51. “G.,” Plymouth. Nothing could be more decidedly stated in scripture than that those who are Christ’s at His coming will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The inspired order of resurrection is thus given: “Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming then the end.” (1 Cor. 15:23, 2423But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:23‑24).) The passages in the Old Testament to which you call our attention do not refer to this event, but to the future blessing of Israel, when those who have been “rebellious” will have gifts from Him who has ascended. This is why, when the apostle quotes from Psalm 68, in reference to the church, he omits the word “rebellious.” Matt. 27:52, 5352And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:52‑53) has nothing on the point, but simply states the fact that many bodies of the saints arose, came out of their graves, went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Further we are not told. When our Lord rose from among the dead, and ascended up on high, He led captivity captive. He thus triumphed over Satan, who had held many captive by his power. Even God’s people were Satan’s captives, and Christ led him captive. Thus Christ delivered the church from the power of Satan. What a deliverance!
52. “N.,” Belfast. Christ Jesus is Son of man as the Seed of the woman, Seed of Abraham, David, &c, though eternally Son of God. Having lived on earth as Man for more than thirty years, and died for the ungodly, there is perfect fitness in His being appointed of the Father to execute judgment on sinners. We read, the Father “hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”
53. “D.,” Hereford. The epistles to the seven churches then existing in Asia are full of deepest interest to those who, seeing the peculiar character of the calling, standing, and hope of the church of God, are able to distinguish between the church as the body of Christ, divinely built, and always so seen in Christ by God; and the church as a corporate and responsible witness in the earth. In this she has terribly failed.
The seven epistles give us not only the Lord’s judgment of the present state of the then existing assemblies, and His suited presentation of Himself, and ministry to them, but present also to us an historical sketch of the gradual failure and decline of the church on earth. The word “mystery” of the seven golden candlesticks, assures us of there being more in the epistles than appears on the surface; and seven, a number used for completeness, being selected out of the many assemblies then on earth, bid us look out for a complete sketch of the subject in hand. As a matter of fact, the seven epistles give us seven phases which the church on earth would pass through. We have, therefore, in Ephesus declension—“Thou hast left thy first love.” In Smyrna, persecution. In Pergamos, association with the world, as actually took place in the time of Constantine—dwelling where Satan’s seat, or throne, is. In Thyatira, the woman Jezebel, who hated God’s faithful ones, assuming divine authority to teach—popery. In Sardis, outward acknowledgment of the truth, but not in power—a name that thou livest and art dead—Protestantism. In Philadelphia, saints knowing the Lord as the Holy and the True, standing for His name and the authority of His word, though with little strength, and assured that the Lord is coming quickly. Laodicea closes the church’s history on earth with worldly prosperity, assumption, and indifferentism to Christ and His claims. This is so insipid to the Lord, that He will not own it as His witness on earth any longer, but spew it out of His mouth.
The difference you refer to, that the promise in some of the epistles is after “He that hath an ear,” and in others before it, divides the seven epistles into three and four. In the time of the first three, there seems to have been the possibility of restoration; but when popery came in, all hope of the church being restored to its primitive state was at an end, so that some faithful ones are contemplated from that time, and the Lord’s coming kept in view. The last four phases of the assembly on earth, therefore, continue to the end. This is why we see all around us Popery, Protestantism, some few here and there who cleave to the Lord alone, and Laodicean indifference. They go on till the end.
54. “W.,” High Wycombe. It is remarkable, as you say, that our Lord and those who appeared with Him in glory—Moses and Elias—had each fasted forty days and forty nights; but we do not know that its import is given us in scripture. We believe that those men appeared on the scene, not merely to show that Christ will have men associated with Him in glory, but because of their remarkable connection with Israel, for they represent the law and the prophets. The law was given by Moses, and when the people had departed from Jehovah, Elijah was raised up to testify the truth, and to show by miracles, and the authority of God’s word, Jehovah was God in Israel.
55. “N.,” Port Royal, Jamaica. The interesting paper, when revised, will be better suited for a tract.