The CATCHING UP of the Saints
WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE?
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. ( I Thess. 4 : 16 - 18 )
This passage of Scripture has brought comfort and courage to believers over the many centuries. However, of late, this glorious truth has come under great attack. There are those who deny the reality of this prophesied event. This denial is due to the misleading doctrine called, Kingdom Now Theology, aka Dominion Theology. This teaching advocates the idea, that the Church will gain such control over the affairs of men in this age, that in turn it will usher in the Kingdom rule of Christ.
Some have even gone so far as to advocate that Jesus CANNOT RETURN until they have subdued this world for him. This is a great and hideous doctrine. It teaches that we, as the Church, will subdue the present evil age to the point, that we will usher in the reign of King Messiah by our efforts. Most Christians cannot even subdue the evil in their own life, much less the rest of the world. A resounding NO must be proclaimed against such heresy. But this is not the topic of this study, it is just an introductory sidenote.
This study will deal with the actual event itself. The timing of this event, whether pre, mid or post, is not the subject herein. This will be left to each person to study and decide for themselves. I do heartily recommend The Coming Epiphany for those who wish to study an in-depth look at the end-times prophetic scenerio. The actuality of this event is undeniable, if one accepts the plain teaching of the Scriptures, rather than the doctrines of men.
Word Study of the Passage (click to open)
The Lord Himself : This is pretty self-explanatory. The Lord Jesus himself will come to call His bride. He will not send anyone else to call her up, but shall, IN PERSON, come for her.
with a shout : literally, "with a loud shout of a command". Who else to command "COME UP HERE!" but the King Himself.
remain : literally, 'that which survives, or remains". It is the idea of Remnant. The Remnant of True Believers at His Coming. Could this be pointing to the idea of martyrdom for many believers? Very Likely, if not of a surety.
caught up: this word has various applications, but the one that suits this scene the best is, "to convey away suddenly, to transport hastily". This same word is used to describe the catching away of Jesus in Rev. 12:5 ". . .and her child was caught up unto God and his throne."
The Greek word here is harpadzo. It is used 13 times in the New Covenant. It is translated as: take, catch away, take by force, pluck, pull out. Its root meaning is to seize, by force if necessary.
to meet : this word is a technical term for a custom of antiquity, whereby the inhabitants of a city would go outside the city gates, to welcome visitors of dignity or of royal status.
in the air : typically, the sphere of the atmosphere between the earth and the moon.
This catching up of the saints, commonly referred to as the Rapture, is typically taught as a vanishing act. That one minute the person will be there and the next minute, POOF, they are gone. However, if this same word is used by John in Rev. 12:5, to describe the catching up or Acension of Jesus, when He ascended up to the heavens in Acts 2, then we may know that our catching up will be in the same manner. The same word is used to describe Phillip's being caught up in Acts 8:39, and Paul's experience in II Cor. 12:2. [Paul says of his experience, that he didn't know if he was in his physical body or not. Only God knows] But neither one is as descriptive and conclusive as is the reference to Jesus in Rev. 12.
with a shout : literally, "with a loud shout of a command". Who else to command "COME UP HERE!" but the King Himself.
remain : literally, 'that which survives, or remains". It is the idea of Remnant. The Remnant of True Believers at His Coming. Could this be pointing to the idea of martyrdom for many believers? Very Likely, if not of a surety.
caught up: this word has various applications, but the one that suits this scene the best is, "to convey away suddenly, to transport hastily". This same word is used to describe the catching away of Jesus in Rev. 12:5 ". . .and her child was caught up unto God and his throne."
The Greek word here is harpadzo. It is used 13 times in the New Covenant. It is translated as: take, catch away, take by force, pluck, pull out. Its root meaning is to seize, by force if necessary.
to meet : this word is a technical term for a custom of antiquity, whereby the inhabitants of a city would go outside the city gates, to welcome visitors of dignity or of royal status.
in the air : typically, the sphere of the atmosphere between the earth and the moon.
This catching up of the saints, commonly referred to as the Rapture, is typically taught as a vanishing act. That one minute the person will be there and the next minute, POOF, they are gone. However, if this same word is used by John in Rev. 12:5, to describe the catching up or Acension of Jesus, when He ascended up to the heavens in Acts 2, then we may know that our catching up will be in the same manner. The same word is used to describe Phillip's being caught up in Acts 8:39, and Paul's experience in II Cor. 12:2. [Paul says of his experience, that he didn't know if he was in his physical body or not. Only God knows] But neither one is as descriptive and conclusive as is the reference to Jesus in Rev. 12.
When Jesus was 'Caught Up' (click to open)
When Jesus was caught up from the Mount of Olives, He did not vanish, but was seen by his disciples as he was physically lifted up into the heavens (not by a ufo, but by the Power of God). This fact is bore out in every account of this event.
Luke 24:51 - And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
carried up is the Greek word 'ana-phero' which means, to bear or to carry upwards. Jesus was carried upwards into heaven, He did not vanish.
Acts 1:9 - And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
taken up is the Greek word 'e-pai-ro', meaning, to lift up, to raise, elevate, to hoist, to be borne upwards.
This is a most amazing verse. I'm not sure we have fully appreciated the sight. As Jesus was standing there, talking to them, he began to go up. Jesus just started floating up into the sky! They watched him go up until he disappeared into a cloud. The account above says, " while they beheld, he was taken up". They watched him go upwards in the air until he disappeared from sight. He did not vanish, but they watched him with their own eyes, ascend upwards.
After He had disappeared into the cloud, they kept on looking up. Then two angels stood beside them, and said,"Why are you still gazing up, This same Jesus will come again in the same way that you have seen him go".
The point is this. The taking up of Jesus is a pattern, an exact picture of the catching up of the Church. Jesus was bodily removed from this earthly soil. He did not suddenly vanish. He was seen to physically ascend upwards. The Church's catching away will be in the same manner. When this event occcurs, the newpaper headlines will not read, MILLIONS VANISH!!!, but instead, will proclaim. . .
If one could stand on a mountaintop, overlooking a major city at that moment, they would see thousands of people being physically lifted upwards into the heavens. Bodies flying straight up into the heavens. What a sight that will be. Try to imagine the impact this will have on those LEFT BEHIND?! What will they think?
How will this be explained?
And how shall the governments of the world explain this? There is a very good explanation, already at hand. More on this momentarily.
The following verses have been terribly abused in their application, but when understood properly, also witness to this great event. These sayings come from the lips of Jesus himself.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken and the other left. (Matt. 24:40-41)
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Luke 17:34-36)
The key to understanding these sayings, is in understanding the meaning of the verbs used here. When 'one is taken', the verb used is para-lam-bano, which means, to take to one's side, to take or to receive to one's self. Here the verb is passive, so it has the meaning of being carried off to the side of another. Jesus says the same thing, using the same word, when He says in John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you (paralambano) unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." This "being taken" is a good thing. It is being taken up and received into the company of our Lord. The root of this word is lambano, which is used in John 1:12. Here "as many as received him, gave he the power to become the sons of God." Here, 'lambano' is translated as received, or welcomed. It has the basic idea of taking or receiving something or someone to one's self.
What of the one who is 'left'. The word here is aphi'ami, which has the basic meaning, to send away, to dismiss, to cause to depart. This is also in the passive, so it means to cause to be dimissed, sent away, or rejected. This is the word translated as forgive. In this context, when you forgive someone of their sin, you dismiss, send away, and cause their sin to depart.
So with this understanding, One shall be received and welcomed to the side of the Lord, and the other shall be dismissed and rejected.
Another interesting note on these verses, is the activity taking place by those taken and those left behind. Some are sleeping, indicating that it is night. Others are in the field working or grinding, indicating daytime. This illustrates that this event is not localized, but spans across the globe.
Many in the Kingdom Now camp have tried to make those who are left, to be the Church. They insist that the bad guys are taken out of the way, so that only the godly remain on earth to continue the work of the Kingdom. This is actually a Luciferian Doctrine, in disguise. This will be explained later on.
The next question that needs to be addressed, is how does the "twinkling of an eye" fit into the scenario?
Luke 24:51 - And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
carried up is the Greek word 'ana-phero' which means, to bear or to carry upwards. Jesus was carried upwards into heaven, He did not vanish.
Acts 1:9 - And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
taken up is the Greek word 'e-pai-ro', meaning, to lift up, to raise, elevate, to hoist, to be borne upwards.
This is a most amazing verse. I'm not sure we have fully appreciated the sight. As Jesus was standing there, talking to them, he began to go up. Jesus just started floating up into the sky! They watched him go up until he disappeared into a cloud. The account above says, " while they beheld, he was taken up". They watched him go upwards in the air until he disappeared from sight. He did not vanish, but they watched him with their own eyes, ascend upwards.
After He had disappeared into the cloud, they kept on looking up. Then two angels stood beside them, and said,"Why are you still gazing up, This same Jesus will come again in the same way that you have seen him go".
The point is this. The taking up of Jesus is a pattern, an exact picture of the catching up of the Church. Jesus was bodily removed from this earthly soil. He did not suddenly vanish. He was seen to physically ascend upwards. The Church's catching away will be in the same manner. When this event occcurs, the newpaper headlines will not read, MILLIONS VANISH!!!, but instead, will proclaim. . .
MILLIONS WATCH AS MULTITUDES ARE LIFTED INTO THE SKY!!!
If one could stand on a mountaintop, overlooking a major city at that moment, they would see thousands of people being physically lifted upwards into the heavens. Bodies flying straight up into the heavens. What a sight that will be. Try to imagine the impact this will have on those LEFT BEHIND?! What will they think?
How will this be explained?
And how shall the governments of the world explain this? There is a very good explanation, already at hand. More on this momentarily.
The following verses have been terribly abused in their application, but when understood properly, also witness to this great event. These sayings come from the lips of Jesus himself.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken and the other left. (Matt. 24:40-41)
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Luke 17:34-36)
The key to understanding these sayings, is in understanding the meaning of the verbs used here. When 'one is taken', the verb used is para-lam-bano, which means, to take to one's side, to take or to receive to one's self. Here the verb is passive, so it has the meaning of being carried off to the side of another. Jesus says the same thing, using the same word, when He says in John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you (paralambano) unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." This "being taken" is a good thing. It is being taken up and received into the company of our Lord. The root of this word is lambano, which is used in John 1:12. Here "as many as received him, gave he the power to become the sons of God." Here, 'lambano' is translated as received, or welcomed. It has the basic idea of taking or receiving something or someone to one's self.
What of the one who is 'left'. The word here is aphi'ami, which has the basic meaning, to send away, to dismiss, to cause to depart. This is also in the passive, so it means to cause to be dimissed, sent away, or rejected. This is the word translated as forgive. In this context, when you forgive someone of their sin, you dismiss, send away, and cause their sin to depart.
So with this understanding, One shall be received and welcomed to the side of the Lord, and the other shall be dismissed and rejected.
Another interesting note on these verses, is the activity taking place by those taken and those left behind. Some are sleeping, indicating that it is night. Others are in the field working or grinding, indicating daytime. This illustrates that this event is not localized, but spans across the globe.
Many in the Kingdom Now camp have tried to make those who are left, to be the Church. They insist that the bad guys are taken out of the way, so that only the godly remain on earth to continue the work of the Kingdom. This is actually a Luciferian Doctrine, in disguise. This will be explained later on.
The next question that needs to be addressed, is how does the "twinkling of an eye" fit into the scenario?
IN A MOMENT, IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE
behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ( ICor. 15 : 51 - 53 )
Let us first notice what this passage does not say. It does not mention the manner of our being taken up, only the manner of our being changed from one state of being to another. Many have mistakenly applied the twinkling of an eye to the vanishing scenario. However, it is the changing that will occur in a moment, in an eye's twinkle. If we put I Thess. 4 with I Cor. 15, this is what we have described for us.
When the dead are raised first, they will be raised in a state of incorruption and immortality. Then we who are alive, the remaining ones, will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, from this state of corruption to incorruption and this state of mortality to immortality. The passage in I Cor. 15 deals with the manner of our change, while I Thess. deals with the manner of our being taken up. It is glorious and wonderous, the things that the Lord has prepared for them who wait for Him.
AN EXPLANATION ALREADY IN PLACE
If this event is as dramatic as the Scriptures say, and of course it will be, there will be utter and complete chaos on the earth, until somebody comes up with an explanation. How interesting it is , that the deceiver of mankind, already has the explanation in place for this grand event.
In her book, Project World Evacuation, Thelma Terrell, who calls herself Tuella, annouces that there is already a plan in motion by the 'ascended masters' (a.k.a. demonic entities) for a "great evacuation" , to rid the planet of those who are not cosmically ensync with Mother Earth and her transition to the next level of evolution. The book states this,
The great evacuation will come upon the world very suddenly. The flash of emergency events will be as a lightning that flashes in the sky. So sudden and so quick in its happening that it is over almost before you are aware of its presence. Our rescue ships will be able to come in close enough in the twinkling of an eye to set the lifting beams in operation in a moment. And all over the globe where events warrant it, this will be the method of evacuation. Mankind will be lifted, levitated shall we say, by the beams from our smaller ships.
These smaller craft will in turn taxi the persons to the larger ships overhead, higher in the atmoshpere, where there is ample space and quarters and supplies for millions of people.
(Tuella, Project World Evacuation, Inner Light Publications, 1993 edition.)
Also , new-age author Kay Wheeler, wrote in the new age journal "Connecting Link", back in the spring of 1944, concerning this evacuation and cleansing of the planet.
"Many of these beings who are leaving this planet at this time have completed that which they came to do. It is a time of great rejoicing for them. Do not feel sad about their leaving. They are going home. Many are waiting to be with them again... Many beings must move on, for their thought patterns are of the past. They hold on to these thoughts that keep Earth held back."
Notice the language that is used to describe this lifting up. They use language from the Bible, to describe this event. They use the same language the Scriptures do to describe the Coming of Jesus and our being changed at His coming.
These people who are levitated up to the 'awaiting ships', are those who no longer fit in, those "whose thought patterns are of the past", these dark forces, are taken up, caught up if you will, by lifting beams. These new-age channelers describe an event that removes those who lack the proper spiritual vibration. Those that are taken, are those whose beliefs are characterized as "intolerant," "fearful" and "of the past." From the New Age perspective, the earth will go through a "cleansing action" that will remove "dark thought forces" to allow itself to ascend to a higher plane of existence, or to the next level of evolution.
According to these new-agers, there is also a second stage to this evacuation, that of children. It is stated," The second phase is vital, as we return for the children of all ages and races. The child does not have the power of choice in understanding nor personal accountability." Certainly interesting, that they see the necessity of taking the innocent out of the way. Imagine, NO CHILDREN LEFT ON EARTH!!! So according to the new-agers, it is the bad guys who are taken out of the way, and the good guys who are left behind. Do you see now why I called the Kingdom Now application of Matt. 24:40-41, a Luciferian doctrine? Because it is in harmony with the new age, .i.e., demonic, interpretation of this event.
[The Scriptures do not give this idea or detail the concept of all the world's children being taken up also. This is strictly the new-agers idea.]
What is of great interest here, is that the adversary of our God, has already set in motion such explanation of this worldshaking event. He knows that it won't be a vanishing, but a lifting up into the air. So he has put into place, through these new age 'enlightened masters' , an explanation. Those who are taken up, were holding earth back from going on to its next stage of man's progressive evolution. So this means, that those who are left behind, are viewed as being enlightened enough to be able to progress forward.
Could this be the STRONG DELUSION that Paul refers to God sending because they loved not the truth? It is at least, something to think about.
In conclusion, it is evident that this event is real, and not symbolic. That the nature of this event is that of a physical catching up of the saints, and is not a disappearing act of sorts. And that this event will have the major effect of deception on those who are "left behind".
Are You Going To Be Caught Up or Left Behind?
Only those who have repented of their sins, believing that Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive and have confessed Jesus as LORD will be counted as true believers. Church membership will do you no good. Being moral will profit you nothing in that day. Only trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for your salvation will profit you in these last days and beyond. I strongly encourage you to read the Bible, get with God and ask Him to save you.
In her book, Project World Evacuation, Thelma Terrell, who calls herself Tuella, annouces that there is already a plan in motion by the 'ascended masters' (a.k.a. demonic entities) for a "great evacuation" , to rid the planet of those who are not cosmically ensync with Mother Earth and her transition to the next level of evolution. The book states this,
The great evacuation will come upon the world very suddenly. The flash of emergency events will be as a lightning that flashes in the sky. So sudden and so quick in its happening that it is over almost before you are aware of its presence. Our rescue ships will be able to come in close enough in the twinkling of an eye to set the lifting beams in operation in a moment. And all over the globe where events warrant it, this will be the method of evacuation. Mankind will be lifted, levitated shall we say, by the beams from our smaller ships.
These smaller craft will in turn taxi the persons to the larger ships overhead, higher in the atmoshpere, where there is ample space and quarters and supplies for millions of people.
(Tuella, Project World Evacuation, Inner Light Publications, 1993 edition.)
Also , new-age author Kay Wheeler, wrote in the new age journal "Connecting Link", back in the spring of 1944, concerning this evacuation and cleansing of the planet.
"Many of these beings who are leaving this planet at this time have completed that which they came to do. It is a time of great rejoicing for them. Do not feel sad about their leaving. They are going home. Many are waiting to be with them again... Many beings must move on, for their thought patterns are of the past. They hold on to these thoughts that keep Earth held back."
Notice the language that is used to describe this lifting up. They use language from the Bible, to describe this event. They use the same language the Scriptures do to describe the Coming of Jesus and our being changed at His coming.
These people who are levitated up to the 'awaiting ships', are those who no longer fit in, those "whose thought patterns are of the past", these dark forces, are taken up, caught up if you will, by lifting beams. These new-age channelers describe an event that removes those who lack the proper spiritual vibration. Those that are taken, are those whose beliefs are characterized as "intolerant," "fearful" and "of the past." From the New Age perspective, the earth will go through a "cleansing action" that will remove "dark thought forces" to allow itself to ascend to a higher plane of existence, or to the next level of evolution.
According to these new-agers, there is also a second stage to this evacuation, that of children. It is stated," The second phase is vital, as we return for the children of all ages and races. The child does not have the power of choice in understanding nor personal accountability." Certainly interesting, that they see the necessity of taking the innocent out of the way. Imagine, NO CHILDREN LEFT ON EARTH!!! So according to the new-agers, it is the bad guys who are taken out of the way, and the good guys who are left behind. Do you see now why I called the Kingdom Now application of Matt. 24:40-41, a Luciferian doctrine? Because it is in harmony with the new age, .i.e., demonic, interpretation of this event.
[The Scriptures do not give this idea or detail the concept of all the world's children being taken up also. This is strictly the new-agers idea.]
What is of great interest here, is that the adversary of our God, has already set in motion such explanation of this worldshaking event. He knows that it won't be a vanishing, but a lifting up into the air. So he has put into place, through these new age 'enlightened masters' , an explanation. Those who are taken up, were holding earth back from going on to its next stage of man's progressive evolution. So this means, that those who are left behind, are viewed as being enlightened enough to be able to progress forward.
Could this be the STRONG DELUSION that Paul refers to God sending because they loved not the truth? It is at least, something to think about.
In conclusion, it is evident that this event is real, and not symbolic. That the nature of this event is that of a physical catching up of the saints, and is not a disappearing act of sorts. And that this event will have the major effect of deception on those who are "left behind".
Are You Going To Be Caught Up or Left Behind?
Only those who have repented of their sins, believing that Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive and have confessed Jesus as LORD will be counted as true believers. Church membership will do you no good. Being moral will profit you nothing in that day. Only trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for your salvation will profit you in these last days and beyond. I strongly encourage you to read the Bible, get with God and ask Him to save you.
NWO Plans "Fake Rapture" with Project Blue Beam?
Will You Know When The Fake Occurs and Is It Important?
Why would the NWO elite want to stage a fake rapture? Simple. If you want to dishearten and cause extreme disillusionment among most professing Christians, you would want to make them believe that they missed the rapture. That they were not considered "worthy" by Jesus to escape the troubled times ahead. Therefore, the hope would be that these disillusioned "christians" would turn their faith and allegiance toward the NWO's Messiah, the Antichrist.
With the US Government's development of Project Blue Beam (a NASA project), HAARP (a joint project of the US Air Force and Navy) and the DOD's Silent Sound Spread Spectrum (SSSS or aka S-quad), gives the NWO agenda the tools it needs to FAKE A RAPTURE and more. These technologies, along with the PVI system, the NWO agenda will have what it needs to decieve the world and unsuspecting Christians into believing that the rapture has already happened.
Remember that Jesus warned his followers that the deception will be demonstrated by "signs and wonders". Paul states in 2Thess. 2:9 that these will be "lying signs and wonders", meaning these will be fake signs and phony wonders. One new age occultist, Lemesurier, has even admitted that, "Certainly, therefore, the use of such special effects should not be ruled out on this occasion [appearance of Antichrist]". Hence the use of special effects deception will permeate the entire structure of the NWO's plan for the takeover of the world.
However, in keeping with the study above, this fake rapture of the NWO will make people seem to vanish or disappear in "the twinkling of an eye". [This is already able to be done through the use of the PVI system]. I believe this is why it is important to know what the true rapture will look like, so that you won't be deceived and fall in line with the NWO agenda of worshipping the antichrist.
"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast ... And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." [Revelation 13:13-15, Emphasis added]
Constance Cumby, in her 1983 book Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, states concerning the use of laser beam projection,
"I talked to lighting experts to see what laser beam projectors are capable of and I was told they can be beamed onto telecommunications satellites. The New Agers have several of these at their disposal. When the lasers bounce from the satellite back to earth, the light rays can be bent in such a manner as to appear that flames are coming from the sky. These satellites can also be used to project a three-dimensional holographic image viewable by up to one-third of the earth's population. There is even technology to make the image speak in the language of the areas to which it is beamed." [Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow , pg. 24, published in 1983]
Notice that the fire coming down is only a deception, as it appears "in the sight of men". The image of the Beast can also be made to appear in 3D and speak. If this could be done back in the early 80's, image what the technologies of Project Blue Beam, HAARP and SSSS can accomplish now. It would be like the difference between Hollywood special effects capabilities now compared with the special effects back in the 30's and 40's. We are now lightyears ahead of where we were back in the 80's.
Do not be deceived by these lying signs and wonders. The only weapon you have against such deception is TRUTH! The Truth of God's Word and faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Believe the Word of God and not what the deceptions of the governments are going to perpetrate upon the whole world.
[If any of these programs or technologies are unfamiliar to you, simply do an internet search and you will find ready information on them.]