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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 1 * PART 3 * BOOK 30
I CORINTHIANS 15:35-16:24
It's interesting that Paul uses the word "mystery" that is so intrinsic to his writings. I Corinthians 15:51
"Behold, I shew you a mystery;..."
This word `mystery' comes from the Greek word `musterion' which simply means `secret.' Those two words can be interchanged throughout Paul's letters when he says, "Behold, I shew you a mystery or secret." And when we speak of secrets we have to look at the Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 29. Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."
For example, look at Ephesians 3:1-9 things only revealed to Paul, and then for the Gospel of Salvation, Romans 16:25, I Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 10:9-10 which He kept secret until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul for us, the Body of Christ. For the Rapture of the Church was given only to the Apostle Paul. Remember God doesn't have to reveal secrets until He's ready. So this is one of the basic things it takes to understand the Word of God. Now let's look for a moment at Luke Chapter 18. As you come back to I Corinthians 15, Paul now says he is going to reveal a secret, or a mystery, which means it has never been revealed before. Paul makes reference to the fact that it was to him first that God revealed these things. God had the right to keep it secret. I Corinthians 15:51
"Behold, I shew you a mystery: (secret) We shall not all sleep, (die physically) but we (remember Paul only writes to believers so he's not including the lost world here) shall all be changed,."
That is why I took so much time previously to show that our resurrected body is going to be fashioned after Christ's resurrection body, it's going to be a lot like our physical body, but it's going to be different. So Paul says, "there's coming a group of people who will not die physically, but they shall all be changed." Now let's read on:
I Corinthians 15:52
We shall be changed from this body of corruption to a body of incorruption in that split second at the trumpet call.
I Corinthians 15:53
Let's talk a little about the trumpet. Let's go back to Revelation Chapter 8, and look at the trumpet. For some reason or other the best of people want to tie the trump of God in Paul's teaching concerning the Rapture, with these trumpets in Revelation which will occur about the mid-point of the Tribulation. Revelation 8:2
"And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given (not the trump of God singular, but rather were given) seven trumpets." The angels are going to blow these seven trumpets. Now comparing Scripture with Scripture look at Chapter 15 again of I Corinthians. The seven angelic trumpets can no way shape or form, as I understand language, be a part of the trump (singular) of God Himself. In other words God has a trumpet reserved for just this event and this alone "the calling out the Body of Christ." I Thessalonians 4:13,14
If we believe the Gospel to the place where God has now imparted salvation. Now verse 14 is another one of those scriptures where Jesus and God are synonymous. It's the same God, the same Jesus. Ephesians 1:1
"Paul, and apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesians, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:"
Ephesians 1:4a
Ephesians 1:12,13
In whom ye also trusted,..."
So all the way through these 6 chapters you have 96 times, if I'm not mistaken, this prepositional phrase which is our position in Christ or the Body of Christ. Well the soul and spirit of that believer is already in glory, and the body is in the grave. II Corinthians 5:6-8
"What happens to the believer's soul and spirit at death?" It immediately goes into paradise in heaven right into the presence of The Lord. Now back again to I Thessalonians Chapter 4 and let's look at verse 14 again.
I Thessalonians 4:14
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." Now verse 15.
I Thessalonians 4:15,16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: (not the trumpet of the angels) and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"
Now verse 17:
So if you don't like to use the word Rapture just say "caught up." I Thessalonians 4:17
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (the resurrected who have died in Christ) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
Here we have The Lord and the eleven disciples on the Mount of Olives. Now verse 9:
Now let's look at Zechariah Chapter 14 and compare the language.

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