Will the saints actually be caught up to meet Jesus in the air? Of course they will. This is what the Scripture teaches. If we would stick with the Scripture we would be on sound ground (and also in the air some day).

What then is the problem?

Is it the timing? No. What is going to happen will happen and we will be one hundred percent accurate after it is over. Right?

The problem is, God has a program and the concept of an imminent "rapture" diverts our attention from the Divine schedule and its goals.

First of all, let us mention that the climax of redemption is the resurrection, not the catching up (rapture). The catching up is not a part of redemption and therefore not portrayed by the major types of the Old Testament. Did you know that?

No feast of the Lord was celebrated forty days after the resurrection, the day when Christ was caught up to be with the Father. But ten days after that the feast of Pentecost was fulfilled as Christ sent down the Holy Spirit from Heaven.

The first resurrection from the dead, the resurrection that will take place when the Lord appears, must be attained. The Apostle Paul was striving to attain the out-resurrection, the first resurrection, and this toward the end of his life. We will not participate in the out-resurrection just because we took the four steps of salvation.

One of the major problems of today's Christian thinking is the ignorance of the nature of the resurrection—what is required if we are to be raised into incorruptible life when the Lord appears. The emphasis and reemphasis on the catching up has so confused the believers that they have little or no understanding of the resurrection, supposing that somehow the catching up and the resurrection are the same thing. This is a gross error having profoundly destructive consequences.

If you think Evangelical people understand the resurrection, its relationship to the catching up, just ask some of them. Ask them also what John said in the sixth chapter of his Gospel, the Apostle Paul said in the eighth chapter of the Book of Romans, and also in the third chapter of Philippians. Most of them will have no idea what you are referring to supposing that they will be resurrected and caught up "by grace."

Yet these three passages contain information that is absolutely critical to our destiny. This ignorance stems from the fact that we are preaching sermons to members of the Christian religion instead of teaching disciples.

Satan understands well the significance of the first resurrection and of the coming of Christ with His saints to take charge of the nations of the earth. By focusing the attention of the believers on being caught up into the air (in their business suits and party dresses already) Satan hopes to keep them silly and immature so they will give no thought to returning with Christ to destroy Satan's kingdom. This is what Satan is after with his grace, grace, grace, rapture, rapture, rapture emphasis.

To be continued.