Ok it seems as if we are going around in circles. I do see your points, but I don't accept them. I do not believe in a partial rapture, and I do not believe that the 24 elders are angels, for angels are never said to wear crowns. Since these elder's are wearing crowns they can't be angels. And we can go back and forth and back and forth. Suffice to say that you made your point, and I understand why you believe partly the way you do.
But let's take a look at the partial rapture theory as a whole.
Let me ask you some questions as we explore this topic a little.. Feel free to supply your own answers,especially if you disagree, but so that we don't have to wait, allow me to answer the questions as well.
Is there any believer that is righteous on their own? No. All of our righteousness comes from our standing in Christ. Didn't Paul say that inside of him, which is to say his flesh there is no good thing. Which one of us can say that they live their lives completely without sin? Even though we have the Holy Spirit inside of us, we still struggle with our sin nature. Did not Paul himself say, that he doesn't do the things that he really wants to do, and the things that he doesn't want to do, those are the things that he does? Now if one of the greatest apostles, if the human author of over half of the new testament still struggles with his sin nature, wouldn't you say that it is a pretty good bet that we all struggle with it as well?
So we know that the Believer is not righteous on his own. But we know that the Believer is righteous, and not only righteous but perfect.
Heb 10:12-14 [sup]12[/sup]But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [sup]13[/sup]From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [sup]14[/sup]For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Who are sanctified? We all are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. When we recognize our sinful condition, and our need for a savior, once we accept Jesus' sacrifice as the only payment for our sins and therefore accept him as our Lord and Savior, then we are Justified by his Spirit and the Holy Spirit begins to perform a work of Sanctification within us. But the main point that I am making is that if you are born again, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you have the Holy Spirit inside of you, then you are not only righteous by having Jesus' Righteousness imputed to you, but you are made perfect in God's sight.
Does that mean that we no longer sin? Of course not. As long as we struggle with the sin nature we will struggle with sinning. But when we receive our Glorified bodies, then we will be finally rid of our cursed sin natures, and lose all desire to sin.
But when God looks at us, he does not see our sin, he sees the righteousness of his Son. He sees us as being perfect, for that is the only condition that would allow us to enter into his presence. This perfecting is what the rent veil was all about. Do you think that the veil was to protect God? NO! The veil in the temple was to protect man, because sinful man can not enter into the presence of God and not be destroyed. Even the High Priest had to be perfectly ceremonially clean, and even then he had to burn the incense which covered the mercy seat with smoke.
Oh but the grace of God. Through the blood of Christ, we are now able to enter into the presence of God. Why? Because we are better than they were? No. Only because the blood of Jesus has made us perfect, and that is why we are able to enter into his presence.
So if God sees his bride as being perfect, and that perfection is not based on our deeds, or our works, or our own righteousness, but on Christ's Deeds, on Christ's Works, and on Christ's Righteousness, how then can you say that when he comes he will not take his entire bride. Does that mean that he is going to take everyone who claims to be a Christian? No. There are plenty of Christians who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, who have never really accepted him as BOTH Lord and Savior, and do not have his Holy Spirit living in them. But if they are truly born again, then when Jesus comes to collect his Bride, you can rest assured that he will not leave anyone who is his behind.
Joshua David