Perhaps the "dead in Christ" and the “we which are alive and remain,†are those who have died to the world and it's ways. Those who have been enabled by God to overcome the world, sin and Satan.
Those who are doers of the word and not hearers only. Those who have given God their whole hearts and obey Him. Those who have taken up their cross and followed Him. Those who have turned away from sin.
God's elect and His called out ones. Perhaps the 144,000.
Maybe they will be changed first into paradisiacal bodies and will be attending a "certain wedding" while the world is undergoing tribulation.
It would sure leave the luke warm church who are convinced that they will be raptured with egg on their face. Wouldn't it???
When Christ returns the age of flesh will end. Those whose names are in the Lambs book of life will inherit eternal life.
Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
It would seem that being holy is a requirement. After all, being born of GOD’S SPIRIT should lead to one becoming holy.
Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy. (Leviticus 20:7-8)
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16)
God would not tell us to do something He wasn’t prepared to ENABLE us to do. Those who obey God and study His word in a humble Spirit, who seek His wisdom and ask His strength to flee temptation, God enables to do so.
God chose them. He enables them to do His will and walk in His ways.
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: Eph 1:11
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. (John15:16-17)
The majority will be found worshipping “the false Christ,†“the anti-Christ,†“the instead of Christ,†when the true Lord returns.
Rev. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
ALL that dwell upon the Earth shall worship Satan.
The age of flesh will end when The Real Christ returns. Those who are not part of the first resurrection will indeed be in paradisiacal bodies. They will not have received eternal life at this point and will still be subject to the second death.
Perhaps they will have the millennium to “get it together.†Perhaps those who are part of the first resurrection will minister to them.
It would seem that many of them will still follow Satan when He is released for the last time.
That’s how I am beginning to see things. It is truly a vast topic.
May The Good Lord increase all our understanding.
God bless!