Salvation of the Body

SALVATION: GOD BRINGS BACK THE CAPTIVITY OF HIS PEOPLE

God speaks of bringing back the captivity of His people as a time of Salvation. When Satan took his seat in the temple at the start of the tribulation, God gave over the whole body into His hand. Thus the Church was considered as being in bondage to sin just as Israel was in physical bondage to the Egyptians:

Ps 14:7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back <7725> the captivity <7622> of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Ps 85:1 …LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back <7725> the captivity <7622> of Jacob.

Zep 3:20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back <7725> your captivity <7622> before your eyes, saith the LORD.

Job 42:10 And the LORD turned <07725> the captivity <07622> of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

(Job: A type of the elect body coming into the great tribulation where God redeemed him in the end.)

De 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn <07725> thy captivity <07622>, and have compassion upon thee, and will return <07725> and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

Ps 126:4 Turn again <07725> our captivity <07622>, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

Jer 30:3 For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again <07725> the captivity <07622> of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return <07725> to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. (Elect body today is said to have come into New Jerusalem as Christ is revealed to them through the Bible).

Jer 30:18 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again <07725> the captivity <07622> of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

Jer 33:7 And I will cause the captivity <07622> of Judah and the captivity <07622> of Israel to return <07725>, and will build them, as at the first.

Eze 16:53 When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity <07622> of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:

Eze 29:14 And I will bring again <07725> the captivity <07622> of Egypt, and will cause them to return <07725> into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.

Ho 6:11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned <07725> the captivity <07622> of my people.

Joe 3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again <07725> the captivity <07622> of Judah and Jerusalem,

Am 9:14 And I will bring again <07725> the captivity <07622> of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. (A time when the gospel is no longer adulterated. Elect partake of the pure unleavened bread of the gospel as it relates to God Himself.)

Zep 2:7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away <07725> their captivity <07622>.

Zep 3:20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back <07725> your captivity <07622> before your eyes, saith the LORD.

La 2:14 Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away <07725> thy captivity <07622>; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

Eze 13:16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

Jer 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

FIRST SCATTERED, THEN GATHERED

The whole church body, it seems, was scattered in tribulation until such time God would gather it.

De 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

Eze 11:17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

Eze 20:34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

Eze 20:41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

Eze 28:25 Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.

Eze 29:13 Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:

Mt 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Jer 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

Eze 34:6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Eze 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. (Cloudy and dark day: tribulation and judgment – Day of the Lord)

Joe 2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Zep 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

GOD HIDES HIS FACE FROM THE WHOLE BODY IN TRIBULATION

God also speaks of this as a time when He hides His Face from the church body (Believers included). When the believers come out of tribulation is when Christ reveals Himself to them through the Bible, the same way Joseph revealed himself to his brothers after two years of famine (Ge 45:4):

Ps 27:9 Hide^5641 not thy face^6440 far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Mic 3:4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide^5641 his face^6440 from them at that time^6256, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

Eze 39:29 Neither will I hide^5641 my face^6440 any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. (Salvation)

ELECT HAD TO WAIT FOR GOD’S SALVATION

Prior to the depart out, the Elect are said to be calling on the name of the Lord and waiting until such time when He would deliver them out of spiritual Egypt (a collective salvation). This is also implied in the life of a single individual, but the bigger picture, Lord willing, is that of the believers coming out of tribulation; the time of Jacob's trouble:

Isa 51:5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

Ps 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

La 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Ps 118:21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

Ps 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time^6256 of trouble^6869.

Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time^6256 of Jacob’s trouble^6869; but he shall be saved OUT OF IT.

Ps 10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times^6256 of trouble^6869?

Isa 33:2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time^6256 of trouble^6869.

Da 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time^6256 of trouble^6869, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time^6256 thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Jer 11:12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time^6256 of their trouble. (the unsaved in the body)

Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Re 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

SALVATION AND THE SONG OF MOSES: (After the exodus that typified the depart out)

Re 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. (If no man could learn that song, it would seem to be pointing to the whole body of Christ being saved (delivered) out of trouble.)

Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Ex 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Ex 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Ex 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

SALVATION AND THE RESURRECTION

On the individual level, the unsaved is said to be spiritually dead or sleeping before salvation. The collective body would be viewed in the same light for going into Egypt at the start of the tribulation. They are resurrected from the graves of the wicked at the depart out:

Ro 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Mt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Lu 9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Re 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Re 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. (No collective salvation as long as the two witnesses are killed <judgment>)

Re 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. (<Salvation:> come out of her my people.)

Eze 37:12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

Da 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

SALVATION AND THE END OF THE WAR WITH CHRIST

Prior to salvation, the individual is said to be at war with God because he or she is in the kingdom of Satan. Likewise, the collective body woulb be viewed as making war with Christ prior to the depart out because they've come into Egypt where Satan is ruling at the start of the tribulation:

Isa 40:2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.

Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Ec 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

2 Ch 14:6 And he (Good king Asa) built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.

Eze 39:1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Eze 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

Eze 39:3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

Ex 6:12 And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? (The children of Israel, it seems, do not come willingly to the wilderness. God had to deliver them for hard bondage).

SALVATION AND THE WILDERNESS

The Church Age does not appear to be a time of judgment in the wilderness due to the fact that God the Holy Spirit was dwelling among the people where the wheat and tares were growing together. The number forty seems to identify primarily with testing, trial or tribulation. The picture of the wilderness would be that of tribulation where there is a drought <judgment>. However the Elect find streams in the desert and are fed in the wilderness <salvation>:

Mt 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Mt 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (the temptation of Christ in the wilderness appears to have been a picture of the elect body in tribulation where they do not fail the test.)

1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

Re 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Re 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Re 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isa 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. (Salvation)

Eze 20:17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

Am 2:10 Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.

Eze 20:34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

Eze 20:35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

Eze 20:36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 20:37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

Eze 20:38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

SALVATION: ELECT BODY COMING OUT OF TRIBULATION

Mt 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. (God shortened the days of the tribulation in order to save the body <bring back its captivity>)

Re 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

(Elect endured tribulation unto death. The death in view would have to relate to the burial with Christ; the death of the righteous)

Nu 23:10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

Mt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (To be hated of all would seem to relate to the killing of the two witnesses)

1Jo 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Jer 23:6 In his days (David, type of Christ) Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Re 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (resting from their labours would seem to relate again to salvation; coming out of the tribulation)

1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (The flood typifying the Day of the Lord <judgment> where Noah and family, a type of the elect, coming out of tribulation or escaping judgment <salvation>).

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (This would have to relate again, Lord willing, to the body of Christ coming out of Babylon. They give praise as they are redeemed.

WORD OF CAUTION: The Church Body today is also said to be in the wilderness and we know that not all who came out of Egypt were saved

Jude 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Heb 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Summary: The Bible provides sufficient information for us to reasonably conclude that God likens the salvation of individual believers to the collective salvation of bringing the Elect out of tribulation. The wilderness would point to the whole tribulation period. The body is said to be redeemed as it comes out of Egypt. However, the unsaved (Lot’s wife), also appear to be coming out of Egypt or Sodom. God seems to allow for a general understanding of the end of the church age, but if they’re not truly saved, they remain outside. This would explain, perhaps, why only a handful was truly saved out of all those who came out of Egypt.