What Will Happen When Saints Are Caught Up To Be With Jesus

     Today, we'll learn what will happen when we are soon caught up to be with our Lord Jesus in the clouds in the air to live in peace forevermore. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 promises For the Lord (Jesus) Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel (Michael), and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (snatched away) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

     When the saints are caught up to be with Jesus, they will be changed or transfigured into glorified bodies in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. Our new glorified bodies will be perfect with no sickness like the 30 year old glorified body of Jesus and better than our best moment on this earth. 1 Corinthians 15:51 says Behold, I shew you a mystery (no one knows the exact time of the catching up; it's a mystery); We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (transfigured into glorified bodies like a caterpillar changing into a butterfly by metamorphosis), 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.

     OK, Brother Bob asked Jesus if a changed transfigured saint in a glorified body is in any building or car with a roof and doors when it's time to be caught up, will that saint be caught up to the clouds through the roof or through one of the doors? Jesus said the answer to this question can be found at John 20:19 pictured above when Jesus appeared in a glorified changed body to his disciples. John 20:19 says Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

     Notice that Jesus in His glorified changed body pictured above descended through the roof to appear to his disciples. Jesus made sure that the Word said that when the doors were shut, Jesus stood in the midst to prove that a glorified changed body can travel through any roof, door, or wall. Friends, rejoice because like our Lord Jesus, when saints are caught up with changed glorified bodies, they will go through any roof of a building or car to be with our Lord Jesus in the clouds in the air forevermore in peace. If Jesus in His glorified body can descend through a roof, saints in glorified bodies can be caught up through any roof of a building or car to be with Jesus in the clouds. No roof, wall, door, or grave will stop anyone from being caught up to be with Jesus in the clouds. And saints will be caught up through roofs and not through walls, doors, or floors because we'll be caught up (not caught out or caught down) to be with our Lord Jesus.

     How encouraging to know that also the saints who have died in Christ will also be raised and caught up to be with our Lord Jesus soon. Romans 8:11 promises But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (restore to life) your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Ain't no grave gonna hold the dead in Christ down. The dead in Christ will bust open their graves and go through their coffins, tombstones, and the ground alive when they are caught up to be with the Lord Jesus in the clouds.

     Alright, next Brother Bob asked Jesus after the saints are caught up to be with Jesus in the clouds, will the saints' earthly bodies disappear or remain? To answer this question we must look at what happened to Jesus when He rose from the dead and left an empty tomb behind. After Jesus left the empty tomb, His earthly body disappeared and could not be found. Like Jesus, when the saints are caught up, our earthly bodies will disappear and will not be found on the earth. Pictured above when Jesus rose from His tomb, only His linen clothes and wrapped napkin that was about His head remained. Like Jesus, when the saints are caught up, only our clothes will remain and our earthly bodies will disappear. When Brother Bob gets caught up to heaven, people on this earth will only find my dockers pants, my shirt, and my shoes.

     Friends, how encouraging to know that our Lord Jesus is not in His tomb. Buddha and Mohammed are still in their tombs. But, the tomb of Jesus is empty. Jesus is not there. Jesus is risen and lives forevermore. Like Jesus, when saints get caught up, their earthly bodies will not be found on this earth because they will live forevermore with Jesus. This is because 1 John 4:17 says Because as He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world.

     Matthew 28 tells us about the picture above and how the angels proclaimed that Jesus is not in the tomb; He is risen. Matthew 28:1 says In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

     Matthew 28:3 goes on to say His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

     After Jesus rose from the dead, only Jesus' linen clothes and napkin that was about His head pictured above were found by Peter and John in His empty tomb. Like Jesus, people on this earth will only find saints' clothes after they are caught up in glorified bodies to be with our Lord Jesus. John 20:6 speaks about this and says Then cometh Simon Peter following him (John), and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

       Finally, let's learn why Jesus wrapped the napkin that was about His head and put it in a place by itself in the empty tomb. Jesus neatly wrapped this napkin to prove that His earthly body was not stolen from the tomb. After Jesus rose from the dead, soldiers were paid large sums of money to lie and say that His disciples came by night and stole His earthly body while the soldiers slept.

      Matthew 28:12 says And when they were assembled (the soldiers and chief priests) with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept. Matthew 28:15 goes on to say So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

     Now friends think about this: If a thief stole the earthly body of Jesus from the tomb, that thief would quickly throw Jesus' unwrapped napkin on top of Jesus' linen clothes. Jesus knew that people would lie and say His earthly body was stolen from the tomb. This is why Jesus wrapped the napkin neatly in a place by itself to prove that no thief stole his body. A thief wouldn't take time to neatly wrap the napkin. Also, Jesus' tomb was sealed by a stone and guarded by soldiers and it was not possible for a thief to enter Jesus' tomb and steal his earthly body.

     Finally, let's learn about what the neatly wrapped napkin left by a master during a meal pictured above meant to his servant according to Hebrew tradition. When a servant set the dinner table for his master, the table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until his master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished.

     When the master was finished eating, the master would wad up his napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. The wadded napkin meant I'm done. But if the master got up from the table and neatly wrapped his napkin and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the neatly wrapped napkin meant I'm not finished; I'm coming back. Jesus neatly wrapped the napkin in His tomb to let us all know that He's coming back to be the King of this earth for 1000 glorious years and in the kingdom of God forevermore. Get saved today, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. 

     Jesus also told His saints with the neatly wrapped napkin that I'm not finished and I'm coming back for the marriage supper of the Lamb prepared for all my saints. Revelation 19:7 tells us Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him (Jesus): for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife (the church and all the saved saints) hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He saith unto me. these are the true sayings of God.

     I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.