The PRIZE of the Upward Call

[truth7t7]

On 2/17/2022 at 3:39 PM, AdHoc said:

The Reformation and subsequent recovery of many truths has left a deadly side effect. The example of the Ten Virgins is a good example. the foolish Virgins' foolishness can be attributed to one thing - they thought the extra oil would be supplied FOR FREE. But the New Testament, while offering a grand salvation, an acquittal from the wages of sins, eternal life and sonship to God all based on our faith in Christ’s Person and completed Works, is fraught with threats of dire consequences to us Christians for not producing the fruit and works that we were saved for. Hidden in a seeming innocuous passage is one such threat - Philippians 3:6–16

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

In order to shorten the OP I will only first define two words and then give a superficial exposition in the hope that it will open a discussion.

1. The word “resurrection” in verse 11 in the Greek is literally “the resurrection out of the resurrection”. It only appears this once in the Bible. It’s sense is that within the resurrection that all men must experience (1st Cor.15:22), there is a special resurrection. This is supported by Revelation 20:4-6 in which there is a resurrection that is “first in importance”. Both must be “ATTAINED” to. They are not guaranteed.

2. The phrase “Upward call” in verse 14 was sadly translated as “High calling” in the Authorized Version and has somehow stuck.  The Greek word can denote a high place but the New King James, and many other literal versions, render it correctly as “UPWARD” indication MOTION. The meaning of “Upward call” is just that. Somebody with great power can shout a command and men will be moved in an upward direction. However, this one is a PRIZE

Now, it will not take long for the astute student of scripture to realize that Paul is talking of the same subject matter as the much discussed Resurrection and Rapture in 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18. And the astute student of scripture will at once also recognize that a hefty price must be paid to partake of these two events. Paul did not count himself as qualified yet.

Paul lists the following as prerequisites

1. One must abandon the Law of Moses as a source of righteousness
2. Instead, one must be found in faith of Jesus Christ and so partake of an imputed righteousness given by God
3. One must partake of the same sufferings that were Christ’s portion in LIFE - to set a side the soul
4. One must be “conformed to His death” - not to die for sins, but to set aside the flesh
5. One must be prepared, and experience the loss of ALL things - possessions, dignity, rights and fame
6. One must, in the face of loss and chastisement, have only one goal - to achieve that which Christ has caught us for
7. One must mature in spirit, soul and actions and bear fruit of an indwelling Christ

I propose for discussion that the “OUT-resurrection” is a REWARD attained by few Christians because the cost is so high. “Many are called but few are chosen”.

I do NOT propose that a Christian will lose his/her salvation, sonship and eternal life, since these depend on a Work outside the Christian. Rather, I propose that our inheritance of Christ’s “joy” and co-kingship with Him in the Millennium is to be ATTAINED at great cost.

I also propose that there is a Rapture before the Great Tribulation that is a “PRIZE” for the overcoming Christian. This is not mentioned in 1st Thessalonians 4 because 1st Thessalonians Chapters 1 and 3 show the Church at Thessaloniki to be a near perfect Church.

I propose that the standard for partaking of the “OUT-resurrection” and the Prize of the “UPWARD call” is very high: Paul wrote this text just about three years before his martyrdom, after having suffered and served the Lord diligently since his conversion. He was still not assured of his reward. It is only in 2nd Timothy 4:8, as Paul faces death, that he is assured of REWARD in the Millennial Kingdom - a crown!

I further propose that the most dangerous enemy to Christians is not Satan. It is COMPLACENCY. From Job we learn that God has put a fence of protection around us. Satan can only get at us if God allows it. But Adam and Eve's fall came because they did not appreciate that the stakes were so high. The were not attacked. They were deceived. The Five Foolish Virgins were deceived - and the stakes were very high.

A pre-trib rapture is found no place in scripture

There is one future resurrection of all, this takes place on the "Last Day" at the Lords return, when this earth will be dissolved by the Lords fire in final judgement (The End)

Jesus Is The Lord

[AdHoc]

5 hours ago, truth7t7 said:

A pre-trib rapture is found no place in scripture

There is one future resurrection of all, this takes place on the "Last Day" at the Lords return, when this earth will be dissolved by the Lords fire in final judgement (The End)

Jesus Is The Lord

Noted. Thank you.

[AdHoc]

22 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

I do feel for you not being able to receive the great revelation of our glorious inheritance with the Lord in heaven. 

Convince me of my "glorious inheritance in heaven". 1st Peter 1:4 tells me that an incorruptible inheritance is RESERVED in heaven. My late father left me an inheritance. I did not go to where it was reserved until the estate was settled. It came to me. Our Lord Jesus said to His Father; "Thy Kingdom COME", not "Father, catch me away to where your Kingdom is".

 

22 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Acts 2: 29 was referring to King David`s statement when he was on earth and would go to the grave. Also David prophesied in many Psalms referring to the Lord - future.

My dear sister, Acts 2:28-34 is a report by Peter, under inspiration, as to the whereabouts of Jesus as compared to the whereabouts of His great grandfather David. The Jew knew where the dead go. The question was; "was that Nazarene, Who was crucified 53 days prior, still in Hades, or were the hundreds of witnesses correct and he was escaped?"

 

22 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Then when the Lord arose and took the OT saints to glory we see them there in the general Assembly, waiting for their inheritance of the city.

`But you have come to ....the General assembly ....to the spirits of just men made perfect.` (Heb. 12: 22 & 23)

`God has prepared a city for them.` (Heb. 11: 16)

Abraham and David and the prophets and Rahab etc are all in the General Assembly. (Heb. 11: 8, 31 & 32,    12: 23) 

In Hebrews 11:16, and many other scriptures, the word "heavenly" describes the NATURE and ORIGIN of something - like Hebrews 3:1 - our calling. But you already know this, and you also know that verse 16 is written in the past tense. But the readers of Hebrews were on earth at the time of reading. So are you and I. So your meaning creates an absurdity. Maybe we should let the context decide.

That is, those Hebrews who tended to return to Moses would encounter God's holiness and face danger and death - as Israel of old did at Sinai. Instead, they had been given grace to be part of a heavenly City. But this City is a MOTHER in Galatians 4:26 and Revelation 12 which brought forth BOTH Jew and Christian by grace.

Same as Chapter 12.

[Marilyn C]

36 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

 

That is, those Hebrews who tended to return to Moses would encounter God's holiness and face danger and death - as Israel of old did at Sinai. Instead, they had been given grace to be part of a heavenly City. But this City is a MOTHER in Galatians 4:26 and Revelation 12 which brought forth BOTH Jew and Christian by grace.

Same as Chapter 12.

`But you have come to Mount Zion....` (Heb. 12: 22)

Mount Zion, symbolic for the ruling area in the third heaven, is where we, the Body of Christ will go. It is the ruling part of Jerusalem while the city is the other part. Two distinct areas. 

1. Mount Zion - Body of Christ on the Lord`s own throne.

2.The city - OT saints. it comes down out of the higher heaven to near the earth.

 

In the past, on earth, we see that king David ruled from Mount Zion, while the city part was further down. 

[Marilyn C]

The Lord Jesus Christ is King over many realms.

 

King of Glory. (Ps. 24: 7)

King of heaven. (Dan. 4: 37)

King of the Ages. (1 Tim. 1: 17)

King of Righteousness. (Heb. 7: 1 – 3)

King of Israel. (John 1 : 49)

King of the Jews. (Matt. 2: 2)

King of the Nations. (Rev. 15: 3)

 

And finally King of Kings..... (Rev. 19: 16)