Subject: left behind/rapture |
Bible Note: When the apostle Paul said that Christians would be “caught up” to be with the Lord, what subject was being discussed? 1 Thess. 4:13-18, RS: “We would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep [“those who sleep in death,” NE; “those who have died,” TEV, JB], that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. Evidently some members of the Christian congregation in Thessalonica had died. Paul encouraged the survivors to comfort one another with the resurrection hope. He reminded them that Jesus was resurrected after his death; so, too, at the coming of the Lord, those faithful Christians among them who had died would be raised to be with Christ. Who are the ones that will be ‘caught? Verse 15 explains that they are faithful ones “who are left until the coming of the Lord,” that is, they are still living at the time of Christ’s coming. Will they ever die? According to Romans 6:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 15:35, 36, 44 they must die before they can gain heavenly life. But there is no need for them to remain in the death state awaiting Christ’s return. They will instantly be “caught up,” “in the twinkling of an eye,” to be with the Lord.—1 Cor. 15:51, 52, RS; also Revelation 14:13. This is simply talking about the future resurrection hope(Acts 24:15) for those with the "Heavenly calling" Heb. 3:1 Remember Acts 24:15 was written many years after Christ returned to heaven. That there is no rapture is found in scriptures like Proverbs 2:21,22; Psalm 37: 10 11, 29 and notice Jesus' illustration as to who is first to be collected at the end of the age at Matthew 13:28-30 . . . |