The Day of Redemption

DAY OF REDEMPTION:

Easily identified as the day that Christ redeems and saves the physical bodies of the Church which is His Body at the rapture. The "blessed hope" where our vile body is changed and fashioned like unto His glorious body (Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Cor. 15:51-58, 1 Thes. 4:13-18, Col. 3:1-4, Titus 2:13). This "day of redemption" was a "mystery" given to Paul by the word of the Lord (1 Cor. 4:1, 15:51, 1 Thes. 4:15).


It is a "mystery" conclusion for the ending of the "mystery" period of time in which Israel has been blinded until God is through pouring out His goodness and blessing on the Gentiles "under grace" in the "day of salvation" in which we are ambassadors (Rom. 11:25, Eph. 3:1-9, 1 Cor. 4:1, Rom. 6:14, 2 Cor. 5:14-6:2).


The day itself is always described as a blessed event for believers in which they are to be “looking for” constantly (Titus 2:13). This day is “at hand” (Rom. 13:11-12. Phil. 4:5) and will happen “shortly” (Rom. 16:20). Presently here on earth believers are constantly giving into the “old man” and not walking in the Spirit, it is a constant battle (Gal. 5:16-25, Col. 3:1-13). This grieves the Holy Spirit that we have been sealed with unto the day of redemption, but the rapture delivers us from our vile body and we will receive a new one like unto Christ's (1 Cor. 15:51-58, Phil. 3:20-21). The rapture is when we get complete victory over the flesh. We will then have no more sin nature. Likewise the rapture is also a complete victory of Satan. Presently here on earth we give into “doctrines of devils” and “seducing spirits” (1 Tim. 4:1). We are constantly confronted with the deception of the “prince of the power of the air”, “the god of this world”, the “prince of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4, John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, Eph. 2:2, 6:11-13). Satan is a lot smarter than us and is deception is powerful. However, at the rapture we are changed to be like Christ and can never be given to satanic deception again (Rom. 16:20)! That is why Christ's coming for the Church is said to be “bruising” Satan “under” our “feet”. Right now the Devil is the “prince of the power of the air” in “high places” sending down his “fiery darts” (Eph. 6:16), but at the rapture we go to heaven ABOVE Satan never to be bothered by his deception again (Phil 3:20-21).


The only condition there is to become a partaker in this event is to believe the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24), that Christ died for our sins (was buried) and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4, 1 Thes. 4:13-14). This guaruntees anyone and everyone a seat in heaven at the rapture (Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor. 1:22).


What is the timing of the day of redemption? It is before the wrath of God on the world begins (1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9, Rom. 5:9). God first begins to release His wrath when He opens the first seal in Revelation 6:1-2 sending out the antichrist to deceive unbelievers into accepting the satanic system of Babylon (2 Thess. 2:10-12). This is referred to as God sending out a “strong delusion” so that people will “believe a lie” in order that they be “damned”.


Dispensational Note: The “day of redemption” is clearly distinct from the rapture of the Jews in the Tribulation (“Time of Jacob's Trouble”). Saints under grace in the day of salvation do not have to be watching for Christ's coming (1 Thes. 5:9), we will live with Christ whether we wake or sleep. But in the “great tribulation” the Jewish saints under the gospel of the kingdom and Law will have to be separated from the sins of Babylon and continually look for Christ's coming—if not, they go to hell with the sinners they are accompanying (Matt. 3:7-10, 16:24-27, 24:42-51, 25:1-30, etc.). In the Tribulation salvation is conditioned on being a profitable servant. This is not true in the day of redemption for the Body of Christ, we are sealed with the Spirit until our body is redeemed. 
 
Compare what Paul said about the Body of Christ
“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (1 Thes. 5:8-10)


....with what Christ said to the Jewish believers of the gospel of the kingdom


“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:37-51)

Scriptures to study:


Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.


Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.


Romans 8:23-24 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?


1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.


Romans 13:11-12 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.


Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.


Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.


1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.


1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,