Just some thoughts and questions going through my mind. ....
Does "Our generation shall not pass away.... We shall not pass away.... We shall not see death but in a twinkling of an eye we too will be changed" ...mean that even if we die we will still in that
twinkling of an eye, from the not knowing state of death as in sleep, we too will
next see the return of Christ with His Elect when we too are raised to the return of Christ who is the Resurrection?
Are we who see "these things" are we not that generation upon whom the ends of the age have come? We can not deny that we do see clearly what Ray has said and what he means is the Truth.
When do the ages end? When at last we SEE?
Does the ends of the age come only upon and to those who see their redemption drawing near? Are the ends of the age upon those who look up in seeing these things, they look up ABOVE THE CARES OF THE WORLD to expect the return of Christ with His Elect in excitement and anticipation. Would it not be to those who DO LOOK UP and run out to meet Him, would it not be to them who He appears ahead of His return to rule the earth?
For those who look down and are choked by the cares of the world, how can they see, and believe the ends of the age for them are marked out in their continuing correction in their resurrection to judgment in the LOF that is to come with the Presence of Christ AFTER He has returned to the earth?
I believe that there are many who will still not know Christ when He returns and I am not talking about the Muslems or the Hindus either! Some will be experiencing the fire as catastrophy and others will be in it and seeing the Presence of Christ and in the consuming fire of God will they survive being brought to experience God and learn His righteousness so entering the Kingdom of God ahead of many who think they derserve it but will enter in last for cleaving to the spirit of entitlement.
1 Thes 4 : 16 for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. Note : a) He will DESCEND with a loud cry of SUMMONS.
Maybe only some will hear that cry of summons. Maybe some only will be summoned and get the summons!
b) The shout of the archangel.....Maybe some will be warned and will look up then. This reminds me of the Magi. They knew to follow the star to the Presence of Christ. They saw it!
c) the trumpet of God. Well who can NOT hear that! Then it is too late and the reign of Christ is here! No going back then and then will it be that the physically dead in Christ who have departed this life in Christ...will rise! WOW this really makes me think!
Can it be that these three occassions of announcment happen all together or in sequence throught he ages?
questions questions questions!
Peace be with us all
Arcturus