THE MEETING IN THE AIR

Pastor Carolyn Sissom \ February 2th, 2012 (7082 views)

THE MEETING IN THE AIR

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Pastor Carolyn Sissom

 

1 Thess. 4:16: “…the dead in Christ shall rise first…”

 

The physical coming of the King Jesus back to this planet is a glorious reality.

 

There will be a meeting in the air!

 

1 Thess. 3:13:  KJV “To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”

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What will happen to the dead in Christ?  Paul’s answer is plain spoken.  Jesus will bring them with Him when he comes again!

 

Rev. 22:12 adds that He will bring His reward with Him.  According to Paul, all who have died in Christ, Jesus, He will bring to us.

 

Jesus was caught up into the heavenly realm of the Spirit.  He will come again “in like manner” (Acts 1:11).  At his coming He descends from the invisible to the visible.   1 Jn. 3:2: “…when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”  1 Thess. 4:16:  “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.”

 

Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 5: 1-6 that at death a man’s body goes to one place and his spirit goes to another.  That part of us that has eternal life is still living and conscious when we go into His presence.  Our dead bodies sleep in the grave.  Whether it is put into a tomb, cremated, or eaten by lions makes no difference.  When the spirit leaves the body, the body immediately “descends” (Eph. 4:9) into that state of death while the spirit “ascends” into His presence.

 

At the resurrection, the order will be reversed.  The physical body rises from the state of death (whether bones, dust, or ashes) into a glorified state and is “fashioned like unto His glorious body” (Phil 3:21).  So Paul is comforting the hearts of the Thessalonian saints about the fate of their loved ones who have gone on to be with the Lord.    He makes it very plain and not to be misinterpreted that the departed saints are coming back with Jesus.

 

1 Thess. 4:13-14:  “I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

 

Paul uses this Greek word for “ignorant” often in his writings, with regard to covenantal theology (1 Cor. 10:1) and spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:1; 14:38).  Doctor Luke used it concerning worship (Acts 17:23).   The Greek word is Agnoe (compare to the English agnostic) which means “not to know (through lack of information of intelligence).

 

“…the others which have no hope…” (4:13) could refer to the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection (Acts 23:8)

 

1 Thess. 4:14: TLB: “…when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him all the Christians who have died.”

 

1 Thess. 4:15: KJV: “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 (will not rise to meet Him ahead of) them which are asleep.”

 

The word for “coming” is Parousia (Strong’s 33952) which means “a being near, advent, presence, arrival.”   Parousia is His Presence by visitation (there are many); by the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit and/or His Second Coming.

 

James 5:7 KJV “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord…”

 

2 Thess. 1:7 KJV “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.”

 

The word “revealed is Epiphaneia –“manifestation, glory.”

 

1 Tim. 6:14:  “…until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ”  (To render apparent).

 

Luke 19:13 KJV: “…occupy until I come”.

 

Rev. 2:25: KJV:  “…hold fast until I come”.

 

The Lord Jesus went directly from earth to Heaven, and He shall return “in like manner” (Acts 1:11) ---directly from Heaven to earth. 

 

According to 1 Thess 4:16, He will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. 

 

 He’s sure making a lot of noise!  There’s a shout, a voice, and a trumpet!

 

The word for “Lord” is kurios (Strong’s 2962).  It means “supreme in authority, controller.”  This is the Master, the Lord Jesus “Himself”!  Follow Him through the four Gospels, and you’ll usually find a noisy crowd.  He will “descend” or go down (Rev. 21: 2, 10) from Heaven (Mt. 24: 29-31); 1 Thess. 1:10; 2; 2 Thess. 1:7) back to earth.

 

The Greek word for “shout” (used only here) is keleuma (Strong’s 3752) and means “a cry of incitement.”  All who are in the graves shall hear His voice (Jn. 5:28).

 

Archangel means “a chief angel” and is taken from aggelos, meaning “messenger.”  There are still preachers who can’t stretch their faith to believe there are ministering angels sent to the heirs of salvation.  They still want to say they are men. (Duh! or should we say Agnoe)

 

Archaggelos the word for Arch Angel is not found in the Greek Old Testament. It is used in the New Testament only here and in Jude 9 referring to Michael.  Daniel calls Michael “one of the chief princes” and “the great prince” (or the great angel,” according to the Septuagint).  Gabriel is also described as an Arch Angel.

 

The word for “trump” in 1 Thess. 4:16 means vibration—to rock, agitate, cause to tremble, throw into a tremor.  Throughout the Scriptures trumpets symbolize a clear word from God---the voice of the Lord.  In the Old Testament, trumpets were used as an instrument that related God’s voice of authority to His people.  The trumpets represented the “call to attention” to a word or command from the Lord.  The people heard it as a noise, but Moses heard it as God’s voice.

 

Mt. 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.”

 

1 Cor. 15:52:  “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written.  Death is swallowed up in victory."

 

It is awesome to consider that the apostle declared that incorruption and immortality must be put on.  The mystery of resurrection life has to do with God’s people putting on:

 

1.  The wedding garment (Mt. 22:11).

2.  The best robe, the ring, the shoes (Lk. 15:22).

3.  Put on Christ (Rom 13: 11-14; Gal. 3:27).

4.  The new man (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10).

5.  The whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11; 1 Thess. 5:8).

6.  Put on Mercy and kindness (Col. 3:12).

7.  Fine linen, white and clean (Rev. 19:14).

 

1 Thess. 4:17, KJV:  “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 Cor. 15:51:  “Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep…”

 

Those who are living at the time of the Lord’s coming will be “caught up” together with the resurrected dead.  The word for “caught up” is a study unto itself.  It means “to snatch or catch away.” 

 

Acts 8:39:  “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.”

 

2 Cor. 12:2: KJV “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell; God knows;) such a one caught up to the third heaven.”

 

2 Cor. 12:4 KJV: “How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

 

Rev. 12:5, KJV: “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.”

 

The clouds are the manifest glory of the Lord in the saints.  I have seen by vision these clouds of glory and the dead in Christ flying in the air in the formation of the Body of Christ. I saw the clouds in the sky and ran out to meet Jesus.  This was a spiritual manifestation of the Presence of the Lord: 

 The Cloud is used throughout the Bible as a manifestation of the Glory:

 

1. The cloud at Jesus’ transfiguration (Mt. 17:5; Mk. 9:7; Lk 9: 34-35).
2. The Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven (Mt. 24:30; 26:64; Mk. 13:26; 14:62).
3. The cloud out of the west bringing showers (Lk. 12:54).
4. The cloud that received Jesus at His ascension (Acts. 1:9).
5. The glory cloud of the Old Testament (1 Cor. 10: 1-2).
6. The cloud of witnesses who died in faith (Heb. 12:1).
7. Clouds of wicked men (2 Pet. 1:17; Jude 12).

 

Acts 1: 9-11, KJV:

 

“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 steadfastly toward heaven as He we went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand you gazing into heaven, shall so come in like manner and you have seen Him go into heaven.”

 

Jesus started from the apostles’ visible presence, then disappeared from view in a cloud, ascending by that means into Heaven.  Reverse the order, and we see Him appearing out of a cloud and descending back into our visible presence where we can see Him and be with Him. (Incidently the two men were angels).

 

There will be a “meeting” in the air!  Christians will welcome Christ through acclaiming Him as Lord.  The meeting in the air is to welcome Him back to this planet as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

 

In the vision the Lord gave me of the "clouds of Glory", I ran out in the pasture to meet Jesus.  I was instantly surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses (whether I was caught up, or they came to me, I cannot say).  I ran to meet them. Instantly I was surrounded.

 

Mt. 25:1, KJV: “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom”.

 

Mt. 25:6, KJV:  “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes, go you out to meet him.”

 

Where will we meet him?  “In the air”.  This means the stuff we breathe---the higher you go, the thinner it gets.  It’s all around us, and there is none in outer space.  So we will meet him in the atmosphere of the earth.

 

“…so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 

 

“Therefore comfort one another with these words.  Paul closes this passage with his purpose for writing---to “comfort the saints (1 Thess. 3: 2, 7; 4:1, 10; 5:11-14; 2 Thess. 2:17; 23:12).

 

There is no chapter division between 1 Thess. 4 and 5.

 

When will this happen?

 

1 Thess. 5:1-5:  “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you.  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But you brethren, are not in darkness, that day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”

 

The Lord is not coming as “thief” to those who are sons of light.  Only the wicked will be surprised.  The Old Testament prophets reveal the Day of the Lord to be both great and terrible---day and night, light and darkness---at the same time (Is. 60: 1-5; Joel 2: 1-2; Mal. 4: 1-2).

 

To those who are walking after the flesh, it will get darker and darker---hell on earth.  To those who are walking after the Spirit and the Word of God, it is getting brighter and brighter---Heaven on earth (Prov. 4:18).  The same flood that destroyed the wicked lifted righteous Noah.  The same plagues that judged Pharaoh and Egypt delivered Moses and the children of Israel from bondage.  The same furnace that destroyed the mighty men of Babylon brought the three Hebrews into a place of ruler-ship.  The same stormy wind (Ps. 148:8) that destroyed the ship made Paul the captain instead of a prisoner.

 

Jesus coming as a “thief” is to surprise the wicked, not the righteous.  The term “thief” is used in the bible to illustrate suddenness.  As the Day of the Lord burst with a startling appearing on the unrepenting, ungodly world, the first eight verses of First Thessalonians 5 reveal two groups of people:

 

1. The righteous—children of light, children of the day.
2. The wicked –children of the night; children of the darkness; others.

 

The wicked shall not escape (1 Thess. 5:3).

 

1 Thess. 5:6-8, KJV: “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

 

The righteous are to watch in prayer and be “sober”.  This means to be free from the influence of intoxicants.  The wicked, by contrast, are asleep and drunk.  The word “sleep” reveals a carnal indifference to spiritual things.

 

When Jesus returns, those saints who come back with Him shall receive their bodies again, ascending or rising out of that state of death into a blessed state like His body of Glory.  Then those who are still dwelling in these mortal bodies shall be “caught up” into that same place.  The mortal shall put on immortality.  Death shall be swallowed up in victory.

 

1 Cor. 15:51, KJV:”Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”

 

Paul wants us to see and know the truth of the mystery concerning the resurrection. 

 

The mysteries of the Bible denotes that which is outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, known only by divine revelation, made known in a time and manner appointed by God---only to those who are illumined by the Spirit (Rom 11:25; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 3: 3-9).

 

Besides the mystery of the resurrection, the New Testament reveals ten others “sacred secrets”:

 

1. The mystery of the Kingdom of God. (Mk. 4:11)
2. The mystery of His will. (Eph. 1:9)
3. The mystery of Christ and His Church.(Eph. 5:32)
4. The mystery of the gospel (Eph. 6:19).
5. The mystery of Christ in you (Col. 1: 26-27; 4:3).
6. The mystery of God (Col. 2:2; Rev. 10:7).
7. The mystery of iniquity (2 Thess. 2:70.
8. The mystery of faith (1 Tim. 3:9).
9. The mystery of Godliness (1 Tim. 3:16).
10. The mystery of the seven stars (Rev. 1:20).
11. The mystery of Babylon the great (Rev. 17: 5-7).

 

1 Cor. 15:52, KJV:  “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

 

The phrase “in a moment” is the Greek en atomos---will take place in the atoms!  Atomos means “uncut, indivisible (an atom of time).  This change will take place in the “twinkling” of an eye or “the blink of the eye”. 

 

This change takes place “at” the last trump. This is the seventh trump.  The “last trumpet in the Book of Revelation is the seventh one.  It begins to sound in Revelation 10:7 and blows until Revelation 11:15 (1 Thess. 4:16).

 

Rev. 10:7, KJV:  “but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, and the mystery of God shall be finished…”

 

Rev. 11:15, KJV: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

 

When Messiah came the first time, he came in two forms:

 

1. In flesh---in Bethlehem’s manger (Jn. 1:14).
2. In Spirit---on the day of Pentecost.

 

His first comings in the New Testament are a seed form of His comings (more than just a “second” coming) at the end of the age. 

 

The cycle of restoration reverses the order.  Jesus will come:

 

1. In Spirit---manifesting Himself in the fullness of the Feast of Tabernacles through His church His people (Jn. 3:34; 1 Cor. 13: 8-12; Eph. 4:13).
2. In flesh---literally, bodily as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts. 1:11, Rev. 19: 11-16).

 

Jude 1: 14-15, KJV:  “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment…”

 

“The warfare is accomplished, and the earth is the Lord’s.  The dragon is defeated, but he still has a mouth.

 

Preached by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.

www.eastgateministries.com

 

Scripture from KJV as noted and TLB (The Living Bible); Bibliography and source, Whose Right It Is by Kelly Varner; Published by Destiny Image.