The Church in End-Time Prophecy

Rapture or Resurrection?

Curtis Schulze

• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781098072728
• Topic: Théologie et religion
• Subtopic: Eschatologie religieuse

Church in Prophecy Today, the rapture of the church is one of the most disputed end-time topics in all the scriptures. No other end-time doctrine has divided the church more than this subject of the rapture. We have made this all about timing, rather than his return. Many are preoccupied with and distracted by their own particular prediction. The purpose of this book is not to refute one position in favor of another, but to come against the church's obsession and preoccupation with timing. Our focus should be directed toward his return, and not fixed on timing. This is the testimony of the scriptures! Whether he comes early, or whether he tarries, this does not matter to me. What matters to me is the readiness of the church! We need to be ready now and always if he comes early, but if delayed: we will need to be ready to go through the dark and difficult days ahead. We need to prepare our hearts now for what is coming lest it catch us off guard! We need to build our faith to stand under pressure, and we need to build our trust and confidence in Him now to keep us while in tribulation. We will need to settle the matter in our hearts concerning all those things coming on the earth, to lay our lives down at all cost! We will need to prepare our children and loved ones for the day ahead if the Lord tarry. If the Lord did return today, most would not be ready to evacuate! If he were to delay his coming, most are unprepared for the dark and difficult days ahead. I am afraid for the church! I am afraid many will fall away if the rapture does not occur as expected. I am afraid many are taking this too lightly, thinking they are guaranteed a seat on the rapture express but will be left behind because of complacency and indifference toward Christ and the gospel. Either way you look at it, the church is neither ready to leave, nor ready to go through!

The Church in End-time Prophecy

Because many have raptured the church out of end-time prophecy, little to no consideration is given to the question of the Church’s role in the end-times. Many think the church has no role during the last 7 years of human history at the close of this age. If the church is going to be in heaven during these last 7 years, what is the point? Alternatively, there is no need to think past this point. Of course for many who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, the church will be celebrating the marriage supper of the lamb in heaven for those 7 years. Therefore, the majority of believers turn their attention toward Israel and those end-time events that revolve around her future repentance and future restoration. Everything in end-time bible prophecy seems to be pointing toward that tiny stretch of land in Palestine positioned off the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The city of Jerusalem according to end-time prophecy is and will be the very epicenter or center of attention for the fulfillment of all end-time bible prophecy. While this may be true, the bible has a lot more to say about the church in these end-times then simply a pre-tribulation rapture. It is most unfortunate that we have closed our hearts and mind off from answering this most important question! What is the Church’s role in the closing moments of this age? What will she being doing, and what should we expect for the church? What will transpire, or what is prophesied to happen to the church in the last days of this age just prior to Christ’s return? These are the questions we will attempt to answer. Remember, the answers given are only possibilities based upon the scriptures.

A Glorious Church

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present (GK to stand beside) it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27). The context of these scriptures is holy matrimony, where the Lord promises to sanctify and cleanse the church from all her impurity until she is ready as a bride, to be presented to the bridegroom upon his return to the earth. Paul calls her a glorious church or rather a radiant bride without any spot, wrinkle, or blemish. The question is, is Paul speaking here only figuratively or actually? Without spot, wrinkle, or blemish, does he mean here only Christian sanctification or does he mean here [imply] so much more? The key word in the text that will help us to understand all that Paul had in mind is the word “glorious” Church. While I do agree Paul is speaking here of our sanctification, you and I growing in grace and knowledge into mature sons and daughters of God, but I believe Paul is still referencing so much more. I believe these scriptures have an end-time fulfillment tied into to them “that he might present it to himself [GK to stand beside it] a glorious church… but that it [the church] should be holy and without blemish. Holy does not mean without blemish, rather to be set-apart to God. Without blemish means having no more blemishes! Holiness speaks to one’s personal and spiritual character. Holy means to be morally blameless or set apart, while without blemish means without blame, or unblemished. I am convinced Paul is referring here to both our sanctification and our glorification. Sanctification is that which works on the soul of man, glorification is applied to the body. Paul here is speaking to both before and after his return.

Before: sanctification, after: glorification! Notice the GK word usage for “that he might present it to himself a glorious church. To present means to stand beside her, and glorious means “the church in glory.” No doubt, Paul here is referring to the bodily resurrection of the saints [the church]. When this takes place upon his return, Christ will stand beside her, she will be without spot, wrinkle, or blemish; she will be glorified! In that day, Christ being the last Adam and the Second Man, will look upon her and declare “this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman [my wife]” (Gen. 2:23). “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn. 3:1-3). It is clear from the scriptures that upon his return he will finish our redemption with the resurrection of the just [dead]. The term “glorious” church is a reference to the resurrection and translation [rapture] of the bride at the close of this age. When this happens will be like him “because [just] as he is, so are we in this world” (1 Jn. 4:17). Further proof in Paul’s writings that confirm his meaning in the text is found in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10 “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” When he shall come to be glorified in his saints? This makes a clear reference to his Second Coming and to the resurrection of all believers. To be glorified means the bodily resurrection and the completion of our redemption. The “glorious” church having no spot, wrinkle, or blemish speaks to the resurrected and translated [raptured] church upon his return on that final day.

We find a further confirmation of these things found in Romans 8 “For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19). This text is a clear reference to the resurrection of the just “waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.” The word manifestation means visible to the senses, and corresponds to our being delivered from the bondage of corruption “into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21). Paul called our physical body a present bondage to corruption (1 Cor. 15:51-53). The context of these things written by Paul in Romans 8:18-23 is the resurrection of the body “which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23). No doubt, Paul here is once again pointing to that future fulfilment when the church will finally enter into her future estate of the glorified body “for know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens…for we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life” (2 Cor. 5:1-8). The reason for bringing this to your attention is to contrast this future fulfillment within the church upon his return: with other scriptures concerning the church that must be fulfillment prior to his return that does not refer to the resurrection of the saints on that final day. All must be fulfilled before the Lord will return for his church.

I would say the most intriguing scripture or scriptures that must find its finished work/product on this side of glory is found in Ephesians 4:11-16. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the sa...