Jesus said that when He comes again, He will reward every man according to what each has done: Matt 16:27; Rev 22:12
Obviously, for the dead to receive their reward, they need to be resurrected so they can be personally present to receive their due reward. Christ's statement confirms this:
NKJ John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
No wonder, Scriptures say every eye will see Him come - and that includes the Roman soldiers who pierced His side on the cross - in the clouds of heaven:
NKJ Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
With all dead resurrected, and together with those still alive at His coming, all born into this world are physically present to receive their due reward: eternal life for the righteous, wrath of God for the wicked.
NKJ Romans 2:6-11 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
If the living saints will indeed be raptured before the second coming, then why are there still living saints who, along with the righteous resurrected from their graves, will rise to meet the Lord in the air at the second coming?
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 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 will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
I can't figure out from Scriptures how the statement of Jesus regarding one will be taken and the other left refers to the RAPTURE of saints BEFORE the Second Coming. Instead, the event where the other taken and the other left occurs will transpire when the Lord comes again:
NKJ Matthew 24:40-42 40 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Obviously, for the dead to receive their reward, they need to be resurrected so they can be personally present to receive their due reward. Christ's statement confirms this:
NKJ John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
No wonder, Scriptures say every eye will see Him come - and that includes the Roman soldiers who pierced His side on the cross - in the clouds of heaven:
NKJ Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
With all dead resurrected, and together with those still alive at His coming, all born into this world are physically present to receive their due reward: eternal life for the righteous, wrath of God for the wicked.
NKJ Romans 2:6-11 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
If the living saints will indeed be raptured before the second coming, then why are there still living saints who, along with the righteous resurrected from their graves, will rise to meet the Lord in the air at the second coming?
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 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 will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
I can't figure out from Scriptures how the statement of Jesus regarding one will be taken and the other left refers to the RAPTURE of saints BEFORE the Second Coming. Instead, the event where the other taken and the other left occurs will transpire when the Lord comes again:
NKJ Matthew 24:40-42 40 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
