RAPTURE TRAIN TO GLORY

In the literature and music of western Christendom a wonderful theme keeps re-emerging. It is the magnificent vision of a future personal experience for the saints, the train to glory. In the waning light of men and nations we turn our hearts to our heavenly home. And so we await the arrival. It is the "blessed hope", the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. -Titus 2:13 In His radiant train the saints will slip the sullen bonds of this mortal station to be carried away into the glory.

The train to glory will take us across the great divide and on towards the gates of splendor. This will be a journey of ecstasy far more wonderful than words can describe. That train will carry us on into the eternal realms and to those many mansions which God has prepared for us. - John 14:2

So what is our final destination? It is the Holy City!
And what a vision of splendour it is! (Rev.21&22).
This much we know is true.

And so the time will come when the whistle will blow.
And the conductor will call out,
"All aboard!"

Johnny and I were in the dream.
We'd heard the marvelous story.
Then found ourselves out on a quest.
To find the train to glory.

We'd heard all about the coming troubles.
Trials, tribulations, - raging nations.
But then we had heard about this train to glory.
We knew that it will be taking us out of here.
But when?

We had also been told that the departure of the train to glory was "imminent".
Was the train indeed prepared to whisk passengers off at that very minute?
Well my dear friend Johnny and I wanted an answer to that question.
And so we were on the road to find out.

We had seen the vision splendid,
The Rapture train to glory!
But both of us would soon find out,
'The rest of the story!'

....................................................

ACT 1

Arriving at the station our conductor was at our side.
Greeting us warmly he gave us directions to board saying,

"Ladies and Gentlemen, move on down to the rear carriages please."

Well at this my mild mannered companion, Johnny looked slightly puzzled.
I followed him as he headed on down past the front carriages of the train.
Curiously they were all completely empty.

Signs on these unoccupied front carriages read,
"Reserved for the First Resurrection Saints".

We passed on by them and came to the rear carriages which were marked
"Reserved for the Rapture Saints".

There, at the rear carriages a curious crowd was gathering. We joined them at a doorway back there. Then we stepped up and entered into the train. Johnny and I found our seats. Then we sat down with a contented sigh.

Well we were sitting there for quite a while. We looked at our train schedule and tickets for a departure time. But they just read "Anytime now!" I asked the people around about me,

"Excuse me, but do any of you know when the train is going to be leaving here?"

Our fellow passengers are in a festive mood. One of them smiling contentedly turns to us and answers,

"We are leaving imminently. Hey, what a way to go! Aren't you excited?"

There is a party atmosphere around us but I can see that Johnny is uneasy.
We sit there and wait and wait.

Finally, unable to restrain himself, Johnny leans over to ask Michael, our conductor,

"What is the story behind all those empty carriages at the front of the train? And just who are these special people who have tickets to occupy those "reserved" seats up in those front carriages? We are the people of the imminent rapture. Do we have to wait for these other people?"

Michael, a glowing presence and splendidly attired in a white uniform and a gold belt, is an inspiring fellow. We feel good under his guardianship. He turns to us, smiles, and says,

"I shall be answering that question right now."

Then turning to address all the passengers he announces,

"Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls. Welcome to the train to glory! Many of you have asked us when this train will be leaving. Well, we cannot leave this station yet. This is the Glory Train. And there is just one. It will not be leaving here until the Sovereign Word is given.

Suddenly there is a stunned silence in the carriage.
Mouths hang open in shocked amazement.
Finally, a big man across the aisle with a prominent jutting jaw stands up.
Addressing the conductor he says,

"Not leaving. Why? Why aren't we leaving?
We were told that nothing further needs to happen before we leave out of here.
In fact we were told explicitly to expect to leave at any time.
We were told repeatedly by practically every Bible teacher that our Rapture departure time is imminent.
So what is going on here?
What are we waiting for?"

Our conductor meets the man's simmering anger with an even gaze.
Something about the conductor's glowing presence causes the man to pause.
He looks down at his hands. Then he sits back down in his seat.
Our conductor continues in quiet but earnest tones.

Dear people.
It appears that there is something you have yet to understand.
You see there are still some other people destined to board this train.
All of them must come aboard before the Train to Glory can leave.
"Other people!",

exclaims a lady in a red dress.
She looks over her glasses at the conductor with an imperious air.

"Just who are these other people?
Mr. Conductor, this information you are giving here is just not adding up.
I'm afraid that I am going to have to ask to speak with your supervisor!"

Our conductor replies with quiet words of unction and authority.

Dear lady. I am the supervisor.
I have been given complete authority for everything that goes on here aboard this train.
Now here is the situation, and you should have been well aware of this.
It is laid out very clearly in your Guidebook.
The resurrection saints will be coming up out of their graves. (John 6:39, 6:40, 6:44, 6:54.)
They will be joining you at the last day.
All of you will be transported into the glory together on this train!
As you know, the first resurrection will come on an epic day in future history. (Rev.20:4-6)
There will be an end-time harvest of the righteous dead.
And it will come at the last day, at the end of this age.
All the righteous dead will be coming back to life again.
They too will be coming to join you all aboard this train. (1Thes 4:15-1, 1Cor.15:23)
The scriptures also give special mention to the future saints of the Great Tribulation. (Rev.7:9-17)
Many of these dear saints will give their lives for the witness during those final years of this age.
These too will be part of that great company of the righteous dead who will be raised up at the last day.

Suddenly a collective groan is heard throughout the carriage.
Someone hisses.

"Oh, my God! Those people he's referring to are the Tribulation Saints!
We were told that these people did not even belong in the Church!
What is this man talking about!?

Michael replies.

Dear people.
These Tribulation Saints are indeed in the Church.
Your Apostle John saw them.
He said that they have had their garments washed in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev.7:14)
They are martyr-witnesses. So they are worthy.
They have made the ultimate blood covenant commitment to their Savior.
So they are your brothers and sisters in the faith.
There is no way that they can be 'left behind'.
They cannot be forgotten. And they will not be forgotten.
These are saints of the first resurrection harvest.
At an instant in time the righteous dead will be coming up out of their graves.
They will join us on this train as we pull out toward the gates of splendor. (Rev.20:4-5)
They will come aboard to fill these empty front carriages.
The whole Congregation of God will be here on that day.
Then, and only then shall we pull out of here to meet the Lord at that grand party He has prepared."

At this point I had heard more than enough.
And being the rough cut Australian that I am I pipe up at that point to ask,

"Now hang on just one minute, Michael!
That tribulation saint company will suffer an awful martyrdom!
Many who refuse to take the mark of the Beast will be beheaded!
What do you mean we have to wait for them?
We have been told we could go out on the rapture train at "any time".
Our pastors assured us that we could in fact leave "imminently".
So, that being the case, we shouldn't have to hang around waiting for any Resurrection!
We are the people of the Rapture!
And those dusty Old Testament Hebrew saints don't belong on this train either.
Now apart from many of these people being Jews these people are dead, D-E-A-D dead!
This is the glory train isn't it?
We boarded a train for the living! Not a hearse!"

Michael graciously yet firmly replies,

"Dear Elect people of God. When you see those resurrected saints come up from their graves to board those front carriages they will all be very much alive. They will be glorified. These saints are overcomers who died in the faith from past and future times. Every single one of them will come aboard to join you here on this train. They will be coming in new spiritual bodies. They will be glorified, just as you, the living saints of the rapture will be at that time. All the righteous dead of this present evil age along with past saints and those future Tribulation Saints will be arising together. All of them will come aboard this train at that epic future time. The glory train will then pull out on that long awaited journey. All the saints will be entering the glory together at the Resurrection-Rapture."

My mouth is still open and moving but words won't come.
I sit down abruptly. Nothing has prepared me for this.
I am speechless.

At that point a rather large lady appearing somewhat flushed and flustered gets up.
Pointing her finger at Michael she asks,

"Now Michael, this is not the story we were told!
In fact it is far from what we were told!
We were told the train could leave at any moment!
We were told that our rapture departure was imminent!
If what you are saying is true then why were we not informed of this earlier?"

Michael answers,

"You are the people who flow in God's grace are you not? Are you not aware of these things? Your future destiny is to take responsibility and authority in the royal priestly offices of Messiah. So would it not be your personal responsibility to check all the information coming to you against God's Word? Where did your end time information come from? And who gave it to you? Did you confirm that it was correct? Did you check it against the Scripture of Truth?"

The lady, now ashen faced, sits down.

Michael continues,

"I do not speak on my own authority here. Nor am I permitted to. (Jude 1:9). The Word from the throne has already been given, and given to all mankind. You are the Elect of God. Have you read His Word? Have you taken it to heart? All the information concerning the glorification of the saints has been given to you, has it not?
"You mean the Rapture?" a young man asks?
"Yes, the Rapture, ....... and also the Resurrection". Michael responds.
"The two occur together as one combined event.
Your Apostle Paul teaches that the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Then those of you who are alive and remain at that time will be caught up, (or raptured).
You will rise to join those resurrected ones. All of you will rise together to meet the Lord in the air". (1Thes.4:15-17)
"When will these Resurrected passengers be arriving?" another asks.

He hesitates for a moment before continuing.

"We can't wait around for these people forever!
We'd like our Rapture to take place, well er, sort of early.
Our Bible prophecy teachers didn't talk much about the Resurrection of the righteous dead.
They just talked about the Rapture.
So we just never saw our connection with them."

Michael turns to address the passengers.

"Dear saints, Did not your Apostle Paul tell you about these things?
Did he not tell you clearly that the Resurrection and the Rapture were a combined event?
And did not your Master lay out the time of the Resurrection when He was with you?
Jesus Himself told you precisely when the Resurrection would occur did He not?
Do you remember what He told you?
He said He will raise all of His saints up together at the 'last day'. (John 6:39,40,44& 54)
This is not hidden information.
The saints of former times, including Martha, knew when the Resurrection would be.
She testified to Jesus that her brother Lazarus would be raised.
Martha said that Lazarus would be raised from the dead at the Resurrection at the "last day". (John 11:24)
Dear saints. Is this really such a difficult concept for you?

Johnny speaks up at this point to explain,

"Er,... well Michael, we don't quite know what the term, "last day" means."

Michael turns to answer Johnny's question.

"You don't know what the term "last day" means?" he asks.
Last day would mean the last ordinary day of this present age would it not?"

Johnny is hesitant to answer.

"Er, well, we were not given a clear definition of what the phrase "last day" might mean.
We were given to understand that the phrase "last day" could be a long period of time.
It could be seven years long. Or since Peter referred to the "last days" in Acts in the time of the early church the last day might even be 2,000 years long".

Michael quizzically raises one eyebrow at this but makes no comment.
He pauses for a while, glancing out the window before going on.
The tone of his voice changes to bring words of quiet affirmation.

"You people gathered here are the beloved Congregation of God.
But God has prepared this train to gather all of you. Not just some of you.
All of you will be going into the glory together.
You will be traveling as one single Elect Congregation.
You will all enter Messiah's Kingdom together.
Your scriptures state clearly that the Rapture will immediately follow the Resurrection.
The dead in Christ will rise first. (Thes.4:15-17)
Your scriptures promise a single harvest gathering of all "those that are Christ's at His coming". (1Cor.15:23).
So your Saviour will return at the end of the age at the last day.
Messiah will draw all His saints from among the the quick and the dead. All of His Elect will be gathered up together. All of you will be leaving this earthly realm aboard this train. You will be traveling together into the glory as one complete, Elect and Chosen people. Because all of you are part of the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. (Heb.11:40, 1Cor.15:52, Mat.24:31)

I am somewhat taken aback by all this.
The information is coming at me too fast.
It is a bit too much for me to handle.
Then it hits me.
And suddenly I realize what it all means.

"Lord help us! I exclaim.
Are we taking everyone with us?"

Michael replies,

"I have a front seat up in the very first carriage especially reserved for Abel.
He was among the first righteous persons to fall asleep.
And in that same front carriage are seats for all the saints of the First Resurrection. (Rev.20:4-6)
In fact right there in that front Resurrection carriage with Abel there is a seat reserved for the last Tribulation Saint."

Johnny and I are incredulous at all this.
The information is terrible and yet awesome and exhilarating at the same time.
Many of the passengers are too flabbergasted to speak.
A wave of hushed conversation passes amongst them.

Michael continues,

"All the righteous saints will come up from their graves and ready to enter into their spiritual inheritance. -Dan.12:13 & Heb.ch11. The Old Testament saints will all be boarding here too. Joseph and the patriarchs, the judges Deborah, Samson, and Gideon, as well as Ruth, King David, the prophet Daniel, Nehemiah, along with a host of other saints of former times will all be there. Many saints you have never even heard about will be there. They will all be coming aboard to join you here. All the earlier pilgrim saints who closed their eyes in faith in the promised Sacrifice Lamb will be there. They will be joining you. Both the living and the resurrected dead will make up that glorious company. Then, at the "last day", we shall pull out on our way into the glory.

At this point a tall man gets up to entreat the conductor saying,

"Sir, I am beginning to understand some things here today but please understand. This is all so strange to many of us. We had thought that the church had a different destiny to that of the Jews. Even the Old Testament believers were, ...er... well sort of in a different category. This is what we had been taught by our Bible teachers. They have been wonderful teachers in every other way. And we love them for what they taught us. But Michael, how could they be so wrong here in this matter of the Resurrection and Rapture? Can you help us with this?"
"Yes I can," replies Micheal.
"I am the conductor and the guardian protector over all of God's people. And I have been from the beginning of time. (Dan.10:21) Do you remember the scripture in Hebrews 11 which lays out the long list of Old Testament heroes of the faith? Well this is the single undivided Elect Congregation of God. This is the Congregation to which you belong. You are part of a wider, larger and more glorious company of people than you have been led to believe. The writer to the Hebrews goes on to reveal that all these Old Testament overcomers, will not be made perfect apart from you. You are all in the loop here. You are in the same epic relay race that Abraham began 4,000 years ago. Those heroes of the faith from former times given in Hebrews 11 are depending on you to finish the race, not just for yourself, but on behalf of all the saints who have run before you. Do you understand this?

There is silence in the train so Michael continues.

Beloved of God, you are not running the race just for yourselves.
In fact you belong to the corporate Body of Christ/Messiah.
So the situation is clearly stated here.
These Old Testament saints can not be made perfect apart from you.
They ran in the earlier part of the race. Now it is your turn.
And these earlier believers are on the sidelines cheering you on.
You should be preparing yourselves to run.
Because you have been called to run on the final leg of the race".
You are the ones who will be finishing the race for one and all.
You will be taking the baton to the finish line! -Heb.11:40

The tall man nods appreciatively and sits down.
Our conductor continues on.

"Dear people of God, the race is not yet over.
Many are yet to be born into the faith.
And many are yet to finish their life story and witness.
In fact way at the back of those front resurrection carriages is a special seat.
I have reserved a seat for the last tribulation martyr.
Which brings me to another issue".

With that Michael turns and fixes each of us in his gaze.
His eyes flash like lightning as he asks,

"Won't you wait for the salvation and deliverance of your Jewish brethren?
We all realize that their national conversion will be late.
But they will definitely be coming to rejoin you.
This is just as the scriptures have promised. (Zech.12:7-13:1, Joel 2:28-32)
Are you prepared to be patient and gracious here?
Will you help them to make their way to this train of the redeemed?
This is even as you finish your witness of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Remember that this is the train to Zion.
There is just one single train to glory and it just makes one trip.
There are many from the Jewish house of Judah that are still to come.

Michael gazes at each of us as he walks down the aisle.
He continues to address us quietly.

"I can assure you that we'll not be leaving here until the whole company of resurrected saints, both Jew and Gentile, from both sides of Calvary and right on up to the last tribulation martyr has come aboard. Then, assuming you are still alive, and have remained faithful to the end will board as well. You will take your seats in the Rapture carriages back here. At that point the completed company of the Elect from out of this entire evil age will have come on board and been seated. Then, and only then shall we pull out of here."

By this time I am starting to get angry. I can feel my face face flushing red with an Edomite glow. I rise to my feet. My knuckles are white as I grasp the seat in front of me. I know that I am about to "lose it".

" Now look here", I snarl.
"I paid good money for this pre-tribulation rapture ticket! We were not told anything about having to wait for any Tribulation Saints! I never even knew about them until now! And we heard nothing about waiting for the salvation and deliverance of the Jews either! The Battle of Armageddon is way too late for us to leave! I say it is getting high time for you to fire those boilers and let's get this train moving! Disconnect those front Resurrection carriages from us if you have to! As a matter of fact I don't want to hear anything about any First Resurrection! I'm only interested in the Rapture! Get it? Now cut 'em off! Chop 'em loose! But let's get this train to glory rolling here right this minute!"

I scramble out of my seat and approach Michael.
Privately I whisper into his ear.

"We were sold tickets for an exclusive church express. If there is a "Special Early Rapture Express" then I want to be on it. The last thing I want is to be "left behind". When things start getting bad I want to be assured that I'll be OK. I want to be "outta here"!

Click here for ACT TWO of THE RAPTURE TRAIN TO GLORY.