when I started corresponding with a man from Slovakia. He went through the horrors of family and friends raped, beaten, abused, bombs falling everywhere, food sources hard to find, yet did he deserve to somehow have these events happen because he was any less a child of God than me? I don't believe so now, but there was a time that is exactly what I believed, I am ashamed to say! This is what the pre-tribulation rapture states, those people must go through the tribulation because they aren't worthy to go in the rapture, and they must stand to lose their lives or else face eternal damnation, but the "perfect" church will be taken as an escape mechanism by God who can't protect His own people. This is not only illogical, and flawed doctrinally, but it just isn't written in Scripture anywhere!

The dead in Christ do indeed rise first, then those who alive in Christ, all united in the clouds to ever be with the Lord. Praise the Lord for His Word. May we be ever mindful to read what is written rather than what we believe is written. The rapture takes place a blink of the eyes after the first resurrection. Paul told the same thing a second time in a different way to the Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 ¶ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Here Paul tells about the apostacy that must take place, the defecting from the truth, the antichrist being revealed all before the rapture which happens after the first resurrection, a blink of the eyes after, we are all gathered together at His Parousia! This is difficult to believe since the majority of the church world believes the lie of the pre-tribulation rapture, but it is actually clearly written for all who want to read what is written rather than what we believe is written.

Let's conclude with a passage to Paul's "son" in the Lord, Timothy that deals with this very issue. 2 Timothy 2:15-19 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. ¶ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.