In Part 3, I hope that a pattern of logistics will develop as I will be touching on various issues and truths that all branch off of the rapture/2nd coming controversy, and will be hopscotching so please bear with me. Now lets look at Rev.3 as I have yet to get there.

Rev.3

⁷ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

This verse legitimizes Jesus as King and heir to His Father David's earthly throne, and sets the tone of succession of authority. Those who overcome will be rewarded. Jews are the King's house.

³ Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Remember from Pt.2, they are held accountable for the proof God has SHOWN them, and IN them, which cannot be contested. These are miraculous signs which "the Jews require a sign", and this precedes the Kingdom being " at hand".

²¹ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Do we that go in the rapture and do not have to overcome the tribulation still get to sit with Jesus in His throne? Does Paul our Apostle promise us this? You may say overcoming sin and being saved and good enough justifies us, but does it ? Does Paul specify works for salvation after being born again by the Spirit ? Each Christian must decide.

Look at Eph.3

⁹ And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

¹⁰ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

This tells me 2 things. That the Mystery, the dispensation of grace, which includes the rapture, was hid in God from the beginning of the world. Therefore Jesus would not have jeopardized this knowledge before His crucifixion plain and simple. Also, in vs.10 it tells me that Church the Body of Christ will the knowledge and commission of the fallen angels will fall to us who go in the Rapture..a bold and controversial position, but any 19th century 3rd grader would agree.

1 Cor.15:51

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

If The Jews inherit a literal Physical Kingdom and are resurrected to possess it or survive the tribulation to inherit it, among their gentile converts, why does Paul tell us we will not be able to inherit the kingdom of God in the flesh ? Because that which he refers to is a heavenly station.

And the mystery of this Rapture was hidden and no matter what the Psalms, Prophets and Gospels allude to it was hidden, and if it is not readily obvious and apparent then it's still a mystery.

More in pt.4

Alan T