Holly'sWorld2.0

March 19, 2026 (Gregorian calendar/3rd month/Day 77)
Thursday, 10 Megabit 2018 (Ethiopian calendar/7th month)
Ḥayr Hayir (Hayr) חיר 26 (Enochian calendar/12th month/White of frost)
22 March, 2026 (International Fixed calendar)
Solar Moon 9, Limi 13 (13 Moon calendar/New Moon)
~ Solar Jaguar Moon of Intention, March 7th – April 3rd
Alder Moon: March 18 – April 14 (Veltic 13 Month calendar/5th month)
Month of the Windy Moon…A nu yi (Cherokee Moon)
13.0.13.7.16 4 Cib 14 Kumk’u (Mayan Long Count calendar)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Day, International Read To Me Day

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17
(The Berean Study Bible)
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God,
and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.
17 After that, 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 will always be with the Lord.

Summary:

How did this teaching of the apostle Paul ever come to be called the Rapture? The answer lies in the word translated “shall be caught up” (Greek harpagésómetha). In Latin, this word is rapere, from which “rapture” is derived. Free of any arcane or mysterious interpretation, it simply means “to be caught up,” “snatched,” or “seized.”

The trouble begins when people confuse this meaning with another definition of rapture that has nothing to do with the biblical concept: “a state or experience of being carried away by overwhelming emotion; a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things.” When people blur these meanings, a picture develops of a strange, otherworldly experience preached by fire-breathing preachers to compel sinners to repent before God’s wrath burns them to cinders.

Those who teach the Rapture frequently begin with I Thessalonians 4:16-17, but soon afterward they move into areas unsupported in the Bible. They make assumptions that are suspect. Worst, they fail to consider the clear order of events presented in Revelation, pinpointing when this astounding miracle will occur.

What do they believe? They believe that at some point in the near future, Jesus Christ will return and “snatch away” all Christians on the earth. Those who “believe” in Jesus will rise to meet Him in the air, and He will whisk them off to heaven for a 3 ½-to-seven-year Marriage Supper. In the meantime here on earth, untold destruction occurs when professing “born-again Christians” suddenly vanish while at the controls of cars, trucks, trains, airplanes, heavy equipment, and the like. “Unsaved” relatives and friends will frantically and unsuccessfully search for their raptured loved ones. The media will provide 24-hour coverage of the mysterious disappearance of millions of people, speculating wildly on its cause—everything from a mass alien abduction to shifting dimensions and levels of consciousness.

On the other hand, the biblical teaching of the first resurrection is more straightforward. On the day Christ returns to earth to establish His Kingdom, the dead in Christ will rise first, and those who are alive and converted will follow. They will meet Him in the air and immediately return to earth as a vast army of spirit beings to defeat the Beast and False Prophet in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Revelation 19:14; Joel 3:1-2; Zechariah 14:1-5).

Notice two vast differences in these scenarios:

1. The Protestant Rapture takes place either 3 ½ or seven years before Christ’s return, while the Bible shows it will occur at His second coming. For this reason, the Protestant concept is often called the “Pre-tribulation Rapture.”
2. When believers are “caught up” in the air, Protestants believe, they will go immediately to heaven for a long, spectacular feast. The Bible shows, though, that the saints will return to earth to fight in Christ’s heavenly army and to help establish God’s Kingdom.

Succinctly, then, the two differences are in timing and destination.

~ Richard T. Ritenbaugh (The Berean)

Paul tackles their grief over deceased believers. Because Jesus died and rose, those “asleep” in Him will rise first when He returns. Then living believers will be “caught up” together with them to meet the Lord in the air—an unending reunion meant to fuel hope, not fear.

In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul provides specific guidance to the Thessalonian believers about holy living, brotherly love, and preparations for the return of Christ. This chapter serves as a roadmap for believers, emphasizing the importance of sanctification, love, hope, and faith.

Historical Setting

• Date: c. AD 50–51, from Corinth during Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 18).
• Audience: A mostly Gentile church in the bustling port of Thessalonica, a city loyal to Rome and steeped in idol worship.
• Backdrop: Persecution forced Paul out early (Acts 17:1-10). Timothy’s report (1 Thessalonians 3:6) revealed questions about holy living and the fate of deceased believers.

Practical Applications:
Pursue Holiness
Evaluate areas of your life where you need to pursue greater holiness and make a commitment to change.

Cultivate Love
Find practical ways to show love to your fellow believers and those in your community.

Work Diligently
Reflect on your work ethic and strive to be industrious and responsible in your daily tasks.

Encourage Hope
Share the hope of the resurrection with those who are grieving or struggling with despair.

hope you have a great day!
thanks for stopping by!!