“Caught Up in the Air” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin
May 31, 2020 Love For His People Charlotte, North Carolina USA
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, NASU
When Christians, believers, hear the Biblical words “caught up in the air” most immediately will think about the word rapture (which isn’t, by the way, found in the Word of God as such.) We envision the glorious day when the Lord will come for us, to take us with Him in glory. It will be a wonderful day, but until then we have much to do here on earth, as His everlasting heart of love compels us to share His love with others. His heart is that none perish but have eternally life too.
As I sat once again on the front porch swing of our Charlotte area home this early morning, I sensed the Lord quietly say that there is certainly more to this than just waiting around to leave this earth, whenever the Father decides is the exact time in the coming near future for us to be with His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. (As a side note, most of the time when I hear Him speak to me it is when quietness and little distractions are occurring. I then pray in tongues to receive further inspiration and revelation.)
Are we to thus just wait until then to be “caught up in the air”? Or is there another aspect, a certain anticipation that we are to have now, daily in our life with Jesus, Yeshua, as we await this promise of God? Growing in the Lord’s wisdom and understanding, for those who seek Him through the Scriptures, we will find that there are layers of knowledge in each verse and passage of His Word.
The Bible wisely says in Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” NASU
In keeping with the proper mode of sharing Scripture to get the Lord’s purpose in writing these Scriptures for us, we will see that we are not to be ones sitting around, awaiting His return to take us away.
No, we are to be actively engaged in His ongoing plans and purposes now, for that is the reason He has not taken us to be with Him yet.
The more fuller understanding of being caught up in the air is preceded by the words Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11.
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Paul goes on to say regarding the Day of the Lord, and what needs to be our posture as we await this day.
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” NKJV
The Lord has given us this time, these days of preparation, to be totally involved with what He is doing on the earth in the nations – not to be “sleeping” as if to just sit back and take it easy – but to be purposefully pursuing His heart and to walk with Him in carrying out His plans and purposes, not our own.
Those with prophetic vision can see the fulfillment of the Hebrew prophets centuries ago speaking of our time. Those aware of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) words recorded in Luke 21, Mark 13, and Matthew 24, about these last days, can see it happening now.
He is returning His people to Israel, known as aliyah, in fulfillment of His spoken Word.
He is saving the people of the nations, as they call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus.
He is connecting, forming His Body, the Body of Christ, as His Bride, to then reign with Him.
When He does come back, those who have been with Him will rule with Him in His Kingdom established on earth.
The Scripture about the Messiah’s return to Jerusalem, touching down with His feet once again upon the Mount of Olives, found in the Jewish prophet Zechariah 14:4, reads “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies to the east of Yerushalayim; and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, to make a huge valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” Complete Jewish Bible
When He returns, He will set up His rule and reign from His earthly throne in Jerusalem, Israel, giving us another major word about the importance of that city. For those who have been faithful and true to His Word, during the Great Tribulation, they will also rule with Him there.
“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.” Revelation 21:10-11, NASU
“Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the Lamb, right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service — worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age.” Revelation 22:1-5, THE MESSAGE
We must be diligent in seeking the Lord in this hour, to know His heart, to be involved in what He is doing. He is, as promised, returning His people the Jews to the Land given to them as promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; He is involved with joining together believers into One New Man; He is involved with saving the nations who will be as sheep and not goats, in step with Him, and not opposed to His purposes.
Let us daily position ourselves to align with Him, carrying out His commands, having the character that comes with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the empowering gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the supernatural walk with the discernment of the Holy Spirit, as we operate in the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now think on this.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin, Founder/President Love For His People, Inc.
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Now Think On This #513 – in the year of our Lord 05.31.2020 – “Caught Up in the Air” – Sunday 5:35 am in Charlotte, NC USA
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