The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 8: The Fulfillment of Time • 267

and chief, because he is the head of all things, since everything comes from him. Those who have died in Christ will rise first, and then we who are still alive will be caught up together with those processional clouds to meet Christ in the air. Thus, everyone will come with Christ to the battle: those who killed the saints will see them alive, because as the clouds accompany the Lord, so also will those whom he has been pleased to call his brethren. So, we shall always be with the Lord.” 11 The Rapture For Ambrosiaster, the angelic shout and trumpet call will signal the final battle to be waged by Christ against Satan. Those who persecuted the saints will see them resurrected and, indeed, will find themselves conquered by Christ and those very saints! “In this rapture ,” explained Ambrosiaster, “death will come as it were through sleep, and the soul which has departed will be given back in a moment. When they are taken away they die, and when they reach the Lord they receive their souls back again in his presence, because they cannot be dead if they are with Christ. Paul directs them to console one another with this hope, because they still thought they ought to mourn the passing of their loved ones as the Gentiles did.” 12 “But will they be raptured before or after the tribulation?” asked Preacher. 13

11 Same as previous note, page 109 (paraphrasing Bray’s translation).

12 Gerald Bray, Ambrosiaster, Galatians—Philemon , Ancient Christian Texts (Downers Grove, IL:IVP Academic, 2009), page 109.

13 See note 2.