Patman,
A lot of the answers to your questions about the law after the rapture are going to depend on which OT verses are referring to the millennial reign of Christ.
Let's look at this point:
Matthew 5 KJV
(17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
(18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Jesus told them that not one itsy-bitsy bit of the law will pass from it as long as heaven and earth have not passed away.
Now we, as the BOC (Body of Christ) know perfectly well that the law has no hold on us whatsoever.
So Jesus could not have possibly had the BOC in mind when He said the above.
So, whom does He have in mind?
(19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Those in the "kingdom of heaven".
And while they are in that kingdom, the law is enforced. And anyone in that kingdom that doesn't obey the law, or even teaches someone else that they don't have to, they are going to have the lowest status in that kingdom.
(20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Before one can even enter this kingdom, their righteousness has to exceed that of the Pharisees.
Since we know elsewhere in scripture that Jesus tells folks that they all must obey the Pharisees when they sit in Moses' seat .... the question naturally arises .... what is Moses' seat?
I would suggest that it is when the law is read in the congregation.
And the Pharisees were extremely cautious of keeping every point of the law.
Therefore, I suggest that when Jesus says in verse 20 that their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, it means that they are even more extremely cautious of keeping every point of the law.
AND ......
I also suggest that the "kingdom" referred to is the millennial kingdom of Christ.
The very kingdom that was promised to Israel.
A kingdom on earth.
That kingdom is not the BOC.
Neither is that kingdom synonymous with eternal life. So those laws are not for eternal life, but to be able to enter the millennial kingdom on earth.
But again, so many variables come into play.
What one considers to be the "kingdom" spoken of.
At which point do you consider the new heaven and new earth to occur?
Which prophesies are for the millennial kingdom?
etc.
It's a BIG study!!!!
Ah, another sumptuous meal from the kitchen of Mama Tam
Savor the flavor, those less fortunate...