70AD Rapture-Return accompanies the arrival of Christ with the New Jerusalem

I see room for a circa 70AD rapture of the sort Ed Stevens & Walt Hibbard describe from 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 that accompanies the John 14:1-3 reality that Jesus brings the New Jerusalem with Him at His Return.

(And Rev 21-22's "New Jerusalem" is Hebrews 12:22's "Heavenly Jerusalem" which is Galatians 4:26's "Jerusalem which is above" which is the home Jesus goes away to prepare for us in John 14:1-3. I think we are agreed here, right? Interesting how at Mt. Sinai the leading men and Moses are called upward to meet the LORD at His coming to the Hebrews).

It was an interesting night when I happened through Ardmore, OK one Wednesday night to visit Don Preston's church. Don was trying his best to shoot down the idea of any rapture while preaching through the Greek of 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. But the more evidence from the biblical Greek expressions around the term "parousia" that he brought out, the more he had to honestly admit how it is employed to speak of the ancient practice of local dignitaries meeting together up the road outside their town to welcome and accompany a visiting higher dignitary that final leg of journey. He also had to admit honestly that "air" in v17 is used in ancient Greek for "the atmosphere above." It was so ironic because, as he was quoting commentaries he was expressing his amazement at how the commentators often would occasionally end up providing better evidences for the positions they were straining to refute than the ones they were trying to promote. And here I was witnessing him doing the very same thing. May God bless Don Preston, he is a good guy, however, afterall. So I see a rapture occurring as Jesus is beginning His final descent of Return, (although I have not proved it here but merely mentioned it). And Don Preston inadvertently provided me with more support for my long-held position.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

John 14:3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

*Feel FREE to claim as your own anything I write - while I retain the right to do the same the same with it.*

And this is love: that we keep Christ's commandments ~ 2 John 6

Timeline:

Martyrs from Tribulation come to life and reign with Christ 1000 years

Satan chained in prison in the Abyss

the Sabbath Day Rest

+ 70-1070AD

. 1000 YEARS

2 GROUPS BECOME 1: the Dead in Christ + those Christians who remain alive until Christ's Coming => BOTH CHANGED

Two groups become one when they are changed and presented together in the air at the Return of Christ.

[Group 1] those that die before Christ's Coming.

[Group 2] those that would remain alive unto His Coming.

[Groups 1 + 2] together

CHRIST ~to those who actually heard Him, that first generation of believers:
John 11: 25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die [Group 1], he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me [Group 2] shall never die. Do you believe this?''

Group 1: whoever believes and dies; shall live [in a new form, a spiritual body].

Group 2: lives and believes; Never die; shall never die [but still be "changed" into the same new form that Group 1 obtains, a spiritual body].

PAUL ~to those whom his letters were addressed, that first generation of believers:
1 Cor. 15: 35. But someone [of Group 2] will say, "How are the dead [Group1] raised up? And with what body do they [Group 1] come?''

1 Cor. 15:51. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We [Groups 1 + 2] shall not all sleep [like Group 1], but we shall all be changed [Groups 1 + 2] 52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead [Group 1] will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed [Groups 1 + 2].

2 Cor. 4:12-14 So then death is working in us [destined for Group 1], but life in you [destined for Group 2]. 13. But since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke,'' we also believe and therefore speak, 14. knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us [Group 1] up with Jesus, and will present us with you [Groups 1 + 2].

1 Thes. 4:16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ [Group 1] will rise first. 17. Then we who are alive and remain [Group 2] shall be caught up together with them [Group 1] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord [Groups 1 + 2].

Note also that the events that happen to both groups together [Groups 1 + 2] happen AFTER the resurrection of the dead [Group 1].

This is affirmation that the "Resurrection of the Dead" cannot be seen as simply a corporate resurrection or an individual realization of salvation. It is also an indication that "changed" (glorification) is something that follows resurrection (just as, also, damnation).

Timeline:

. 1000 YEARS