The Hope

Before delving into this most important subject, let's define our terms, let's make sure we understand what the word hope means. Hope is translated from the Greek word elpis which is derived from the Greek word elpo, a primary word meaning to anticipate, usually with pleasure. Elpis means confident expectation, so to hope for something is to confidently expect it and wait for it patiently.

To hope for something therefore is not the same as believing for something. Very simply, you can believe for something which is available right now, but you can't believe for something which is not available right now. If something is not available right now but will be available at some point in the future, then we hope for it, we expectantly wait for it patiently. If something from God is available now, we can believe for it, but if something from God is not available now, no matter how much we believe for it we can't have it. If something is not available now but will be in the future, we hope for it, we confidently expect it and look forward to it.

Our hope is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot believe for Jesus Christ to come back immediately because it is not available to believe for him to come back immediately. He will return when God is good and ready to send him. It is a future event to which we look forward with patience and great expectation. It is our hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Those who are not born again have no hope because they have no spirit. They are men of body and soul, without God and without hope. They have no hope because when Jesus Christ returns they will be left behind. We were all in that dire situation at one time.

Ephesians 2:11,12
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

When man confesses Jesus as Lord and believes in his heart that God raised him from the dead he is born again, he receives the gift of holy spirit and from that moment he has hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For 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 [precede] them which are asleep.

For 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:

Then 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.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

When Jesus Christ returns, not everyone who is born again will be dead. This is important to understand because it means the return is not technically a resurrection. To have a resurrection of a group of people everyone within that group must be dead. When Jesus Christ returns, not everyone who is born again will be dead so it is not a resurrection. Therefore the return documented in Thessalonians cannot possibly be either the resurrection of the just or the unjust, it is the return. The resurrections of the just and the unjust occur at a later date.

At the return, those who were born again when they died will be raised from death, then after that event those of us who are still alive will be changed and we will all meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air, somewhere up there in the sky, and so shall we ever be with him. A point to note here is that Jesus Christ does not return to earth during this event. We meet him in the air, not on earth. Jesus Christ's return to earth with his saints is a future event that occurs much later.

1 Corinthians 15:51
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed,

At the return we shall not all be dead. Some of us are going to be alive when he comes back. If he came back right now, I would still be alive and so would you. After the dead are raised, then we which are alive and remain will be changed and meet him in the air. We will simply disappear off the face of the earth, leaving just a pile of clothes on the ground. All over the world the born again believers will disappear off the planet. This event will mark the end of the Administration of the Mystery, the Age of Grace and will usher in the next administration, the Revelation Administration.

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

At the time of this change we will receive a new body, an eternal spiritual body like Jesus Christ's resurrected body, and it will be ours for eternity.

Philippians 3:20,21
For our conversation [politeuma - citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working [energeia - energising] whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1 John 3:1-3
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

When Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, he received a new spiritual body, and we will be getting one like his at the return. We don't know very much about this new spiritual body, but we can look at the records of Jesus Christ after his resurrection from the dead and get a few ideas. For example, he could suddenly appear in the middle of a room where his disciples were cowering in fear. He could eat. He could change his appearance. He could appear and disappear at will. At the return, those of us who are born again will receive a new spiritual body that will be like Jesus Christ's resurrected spiritual body. Now that's something to look forward to with patience and great expectation. That's our hope.

The return is the event that marks the end of this Administration of the Mystery and the beginnings of the Revelation Administration when the god of this world will have his one world government. It is then that all the horrors recorded in the book of Revelation will come to pass. It will be a time of evil like no other, a time so cruel and vicious that eventually every single human being on earth will die. However, we will not be here so we will not have to endure it, we will not have to go through it. The word tells us that.

Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

1 Thessalonians 1:10
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Now isn't it nice to know that we will never have to go through the wrath, the time of the Revelation Administration. That age begins at the return of Jesus Christ for his church, so none of us who are born again will ever have to go through that. Oh, and don't listen to the jehovah's witnesses and their horseshit that we're going through the tribulation right now, tell them to fuck off. Don't let those people near you or your family. If you are a jehovah's witness and have a heart to walk by the spirit, get out of that shithole religion.

We have been delivered from the wrath to come. It's part of our hope. When Jesus Christ returns for us, we get a new body, we meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with him. Our hope is part of the Mystery.

Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The hope of glory is part of the Mystery. It is something we look forward to with great expectation, patience and desire. One day Jesus Christ will come back for us and we will meet him face to face and be with him forever. It could be today. It isn't something we can believe to bring to pass, so we wait patiently for it, looking forward with expectation and excitement to what is going to be one amazing moment.

Romans 8:24,25
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Titus 1:1,2
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

1 Peter 1:3,4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

So that's us taken care of, but what about everyone else? What about Moses, David, Job, Elijah, Elisha and all the old testament believers who were not born again? What happens to them? What about all the dickheads and god rejecters and religious fuckwits like the jesuits, what about them? Are they going to get away with all the evil they're doing? Oh no, not on your life. No one is getting away with anything. If we're born again, we're forgiven, but those who are not will have to give an account for their lives at the resurrections of the just and the unjust.

In the book of Acts, Paul succinctly included the resurrections of the just and the unjust as part of man's hope.

Acts 24:14,15
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

The resurrections of the just and the unjust have nothing whatsoever to do with the return of Jesus Christ for his church when we meet him in the air, it has everything to do with everyone else, including the jesuits. They're not going to particularly enjoy that time either. This is also part of our hope too, because we will see justice done. We will look into their eyes when God confronts them and deals with them. We will be there and we will see justice done.

So we can clearly see that there are two separate and distinct phases to Christ's coming, his return for his church when we meet him in the air, and his return to earth at a later time. The next administration, the Revelation or Appearing Administration begins when this Age of Grace terminates. At that time the events of the book of Revelation will begin to unfold.

Regarding the transformation we enjoy at the return, the word has much to say.

1 Corinthians 15:35
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

Sure, some will question the word. Eternal life and getting a new immortal body when Jesus Christ returns is going to stir up the minds of men. That's why Paul is taking the time here to address this.

1 Corinthians 15:36
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened [made alive], except it die:

When you plant a seed in the ground, you do not get that same identical seed back at the top of the plant do you? No, it dies and new life sprouts from it. That's easy enough for anyone to understand. The seeds that you plant are not the fruits that you reap.

1 Corinthians 15:37
And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

If you plant an apple seed, do you expect that seed to come out of the ground? No, you expect an apple tree to come out of the ground. The seed dies, but from it grows an apple tree. You don't plant a seed expecting to get that seed back, you plant a seed expecting to get new life sprouting from it. See Paul's logic here?

1 Corinthians 15:38,39
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

Each seed in the world is different. Each seed produces a different type of life. Apple trees grow from apple seeds. Salmon grow from salmon eggs fertilised with salmon milt, salmon seed. Birds and animals all grow from seeds. You grew from a seed, your father's seed. Every seed produces a different form, a different flesh. The sperm that became you died when it fertilised the egg in your mother and that was necessary so you could be born into the life you now have.

1 Corinthians 15:40-43
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

The seed of Christ in us will produce another body, a spiritual body, an incorruptible body. The bodies we are currently lumbered with will die one day, and if Jesus Christ returns before then they will be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:43
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

When Jesus Christ comes back to gather us and we meet him in the air we will be in our new spiritual bodies. We will not be taking these crappy earthly things with us. These natural bodies will be raised a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:45-49
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

The last Adam is Jesus Christ. He was raised from death with a spiritual body, and when he comes back we will also be raised with a new spiritual body like his.

1 John 3:1-3
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

It doesn't yet appear what we shall be. It is impossible for us to comprehend what we are going to become. The sperm that impregnated the egg that became me had no comprehension of what it was giving birth to, nor would it have been possible to teach it. A sperm is simply not capable of understanding the life it gives birth to. Now listen, the change from the physical body to the spiritual body will be greater than the change from the sperm you once were to the person you are now.

1 Corinthians 15:50-54
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

One day Jesus Christ is coming back to get us and we will leave earth to meet him in the air. Those who have died will be raised from death in their new spiritual body, and then those of us who are still alive will be changed and put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:55-58
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Those of us who have the gift of holy spirit, that Christ in us which is our eternal life, those of us who are of the family of God, born again of his seed will be gathered when Jesus Christ returns in the clouds. Those who have died will remain dead until that time. At the return, which could be at any moment, those who have died with holy spirit will be raised from death, and then those of us who are still alive will be changed and put on immortality. We will all get a new spiritual body similar to the body Jesus Christ was raised with. When we leave to meet our Lord in the air, the Age of Grace, the Administration of the Mystery will end and the Revelation Administration will begin.

Chapter 58 - The Revelation Administration