Many are very sincere in their “hope’ to rapture to heaven with Christ when Christ comes down to earth in the clouds, but is that what Paul in I Thessalonians 4: 13 – 18 actually is saying??

Many are very sincere in their “hope’ to rapture to heaven with Christ when Christ comes down to earth in the clouds, but is that what Paul in I Thessalonians 4: 13 – 18 actually is saying??

We are told us to prove all things.  Scripture by scripture and word by word let us “prove” whether this “hope of escaping physical pain” has its foundation on solid rock or sand.

I Thessalonians 4: 13 – 18

13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them- which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others (which are dead)  which have no hope. (They never received God’s Spirit)

Paul states plainly the Saints –are – asleep i.e. in their graves: they are dead.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep (in the grave) in Jesus — will God - bring – with him (Jesus).

Bring #71; to lead, bring, carry.

“Bring” is a key word, where is God bringing those that sleep in Jesus?

This does not say God the Father is sending the Saints with Jesus –“from heaven” – but the Saints which are asleep (dead) – God will bring them, those that sleep in Jesus, with Him — with Jesus Christ.

Will “bring’- “with’ Christ — “to where” — is the question?

Where is the Father bringing the Saints and Jesus Christ?

So far these scriptures are moot as to where both the Saints and Christ are being brought by God.

We must keep reading if we want to find where the Father, once He calls those that are asleep in their graves, is bringing them.

Both Christ and the Apostles referred to the dead as being ‘asleep’ in their graves so before all the Saints are brought to Christ in the clouds these Saints have died and are in their graves.

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.

This also is very clear, those still alive at the “Coming of the Lord” will not prevent or – #5348 –“come before” – those that are asleep in their graves.

Both the dead and those alive shall rise to meet Jesus Christ in the air together but the dead rise from their graves first then once out of their graves they all rise together to meet Christ as HE comes down from heaven.

Paul is describing the – “Coming of the Lord”;– in other scripture the coming of the Lord is just that; Jesus Christ is COMING back to earth to rule as King of kings.

The apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, states in Hebrews 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 without sin unto salvation.

Please produce the scripture which state — coming to take you home?????

None have done so to date.

Paul states Jesus Christ is to appear — the second time– bringing salvation and nothing about taking them to heaven.

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:

The Lord descends from heaven: by Himself.

With a shout:

With the voice of the Archangel:

With the trump of God:

Then the dead in Christ rise first:

Revelation 11

AT The Seventh Trumpet

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The kingdoms of this world now belong to Jesus Christ and HE shall reign for ever and ever.

And after this Christ abandon His Kingdom and returns to heaven ?? Really ?? And that makes sense to you?

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast , and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

The 24 Elders address Jesus Christ as “O Lord GOD Almighty”: Jesus Christ is the member of the God Family that dealt with Adam and all of the patriarchs’.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, — and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Verse 18 State Jesus Christ is going to destroy them which destroy the earth and Christ is coming to giving reward to the Saints.

The nations were angry – so they know what is taking place, Jesus Christ is coming in WRATH to destroy THEM.

Christ does not return to heaven instead He destroys all the gentile nations in that Battle of that Great Day of God Almighty.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Christ is coming down from heaven — by Himself – the dead have not risen yet and when He is in the clouds, as other scripture also state — THEN the dead rise together with those still alive to meet Him as He return the 2^nd time to earth. The dead came from their graves and not from heaven – because they were never in heaven.

This is the FIRST RESURRECTION!

So we know for certain this is not a secret coming! With the “shout”, the “voice” and the “Trump” —- all on earth will hear and know and see as is clearly stated in other scriptures.

17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up – “together” –with them (the dead)- in the clouds, – to meet the Lord in the air: —-and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

As the LORD comes down, the dead rise first and then we that are alive are also are caught up together – with those that were dead — into the clouds — AND — we – both will meet the Lord in the clouds which are in the air above the surface of the earth.

So with great confidence we can rest assured the dead and those still alive will rise to meet Jesus Christ is the clouds which are in the air above the surface of the earth — And — the last part of this scripture contains the Hope we all wait for and the statement that confuses the rapture folks: “So shall we ever be with the Lord.”

OH OH — we must look elsewhere for scriptures telling us after the resurrection from dead — which occurs at Christ’s returns — and the Saints both dead and those alive rise to meet Him — Just Where are they all going NEXT — because these scriptures only proclaim – Where ever Christ will be — we shall ‘ever’ be with Him!

Why the Saints will be with Christ forever will be addressed later.

Verse 17 does not reveal the destination or place to which Christ will bring the Saints, only the fact where ever Jesus Christ- IS- from then on the Saints will be with Christ.

There is not one mention of returning to heaven in these scriptures and not one statement or even a hint that Christ will be back in heaven after the resurrection.

WOW!! I can not make these scriptures give even a hint of a rapture back to heaven for the Saints of God. One must then -ONLY ASSUME and ONLY HOPE that what is being described in these scriptures.

Anything added to the words spoken by Paul in First Thessalonians 4: 13 -18, are your words not God’s. You must look elsewhere for a rapture as it is no where to be found in these scriptures. The First Resurrection is clearly shown but not a rapture.

18 “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

And I am comforted by the knowledge of that First Resurrection to Life.

Fact: The Saints of God are asleep in their graves and some remain alive until that day the last Trump is sounded and then ALL the saints of God rise to meet Christ in the clouds as He comes down from the 3^rd heaven to return to the Mount of Olives from which HE left –which is what the angels of God told the Apostles Christ would do.

Acts 1

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall — so come –in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

“Shall so COME;” how can anyone understand this to mean Christ –so comes- and then returns to heaven???

Not one word stating Christ after the Saints meet Him in the clouds will return to heaven,.

Find even one scripture that plainly and clearly states the Saints — or any human –will ever go to heaven — and you will be the first to do so.

From this study of I Thessalonians 4: 13 – 18 it is very difficult to comprehend how this could be mistaken as a rapture?

Read Vs. 16 and 17 closely: first Christ descends from heaven with a shout, — with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trump of God and then — the dead in Christ rise first.

If we only had these two verses it would still be evident this is not a rapture as there is not one mention of returning to heaven.

The dead rise first – rise from their graves – when Christ descends from the 3^rd heaven and into the clouds of the earth. This is exactly when the rapture is supposed to take place when they rise from the grave –where then is a rapture explained or even vaguely alluded to?

Where are words proclaiming this is just a quick descent and that Christ is not really —- coming — all the way down to earth? He is just — coming — to take the Saints back with Him? The Word of God must be severely twisted and “creatively enhanced” to create even the illusion of a rapture.

There are many other scriptures that parallel this scripture and all set the return and “first” resurrection at the end at the 7^th Trump i.e. The last Trump.

ALL The Saints of God are to be resurrected at the end of the 7th Trump when Jesus Christ returns with the reward promised to the Firstfrutis i.e. Positions of authority (mansions) reigning with Jesus Christ as kings and lords on the earth.

The reason the Saints of God “will always be with the Lord;

They are to rule the earth as kings, lords and priest with Christ from His throne for 1000 years and for that reason — so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Revelation 20:

6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand year.

Revelation 5:

10 And hast made us unto our God “kings “and “priests”: and we shall reign on the earth.

Those that rise to meet Christ in the clouds will always be with Jesus Christ from then ON: because they are to sit with Jesus Christ KING of kings and LORD of lord on HIS throne and rule with HIM for ever.

Revelation 3

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Again in vs. 17, reading only what is stated: those still alive will be caught up with the dead in the clouds (just as Christ rose in the clouds when He returned to the Father).

The Clouds are in the lower parts of earth’s atmosphere, and the Saints are to meet Christ in the air which is what humans breathe. Then Paul states the Saints will be with Christ from that day on. Yes, The Firstfruits, the Saints of God will be with Christ ruling with HIM on His throne from that day forward — forever.

“Bring” is the word causing the confusion, we must determine where Christ is bringing the Saints after THEY meet in the clouds. Christ and the Saints meet in the air in the clouds — now where is Christ going next, bring the Saints, that is the question, Where??

The Prophet Zechariah shows us where Christ is going next. Have you ever heard these scriptures quoted when the topic of a rapture is discussed?

Remember Isaiah 28 – here a little there a little, precept upon precept?? To find Truth we must employ every scripture that sheds light on a precept or doctrine or topic.

Zechariah 14: 1 – 5

1 Behold, —the day of the LORD – cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

The “Day of the Lord’ is the last year of the 7 years of the time of the end. In prophecy a year is as a day; a year for every day. A times, time and ½ time is 3 ½ years.

It is The Day of the LORD that comes on the world as a thief in the night not the tribulation

2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished ; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Verse 2 is describing the beginning of the 5^th Seal, the Great Tribulation when all the nations of Israel are to go into captivity for 3 ½ years.

3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Verse 3 is describing “The Battle of that “Great Day of God Almighty” where Our King of kings will destroy all of the gentile Kings and their nations here on earth. This battle occurs at the end of the Day of the LORD at the 7^th and Last Trump. And as the next verse states: Christ will be on earth for this great battle.

4 And his feet shall stand — “in that day” – upon the mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

The term “In that Day” is used dozens of times by the prophets of God and it speak of — THAT DAY — Christ returns to earth as King of kings and LORD of lords with ALL of the Saints of God and defeats His enemies . Go to a concordance and look up the phrase “In that Day”.

In verse 1 we are told it is the “Day of the Lord”, and in verse 4 “In that Day”,

The great Tribulation has passed the Day of the Lord begins and at the end of the Day of the Lord – “in that Day” the 2^nd Coming of our Lord occurs.

5 And ye shall flee [to] the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: —and the LORD my God shall come, — [and] —all — the saints with thee.

In verse 4 Christ’s feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives “In that Day”, — the exact spot from which He returned to the Throne of His Father. And in verse 5 it is states “the Lord my God shall come and ALL the Saints with Thee”.

Christ is returning to that same exact spot from which He left — with ALL His Saints (every last one) coming down from the clouds with Christ, and they together shall set foot on the Mount of Olives —- In that Day!

Not one word by Zechariah proclaiming the Saints are coming from heaven WITH Christ because they never were in heaven.

Something as momentous and as earth shaking as Jesus Christ returning from heaven as King of kings and LORD of lords — supposedly — with ALL of the Saints of God coming from heaven with Christ and Zechariah neglects to mention it ?? Really???

That — ONE Event — God the Father and His first born Son of many brethren, Jesus Christ have longed for since before creation — is the birth of the Sons of God into the Family of God: into Elohiym.

An Event as HOLY and as earth shaking as the birth of the SONS of God MUST occur on a Day made Holy before creation specifically for this purpose.

That Holy Day was put in place before creation; it is God’s Feast of TRUMPETS.

At the Feast of Trumpets Jesus Christ will return and the Saints of God will rise “In that DAY” as kings and priest and lords.

We are told “let no man take your CROWN”, at the return of Christ He give to those that have endured until the end – CROWNS.

Christ comes and ALL His Saints rise from the grave to meet Him. Jesus Christ of Nazareth only returns to earth – once – the second time.

Christ comes in Great Glory and with incomprehensible POWER and GREAT GLORY bring with Him the kings and lords to reign with Him and all of this takes place at the end of the Last Trump –on the day appointed – on the Feast of Trumpets.

First the physical coming and then the Spiritual coming: the Biblical pattern is first the physical then the spiritual.

A rapture is built upon a foundation of sand and when that first storm which is the “Beginning of Sorrows” (The first 4 Seals) comes that foundation of sand will be swept away and those waiting for the rapture will be not only confused but possible angry at Jesus Christ as they will believe they have been left behind.

When the 5^th Seal (the Great Tribulation) comes — those still alive — still waiting for the escape to heaven– will be “TAKEN”— into a horrendous captivity by the Beast.

Those few that will become the “remnant” — that come through the 3 ½ years of captivity will be greatly blessed after the 1260 days, at the return of Jesus Christ.

As time permits the false dogma of a rapture will be taken completely apart scripture by scripture. Watch for the next paper.