HOPE OF A RAPTURE---->>>
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The word "rapture" is not in the Bible! I Thessalonians 4:17 is the scripture that people use for talking about the Rapture. So, let us take a closer look at this scripture. . . . It says, "Then we (the elect saints) who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (the dead in Christ) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." According to Webster, the word "rapture" simply means transported. In I Thessalonians 4:17 the elect are transported from having their feet on the earth, to the clouds in the air to meet Christ there. Notice: the elect are "caught up" to the clouds. Caught up in Strong=s Concordance is #726 which says, "to seize, catch away up, pluck, take (by force)."
In , I Thessalonians 4:17 Jesus comes from the third heaven to the first heaven to call the elect to meet Him. It does not say where they go from there. I believe that Christ does not put His feet on the earth at this time, but that the elect will follow His ascension and go to the Father. |
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In order for
the elect dead and living to meet Jesus in the clouds and stay with Him,
they must become spirit. John 3:6 says, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." In I Corinthians 15:46 Paul explains that flesh is first, then spirit. In verse 49 he says, " As we have born the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man." Finally, in verse 53 Paul says, "this mortal must put on immortality". |
The
elect will be with Christ to: |
The elect must be spiritual minded to understand spiritual things of God. (Romans 8:69) & (I Corinthians 2:14) The church born as spirit beings, can absorb knowledge faster and more easily than they could as human beings. Heaven is the ideal place for the spiritual church to learn.
Jesus as Son of Man, became flesh, was tested, and died. Then He could become spirit again, and be transported back into the third heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father. (Mark 16:19) The elect have been tested in this world, and thru Christ have become worthy to enter the kingdom of God.
Some think that this rapture will cause chaos, because in
Matthew
24:40-41 it says, "one will be taken and another will be left behind."
But our God will provide an orderly, sensible, unfolding of this phenomenon if
we look carefully.
The elect will be changed to spirit, but not caught up immediately so they can
prevent any disaster. Jesus was resurrected at sunset on the third day,
and was seen and heard by Mary Magdalene at sunrise. That means that there
were some hours Jesus was on earth as a spirit being. During that time He
could not be touched. He could move things as He folded the cloth that was
over His head. If the elect follow Jesus' resurrection they will also be
on earth as spirit and they will be able to do things to prevent any
disaster.
Just as Christ rose and went to His Father so will the elect. Soon after after His resurrection Christ manifested Himself for forty days to His disciples helping them to contend without Him. So also will the elect be able to manifest themselves to help their loved ones to contend without them. They will be able to eat, move things, go between heaven and earth, manifest themselves, be felt, and heard.
So, there IS a rapture, a transportation of the elect from earth to heaven. Believe it, it is a wonderful hope!