The dead in Christ shall rise first:

[MessageOfTheCross]

What impact did the risen saints have on the saved Christians and the unsaved people by appearing to them after the resurrection of Jesus? How do you believe it would effect you in this lifetime if you saw risen saints (friends & relatives)? Matthew 27:52-53 NKJV

Could this happen again after the rapture and before the great tribulation begin?

 

[trofimus]

What impact did the risen saints have on the saved Christians and the unsaved people by appearing to them after the resurrection of Jesus? How do you believe it would effect you in this lifetime if you saw risen saints (friends & relatives)? Matthew 27:52-53 NKJV

Could this happen again after the rapture and before the great tribulation begin?

I think that there is absolutely no note left by the first Church in their writings about it. Its only in the Bible. So, if it had any effect, it was probably quite small, just for some people in Jerusalem.

Or is it possible it was added to the text later by some middle ages copyist? I do not know.

 

[Locutus]

Or is it possible it was added to the text later by some middle ages copyist? I do not know.

I've often thought this - it only shows up in one gospel and no where else, none of the letters.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

The dead in Christ shall rise first: The scripture doesn’t start by saying the dead and the living will be caught up. It says “The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then…" - Removing time, what will the "Dead in Christ" (that are now alive) be doing until the then is added?

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. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 NKJV

 

[newlightseven]

It probably strengthen their faith.

 

[samuel23]

Hi MOC, the previous statement by Paul explains quite a bit. Paul said that when Jesus returned He would bring with Him those who had died in the Lord. So Jesus does not appear in the sky by Himself and call the dead Christians out of holes in the earth. The first statement made by Paul, that when Jesus appeared He would bring the dead in Christ with Him, has precedent over, the dead in Christ shall rise first. So where ever the dead in Christ are, God will bring them forth to Jesus and when Jesus appears in the sky they will already be with Him. So when Christ and the dead in Christ appear in the sky then immediately the saints alive on the earth will be caught up to them in the sky.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

Hi MOC, the previous statement by Paul explains quite a bit. Paul said that when Jesus returned He would bring with Him those who had died in the Lord. So Jesus does not appear in the sky by Himself and call the dead Christians out of holes in the earth. The first statement made by Paul, that when Jesus appeared He would bring the dead in Christ with Him, has precedent over, the dead in Christ shall rise first. So where ever the dead in Christ are, God will bring them forth to Jesus and when Jesus appears in the sky they will already be with Him. So when Christ and the dead in Christ appear in the sky then immediately the saints alive on the earth will be caught up to them in the sky.

I did not see the word immediately in the scriptures...it may be immediately or a gap.

 

[G00WZ]

They are Christians who still believe that they are sinners even after being saved, and are still struggling with the new identity of being a saint... in short they are those who have died with Christ but still have yet to be risen with him and living.. most know how to die with him in a baptism, but living the life in him is a different story

 

[samuel23]

I added the "immediately" because Jesus described His return as lightening across the sky with the believers being gathered. Lightening is instant. The bible just describes Christ sudden appearance in the sky and the gathering of the saints, it makes it seem as one event. The actual time between Christ appearance and the saints being gathered is not known.