Gino,

I so enjoy reading your posts.  You’re a true workman (2Tim 2:15).

Here’s my perspective.  The dead in Christ ALL rise at our Blessed Hope.  As you said, anything else conflicts with clear Scripture (2Cor 5:8).  Sadly though, for those among the dead in Christ who, as you say,  didn’t “walk worthy” during their life in the flesh, when their works are tried by fire, many will have little or no eternal reward (1Cor 3:15).

As for those that are alive at the Blessed Hope, I see two destinies.  The Philadelphians have “endured patiently” (Rev 3:10 NIV), they are the ones who are “alive AND remain” (1Th 4:17).  They are promised to be kept from the hour of testing which is “about to come upon the whole world” (Rev 3:10 NASB).

On the other hand, in His letter to the Laodiceans in Rev 3:16, our Lord says to them “I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”  The KJV says “I will spue thee out of my mouth.”  It’s not an option.  But when he “spues” them, where do they go?  I think the double use of the word “about” ("mello" in the Greek) links the two passages to the “hour of testing” that the Philadelphians avoid 6 verses before, but that the Laodiceans will now endure.  I see this as an act of mercy from our Lord toward the Laodiceans alive at the time of our Blessed Hope.  It's a last opportunity for them to store up treasure in Heaven (Mat 6:20).  Here’s what I mean:

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.  Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest and repent.”  Rev 3:17-19

So although a Laodicean who dies the day before our Blessed Hope might be spared any tribulation, neither can that person affect their eternal treasure, which appears to be a primary reason why the Laodicean Church, alive when the Blessed Hope arrives, is left behind.

To some, this scenario might seem in conflict with two specific Bible promises; that all believers’ bodies will be miraculously changed from mortal to immortal (1Cor 15:51-53) and that all believers would be spared God’s wrath (1Th 5:9).  But following the great earthquake of the sixth seal, where God’s wrath is first mentioned in the book of Revelation (Rev 6:16), and where angels seal God’s 144,000 tribulation servants; an elder describes a vast multitude in Heaven as “they which came out of the great tribulation” (Rev 7:14).  I can see these folks being the left behind Laodiceans, along with those that have come to faith during the tribulation up to that point.  It satisfies both of the aforementioned promises.

That’s how I see it currently,

JR Marin