1950 This Means Everlasting Life - A2Z.org

228 "THIS MEANS EVERLASTING LIFE"
work of bearing witness to Jesus as King of
kings . In this way they are already shining with
the sun's brightness in their Father's kingdom by
proclaiming the Kingdom message, so letting their
light shine .
5 In perfect keeping with this visible gathering
work on earth the resurrecting of the followers
who conquered and died faithful takes place during
the second presence of Jesus Christ . Revelation
12 :1-13 does not picture them up in heaven
at the time of the Kingdom's birth and the war in
heaven which downed Satan . But a later chapter,
immediately before describing the harvest of the
earth, says : "And I heard a voice out of heaven
say : Write: Happy are the dead who die in union
with the Lord from this time onward. Yes, says
the spirit, let them rest from their labors, for the
things they did go right with them ."' Revelation
14 :13, NW The expression "from this time onward"
shows that this blessedness applies to the
remnant at their death in faithfulness . But right
before or when the harvesting of the remnant begins,
the resurrection occurs for the victorious
Kingdom heirs who had died faithful prior to Satan's
ouster from heaven . This order of events is
made certain for us at 1 Thessalonians 4 :14-17
NW :
6
"For if our faith is that Jesus died and rose
again, so, too, those who have fallen asleep in
s . When does the resurrection of the sleeping conquerors
occur?
6 . How does 1 Thessalonians 4 :14-17 make this certain
for us?