In following on to know our Lord Jesus Christ, he builds us up through the knowledge of Him. That is a knowledge of intimacy in the spirit and in His Word. We must go past the letter, for it is the spirit word that gives life (2Cor 3:6). When we are truly planted where He desires us to grow, He builds us up line upon line, precept upon precept. In America people often choose churches like they choose fast food restaurants. Well, we don't serve the Burger King, King Jesus has a certain place for you.
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (1 Corinthians 12:18)
There is a weight to His word. A truth will weave a thread from beginning to end. A foundational truth has great weight. As Christians we must be open to hear the word rightly divided. I have been wrong many times before, and anyone reading this is no different. God desires us to be planted and changed by His word so that we have a strong foundation and are no longer turned to and fro by every wind of doctrine. When someone is just blowing wind, we should recognize it by the spirit. It is the spirit that reveals the deep things of God. When you have a firm foundation, a wind of doctrine should not be able to withstand the weight of the Word that has been built up in you.
One truth that I have come to know, despite so much teaching to the contrary is stated by Proverbs 10:30--The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
The Hebrew word for “shall never” is ‘owlam, which refers to eternity. It means what it says. At NO time ever will the righteous be removed. If you do a search through Proverbs on forms of the words “righteous” and “wicked” you will find much the same. Hit this link and it will do it for you on Biblegateway
http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=righteous*%20wicked*&version1=9&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=26
Read through Psalm 37 and you will find the same common theme of the wicked being cutoff and removed, while the righteous remain and flourish. Jesus quoted this Psalm in several places in the Gospels, i.e., the meek shall inherit the earth … (Psalm 37:11)
This foundational truth of God establishing His righteousness in the earth is found throughout the Bible, including when Jesus told his disciples how to pray saying, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)” This Scripture has been in our Bible for two thousand years or so and quoted incessantly as part of The Lord's Prayer. The Greek word used for earth refers to the planet. A wind of doctrine cannot displace the foundational truth of God establishing his righteousness in the earth. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.
So how is it, this overwhelming truth is seemingly turned upside down by some of the Scriptures in 1 Thessalonians?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (King James Version)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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.
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.
Many have questions on this passage of Scripture because it has been used so much to support what has been heard over the last 150 years or so about the "rapture" or the catching away of the saints. Well, first of all, the word “rapture” is not even in your Bible. One day I plan to do a whole dissertation on words that are often used in church but have no scriptural basis. The word rapture itself has many negative connotations and does not stir images of Christ. It comes from the Latin “raptus,” which in general means to be seized, but in its connotation during the Roman Empire it often referred to the seizure and rape of women.
So, is there a contradiction of being “caught up” as 1 Thessalonians 4:17 mentions, and the foundational truth of God’s righteousness never being removed. First of all, the Scripture is true. Those truly in Christ know that.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Word is true. The Word is infallible. And the Word does not contradict itself. A truth will weave a thread throughout the Word of God. So let me present one foundational truth that is found throughout the Bible and is irrefutable. I get "Amen's" on the following scriptures regardless of the Christian audience I am speaking.
The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalms 24:1)
For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. (1 Corinthians 10:26)
The Lord created the earth and everything in it for his pleasure, and he said it is his good pleasure to give us the Kingdom. He also said he came to save, or make whole again, all that which was lost.
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)
Well, the earth is his and everything else. He did not make it in vain. And he came in the form of Jesus to restore all things.
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18)
Well then, He made it to be inhabited. Inhabited with what? Once again, here is what Proverbs says.
The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. (Proverbs 10:30)
What I am getting at is there is a common thread throughout the Scriptures, and in the work of God in our own lives, of removing the ungodly and replacing it with Himself, His righteousness. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. He is replacing Adam with Himself—His righteousness.
What happened with Sodom. It was removed. God spared Lott, but remember Lott's wife Jesus said. She longed for the world as she looked back. Think on Noah, he was counted as the only righteous on earth. God kept him and his family. All else were removed. It repented God that he made man because of his wickedness. God saw his likeness in Noah, and kept him and his family, while all else was washed away.
Jesus spoke of these times as being as Noah's time. Now the ark is Jesus. The third time Noah let out the dove from the natural ark and it never returned. But then in the third chapter of Matthew, all of a sudden the spirit lights on Jesus as a dove.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (Matthew 3:16)
The dove landed on the true ark. Jesus said abide in me and I in you. Christ is the only one that will stand when all else crumbles. We are saved when he is right standing in us.
Know this about world and earth in the Scriptures. Most of the times the Bible uses the word “earth,” the original Greek and Hebrew refers to the planet earth. Usually when world is mention, it is referring to “kosmos,” the temporary arrangement of things on the earth. God erased the chalkboard in Noah's time, and established a whole new arrangement. He did not do away with the earth, just changed the order and arrangement of things.
So there is a common thread of God instilling His righteousness and removing the wicked. If you have followed God for any length of time, you know this is what he has done in your own personal life. It has certainly been my experience.
Next, let me emphasize another common thread you find in the Bible. Throughout the Bible there are words that refer to "down" and "up." Well, these really are not directions like north, south, east, and west. Up and down is all relative. When I point down, I am actually pointing up from the perspective of people halfway around the earth. Up and down in the scriptures is referring to a spiritual perspective. Gods ways are higher than our ways.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) Does that mean I am to have my head in the clouds? No. I am to recognize that I am made to sit in heavenly places. God has made avenue for us to partake of his divine nature and not wallow in the dust of carnality. Where is heaven? Where is God? God is in Heaven. Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within you. Where is the King? He is ruling in his kingdom. Once again, where is Heaven? Is it up there in the clouds, or is it a realm of abiding in relationship with our Heavenly Father?
The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. (Proverbs 15:24)
Once again, we are speaking of a perspective or a spiritual realm.
The point is, Biblical words meaning “up” are referring to walking upright with God, whereas “down” words usually refer to living a life apart from God.
So now let me go through this section in the fouth chapter of 1Thessalonians. Remember, what it says is true. And as truth it will not contradict the established foundational truths that I've already stated. Usually, if there is a "contradiction," the word has not been rightly divided. Something has been taken out of context or misunderstood. First in this passage, Paul is making sure that the Thessalonians know that those who have passed away that were following Jesus would be restored to them. Remember the time in which he wrote this. The idea of eternal life was just sinking in. Paul wanted them to know without a doubt that they did not have to keep living in grief over their loved ones as the heathens were want to do. One of Paul’s main objectives with the Thessalonians was to put them in the frame of mind to occupy and be productive in the earth. And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; (1 Thessalonians 4:11) When Jesus spoke the word “occupy,” he was speaking of being productive, not sedentary and waiting to escape. He is our escape. See my write up called “Occupy Til I Come.” One of the terrible problems with “escapism” is the tendency to make people complacent. Christians have taken a back seat in the world just hoping to be caught up at any minute. That is not the will of God for our lives. Remember, God did not make earth in vain Isaiah said, he made it to be inhabited with His righteousness. To be praying against that is ludicrous.
1 Thessalonians 4
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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.
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:
In verse 14 of 1 Thessalonians 4, notice it emphasizes that God will bring to us these folk who previously passed from the world. Jesus will come with the saints to those who remain according verse 15. The Bible emphasizes His coming, not our going. In Vs 16, he “shall descend.” This is coming from the invisible realm of the spirit to the visible. It is actually happening within his body of believers right now, as the spirit manifests itself in those that are led by the spirit. The church is coming down from God as he manifests himself in a people. He will have a church without spot or blemish, just as himself. The "trump" is sounding now. Only by hearing the trump are you changed. There is a clear certain sound of the spirit being sounded in the earth today from the mouths of true apostles and prophets. That is your ongoing trump. My pastor, Donald Rodenberger, gave a great word not long ago called "In or During the Last Trump."
We are changed by the word. We must be IN the last trump. Jesus told his disciples they were made clean by the words He spoke to them. That trump will end with a clear certain sound. There will be no mistaking it. Those in Christ will know because they are of the day. For those who are of darkness, it will be like a thief in the night.
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. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
In the 17th verse of 1 Thessalonians 4, We which are alive and REMAIN--what did Paul mean by “remain.” I thought we were all getting sucked off the planet. And of course verse 15 says he is coming to those who remain. If I only read the second half of verse 17 literally, I would think that I'll be flying around with Jesus forever. I will be soaring in the spirit, but I'll also be reigning with Christ in earth forever as the word says (Rev 5:10, 11:15) We are to be caught up, but that “caught up” is the same as when Paul spoke of being caught up into paradise.
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (2 Corinthians 12:4)
He never left the planet, but he experienced a realm of God never before imaginable. It refers to being apprehended by the spirit. Brought to the realm of God. The up has nothing to do with direction. If you were flying in an airplane above the clouds would you suddenly be caught down? We have got to search the mind of the spirit and quit our foolishness in teaching doctrines that have no scriptural basis. Well intentioned ministers have handed these doctrines down--that does not make them right. Are we saved by a little lamb that was sacrificed, or by Jesus Christ who was nailed to a cross. There are many things that I could take literal and everyone would rightly tell me I am wrong. Well, I am telling pastors and leaders especially in this writing that we have been wrong. We have to take on the mind of Christ in these Scriptures and come into the true purposes of God for His church in the earth today.
Remember Paul's original purpose in this Scripture in 1 Thessaloinians 4. He wanted to ensure those in Thessalonica that their loved ones would be fully restored with them if the fullness of God occurred while they were still alive on earth. So these dead would be made alive and Jesus would bring them. He rides in the clouds. “Clouds” in the scriptures often refers to multitudes of people. Like a "great cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 12:1.
John says that we don't know exactly how we will be in our glorified bodies, but we will be like Jesus.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
Well, he is the pattern son. What did he do in the 40 days after his resurrection? He walked the earth, he ate, but there is no account of him flying around. He appeared where he desired, so he seemed to be where he thought to be. There seemed to be no physical bounds. Remember how he startled the apostles in Luke 24. There is a lot we just don't know.
Thessalonians 4:17 also says, we will meet the Lord in the air. The air here is referring to what we breathe. The Greek word is "aer" and actually has the connotation of breathing unconsciously. Well, that's what I'm doing now. In other words in this visible realm where we live and breathe, we will be with our loved ones who had previously passed, and with Jesus. It is not referring to flying around. It is referring to being in this tangible world. Our loved ones will be right before us living and breathing as we all take on our glorious bodies. The word of God is not to be turned into a Peter Pan fantasy. If we were all going to be flying around, don't you think it would be made much clearer? But no, we have taken these few Scriptures out of context and totally negated the foundation of God establishing his righteous in the earth and that his righteousness shall NEVER be removed. You can not live with that contradiction if you are a minister of the spirit word. And a true apostle will certainly know the error of these "theories."
2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Verse 18 of 1 Thessalonians 4 says, Wherefore comfort one another with these words. You will be restored with your friends, Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, cousins, Grandma, all those who followed on to know the Lord. All who REMAIN will be caught up in the spirit and be changed to their glorified body. Paul was assuring these people of eternal life and the ramifications of the Cross. Many people were persecuted and died for the Way. They had to know their lives were not in vain. We are all part of the body, whether we are walking the earth in Christ today, or "sleeping in Jesus."
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. (Revelation 11:15)
When will we be caught up together? This is a matter of "till" not "when."
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: TILL we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Many have done away with the foundational gifts of apostle and prophet, but without them, the church will never come to the unity of the faith. We are in a time that God is restoring apostolic order in the church. True apostles are coming forth, and those who have an ear to hear know them by the spirit. The bride has to be prepared as one without spot or blemish. Until Jesus has a body to lay his head upon, he will not return. And he said in Acts 1 he would return in like manner as he left. Well he went from the visible to the invisible. He is not coming back in stages as rapture theories would speculate. This is not a science fiction novel. There is a simplicity in Christ. He will come from the invisible to the visible, but He will first be seen in His bride, the Church.
The word is alive. It is disconcerting to hear so much stuff that is totally devoid of the spirit. People argue about a seven year tribulation period---pre, mid, or post. Well, I’m not part of any of those camps. I’m with Jesus and His Truth and simplicity. We all have parts of the Truth, and we are in a time when God is connecting the dots. The true church will not be focused on pre, mid, and post tribs; it will be enamored with its King Jesus. Jesus is the beginning and the end. The end is Jesus. The Bible says nothing of any of that seven year tribulation stuff. A man of ill repute named Scofield concocted the seven year tribulation by taking away one of Daniels seventy weeks in his prophecy of Jesus in Daniel 9. Well, Daniels prophecy speaks of the work of Jesus on the cross. It is finished, and that prophecy is perfectly fulfilled. Scofield and others had to contrive the last seven years being separate from the rest. It is not in your Bible. To extract that last seven years out of Daniel's prophecy annuls the finished work of the cross. It is blasphemous. I'm sorry, but I must use strong language. It is antichrist.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Anything that takes away from the blood of Jesus is not of God. He is thhe way, the truth, and the life. He made the once and for all sacrifice. That is another foundation that is irrefutable. Those who want to follow the teachings of Scofield or Darby or Larkin and the like should also follow Scofield's teachings on the return of animal sacrifices. Well that is just insane. Those teachings have been deleted in recent times from the Scofield bibles, but I can tell you the rest of his teachings are as ungodly as that. Why would we return to animal sacrifices when the Word tells us that Jesus was the once and for all sacrifice.
The Greek word for tribulation is “thlipsis” and it means pressure. Without pressure, how will you be conformed to the image of the son? (Rom 8:29). Jesus promised tribulation, but he was not referring to some seven year period. That is totally unscriptural.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation,... (Revelation 1:9)
Peter spoke of how the righteous would be “scarcely” saved.
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1 Peter 4:18)
This “scarcely” does not have the meaning that we think of in today’s language. The original Greek word is “molis,” and has the meaning of requiring effort or much work or with difficulty. If you are truly following after God, it is His will to form you. If you want to kick against the pricks, it will require great tribulation. God did not write His word to become a science fiction novel. He does not want to be a mystery to you. Many deep things of God are so deep because they are so simple. It is man that wants to complicate things.
Beware of anyone who wants to put this walk into the natural realm. Yes, we have a walking out to do, but Jesus is looking for those that will follow him in spirit and in truth. He is building His temple made without hands.
Mark 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
There are two Greek words used for “temple" in the New Testament. When speaking of a physical building the word “hieron” is used. When speaking of a spiritual place, the word “naos” is used.
For example, Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple (naos), and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19)
In John's gospel he even made sure we knew what Jesus meant by temple.
But he spake of the temple of his body. (John 2:21) And yet we as people tend to continue to think as the Pharisees thought in terms of natural temples. This walk is spiritual. Jesus came to save the world. His disciples did not yet understand that this work of the cross extended to all people, and all were being given the one way, the one door that is Jesus. His disciples inquired of him in Acts 1.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)
They had not yet been filled with the spirit and still had a parochial view of the Kingdom of God in terms of natural Israel. They had not yet understood that Jesus was pouring his spirit onto all flesh, and that he was establishing spirtitual Israel in the earth. Jesus responds as follows.
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:7-8)
Note that in his answer, he was sending them to the Jew first and then throughout the earth. Those who preach that Jews are saved by natural birth are in grave error, and will answer for giving Jewish folks a false hope instead of the only way which is Jesus. We are born in the Kingdom. Paul said the Jew is now one inwardly, born of the spirit. Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jew of high report, that a man must be born from above to see and enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus still comes to the Jew first, meaning he reveals a new thing first to those who received the last thing. The things that I write and teach, and that my church teaches come from a third day mindset. It is finished. The tendency of churches is to sit and camp out at their greatest revelation. Right now, God is trying to enlighten those who know the truth of the Pentecostal experience and move them on into the third feast--the Feast of Tabernacles. A place of total union with God. Well, I digressed from my original topic.
Back to the Greek word "naos." Here is another of many uses of that word for the spiritual temple which is within a people.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple (naos) of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21)
The Kingdom is within YOU he told the church. We must be fit together and raised up into him, the head, Jesus. Despite what people espouse from their own imaginations or teachings that have been handed down through the past 150 years or so, the book of Revelation mentions nothing of the building of a physical temple. All thirteen times that the word “temple” is used in Revelation, the Greek word “naos” is used. Yes, He is building a temple all right. It is a people in His image—in His character. He said He will build His church, and He is.
As you might can tell, I have been caught up. I have been violently seized with affection by my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Ever since December of 2001 I have not come down. I only plan on going up and up. Come up hither he told John in Revelation 4:1. Come into My perspective.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
GLORY REVEALED IN US! When we have been conformed to the image of the son. When Christ truly is our life. Then, and only then, shall we all be caught up with him in this race. He is the prize at the end. Those that endure to the end in Christ will live in glory and reign forever. The whole creation is groaning for this manifestation of the sons of God. The whole creation hinges on this supernatural change in a people to become Jesus’ likeness in the earth. (Romans 8)
The emphasis on Thessalonians 4 is “CAUGHT UP TOGETHER”—a corporate “caught up”—Made one with him—Unto a perfect man—A body that is one with him and each other.
I have been caught up with God. The original meaning of caught up in the Greek refers to being seized. Jesus by the spirit seized me with violent affection and brought me out of my sleep of unbelief. What has occurred on the individual level must occur at the corporate level. Paul was caught up into paradise, and yet he stayed on the planet.
Jesus in John 17 prayed that we be one with each other and one with him. Ephesians 4 speaks of coming into the unity of the faith. The emphasis of Thessalonians 4:13-18 is we be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER with all the saints. The clouds are a multitude of saints, i.e., great cloud of witnesses. I was not snatched up into the atmosphere to be saved, and neither will the corporate body of Christ. Jesus is coming with the saints that preceded those who REMAIN. We will be caught up together with them in the clouds. In Southern vernacular I could say, “We will be caught up together with them clouds, them saints that preceded those who REMAIN.”
It is coming into the realm of union with God in the spirit. It has nothing to do with your feet leaving the planet. It is the finality to Jesus prayer in John 17 that we be one with Him and one with each other. It is the completion of Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
There is a glory to be “REVEALED IN US” the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:18. The glory of God is in His unity. In this day we are in, there are no lone rangers in the Kingdom of God. We are to be connected and accountable to the body of Christ. We are altogether lovely in Christ. There is a common thread throughout the word that God is establishing His righteousness in the earth. In earth as it is in Heaven, Jesus spoke. So if you find a scripture is being used in conflict with this foundational truth, the word is not being rightly divided. It is being taken out of context, brought to a lesser earthly realm, or something of that nature. Jesus has no conflicts in his word, but it is a word of the spirit that must be received by the spirit. It is not written for your carnal mind.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5)
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)
Pastor Jonathan Alligood
Crown & Glory Bible Center
