The
Great Apostasy and The Restrainer
The question being asked in this study is what is the great
apostasy and just who or what is the restrainer? These important components of
the last days' scenario are found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
[2Th 2:1 NKJV] Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our
gathering together to Him, we ask you,
“ Concerning the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him: Paul wrote of the
return of Jesus, but the wording here implies a difference between the
coming and our gathering. This strongly suggests that there are
essentially two comings of Jesus. One coming is for His church (as
described clearly in 1
Thessalonians 4:16-18), and the other coming is with His church,
to judge a rebellious world.
i. “They are two parts of one
great event.” (Morris)
ii. Hiebert shows how the grammar
of the ancient Greek in 2
Thessalonians 2:1 shows this: “The government of the two nouns under
one article makes it clear that one event, viewed under two complementary
aspects, is thought of.”
iii. This is completely consistent
with other passages of Scripture that indicate that there must be two aspects
of Jesus’ second coming, and the aspects must be separated by some appreciable
period of time.
· Different manners of Jesus’
return are described (1
Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation
19:11, 14-15, 21).
· Different scenarios regarding
the predictability of the date of Jesus’ return are established (Matthew 24:36, Daniel 12:11).”
(Guzik)
First, we
need to recognize that we are dealing with two subjects. (1) The coming of the Lord, and (2) our
gathering together to Him. In 1 Thes. 4:15-18 we find Paul dealing with people
that will be alive before the coming of the Lord in power to establish His
Kingdom on the earth.
[1Th 4:15-18 NKJV] 15 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. 16 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.
17 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
[1Co 15:51-53 NKJV] 51 Behold, I
tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will
sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on
immortality.
Paul tells
us here that all believers who have died before the Lord returns will rise from
the grave and then those alive will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in
the air. 1 Cor 15:51-53 tells us that at this time, both those that have
died and those alive will be given new, incorruptible, immortal bodies.
[2Th 2:2 NKJV] not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled,
either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of
Christ had come.
Because rumors
were going around that the day of the Lord (this day when the Lord will come
for His saints) had already come and they we afraid that they had been left
behind, Paul here clearly tells the saints that this coming of the Lord for His
saints had not yet occurred.
[2Th 2:3 NKJV] Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that Day will not come]
unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of
perdition,
Paul tells
us here that two conditions must occur before this day can come. First, “the
falling away” comes, and second that the man of sin is revealed, the son of
perdition. Note that this is “the falling away” and not just “a falling
away”. It is a very specific falling away that is associated with the revealing
of the man of sin and the coming of the Lord for His saints.
“ falling away” - STRONGS
NT 646: apostasia ἀποστασία
ἀποστασία, -ας, ἡ, (ἀφίσταμαι), a
falling away, defection, apostasy; in the Bible namely, from the true
religion: Acts 21:21; 2
Thessalonians 2:3; ([Joshua 22:22; 2
Chronicles 29:19; 2
Chronicles 33:19]; Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah
36:32 (Jeremiah
29:32)
“man of sin”, son of perdition
(lawlessness)” - There is no good reason to see
this man of sin to be other than what the plainest meaning is here –
an individual who will come to great prominence in the very last days that
embodies sin and lawlessness. This was how it was understood in the earliest
days of Christianity. “The fathers understood
the Antichrist to be intended, but of this person, they seemed to
have formed no specific idea.” (Clarke)
· Daniel described a
person: The prince who is to come (Daniel 9:26),
the king of fierce countenance (Daniel 8:23),
the willful king (Daniel
11:36-45).
“revealed” – apokalyptō
2. metaphorically, to make known, make manifest, disclose, what
before was unknown;
e. passages of persons, previously concealed, making their appearance in public: of Christ, who will return from heaven where he is now hidden (Colossians 3:3) to the earth, Luke 17:30; of Antichrist, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 6, 8.
e. passages of persons, previously concealed, making their appearance in public: of Christ, who will return from heaven where he is now hidden (Colossians 3:3) to the earth, Luke 17:30; of Antichrist, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 6, 8.
[2Th 2:4 NKJV] who opposes and exalts himself above all that
is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
God.
This man of
sin sits as god in the temple calling himself the God. This is the Antichrist
or the beast from the book of Revelation. From our study of the books of Daniel
and Revelation, we know this to occur at the midpoint of the seven years of
tribulation.
[2Th 2:5 NKJV] Do you not remember that when I was still
with you I told you these things?
[2Th 2:6 NKJV] And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his
own time.
The believers
Paul was addressing knew what it was that was restraining the revelation of
this man of sin, the Antichrist. In verse 5 Paul says that he has already told
them about this.
[2Th 2:7 NKJV] For the mystery of lawlessness is already at
work; only He who now
restrains [will do so] until He is taken out of the way.
This
restraining force is a “He”, the restrainer. Before the antichrist can be
revealed, this “he” must be taken out of the way or removed. The big question
is, who or what is this “he”.
[2Th 2:8 NKJV] And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume
with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
After the
rebellion or falling away and the removal of the restrainer, the Lord will come
and destroy this man of sin or the Antichrist at the Lord’s coming in judgment to
establish His Kingdom on the earth.
[2Th 2:9 NKJV] The coming of the [lawless one] is according to the working of
Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
This man of
sin or lawless one, the Antichrist, is empowered by Satan and will demonstrate
signs and lying or counterfeit wonders.
[2Th 2:10 NKJV] and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish,
because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Those that
perish at the Lord’s coming to destroy the Antichrist will be destroyed because
they have been deceived by the Antichrist and did not take the free gift of
forgiveness of sin and salvation available by accepting Jesus as their Lord and
Savior (The love of the truth).
[2Th 2:11 NKJV] And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they
should believe the lie,
[2Th 2:12 NKJV] that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth
but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Those that
perish at the coming of the Lord in judgment will be deluded into believing the
lies of the devil, rejecting the truth of Jesus, and had only pleasure in
unrighteousness.
Now let’s explore just what this great falling away is, and
what or who is the restrainer that must be removed before the Lord’s coming to
gather His saints to Him.
[2Th 2:1 NKJV] Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
[2Th 2:3 NKJV] Let no one deceive you by any
means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first,
and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
[2Th 2:6 NKJV] And now you know what is restraining,
that he may be revealed in his own time.
[2Th 2:7 NKJV] For the mystery of
lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains [will do so] until He is taken out
of the way.
What could be the cause of “the falling away”?
[1Ti 4:1-2 NLT] 1 Now the Holy
Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive
spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their
consciences are dead.
[2Ti 4:3-4 NLT] 3 For a time is
coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires
and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want
to hear. 4 They will
reject the truth and chase after myths.
The
falling away will be from the true faith. These are people who will follow
deceptive spirits and teachings. By nature, these people are hypocrites and
liars and their consciences are dead. They follow their own desires, reject the
truth and chase after myths.
[2Ti 3:1-5 NLT] 1 You should know
this, Timothy, that in the
last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing
at God, disobedient
to their parents, and ungrateful.
They will consider nothing
sacred. 3 They will be
unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They
will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They
will betray their friends,
be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
5 They will act religious,
but they will reject the
power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Some will
fall away because of difficult times. Factors leading to this falling away
include extreme self-centeredness, money, pride, disobedience, unlovingness,
forgivingness, slander, no self-control, cruelty and hate, love of pleasure,
and rejecting the power of God. Note that these will act religious, but reject
the power thereof.
What could the “difficult times” of
the last days be specifically? The Bible tells us that there will be great
persecution of believers in the last days.
[Rev 2:3, 9-10, 13, 22 NLT] 3 You
have patiently suffered
for me without quitting. ... 9 "I know about your suffering and your poverty--but you are
rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but
they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 10 Don't be afraid of
what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you.
You will suffer for ten
days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
... 13 "I know that you
live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal
to me. You refused to deny
me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan's city.
... 22 "Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery
with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil
deeds.
[Rev 6:4, 6, 8-9 NKJV] 4 Another
horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth,
and that people should
kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. ... 6 And I
heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius,
and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and
the wine." ... 8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of
him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over
a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the
beasts of the earth. 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of those
who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
The last days are days of war,
trouble, turmoil, destruction, deception, famines, pestilences, earthquakes,
hatred, betrayal, false prophets, lawlessness, lack of love, and martyrs. These
will be very hard days on the earth. Who can endure these days of the Lord?
Many will not and many will fall away from the true faith in Jesus.
[Mat 24:4-14 NKJV] 4 And Jesus
answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 "For many will come in
My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the
end is not yet. 7 "For nation
will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be
famines, pestilences, and
earthquakes in various places. 8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9
"Then they will
deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all
nations for My name's sake. 10 "And then many will be offended, will betray one another,
and will hate one another. 11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12 "And because lawlessness
will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 "But he who
endures to the end shall be saved.
These are going to be very trying
days for all people and especially for believers. Many will despair, give up,
blame God for all the terrible things happening, and be in great fear. There
will be fear and pressure so great that they will not be able to stand and will
reject Jesus. As the scripture says, “holding to a form of [religion]godliness,
although they have denied its power.”
The second condition that must be
met before the coming of the Lord for His Church (His Bride) is the revealing (passages
of persons, previously concealed, making their appearance in public) of the man
of sin, the Antichrist. But, this man of sin is currently being restrained by a
“he”. Just who or what is this “he”?
[2Th 2:6 NKJV] And now you know what is
restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
[2Th 2:7 NKJV] For the mystery of lawlessness
is already at work; only He
who now restrains [will do so] until He is taken out of the way.
From the Greek: The for mystery
already is working of lawlessness only (there is) the (one) restraining (it) at present until out of
(the) midst he might be
(gone).
the [one]
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's Greek 3588: The, including the feminine he (hay), and the neuter to (to) in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) -- the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc
Strong's Exhaustive
Concordance
the, this, that, one, he, she, it
He might be (gone).
1096 [e]
genētai
γένηται - might be [gone]
V-ASM-3S
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
genētai
γένηται - might be [gone]
V-ASM-3S
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
be brought to pass, happen
From the Greek, we can see that the “he” in 2 Thes. 2:7 could be
a he, she, or it. Logically we can speculate that this restraining force
could be the Holy Spirit, the true Church filled with and empowered by the Holy
Spirit, or even a specific human used by God in the last days to lead a
resistance against the evil lawlessness on the earth.
This he cannot be the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is
omnipresent, everywhere at all times. There is no indication in the Bible that
the Holy Spirit himself will be removed entirely from the earth. Also, He will
be present on the earth during the Great Tribulation because many are saved,
sealed, and serve God during this period (Revelation 7:3-14 and 14:1-5),
and this can’t happen without the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Many theologians believe that the restraining force is the
Spirit-filled Church. Once all true believers are removed from the earth, there
will be no one left to resist the evil that will surely quickly arise to take
control of the people earth. Just imagine what would happen if every Godly
person on earth was suddenly removed. There will be humans left to even discern
evil much less to resist and fight it. Once the Church is out of the way, it
will be easy for a demonically controlled man to come forth to establish
Satan’s kingdom on the earth.
“The phrase (out of the earth be gone) is used
of any person or thing which is taken out of the way, whether by death or other
removals.” (Alford)
Some see this as the end of a dispensation:
“The special presence of the Spirit as the indweller of saints will terminate
abruptly as it began abruptly at Pentecost. Once the body of Christ has been
caught away to heaven, the Spirit’s ministry will revert to what he did for
believers during the Old Testament period.” (Thomas)
A subtle secondary hint in 2 Thes 2:7 could be that there will
be a man (a great leader) that marshals and leads a force of good to oppose and
resist the work of Satan to develop his kingdom on the earth in the last days.
This man would most probably be part of the Church. This leader would have to
be “removed”, terminated or removed from power, or removed when the Church is
removed before the Antichrist can be brought out into the public view.
The big picture here is that before the Antichrist comes out
into public view and prominence, there must be a great falling away from the
true faith, and the Church must be taken out of the way.
Now we can ask, when does the Bible say that the man of sin or
Antichrist is made known, made manifest, disclosed, or makes a public
appearance? Here we turn to Revelation chapter 6 and the book of Daniel.
[Rev 6:1-2 NASB] 1 Then I saw when
the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living
creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." 2 I looked, and
behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to
him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
With the breaking of the first seal of the great scroll in
Heaven, the Antichrist is first released to begin his evil assignments on the
earth. At this point, however, he is not seen as evil, but as a great political
and military leader coming into public view especially to deal with the turmoil
in the Middle East. From the book of Daniel, we learn that this man initially
negotiates a seven-year cease-fire treaty during a significant war in the
Middle East. For this, many people, especially in Israel and the Middle East will
consider this man a messiah. However, he will break this treaty after three-
and one-half years. He will stand in the Holy Place of a rebuilt temple in
Jerusalem and declare that he is God.
[Dan 9:27 NASB] 27 "And he
will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the
week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of
abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete
destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
For those that know the prophecies of the Bible, they would
know that the man who makes a seven-year covenant or peace treaty during a
significant war involving Israel is the Antichrist. This exposes him to be the
Antichrist. But remember, this revelation of the man of sin, the Antichrist
cannot take place until “he”, the Church is taken out of the way and a great
falling away has taken place.
The second seal of the great scroll brings war to the earth
and seals three and four bring the devastation of these wars.
[Rev 6:3-4 NASB] 3 When He broke
the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come." 4
And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to
take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great
sword was given to him.
The third and fourth seals reveal the terrible consequences
of the wars and the fifth seal reveals martyrs, Christians that are killed for
the faith in Jesus.
[Rev 6:9 NASB] 9 When the Lamb
broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had
been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they
had maintained;
Since there are Christians still on the earth at the time of
the fifth seal, the restrainer as not yet been removed, hence the Antichrist
has not yet been truly revealed.
The sixth seal is a great earthquake and with it begins the
time of the wrath of God on earth.
[Rev 6:12, 15-17 NASB] 12 I looked
when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun
became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;
... 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the
rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves
and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they said to the mountains and to
the rocks, "Fall on
us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the
wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and
who is able to stand?"
It would be logical to see that during the wars of the first
four seals and the devastation and tribulation of these times, including great
persecution and even martyrdom of Christians, why there could be a great
falling away from the true faith. It will take great courage, trust, and
devotion to the Lord to stand during these days and many will probably fall
away.
We also note that the great day of the wrath of Him who sits
on the throne and from the Lamb (Jesus) comes to the earth at the great
earthquake of the sixth seal. Since we know that God’s wrath is not destined
for His Church and that He will keep the Church from the great hour of testing
that is to come upon the earth, we can speculate that the Church, the “he” of 2
Thes. 2:7, is taken out of the way by this time.
[Rev 3:10 NASB] 10 'Because you
have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour
which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the
earth.
[1Th 5:9 NASB] 9 For God has not destined us for wrath,
but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Zep 2:3 Seek the LORD, All you
humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness,
seek humility. Perhaps you
will be hidden In the day of the LORD'S anger.
Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms And
close your doors behind you; Hide
for a little while Until indignation runs {its} course.
Psa 27:5 For in the day of trouble He
will conceal me in His
tabernacle; In the secret
place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.
Psa 57:1 Be gracious to me, O God,
be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction passes by.
Psalms 12:1 (NKJV) 1 To the
Chief Musician. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David. Help, Lord, for
the godly man ceases! For
the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
Now we can answer the question, as to the general timing of
the coming of Jesus to gather His Church to Him.
[2Th 2:1, 3 NASB] 1 Now we request
you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
... 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the
apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of
destruction,
During the tribulation of the first 6 seals of Revelation
chapter 6, a great falling away has happened and the man of sin, the Antichrist
has been brought out into the public eye (revealed). The conditions have been
met and Christ Jesus will come for His Bride. And He will come for her before
His wrath is poured out upon the earth.
Now we can ask when is His wrath poured out? The breaking of
the sixth seal and the great earthquake initiates the days of the wrath of God
(Revelation 6:16-17). We know these days of wrath to be the seven years of
great tribulation spoken of by the prophet Daniel. With the breaking of the
seventh and last seal, the great scroll is opened resulting in fire from the
altar of God in Heaven being thrown down upon the earth. This manifests as
another great earthquake and the first blast of seven trumpet blasts. These
trumpet blasts initiate judgments upon the earth during the seven years of
tribulation.
[Rev 8:1, 5-7 NLT] 1 When the Lamb
broke the seventh seal
on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. ...
5 Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth;
and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake. 6 Then the seven
angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts. 7 The first angel blew his trumpet,
and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth.
One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and
all the green grass was burned.
Now we can answer the question the believers in
Thessalonians were asking. The Lord will come to gather together His Church,
His Bride, to Him in the air at the events of the breaking of the sixth seal of
the great scroll and before the breaking of the seventh and last seal. The
breaking of the seventh seal that initiates the seven years of great
tribulation on earth before the return of Christ Jesus, with His Saints, as
King of kings, and Lord of lords to establish His Throne on the earth and
initiates a one-thousand-year reign of Christ upon the earth. It is interesting
to note that Revelation chapter 7 is an interlude between chapter 6 and chapter
8. During this interlude, a great multitude from every tribe and nation is seen
in Heaven worshipping the Lamb of God, Jesus.
[Rev 7:9 NASB] 9 After these things
I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every
nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and
before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
Why is all of this so important to believers? To answer this
question, one needs to understand that the whole Bible story is a story of God
the Father finding a Bride for His Son and the wedding itself. The big picture
of this story is foretold in the practices of the ancient traditional Jewish
wedding. This is an important teaching of its own. For now, it is important to
note that one of the most important parts of this wedding story is the point in
time when the father of the bridegroom releases his son to go get his bride and
take her to the wedding ceremony. The ceremony takes place in the father's
house. At the appointed time the son goes to the bride's village and calls her
out with the blast of a shofar. He then carries her on a litter (in the air) to
his father’s house where the marriage ceremony takes place. The “coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” what we call the rapture,
is the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy.
[2Th 2:1 NKJV] Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
Jesus longs for this day and even prayed to His Father about
it.
[Jhn 17:24 NASB] 24 "Father, I
desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that
they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the
foundation of the world.
All of creation is anxiously awaiting this day.
[Rom 8:19 NASB] 19 For the anxious
longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
And all true believers also long for that special day. We
the true Church are a lovesick bride, longing for our Bridegroom to swoop down
from Heaven to catch us up to be with Him forever. It is our ultimate hope and
destiny.
This is the end purpose of mankind, to be the Bride of
Christ. A bride that freely chooses Him above all else and loves Him above all
else. God is love and His book, His story, is a love story. The story climaxes
with a wedding and a Bride that rules and reigns with Him forever
[1Th 4:16-18 NASB] 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these
words.
