Introduction

• How loud is the “voice of the archangel and the trumpt (trumpet) of God?
• Who are the “living and the dead?”
• How does God explain meeting Him in the air, and when?

God is a Spirit (John 4:24 ) and to relate with the people He had to “speak” through His chosen prophets and Apostles. This is the essence of the HOLY BIBLE.

2 Pet. 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

2 Tim. 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

God therefore is represented by His words. Since God is a Spirit, so are His words spiritual having distinct meaning. While He uses man’s languages and dialects (English, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, etc.), God has to decipher His words. Examples:

1. Temple

John 2:19 “Jesus…said unto them, Destroy this temple , and in three days I will raise it up.”

To the Natural Man (1 Cor. 2:14 ), the temple refers to the edifice.

John 2:20 “Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?”

To God, it refers to the body of Jesus Christ:

John 2:22 “When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.”

2. Babes or “suckling”

Matt. 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes .”

Isa. 28:9 KJV only “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts .”

2 Tim. 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

The Natural Man cannot comprehend the literal meaning thus making him accept God’s spiritual language. Noah, David, the prophets, Paul, John, and the other Apostles could not have been “babes or weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts,” when they were endowed divine knowledge and wisdom. These were chosen of God being “poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3). God’s words never pass away, and this should be true throughout man’s history.

3. Born again

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again , he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus a great teacher of Israel , because he was then a Natural Man, tried to comprehend the word with its literal meaning.

John 3:4 “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?”

Nicodemus looks foolish in the eyes of our Lord, confirming the Natural Man’s use of human wisdom in comprehending the word of God:

1 Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

1 Cor. 3:19 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”

4. Strength from “babes and sucklings”

Psa. 8:2 “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.”

This could not have referred to the literal meaning of “babes and sucklings,” but to adults who have humbled themselves before God that they are given spiritual strength.

God is immutable or does not change (Mal. 3:6). “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” ( Heb 13:8) Since God is represented by His words, so are His words true all the time – not with the Natural Man’s understanding but with God explanation of His words.

Matt. 5:18 “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

5. Slavery

The Israelites deliverance from slavery in Egypt is not just a story. It refers to the chosen’s deliverance from “spiritual slavery” throughout man’s history:

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free .”

To Christ, “slavery” refers to man’s bondage to false doctrines, religious traditions, all fruits of human wisdom and emotion that taint the TRUTH in the Word.

Col. 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Isa 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me…and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.”

For not understanding our Lord’s “spiritual language,” the Jews under the leadership of the Scribes and Pharisees insisted they never had been slaves to anyone:

John 8:33 “They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?”

But our Lord is speaking “spiritual things.”

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Human perception vs. God’s explanation

The Spiritual Man:

1 Cor. 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

The Natural Man:

1 Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

THE RAPTURE

Rapture means bliss, ecstasy, nirvana that everybody believing in the Holy Bible aspire to have. Whenever the following verses are read, people shout with joy in the hope that someday, by the power of God, both dead and the living will be caught up in the air with Christ and will forever be with Him in eternity.

1 Thes. 4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep , that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again , even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him . 15 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. 16 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 : 17 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 . 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

As it was done with the word of God using the language of man for “temple, babes, born again, and slavery,” let God decipher the pertinent words to give His great message about the Rapture.

SHADOW OF RAPTURE

“Asleep”

To the Natural Man, “asleep” means slumbering. To God, it has the following references:

“Asleep” means literal death as when Stephen was stoned to death:

Acts. 7:60 “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

“Sleep” has dual meaning for the death of Lazarus:

John 11:12 “Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.”

To the Natural Man, Lazarus was literally dead. The message of his “death” however has spiritual significance in the following:

Prov. 21:16 “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”

The Natural Man who is “out of the way of understanding remains in the congregation of the dead.”

1 Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Rom. 11:8 “ (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.”

Matt. 13:15 “For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

Lazarus “resurrection from spiritual death” is actually the message for being “born again.” This is God’s revelation of the “death” of Lazarus. A testimony:

In my prayers, I have been asking God to show me if indeed my name is written in the Book of Life. As a Roman Catholic, the priests told us that our names are written in that book. I met other people belonging to other denominations and they claim the same thing. I was wondering how people of varied religious beliefs and following "different ways" of salvation have a common claim to eternal life that is contrary to:

Galatians 1:8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

First, I wanted God to reveal to me the Book of Life. As I read the Holy Bible, I

came across:"

Psalms 40:7 (Our Lord speaking) "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me."

I concluded the Sacred Scriptures is the Book of Life for no other book can we find showing the Way to eternal life. God answered my first question. This is confirmed by Bible characters Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, the Apostles, and Disciples of our Lord whose names are all written in the Sacred Scriptures. All of a sudden Lazarus came to my mind that was “dead” for four days and entombed in a cave covered with a stone:

John 11:17 "Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already."

As if God wanted to satisfy my obsession, little by little I began to see myself in Lazarus whom our Lord said was only "asleep:"

John 11:11 "…he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep."

Actually he was "dead."

John 11:14 "Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead."

Reading Proverbs 21:16 validated what I am thinking of myself, "The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead." As a Natural Man, I have to admit that I am "dead" in the eyes of our Lord because I cannot clearly understand the message of God in His words.

1 Cor. 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Lazarus' body stinks due to corruption for he had been dead for four (4) days:

John 11:39 "… Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days."

Like Lazarus, God revealed to me how I "stink" with all the abominations in His sight:

Rom. 3:10 "There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Isa. 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…"

Lazarus is in the dark tomb -- so am I in this dark world. Otherwise our Lord would not have said, "I am the light of the world." A stone covered the tomb -- so is my "heart as firm as a stone" that prevents the "light of the gospel" from penetrating my soul or human spirit.

Job 41:24 "…heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone."

However, Jesus said:

John 11:39 "Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days."

So my "heart of stone" is set aside:

Ezek. 36.26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

Lazarus heard the shout of our Lord:

John 11:43 "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth: 44 "And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."

I also rose from "spiritual death" when I heard the TRUTH that gives "spiritual life." It was then that I realized I was "born in Spirit." The fact that I fully subscribe to the word of God marks my being “born of water” where water symbolizes the word of God:

Eph 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by theword,”John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Forthwith, I realized I was "spiritually bound with human doctrines, religious traditions, and human ways." Just as Jesus said unto the people around, "Loose him, and let him go," the power of truth from the mouth of my brethren unbound me from erroneous religious teachings taken from the word of God. From then on Lazarus walked with our Lord -- as I now walk on the Way.

Lazarus was alive -- as I have "spiritual life". This is God's confirmation that, indeed, my name is written in the Book of Life. I cannot only see myself in Lazarus, but in Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, the Apostles and Disciples of our Lord. I am given the great privilege afforded to them:

Mark 4:34 "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

From then on, God revealed many things that only now do I clearly understand, examples:

Matthew 11:25 "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."2 Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Thereafter, I was delivered from spiritual hypocrisy because God's standard of righteousness is clearly distinguished from man's standard, which I followed before:

Romans 10:2 "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

From thereon, I come to God through His words for He is being represented thereto. Never was I contented praying and praising Him only with my lips, but rather of sustaining my relationship with Him through the truth in His words:

Psa 56:10 “In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.” Isaiah 29:13 "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me…and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."

Lord, how could I express my eternal gratitude to You for this wonderful "miracle?" I could only praise and glorify You through Your words. Hallelujah!

God’s words never pass away

With God’s explanation, His words are incontrovertible and immutable over time. The deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt is not just a story, but God’s words that should find relevance all the time – indicating deliverance from spiritual slavery:

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

God providing Manna and Water from the Rock to the Israelites in the wilderness finds its relevance in our Lord’s feeding the chosen with His “flesh and blood.”

John 6:54 “ Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.”

The “flesh” of our Lord stands for His words, as in:

Jer. 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart...”

His “blood” refers to the revelation of the Holy Spirit on the word. By the shedding of blood on the cross, the Testament promising the availability of the Holy Spirit as INHERITANCE is fulfilled.

John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

John 7:39 “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”

If these events in the past have their application at present, so is Rapture that is thought to happen in the future. It has its application in our time – as a matter of facts, all the time. This is with God’s explanation of His words.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which areasleep , that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again , even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him . 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which arealive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout , with thevoice of the archangel , and with the trump of God : and the dead in Christ shall rise first : 17 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 . 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

As expounded by the word of God, “asleep” is more than what the Natural Man’s perception. It means “spiritual death” where it refers to “wandering out of the way of understanding” or being a Natural Man:

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned .

“Sleep in Jesus will God bring with him”

This simply means “waking up” the Natural Man to become Spiritual Man.

1 Cor. 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

In effect, RAPTURE as a shadow of the reality is but the popular “born again” that our Lord told Nicodemus:

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God .”

“The saints which slept arose”

Another example is the “resurrection of the dead” upon the death of Christ on the cross:

Matt. 27:50 “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”

Graves indicate “death” as in Proverbs 21:16 where it point to being “out of the way of understanding.” It says “saints” for not all people are worthy to “come out from their graves” or to be “born again” and have “spiritual life.” Only the “poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3), the spiritual “little children” (Matt. 18:3) deserve to “rise up from spiritual death/sleep.”

The death of Christ on the cross pierced the veil of the temple. Is this not one message for the “veil blinding the minds” of the people, more specially the potential believers, to the glorious gospel of Christ?

2 Cor. 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

The graves were opened and the “saints which slept rose.” This is the “resurrection of the dead” in:

Prov. 21:16 “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”

The “saints went into the holy city, and appeared unto many” are the real born again who are sharing the truth to the “poor in spirit” symbolized by the “holy city.” This is happening right before our eyes in our time who found and now embrace Christianity untainted with human wisdom and religious traditions. As it is, Christianity which is divided into denominations is polluted with religious traditions, human precepts, all fruits of human wisdom and emotion:

1 Cor. 3:18 “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.”

Jer 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

“Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind”

The Natural Man thinks Elijah was taken up into heaven literally.

2 Kings 2:11 “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”

Literal going up to heaven with the mortal body is contradictory to truth:

1 Cor. 15:50 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdomof God ; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”

It is only Jesus that is exempt from this because of His unblemished nature:

1 Pet. 1:19 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Psa. 16:10 “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

Psa. 49:9 “That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.”

Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead, the rising of the saints from the grave, and Elijah’s ascension to heaven in a whirlwind, all refer to reaching the “first heaven.” The “first heaven” is here on earth with the mortal body:

Luke 17:20 “And when he was demanded… when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you .”

For details read the article:

FIRST-SECOND-THIRD HEAVEN* If Paul spoke of the 3 rd heaven, there must be 1 st and 2 nd heaven.* Where are these three heavens located?* What are the "mansions" promised by Christ for the real believers?http://www.purechristianity.org/first_second_third_heaven.htm

Death and resurrection of Christ

Salvation from the “death and resurrection of Christ” is not just a simple belief of the story or event. Rather it delves on the real identity of Jesus before “manifesting Himself in the flesh,” in relation to the TESTAMENT of salvation made by God that could only be fulfilled by the shedding of blood.

It is written there is only one God and this is the Father, who made the TESTAMENT of salvation (many verses).

1 Cor. 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things…”

It is written, this testament requires the death of the testator or maker:

Heb. 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”

It is written “God was manifest in the flesh.”

1 Tim. 3:16 KJV only “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”

God’s fulfillment of His testament is confirmed in:

1 John 3:16 (KJV only) “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us….”

It is not just stating and believing “Jesus died and rose again.” First, who is JESUS before He became a human being? Is He God? If so, what relationship does He have with the “one God, the Father” in 1 Cor. 8:6, the God of Noah, Abraham, and Moses? Aside from His marvelous resurrection from the dead, what great significance is it to salvation? True recognition or identification of God and Jesus Christ, is a prerequisite to loving God. Thus the answer of our Lord to a query of a humble Scribe in:

Mark 12:28 “And one of the scribes came…asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?”

We will be surprised at the answer of our Lord:

Mark 12:29 “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, OIsrael ; The Lord our God is one Lord.”

“Israel” refers to God’s chosen both Jews and Gentiles (Gal. 3:28 -29). After the “first commandment of all” follows love of God:

Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…”

Therefore, the foregoing truth about Jesus Christ summarizes the formula for salvation in:

Rom. 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

For details, read the article:

JESUS OF THE ORIGINAL APOSTLES* Who is JESUS in the 1st century -- the JESUS of the Apostles? "JESUS is the TRUTH, the WAY, and the LIFE".* With the different identities of JESUS being "peddled" today, Christianity has become a market place for truths and ways to eternal life.* How and where can we find, and who can tell us the "teachings of the Apostles about Jesus?"http://www.purechristianity.org/jesusof.htm

The popular John 3:16

Salvation is not as easy as simply “believing in the only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Who is the Son of God in relation to the fundamental belief that there is only One God? Christ answered this when Philip was asking about the Father:

John 14:8 “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

Therefore this is what real believers are waiting for:

Heb. 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time .....”

Col. 2:9 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

“Descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God”

Does not “voice” relate to the word of God, and “shout and trump or trumpet of God” to the thunderous and piercing message of the TRUTH? Thus,

Heb. 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Those who “heard the shout and trumpt (trumpet) of God” were convicted and this led to their conversion (born again):

Acts. 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

“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.”

“Born of water and Spirit” brings “spiritual life to the spiritually dead.” This is very clear as demonstrated both in the Old and New Testament to God’s chosen. Is not “out of the way of understanding” spiritual death to God? “Spiritual life” brought divine knowledge and wisdom to them!

If “clouds” to the Natural Man refers to water vapors that later drop as rain, to God it refers to His doctrines:

“Deut. 32:2 “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew…”

Thus being caught up in the air in the clouds and meeting the Lord is actually the FELLOWSHIP of the chosen with God through His words. After all Christ is represented by His words, more specifically the TRUTH, for He is the truth (John 14:6).

Christ’s Apostles and Disciples during His time were “RAPTURED,” as real Christians today are. However, sustained spiritual humility before the Lord is expected from them in order to overcome to the end. The examples of Esau, King Saul, and Judas Iscariot demonstrated this who failed to overcome. Thus:

Rev. 3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

This is the silhouette of Rapture or “caught up with Christ in the air.” God demonstrated this since the beginning, and going on, up to the end till the reality of RAPTURE is fulfilled.

THE REALITY!

Rev. 20:11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened , which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

This is the time for the gathering of the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-34). The details will be discussed in another article.

Two kinds of book

All people who have lived on this planet earth suffer physical death and they will resurrect from the dead. “Books were opened” refer to the individual book of all people where everything about them is written. This is the basis for judgment, just a formality, for sentence has been rendered upon the physical death of everyone.

Heb. 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

The book of life is where God shows the Way to eternal life. There could be no other book but the HOLY BIBLE! As it is written, God segregates the people into two as our Lord showed in a parable:

Matt. 25:31 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”

Those on the “right hand” represent the BRIDE of Christ ready for the great “wedding feast.”

Rev. 21:2 “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

But for those on the “left hand” this is their judgment and retribution:

Rev. 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Finally, God’s plan in creating man to have eternal companions is fulfilled. Hallelujah!

In God will I praise his word:

in the LORD will I praise his word.

( Psa 56:10 )

END