The following is a teaching that I have written from a passage taken out of the first letter the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in his day:
“So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who will also confirm you to the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 1:7-8, Webster’s Bible)
The apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth (circa AD 55), but he also included the entire new creation (the church) continuing throughout the church-age (1 Cor. 1:2). He adds that the church is called to be holy because Christ has sanctified us. He has consecrated the body of Christ by the power of his sacrifice.
He states that the church does not fall behind or lack in any gift (some translations add spiritual, gift). The Greek word Paul used was χάρισμα, it sounds like khar'-is-mah, and its transliteration is charisma. Charisma can mean divine favor or gift. In the early church, charisma was understood as an expression of divine grace, as it has its roots in charis, the Greek word for grace (Lk. 2:40; Acts 4:33; Eph. 2:8). But they likewise understood that charisma is also assigned to believers by the Holy Spirit to function in divine power for the good of the church (1 Cor. 12:1-11). Paul declares that the church does not lack any charisma as we be “waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”[1] This does not refer to the second appearance of Yeshua Hamashiach at the end of Israel’s seventieth week (the end of the Tribulation Period), but rather, it refers to the rapture of the church (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Some Bible translations say, like the American Standard Version, “waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The revelation (apokalypsis in Greek) of our Lord, refers to the moment he manifests himself to the body of Christ that is still on the earth once the church is caught up to meet him in the eternal realm. At this time Jesus will be revealed as he is in his glorified state, and all those raptured with the church will see him (1 Jn. 3:2). This is why the church is supposed to be waiting for the rapture to occur, and some Bible translations even use the phrase “eagerly waiting,” because we will witness our Lord and Savior in his glorified state—If you as a believer-in-Christ are reluctant for the rapture to happen until you complete your personal agenda here in this world then it might be possible the Lord will give you what you desire most. This would mean that you will not witness him in his glorified body the day and hour the church is raptured into the eternal realm but you would be passed over and remain in the world and enter into the seven-year Tribulation Period with the unbelievers and hypocrites (Matt. 24:45-51; Lk.12:41-48).
Paul also writes that the Lord will confirm the church until the end (1 Cor. 1:8a). What does this mean? The Greek word Paul used that has been translated as confirm in the Webster’s Bible, and in many other translations is, βεβαιόω. The transliteration is bebaioō, and is pronounced beb-ah-yo'-o. Bebaioō translates on some Greek to English translator sites as the English word, assure. Translating bebaioō as confirm, gives the idea that Jesus is keeping the church strong, or strengthened, because that is what the word confirm means in some instances: “To make firm or firmer—strengthen.”[2] If bebaioō is translated as, assure, in this statement, we get the idea that Jesus will keep the church safe, that he will make the church safe from being conquered by the powers of darkness, because that is what the word, assure, means in some instances: “To make safe (as from risks or against overthrow)—insure.”[3] So, I guess whether we translate bebaioō as confirm or assure it doesn’t make too much of a difference. Whether we see the church as being strong or strengthened or being kept safe “to the end” doesn’t change the thought that Paul likely had when he wrote this. Jesus keeping the church strong and safe “to the end” refers to the end of the church-age; the end of the church’s salvation period when the believer’s body of flesh will finally be redeemed. Of course, it bears repeating over and over again, that the believer’s body of flesh will be redeemed at the day and hour of the rapture of the church.
Why does Jesus, work so hard at keeping the church strong and safe until the end of our salvation? He does so that when he comes to snatch us out of this world, we will be found blameless. Satan and the fallen angels will not be able to criticize us before God once this event occurs. The enemy will not be able to accuse the church of guilt anymore. His charges of the new creation being lawless will not hold up anymore because the church will have come to the end of their salvation. We will be fully and completely redeemed, spirit, soul, and body (1 Thess. 5:23). The phrase, “in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ,” can be said to be Christ’s special day. It is the day when his bride’s salvation will be completed. That day, is his day. Because every person that the Holy Father has give to him (Jn. 17:6) throughout the church-age, he will keep safe and strong until the day he comes back to take his bride to be with him, into eternity; to his Father’s house (Jn. 14:1-3).
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[1] This truth opposes the doctrine of Cessationism.
Cessationism teaches that the divine gifts of the Holy Spirit recorded in 1
Corinthians 12:1-11, ceased with the passing away of the early Apostles.
(Accessed 9/27/2022)
[2] Definition of the word: Confirm
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confirm
(Accessed 9/27/2022)
