Paul said, “Moreover, bretheren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you” (I Cor. 15:1). What is the gospel? Paul said, “I delivered unto you . . . how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Cor. 15:3-4).

The gospel concerns the death, burial and resurrection of Christ according to the Scriptures. It fulfilled Bible prophecy and has affected every generation, every nation, and every race on the face of this earth for almost two thousand years. It has caused millions to repent of their sins, change their life, and join the Church, sacrifice and share.

But let’s face facts. Millions more have rejected the gospel. And some have rejected it because they don’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. That’s not new. It happened during Paul’s lifetime too. The Epicureans, the Sadducees and the Stoics didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead.

This unbelief prompted Paul to ask the Church at Corinth, “If Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead” (I Cor. 15:12). It’s an amazing thing, but some Church members don’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. Paul addressed this unbelief (I Cor. 15:13-19).

First, “If there is no resurrection of the dead . . . then is Christ not risen.” If the dead can’t be raised, Christ wasn’t raised. A person can’t doubt the resurrection of the dead and believe in the resurrection of Christ. They are linked together.

Second, “If Christ is not risen . . . then is our preaching vain.” If Christ wasn’t raised, preaching is a waste of time. There’s no need to hear a sermon. Preachers won’t say anything that will do us any good.

Third, “If Christ is not risen . . . your faith is also vain.” Christians are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). But where does faith come from? The answer: Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). And what is the Word of God about? Among other things, the Word of God is about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. So if Christ wasn’t raised, the Word of God is wrong.If the Word of God is wrong, our faith is faulty.  If our faith is faulty, our salvation is faulty.

Fourth, “If the dead rise not . . . we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He raised not up.” If Christ wasn’t raised, the disciples lied. They said Christ was raised. But if it didn’t happen, they deceived us.

Fifth, “If Christ is not raised . . . we are yet in our sins.” If Christ wasn’t raised, He wasn’t the Lamb of God. If He wasn’t the Lamb of God, we’re still under the condemnation of our sins.

Sixth, “If Christ is not raised . . . they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” If Christ wasn’t raised, those who died trusting in Him to raise them have perished. They wrongly believed He was raised. And they wrongly believed He will raise them.

Seventh, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ . . . we are all men most miserable.” If we don’t have hope beyond the grave, we don’t have anything to look forward to. Death will be the end of us.

This is a terrible picture. But don’t overlook the fact that Paul was saying “if”—“if”—“if there is no resurrection of the dead.” He even went on to say, “But Christ IS risen from the dead.” Christ IS risen. Preaching IS worthwhile. Faith IS worthwhile. The disciples DID tell the truth. Our sins HAVE been forgiven. Our loved ones WILL be raised. And we HAVE the hope of being raised from the dead too.

That’s one of the main aspects of the Rapture of the Church. Paul said, “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 . . .” (I Thess. 4:16). Hey! Be sure you are ready because some think that trumpet is about to sound. Wow!

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck

People have told me they don’t believe in the Rapture because Jesus never talked about it. But is that really true?

For one thing, it may be a stretch, but Paul talked about the Rapture and it is quite possible that he got his information from Jesus. When was on the road to Damascus Jesus appeared unto him and said, “rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee” (Acts 26:16). Jesus commissioned Paul to witness to what he had seen and what he would see in the future. Some might say Jesus didn’t reveal the Rapture to Paul in the future, but there is evidence that he did.

We find that in Paul’s words to the Thessalonians when he said, “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. 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 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” (I Thess 4:13-18). Notice that he said he was speaking “by the word of the Lord” (verse 15). He is saying this teaching on the Rapture is a direct revelation from Jesus. He made a similar claim about the gospel he preached (Gal. 1:11-12).

Then, there is that conversation that Jesus had with Martha when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Our Lord said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (Jn. 11:25-26)? Deceased believers (the dead in Christ) will live or be raised from the dead. And the living believers will never die (will be changed. And both will be caught up or Raptured in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (I Thess. 4:17; I Cor. 15:51-52).

Those who think Jesus didn’t talk about the Rapture are on shaky ground. He proved that He can raise those who are dead and buried when He raised Lazarus (Jn. 11:42-43). And the fact that Enoch was translated without dying (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5), and Elijah went up without dying (II Kings 2:11), and Paul was called up into the third heaven (II Cor. 2:2-4) proves that God can do that. In fact, “with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26).

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck