About "The Revelation of the Lord Jesus" (2 Th 1:7-10)

[reFORMer]

(This is a Postmillenial view that sees Jesus manifesting to those He has chosen, not to the the rest of the Church immediately, or what is called the church, or the world, in like manner as He left.  He's "coming with clouds of great glory" that are us, "The clouds [that] are the dust of His feet."  It is the saints of the Most High [El-Elyon] who shall be manifesting the kingdom of God.)


About "The Revelation of the Lord Jesus" (2 Th 1:7-10)


"...in Christ, shall all be vivified.  Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's in His presence; thereafter the consummation..." (1 Co 15:22-24, CLV)  This seems a description of "ranks," "each in his own 'class'," a hierarchical "order."  What I have tended to think, but don't know Greek enough to verify or vilify, is that "The Firstfruit Christ" is a many-membered body (cp., 1 Co 12:12) raised with Jesus the Head.  "And many bodies of the reposing saints were roused, and, coming out of the tombs after His rousing, they entered into the holy city and are disclosed to many." (Mt 27:52-53, CLV)  This may be the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel.  There is another mention of 144,000 in Revelation that may refer to an all nations (gentile) group at the end of this age. (cp., Rv 7:4; 14:1, 3)

(That there are a pair of 144,000, if I remember correctly, may be in 3rd or 4th Esdras, books accepted by some of the Eastern Institutional church, though it may be that it was 72,000 pairs of "two [2] witnesses, as Jesus had sent out the seventy [70] by twos.  Another idea is there are 144,000  "spirits of the just perfected" [Hb 12:23] on the other side of the veil that are "the dead in Christ [who] shall be rising first" [1 Th 4:16] and another 144,000 who are "we, the living who are surviving." [1 Th 4:17]  There are other theories I find much less convincing.  Some are outright ludicrous.)

Then there are, "...those who are Christ's in His presence."  Some translators make parousia, "presence," to be, "coming."  To understand that most of what people expect as a "second coming" of Jesus is His so "possessing" (Greek: harpazo) the Overcomers of His Eclessia that He is manifested from where He abides, which is in us.  The idea of an ascended 144,000 with Jesus and another 144,000 emerging at the close of the age is possibly what is meant by Greek perileipomai, here translated as "surviving" in the following:  "...we, the living, who are 'surviving' to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose..." (1 Th 4:15, CLV)  Again, of this group that can be said to "remain, or be "left" by other translators, it is said a little later, "...we, the living who are 'surviving'" in verse 17.  The surviving are neither dead or those living who've gone on to sit in the thrones though they are taken on up to reign together with the others.  This reign in all the earth is over those still being born of the flesh of Adam so that they may be disciplined into entering into the Feast of Tabernacles, not dying, but coming into immortality and ruling with the saints instead; as is the song of the four animals and the four and twenty elders:  "Worthy art Thou to be taking the scroll and to open its seals, For Thou wast slain and dost buy us for God by Thy blood. Out of every tribe and language and people and nation.  Thou dost also make them a kingdom and a priesthood for our God, And they shall be reigning on the earth." (Rv 5:9-10, CLV)

It is interesting that this theory yields three ranks as, "...Now he who is being sown on the ideal earth, this is he who is hearing the word and understanding, who by all means is bearing fruit, and is producing; these indeed, a hundred, yet these sixty, yet these thirtyfold." (Mt 13:23, CLV)  Those of The Firstfruit" who have been resurrected and going on into Ascension with Jesus for 2,000 years: the hundred fold; those who, without dying, enter into sitting on the thrones who were granted to judge that John saw as part of the first resurrection, as well as those executed for their testimony and refusing the mark (cf., Rv 20:4-6):  the sixtyfold; and those , "...living who are surviving to the presence of the Lord...": the thirty fold.  These "surviving" are the ones who the dragon goes after when he can't touch the  company of "The Manchild" who "...is snatched away (harpazo) to God and to His throne." (Rv 12:5)  These are the rest of the Eclessia, "who are keeping the precepts of God and who have the testimony of Jesus." (Rv 12:17)  "...the dead in Christ shall be rising first, Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be 'snatched away' [harpazo, 'seize as one's own possession,' and some consider it to include, 'grasping suddenly' and some add, 'and carry away, as a wolf its prey'] together (simultaneously) with them..." (1 Th 4:16-17, CLV)  This whole process with a culminating generation (Who shall declare His generation?" [Is 53:8]) is also called,  "The Manifestation of the the Sons of God" by Paul in Romans 8.  This occurs in the days of "...the unveiling of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful messengers, in flaming fire..." (2 Th 1:7-8, CLV) and, "...whenever He may be coming to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at in all who believe..." (2 Th 1:10, CLV)

What it may seem like to those without is there will be a people in the Earth (a part of the true Eclessia who claim Jesus' name upon them) that nobody and nothing can stop.  They cannot be killed or silenced.  There are no means that can effectually come against them or prevent them from pronouncing words that irresistibly come to pass.  The contest of the kingdoms of men versus this authority will be attempted by the wicked against the remainder of the bride; as is written, "And the dragon is angry with the woman, and came away to do battle with the rest of her seed, who are keeping the precepts of God and who have the testimony of Jesus." (Rv 12:17, CLV)

The coming forth of the kingdom of God is not by carnal warfare or with weapons like swords, guns or bombs.  It is the emergence of a superior life-form:  immortal humans indwelt by the living God.  Not, "Coming from some place else;" but, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" means His presence is Unveiled and He is made known from whence He dwells, which is within us.  I love the contrast, as in the days of Noah, the flood that swept away the wicked was the same overflowing flood that raised up God's chosen people.  The stroke of the rod on the wicked beats time for the singing and dancing children of the Covenant.  Among those alive today may be the generation  in which these things are fulfilled.  Isaiah 30:25 is the verse in which the ELS Code concerning the twin towers centered.

Isaiah 30:25-33, (YLT)...
25 And there hath been on every high mount, And on every exalted hill, Rivulets--streams of waters, In a day of much slaughter, in the falling of towers.
26 And the light of the moon hath been as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun is sevenfold, As the light of seven days, In the day of Jehovah's binding up the breach of His people, When the stroke of its wound He healeth.
God's wrath, and the people's joy in the destruction of Assyria
27 Lo, the name of Jehovah is coming from far, Burning is His anger, and great the flame, His lips have been full of indignation, And His tongue is as a devouring fire.
28 And His breath is as an overflowing stream, Unto the neck it divideth, To sift nations with a sieve of vanity, And a bridle causing to err, Is on the jaws of the peoples.
29 Singing is to you as in a night sanctified for a festival, And joy of heart as he who is going with a pipe, To go in to the mountain of Jehovah, Unto the rock of Israel.
30 And caused to be heard hath Jehovah The honour of His voice, And the coming down of His arm He doth shew with the raging of anger, And the flame of a consuming fire, Scattering, and inundation, and hailstone.
31 For from the voice of Jehovah broken down is Asshur, With a rod He smiteth.
32 And every passage of the settled staff, That Jehovah causeth to rest on him, Hath been with tabrets, and with harps, And in battles of shaking he hath fought with it.
33 For, arranged from former time is Tophet, Even it for the king is prepared, He hath made deep, He hath made large, Its pile is fire and much wood, The breath of Jehovah, As a stream of brim stone, is burning in it!


your brother, James Rohde