Why in the Clouds? | Our Blessed Hope Bible Study
Why in the Clouds?
1 Thess 4:16-18
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:
17 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The rapture of the Church the Body of Christ will occur in the clouds where we meet the Lord up in the air. The Lord Jesus Christ at that time does not come all the way down to the earth. But why? Here are some reasons:
• We are a heavenly people, with a heavenly inheritance. What many people do not know or may not understand is that in Israel's program, they were never expecting to go up into heaven for all of eternity. They were awaiting the Kingdom of Heaven to come down to the earth, which would include their glorious resurrection and living on the new earth forever. Even when they died, their souls went down to paradise which was in the heart of the earth, and had a giant casm between hades [hell] and paradise. The fact that Paul teaches that the church the Body of Christ SPECIFICALLY is a heavenly people with a heavenly inheritance, teaches us that something different is happening today than was in Israel's prophetic program. Paul NEVER mentions us living on the new earth in our glorified bodies for eternity. He says that we are a heavenly people who have a heavenly inheritance. So, since we are a heavenly people with a heavenly inheritance, it's no surprise that we meet the Lord up in the air. This also means that in our new glorious bodies, they will be capable of flight (kind of like superman!] as well as traveling through and living in space! Our current bodies cannot do that unless we spend billions of dollars on space shuttles and space suits and we would still be extremely limited! Think ...why did God make all of "outer space" so massive? We will fill the heavenly places!
1Co 15:48 KJB
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, [the Church the Body of Christ] such are they also that are heavenly.
2Co 5:2 KJV -
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
1Co 15:49 KJV -
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [Because we are a heavenly people]
Eph 1:10 KJV -
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times [a distantly future event] he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, [the Church the Body of Christ] and which are on earth; [Israel and all believers on earth from the prophetic program] even in him:
Eph 1:3 KJV -
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: [these places include the 1st, 2nd and even 3rd heaven but is also in reference to the positions of power there in God's heavenly government]
Eph 2:6 KJV -
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Phl 3:20 KJV -
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Col 1:5 KJV -
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
• The next reason is because the Lord isn't returning yet to the earth at that time. The rapture marks the end of the dispensation of grace, which means that the Nation of Israel better prepare for the coming 7 year tribulation on the earth, which I believe begins very quickly after the rapture (there could be a gap of time between the rapture and the beginning of the tribulation period, however I think it will be a very short gap). When the Lord does return all the way down to the earth (his feet actually touching the earth again starting on the Mount of Olives) it will very specifically be in Israel, at the end of the tribulation period and he will have great wrath in the which he will literally destroy all of beleving Israel's enemies including the anti-christ and the false prophet, among all those also who have taken the mark of the beast or who worshipped the image of the beast. He also returns with an army of angels. This will be a very bloody event! The marriage supper of the Lamb is essentially Christ marrying believing Israel at his second coming (they receive their atonement at his appearing unto them) and then Christ killing all of Gods enemies and the birds feast on their flesh! This is a hugely different event from the rapture. One is a day of light and joy up in the clouds, (the rapture) whereas the other is a time of God marrying Israel and then destroying his and believing Israel's enemies in a massive bloodshed.
Rev 19:7,9, 11-21
7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, [God marrying believing Israel; they receive their atonement] and his wife [beleving Israel] hath made herself ready. [They endured until the end of the tribulation period]
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies [angels] which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. [These are holy angels, not fallen angels]
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, [the word of God] that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: [the millennial reign of Christ on the earth] and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, [billions of birds!] Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, [the anti-christ] and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [They are there to try to fight God!]
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
2 Thess 1:7-9
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [the 2nd coming to earth, NOT the rapture]
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
As believers in the dispensation of grace, we have a glorious, joyful event to look forward to on the day of the rapture.
1 Thessalonians 1:10
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
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