StewardoftheMystery
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A lot of people wonder when the catching up to the Lord will happen, and where they go. But this event is clearly spoken of in scripture as happening on the last day, at the last trump beginning with the shout, or the great voice. We also know by the words of God that the raising of the dead in Christ happens first, which is also shown in the Lords 2 witnesses being caught up to heaven "in a cloud." Also the prophecy of Christ coming "with the clouds of heaven", and gathering his elect into the clouds of heaven, is the prophecy of God gathering all things in Christ; which are all his saints, both in heaven and on earth in this one single harvest event.
First lets look at the prophecy of the clouds, so we might better understand where the resurrected saints will go.
We are told in Acts 1:9-11; “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and "a cloud received him" out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 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.”
So just as Jesus ascended up in a cloud, he shall also return with the same cloud...
In Revelation 1:7; “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
These clouds of heaven are the saints and the angels of God who come to collect the harvest of those who are in Christ, on the last day. Jesus said in Matthew 24:31 "And he shall send his angels with "a great sound of a trumpet", and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, "from one end of heaven" to the other. " Notice Jesus mentioned this gathering was also of heaven.
This is the event Paul spoke of in Ephesians 1:10 "That in the dispensation of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, "both which are in heaven, and which are on earth"; even in him." (notice both the heavenly host and the earthly host are united into One at this time) This also confirms there is no secret rapture event, but all things in Christ are gathered together into One congregation at this event.
Notice at the resurrection, both the dead and the living in Christ are caught up together "in the clouds."
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “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.”
This is when all that are in Christ, both in heaven and on earth are gathered together in One, as Paul said in Ephesians 1:10
Notice the connection of the dead being raised first, and the shout, or voice mentioned, and also the trump of God. But also notice how Paul described they would be caught up, which was "in the clouds".
We are shown the resurrection of the dead in Christ in the Lords 2 witnesses, which also confirms the timing of the resurrection; and also where the saints go after being resurrected. Notice they also are caught up in the same cloud.
Revelation 11:12-19 “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven "in a cloud"; and their enemies beheld them.13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.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.
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.
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.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.”
Alright first notice the sequence of events, the great voice is heard first (shout) and the dead in Christ are raised first, and then the remnant that remain give glory to God, and then 7th trump sounds=last trump sounds. But also notice the dead are caught up to heaven "in the clouds", this is an important sign to confirm as to where these saints are going.
So with that let’s view this at another angle in….
Daniel 7:9-14 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.(=thousand years)
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like "the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven", and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
Alright, this is the same event but with more details, first notice the beast was slain and his body given to the burning flame. And then also notice the Son of man (Son of God) coming to the Ancient of days in heaven (God the Father) with all the saints (with the clouds of heaven) as we saw the dead caught up to heaven "in the clouds" in Rev. 12:12. By the way the clouds represent the great cloud of witnesses shown in Hebrews 12:1
This same event in Daniel can also be confirmed again here….
Revelation 19:19-21 “And I saw the beast, 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.
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.”
Notice there the remnant slain as also shown in Rev. 11:13, but there is also a remnant who would repent and give glory to God.
And then it picks up again in Revelation 20: 4-6 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.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 years.”
So by all these scriptures we get a better idea of when the catching up to the Lord will be, and where the
saints go for the first resurrection judgement, and remain, at least until the indignation of God’s wrath is complete.
Isaiah 26:20-21 “ Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
May the grace of our Lord be with you, Peace and God bless.
First lets look at the prophecy of the clouds, so we might better understand where the resurrected saints will go.
We are told in Acts 1:9-11; “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and "a cloud received him" out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 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.”
So just as Jesus ascended up in a cloud, he shall also return with the same cloud...
In Revelation 1:7; “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
These clouds of heaven are the saints and the angels of God who come to collect the harvest of those who are in Christ, on the last day. Jesus said in Matthew 24:31 "And he shall send his angels with "a great sound of a trumpet", and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, "from one end of heaven" to the other. " Notice Jesus mentioned this gathering was also of heaven.
This is the event Paul spoke of in Ephesians 1:10 "That in the dispensation of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, "both which are in heaven, and which are on earth"; even in him." (notice both the heavenly host and the earthly host are united into One at this time) This also confirms there is no secret rapture event, but all things in Christ are gathered together into One congregation at this event.
Notice at the resurrection, both the dead and the living in Christ are caught up together "in the clouds."
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “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.”
This is when all that are in Christ, both in heaven and on earth are gathered together in One, as Paul said in Ephesians 1:10
Notice the connection of the dead being raised first, and the shout, or voice mentioned, and also the trump of God. But also notice how Paul described they would be caught up, which was "in the clouds".
We are shown the resurrection of the dead in Christ in the Lords 2 witnesses, which also confirms the timing of the resurrection; and also where the saints go after being resurrected. Notice they also are caught up in the same cloud.
Revelation 11:12-19 “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven "in a cloud"; and their enemies beheld them.13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.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.
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.
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.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.”
Alright first notice the sequence of events, the great voice is heard first (shout) and the dead in Christ are raised first, and then the remnant that remain give glory to God, and then 7th trump sounds=last trump sounds. But also notice the dead are caught up to heaven "in the clouds", this is an important sign to confirm as to where these saints are going.
So with that let’s view this at another angle in….
Daniel 7:9-14 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.(=thousand years)
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like "the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven", and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
Alright, this is the same event but with more details, first notice the beast was slain and his body given to the burning flame. And then also notice the Son of man (Son of God) coming to the Ancient of days in heaven (God the Father) with all the saints (with the clouds of heaven) as we saw the dead caught up to heaven "in the clouds" in Rev. 12:12. By the way the clouds represent the great cloud of witnesses shown in Hebrews 12:1
This same event in Daniel can also be confirmed again here….
Revelation 19:19-21 “And I saw the beast, 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.
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.”
Notice there the remnant slain as also shown in Rev. 11:13, but there is also a remnant who would repent and give glory to God.
And then it picks up again in Revelation 20: 4-6 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.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 years.”
So by all these scriptures we get a better idea of when the catching up to the Lord will be, and where the
saints go for the first resurrection judgement, and remain, at least until the indignation of God’s wrath is complete.
Isaiah 26:20-21 “ Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
May the grace of our Lord be with you, Peace and God bless.
