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NASB | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! [John 14:3; 1 Cor 15:52; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Col 3:4] |
Subject: Searching for the truth |
Bible Note: Graceful Your right God's word doesn't contradict. Doesn't that give you a clue that what you assume to be true could in fact be wrong? If God's word doesn't contradict, then possibly your take that God said everyone has to physically die could be wrong. First we know Enoch and Elijah didn't. We also know that everyone alive at the time of Christ's return aren't. Those of us that believe in the rapture also expect not to die so there are many exceptions to the "Rule". You then go on and compound this by saying, there must be a 'loophole' for Enoch and Elijah. Could it be your "rule" is not a rule? When God said you will surely die He also said you will surely die that day. However we know both Adam and Eve lived long after that day. However they were spiritually separated from God that day and thrown from the garden. Therefore the death God talked about in the curse was Spiritual death not physical death. We die because we live in world tainted with sin, and we do not have access to the tree of life. There is no "rule" we have to die physically. Now before you jump all over Hebrews 9:27 carefuly read what it says. It is saying there is only one cycle. This was a defense against reincarnation not a rule that man had to die although he will unless the Lord returns or takes him. I have ben trying to show you that the things you declare rules are being violated and since we know God never changes nor does He lie, soemthing has to be wrong. What is wrong the things you declare rules are not. In other words what you say God has to do because God said He would, God in fact NEVER SAID. Graceful, you said, "The answer is most likely hidden in His Word, but we can't see it due to our own 'boxed in thinking', which may or may not correct." Graceful don't look for mystery where mystery doesn't exist. God did not write his word in such a matter to trick us or decieve us or hid important things from us. He wrote it as an open love letter. Your theology is built focused on the the physical while God wants us to focus on the spiritual. Earth is not our home, it is a place we dwell serving God awaiting our call home. Your more concerned about the physical body than you need to be. Jesus said don't worry about those that can kill the physical body worry about those that can kill the spiritual body. The fact remains each of us unless the Lord returns are going to die. And we will die of some disease. That is not what is important what is important is where we are going to spend eternity. Yesterday I watched a woman sing "God is all I need" with such power and conviction that my soul was exicted and my faith was increased. Why because I know this woman, she had a one son. He was a son any of us would have been proud to have. He loved his mother, he was faithful, honest, obedient, loving. There are not enough positive comments to totally descibe him. He was 18 when he fell from the boat he was on and drowned. His mother was shaken to the very core of her faith but let me tell you she never lost her faith and today she can sing 'God is all I need' and do it in such a way that any that knows her story knows God is all that she needs. Why did God call that son home? I do not know but this I know every time I see this woman I know God is worth serving. EdB |