S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

There are many opinions regarding eschatology (the doctrine of future things). However, almost all Christians agree on three things: 1) there will be a future time of tribulation, 2) after that tim...

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July 01 2013 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Judith Harding

I learned a great deal from a question Alexander Reese wrote in his "The Approaching Advent of Christ" (full, free pdf version on internet) in 1937. Reese's scholarly work addressed what he called the "new" theory -- dispensational pre-tribulationalism. He asked, When will the Old Testament saints be resurrected? Both "sides," he noted, agree that the rapture incudes the Old Testament saints.

Alexander Reese points out Daniel 11, 12, which clearly discuss no resurrection occurring until the unparalleled persecution of God's saints. The saints are "given over" for a time. But then comes God's direct intervention and the resurrection of Daniel 12. Reese's view of the rapture is as Revelation speaks of it, at the last trump -- only ONE "first resurrection" and not TWO 'FIRSTS'!). He sees the gathering, spoken of in II Thess. 2 (and such a resurrection gathering not to occur until after the antichrist has appeared, and been destroyed, according to Paul) as a MEETING of the LORD in the air, and not a going to heaven. Instead, we are forever to BE with the LORD, and the redeemed accompany Him, after the gathering in the air, back to earth for the Millennial reign. Such is Zechariah's description: Behold, the LORD comes with ten thousands of His saints, and His feet shall stand upon the earth. 

Reese's treatise is exhaustive, and cites a host of truly devoted Biblical scholars and writers, world-wide, the names of many who have passed from our present memories. Reese also points out that, in the "Little Apocalypse" of Isaiah 24-27, God does not remove the shroud covering the nations until after the cataclysmic events of the earth reeling to and fro like a drunkard, and the host of heaven and the kings of the earth being gathered in the pit. He astutely points out that Paul quotes Isaiah 25:8, "death is swallowed up in victory" by saying "THEN will be brought to pass the saying, 'death is swallowed up in victory.' " That chronological 'then' of death being swallowed up, according to Isaiah, does NOT occur until after the cataclysmic events so graphically described by the prophet. 

Alexander Reese's work, "The Approaching Advent of Christ," is not well known, but at one time it was considered a definitive work on the Second Coming. Though the writing is weighty, being meticulous in its word-by-word investigation of holy writ, yet is it delightful, eye-opening, hermeneutically sound, and inspiring worship.

August 14 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report