Time of Salvation

     Prophecy validates truth. Some claim that the "man" Jesus" merely acted out prophetic events. If that was so, then how did he get others to act out their parts? How did Jesus get soldiers to gamble for his clothes and not break his bones as normal both in fulfillment of prophecy? Logic supports Jesus's godhood. Prophecy validates that Jesus is God who appeared on earth to save mankind!
     Furthermore, Christ warned his followers that they would be persecuted for his namesake. That is true. It is the world against righteousness, and that hatred will become more intensive as it lingers to the end. Finally, Christians will be beheaded for trusting in Jesus. On the other hand, God always promised to keep his people safe if they had faith. Isaiah spoke of the protection that all true Christians will have at salvation:

In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in... Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth... Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (Isa 26:1-2, 15, 19)

     "That day" is sometime in the future. We see from the passages that the future event is when dead men will live and their bodies rise with his. Of course, Jesus's name is not mentioned, but the event is. In the New Testament that same event is mentioned again:

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thes 4:15-17)

     Theologians call that event "the rapture"; it means to snatch up. The dead and living in Christ will be snatched up and escorted to Heaven to be with "the Lord" (Jesus) forever. Paul referred to this event as awakened from asleep.  The dead have no conscience but the spirit does. It is the human soul. The body sleeps in the grave and is awakened and rejoined with the soul. Afterward, the Christian is glorified, having incorruptible flesh. That event is also spoken of:

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (Rom 8:10-11).

     Thus, awakened from asleep is when the dead shall have quickened (alive) bodies.  To be direct, Christians will be resurrected from the dead just as Christ was. When Isaiah wrote his words long ago, he saw the general resurrection of Christians! Because Isaiah saw that and Paul saw the same rapture, I have great faith that I will be resurrected and glorified! Prophecy reinforces my belief!
     I was talking with a Muslim one day who was doing a medical procedure. I told him about prophecy and that it revealed truth before it happened. The procedure only took about fifteen minutes but he questioned me further about prophecy. I believe that like Agrippa, he was almost persuaded. He asked where he could learn more. I got his phone number and passed it along to my pastor. The preacher never followed up, and I failed my responsibility to take the gospel to the world. Almost persuaded is not enough and this man may be destined to Hell because I failed to dress and keep God's "trees".
    Referring back to the verses from Isaiah, it is apparent that salvation is for those raptured - both those dead in Christ and living for Christ at that time. Hence, salvation for most of us (the norm) will be at death. Our souls will immediately go to Heaven to be reunited later with our bodies. If you remember the miracle of the dead girl, she died until Jesus revived her, and her spirit returned (Luke 8:55). With her, scripture says that she had just been asleep. That is not physical sleep but without conscience, or being unconscious. We all fear death but it is only the body waiting on resurrection or death. Hence, the second death is what people should fear!
    Isaiah also says that "salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." It appears that before ultimate salvation with walls and bulwarks, God keeps people is safety. Walls and bulwarks are fortifications around glorified Christians, to keep make safe from the Devil (salvation) after death comes and relieves them of danger. What is the danger? That they will perish in Hell. Salvation is from Hell, and that event does not happen until the time of physical death. Salvation or victory will come when those who "keepeth the truth" and enter in. Into what? Heaven with it's city with strong walls. 
    We find from Job chapter one that he was kept safe by a hedge which God had built around him for protection. It was not walls and bulwarks but a hedge. That hedge is safety, and Job was as safe from death as was Adam and Eve in the Garden which seems to have been surrounded by a hedge of protection. The Serpent could not kill the two there, only create chaos with them, That's what they did with Job. The Serpent slung his fiery darts at Job, and the whole armor of God protected him (a hedge not walls and bulwarks; the City of God will have walls whereas the Garden surely was hedged.)
     Just as Adam and Eve left the safety of the Garden and was exposed to sin, Job could have as well. As a Christian "nation" as Isaiah calls us Christians,  we too can leave the hedge of safety. However, after the rapture, salvation will have walls and bulwarks. Christ snatched Christians there from death. Satan can no longer snatch them away! Death is the time when all people's decision process ends. They go to sleep from consciousness. Those who are dead have made their decision either by choice or default. Isaiah says that salvation are for those who trust in the Lord by "keeping the truth". Indeed, Isaiah knew that it is the truth which sets us free (John 8:32).
    What is the truth which Isaiah shares? That there will be a general resurrection of the dead and a taking away to Heaven for the living. Isaiah validates that there is life after death. I believe in salvation -  the resurrection and glorification - because Isaiah and Paul did. Not only they but many others. Jesus believed in his own resurrection and it happened! I have strong faith because truth throughout the Bible has continuity. Prophecy increases my faith. It can yours as well.