The Great Falling Away: The Apostasy of the Church

          One of the lessons we can learn from the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation is that the church has cycles (or a cycle). Much like any organization, there is growth, a plateau, then a decline. After the decline there can be a rebound, another incline, or death. The church will not die. History has taught us that and Jesus has promised it. Yet, the church does have a cycle that it seems to follow.

            In the beginning, when the people first come to Christ, they are on fire for Him. They worship in spirit and truth. They serve. They give generously. Then the fire starts to cool. Worldly cares seep in. People don’t read their Bibles like they once did. People don’t pray like they once did. People don’t attend church like they once did. Preachers don’t preach like they used to. Preachers and teachers don’t prepare like they used to. As Jesus said, they will have left their first love. Eventually, in the life of the believer, as in the life of the church itself, worship goes from relationship to ritual.

            It is no longer about Christ. It becomes more about the process than the Person. People just go through the motions. The come; they read; they pray; they give; they leave but no real change has taken place. They had no real encounter with the Savior. They received no fuel to carry them throughout the week. Like a charcoal removed from the fire, they all soon grow cold. Now, they no longer have a faith, they have a religion.

            I believe every church started out on fire for God. I believe this is true of the Catholics, the Methodists, the Presbyterians, the Baptist. But over time, their love for the Lord has started to grow cold. Their devotion, our devotion, is moving from relationship to ritual. Once we move in this direction, it won’t be long before the church is compromising with the world—embracing ecumenism in the name of peace.

            In several of Paul’s letters, he speaks of the falling away or the apostasy of the church. In 1 Timothy he wrote that people would ‘depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons’. In 2 Timothy he wrote that the time is coming when people would no longer tolerate sound doctrine but will acquire for themselves teachers that teach things that appease the flesh. In 2 Thessalonians he wrote that the falling away would precede the Rapture of the Church.

            What is the ‘falling away’ that Paul refers to? As one preacher once said, I don’t believe that it is some mass exodus from the church and that Jesus has to come back or there would be no Church for Him to come back for. Instead, I believe the falling away is encompassed in the words of Paul.

            First, there would be a drop in church attendance. It is no secret that church attendance is on the decline. Many churches have more empty pews now than they had in the past. This is likely due to several factors. Parents stopped teaching their children the fear of the Lord. When these children grew up, church was not on their radar. Another reason is that people are too busy with the cares of the world. Many people work on Sunday because businesses are open 7 days a week. People also use Sunday as a day of rest and Saturday (the Biblical day of rest) as pleasure day. Society frowns on church and religion. It is mocked in the media. It is satire on television. It is outlawed in schools and public buildings. Of course, the biggest reason is sin. Sin draws people from God not to Him. And since sin is so prevalent and even welcomed in today’s society, church attendance suffers.

            Second, people will depart from the faith. It is not that they stopped attending church. It’s just that they attend churches that don’t preach sin and repentance, hellfire and brimstone. Instead, these churches preach a social gospel—an I’m-OK-you’re-OK gospel. In this gospel, people don’t sin, they err. Yet, even without Christ, they can still live their best life yet. Regardless as to whether they are a Christian or not, everyday can still be a Friday. Others preach a prosperity gospel—a name-it-and-claim-it, call-it-and-haul-it gospel. Preachers in this gospel say all you have to do is lay your hands on it and claim it in the name of Jesus. God told Joshua that anyplace your feet trod I will give to you. Therefore, if you want a piece of land, walk its distance and claim God’s promise in the name of Jesus. If you want God’s best for your life, all you have to do is plant this faith seed and God will send you a harvest. As I said in my first book, God cannot be bribed!

            Finally, mainstream religions will depart from the fundamentals of the faith. Pastors (and deacons) are committing all sorts of immoral acts and the churches (congregations) are not holding them accountable. Instead, they are standing by their pastor or priest. There are Christian denominations that actually question the infallibility (without error) of God’s Word. There are Christian faiths that actually question the deity of Christ—who actually do not believe that Christ was God. Now there are Christian denominations that are ordaining homosexual ministers—people who are living in open defiance to God’s command. First of all, God called homosexuality a sin, not me. (Lev. 20:13, Romans 1:26-27) Second, God, through Paul, told Christians to avoid people who ‘have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). Third, Paul said that all homosexuals will have their part in the Lake of Fire (1 Cor. 6:9). Not only are they ordaining homosexuals, some are even performing civil unions for them!

            In these last days, the apostasy is only going to grow. This is why it will be easier for the antichrist to come into power. What “Christians” are left behind will be so ignorant of the Word that they won’t recognize him until it is too late. On the other hand, the Bible encourages us to stay read up and prayed up. We are to work out our own soul salvation. We are to make our call and election sure. In other words, we are to stay on the straight and narrow and not to stray from God Word. We are to read it, learn it, and hide it in our hearts. We are to cling to it and stick with it no matter what the world or the church does. God’s Word is the only thing that will last. Jesus is not coming back for a congregation. He is coming back for a Bride who has made herself ready and who has remained faithful to Him.

Death Does not Have to be Permanent

Death does not have to be permanent? I’m sure you thought that all deaths were permanent; however, the Bible teaches us that not all deaths are permanent. What do I mean by this? To understand this truth, let’s first look at what death really is.

            When we think of death, we think of funerals and burials (or cremations). We remember the loss of life, the empty void, the heartbreak. We see death as the end of life, but God sees death differently. Biblically speaking, death simply means, “separation.” We are spirits with a soul. As spirits, we are eternal. We will live forever. How do I know this? Genesis 1:26 reads, “Let us make man in Our image and after Our likeness.” In John 4, Jesus said God is spirit. So we are made in God’s image (spiritual) and after His likeness (Trinitarian). The Godhead is made up of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are soul, body, and spirit. When we die, our body simply ceases functioning. Since our body is what anchors our soul to this planet, when our bodies cease, our spirits are free to leave the physical realm. We are then separated from those who are still here.

            When God told Adam that when he ate of the tree he would die, He meant that Adam’s disobedience would separate him from God. This is illustrated by God asking, “Adam, where are you?” It wasn’t that God didn’t know where Adam was but to show a change in their relationship. This is again illustrated when Jesus was on the cross. When God placed upon Him the sins of us all, Jesus was separated from God for the first time in eternity. In this separation, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Since Adam sinned, each soul (being) born after him, was born spiritually dead. We were separated from the presence and the knowledge of God. This is why many people don’t know God, and even some deny His existence.

            So, what happens when a person dies? When a person dies in Christ (having trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior), their spirit/soul goes to Paradise to be with the Lord. (Absent from the body, present with the Lord—2 Cor. 5:8). When a person dies apart from Christ, their soul goes to Hell, a place prepared for those who rebel against Him and His will. Why do unsaved people go to Hell when they die? Hell is a place God created for the devil and his angels, the first rebel. It is a place that is separated from His presence and His holiness. This truth is the same for the Lake of Fire, the final destination of the unsaved (those who reject God’s gift of salvation). The Lake of Fire is called the second death, the second separation.

            We are eternal beings. This is evidenced in the Bible. Elijah raised the widow’s son. Saul used a medium to call up Samuel’s spirit. Jesus spoke of Lazarus and the rich man. Jesus raised the centurion’s daughter. Jesus raised Lazarus. Jesus, Himself, was raised from the dead. There is also evidence from non-biblical sources. There are many news accounts and reports of people who have died and come back from the dead.

            Here are a few sites:

            http://www.near-death.com/

            http://www.mindspring.com/~scottr/nde/_accounts.html

            http://bibleprobe.com/nde.htm

            What’s the conclusion of the matter? If we come to Christ, ask Him to forgive our sins, and put our trust in Him as the One who paid the penalty for our sins, we will be saved. We will have life because He will come to live in us. We also have the hope of glory. We will be see our Savior. We will see God. We will be reunited with other loved ones who died in Christ. We may be separated for a time. It may seem like we have lost them as we see them lying in the coffin, but Jesus assures us that all His people will be together again (Matthew 25: 34, John 11:25, Hebrews 11:39-40)

Therefore, death does not have to be permanent.

Here are some books on Near-Death Experiences:

The Encounter--A Movie Review

Cast: Bruce Marchiano, Jaci Valesquez, Steve “Sting” Borden, Danah Davis, Madison Gibney, and Jamie Nieto.

Directed by: David A. R. White (who makes a cameo at the end of the movie)

Plot: Five people meet at a mysterious diner in the middle of nowhere. While there, they meet someone who could change their lives forever.

Review: The Encounter is reminiscent of the Christian film, Late One Night. In that movie, three friends meet at a diner where they meet a Christian of whom they make fun. In this move, five people, some who have no previous relationship, are traveling down a dark road on a stormy night when they encounter a sinister State Trooper who informs them that the road is closed. Having passed a diner, they turn around and go back to the diner to wait out the storm. From here, the drama begins to play out.

            They encounter a person who claims to be Jesus, who somehow knows everything there is about each person. This is lucky for them because each one has a problem that only Jesus could help them with—if only they let him. Each person has some hard decisions to make and some make the wrong one.

            The plot is probably not original. After all, before it was the movie, “The Perfect Stranger,” which was based on the book, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. Yet, I thought Bruce Marchiano was a convincing ‘Jesus’ and Kass Connors was eerie as the devil (Officer Deville). Steve Borden represents those people who don’t think they need Jesus.

            I recommend this movie to anyone who is Christian or curious about what Christianity is all about. It is available for instant streaming on Netflix and for free viewing on YouTube. Four out of five stars.

How to Handle Irate Customers

If you have ever worked in a position that has any degree of customer interaction, then you likely have had to deal with irate customers. There are a number of reasons customer are irate. They range from misunderstandings about their agreement with your company to displeasure with your product or service to anger over personal issues. This hub will provide some strategies to handling irate customer and even salvage the relationship. Though this hub deals primarily with handling customer complaints, it can also be used to resolve conflicts in many areas of life.

Remain calm and don’t take it personally.

The first tendency of a person who is dealing with an irate person is to take it personally and start matching the tones and words of the irate person. We see their verbal assault as an attack upon our person when, in reality, they are attacking the company for which we work. Therefore, the first strategy in dealing with irate people is to not take it personally and to remain calm in the situation. If you keep your voice low and steady, then eventually the irate person will lower theirs, too. On the other hand, if you attempt to raise your voice to match theirs, it will only add fuel to the fire and they will either raise their voice louder or become more irate, as they will see it as an attack on them. Remember, they are already upset with your company. Yelling at them or calling them names will only escalate the situation.

Summarize their complaint.

Once you’ve gain an understanding of their complaint, summarize it to them to ensure you are correct in your assessment. If you do not understand their complaint, ask probing questions to clarify any unclear issues. By repeating their complaint back to them, you show that you heard them and understood them. This can go a long way toward calming the customer because one issue customers have with companies is that they do not feel that they are being heard by the company. It can also help save you time trying to resolve the wrong issue because you misunderstood the customer’s concern.

Empathize with the customer.

In his book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Dale Carnegie advises his readers to put themselves in the shoes (place or mindset) of the other person with whom they are in conflict. See it from their perspective. Not only can this help calm the irate customer, but it can also go a long way towards resolving the issue. Say to them, “Mr./Ms. Customer, I understand why you feel like you do and, in your situation, I would feel the same way.” Perhaps, it is our view or reasoning that is flawed. We cannot assume that we are always correct. In some cases, the other person may actually be right.

Own the encounter.

One thing call center managers teach their employees is to own the call. When a customer calls with an issue or a complaint, it is the responsibility of the one who answers the call to resolve it, as much as it is within their ability. Whether the confrontation is on the phone or in person, if you are the person taking the complaint, you should be the one to resolve it. If you need to get further authorization or coordinate with another department, you should do so and not just transfer the customer. One thing an irate customer hates is for someone to pass the buck. Who likes being transferred from one department to another with each department saying, “We don’t do that here. I don’t know why they transferred you to us. Let me send you to…” Instead, own the encounter. Get the issue resolved.

            There are times when you have to escalate the call to management or to another department because company rules demand it or the customer demands it. If that happens, do so. Explain to the customer what you are doing. If possible, do a warm transfer. That means, when you call up the department or supervisor, explain to them the customer’s issue and, if possible, introduce the customer to the person who will be taking over the call. Say to the customer, “Mr./Ms. Customer, (person’s name) is on the line and they will continue to assist you from here.”

End the call/encounter on a positive note.

If you cannot resolve it while they are on the phone (on during the visit), let them know, tell them what the next steps are, and set up a time to get back with them.  There may be something that the customer needs to do. If so, summarize it and make sure they understand their role in resolving their issue. If you are unable to resolve the issue by the time you are supposed to get back with them, still call them and let them know of what progress you’ve made and what you are still waiting on for the issue to be resolved. Try to set up a new deadline to get back with them.  If you do this, this will help the customer to see that the company is interested in them and their concern. It also can restore a favorable impression of the company with the customer.

As an agent of the company, you are part of that company. Therefore, when you are conversing with an irate customer, don’t take sides with the customer against the company. Don’t blame other departments for errors. Don’t say things like: “They’re always messing up and doing things like that” or “They’re just so slow over there.” Instead, say something like, “I’m sorry about the error. We will look into that and get it corrected as soon as possible. We appreciate your business and your patience in this matter.” Remember, you are all in it together.

People who interact with customers, either on the phone or in person, are the face of the company. Therefore, they are going to be the ones who are the targets of people’s ire. Don’t take it personally. Don’t argue with customers. Don’t insult customers. Instead, listen to their complaints. Repeat them back to the customer. Empathize with them and offer to help. Resolve the issue even if this means getting others involved. Being the face of the company not only means that you are the target of attacks but it also means that you are the one who can influence a person’s impression of the company—whether that impression is positive or negative. Your actions or inactions can sway whether the customer comes back or not.

How Anyone Can Sell Just about Anything

In my extensive career history, selling was one of the hardest positions I’ve had. Perhaps, it was because of my mindset. I’ve always seen selling as trying to convince people to give up their money when in reality it is trying to show people how your products and services can help make their lives better. I also believe selling was hard for me because by nature I am an introvert and the best sellers are usually extroverts. Yet, in my experience, there are many skills I’ve learned that can make nearly anyone a successful salesperson.

            There are hundreds of books on the market that tell you how to sell or how to become a top seller. Yet, I believe that all those books which detail the secrets of successful selling can be summed up with these four tips. If you follow them, you too should be able to sell just about anything to just about anyone.

Tip #1—Know your product or service.

If you are going to sell anything, the first thing you need to know is the product or service. Learn everything you can about the product or service. Read the tech specs, read the marketing brochures, even talk to the designers or the product or the performers of the service, if possible. You do this for two reasons. First, you appear knowledgeable to the prospective customer and they feel more comfortable buying from you. The next reason we will discuss later.

            When I worked at Dell Computers, I needed to know all about the computers, both desktops and laptops. I needed to know how many Gigabytes the hard drives held. I need to know what memory was. I needed to know about the different sales packages. When I worked at Conn’s Appliances and Electronics, I needed to know what the difference between HD and LCD was. I needed to know how LCD TV differed from other flat panel TVs.

Tip #2—Know your customer.

Why do we need to know our customers? It is because we need to know them so that we can best present to them our product or service. Based on the product or service you’re selling, you will need to know your customer’s name, address, living conditions, neighborhood, age of house, and his or her perceived needs. This is just some of the things you need to learn. These demographics are what help marketers decide whom to target their product or service. After all, if the person doesn’t need what you’re selling, then you’re wasting your time approaching them.

            Salespeople are taught to know their customers. By knowing your customer, you can ascertain their needs. There are many ways to do this but there are only two main ways I know. I got to know my customers by:

·         Establishing rapport. What does it mean to establish rapport? Webster’s Dictionary defines rapport as “relation marked by harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity.” Establishing rapport means relating to your customer. It is getting to know your customer and establishing a relationship with him or her. Emphasize things you have in common—family, work history, hobbies, etc. People are more likely to buy from someone they like and feel connected to than from a stranger. Rapport brings trust.

·         Ask probing questions. If you work in a store, ask your customer, “What brings you in today?” When I worked at Dell, we would answer the phone by saying, “Thanks for calling Dell. What can I build for you today?” these questions are designed to find out what the customer’s perceived needs are so you can narrow your focus of inquiry. You may get everything from “were just looking” to an actual answer. If you get the ‘were just looking’ answer, you could ask, “Is there anything in particular you would like to see?” From that you can assess what it is they are likely shopping for.

Tip #3—Match your product or service to the needs of your customer.

The second reason why you need to know all aspects of your product or service is so you can better promote it to your customer. Through your knowledge, you can highlight the aspects of your product or service that match the real or perceived needs of your customer. Enthusiastically and knowledgeably explain to your customer how your product can benefit them. One thing I did at Conn’s when I was selling HDTVs was emphasize the clarity of the picture. I would explain to them how looking at an HD TV essentially “puts you in the show. It’s as clear as if you were there!” What perceived need does this meet? People want a television with a picture that is clear and allows them to see every minute detail. This is especially true of those who love sports, cooking, even decorating.

Matching the benefits of your product or service to the needs of your customer is true regardless of what you’re selling. Even when selling yourself to a prospective employer, it is important that you know your strengths and weaknesses, as well as know the company you’re applying to and its needs. The question a potential customer or employer is secretly asking is this, “How will your product or service meet my needs?” (In the case of employment, you are the product.) You can gain the sale or the job if you can answer this question knowledgeably and convincingly.

Tip #4—Ask for the sale.

This is the main mistake most salespeople make. They follow all the above tips but fail to ask the customer for the sale. They let the customer walk away. If you are going to be bold enough to build rapport, talk up the product, you should reward your hard work by asking for the sale. “So, can I set up delivery for today?” “Will you be looking to pay cash or charge? We have in-store financing.” 

If I were to give a tip #5, it would be to be persistent. Sales managers says you will get a dozen ‘no’s’ before you get one ‘yes’. The problem I believe some salespeople have is that they quit too soon. They either let the customer get away without following the above steps or they quit after getting a few no’s. Any job requires persistence and patience, especially if you are working in the area of customer service.

Another piece of advice I would give is continue your education. This does not necessarily mean going back to school, but don’t stop learning. Read books on selling, learn more about your industry and the products you’re selling, know your competition, and discover future trends. If you follow these tips and don’t give us too quickly, you, too, should become one of the top sellers in your company, maybe even your field.

What to do When a Loved One Passes Away: Funeral Planning 101

If you should happen to be one of the unfortunate (or fortunate) ones who is responsible for handling affairs after a loved one passes away, you can hopefully find help with this hub.

After the Death

What you do after a loved one dies is determined by where their death occurred. If they died in a hospital or a nursing home facility, you can simply have the institution to contact the funeral home of your choice to have the body picked up. You can then contact the funeral home to set up a time for you to come in and speak with the funeral director.

If your loved one should die at home, you will have to call the police and the EMTs. Someone has to call time of death and sign off on the death certificate. In a facility, this will be done by the staff. But in a home situation, a qualified person has to come and call time of death. This can be a hospice nurse, a RN, a doctor, or perhaps an EMT. After the death has been called and recorded, then you can call the funeral home and have the body removed. You can then set up a time to meet with the funeral director to make funeral arrangements.

At the Funeral Home

When speaking with the funeral director, there are several things that must be decided. It is a good idea for you to take another rational person with you. It is a longstanding rumor that funeral directors often prey on the emotions of the family to up-sell funeral services. Have in mind an idea of how much you are going to spend on the funeral. As of today, you can get a decent funeral for about $7,000, sealed vault included. Some additional services might include obituaries, flowers, opening and closing of the grave, and transportation of the body from one site/state to another. There also may be additional fees if you want the funeral held at the funeral home.

Some funeral homes offer packages in which certain funeral services are included. These services include: work of funeral director and staff, embalming, certain preparation of the body, casket, and the funeral service. This also may include the transfer of the body from the place of death to the funeral home. Ask your funeral director. Personally, I advise you speaking with your funeral director prior to the person’s passing. This will allow you to be in a less emotional mindset and thus able to make more reasonable choices.

There are some things you will need to know when you go speak with the funeral director. What is the date of birth/death of your loved one? Where were they born? Who are their parents? What is their mother’s maiden name? Did they have any children? What are/were their names and the names of their spouses? Where do they live? Were they in the military? If so, do you want a flag for the coffin? Do you want military presence at the funeral? (Is your loved one was in the military, the funeral home will need to contact the VA in order to request the flag, a VA-provided headstone, and reimbursement for certain funeral expenses.) What type of monument/headstone do you want? What do you want on it? Will you buy the flowers separate or do you want the funeral home to supply them? Do you want a wake? If so, when? The funeral director may be able to order death certificates. You should decide how many you want to have. There is a cost for each one. Keep in mind some institutions require originals while others will accept copies.

If you don’t have a plot already, you may need to purchase one. The funeral home will need to know where this plot will be prior to the funeral because they will need to know where the burial will be (unless the party is cremated, in which case they’ll need to know the name of the crematorium, if they do not provide such services). The funeral home will also need to arrange police escort to the burial site.

Of course, the most important thing to discuss with the funeral director is the cost. You can start off telling them how much you are willing or wanting to spend and they will try to put together something within your budget. You also need to discuss how the funeral services will be paid for. Is the family going to pay cash? Does the deceased have life insurance? If so, you will need the insurance policy so the funeral home can verify that the policy is still in effect and arrange payment. If the deceased had a prepaid burial plan, bring that policy with you. In my Pre-Need seminars, I often advise people to buy prepaid burial plans. With them, most of these decisions have already been made.

Planning the Funeral

When planning the funeral it is important to get everyone’s input. The funeral is for the family not the deceased. Get input as to: What will the deceased wear? Where will the funeral be held? (The time and location of the funeral should already have been decided prior to meeting with the funeral director.)  You should also decide how long you want the funeral to be. Discuss this with the funeral director because certain packages include a funeral of certain lengths, usually an hour. Determine what type of funeral you want. Do you want a somber funeral, a celebratory funeral, an evangelical funeral, or some blending of them? This will help in deciding the answers to the following: Who will deliver the eulogy? What songs will be song? Who will sing them? What scriptures will be read and who will read them? Will there be testimonials and how much time will be allotted for them? Who will serve as pallbearers? Who will design the obituary and how many will you print?  After the funeral, will there be a repast? If so, where will it be held?

 

As you can see, there are a host of things that need to be taken care of and a host of decisions to be made. As soon as you know your loved one will be passing on, you should start making decisions about funeral arrangements. You should also know or learn where important papers are like military discharge papers, insurance policies, money, Wills, and other papers. Discuss with your loved one what they would like to do with such items as clothing and dishes. Larger things should be covered by the Will.

What I’ve written here is based on my own experiences. I am sure it is not all inclusive. For more information, please contact your local funeral director or minister. Get with your family members and make plans. Another thing I advise in my seminars is that you begin planning your own funeral. After all, we all will die one day. Let’s not leave those decisions to our loved ones. If you do, “you will be saying you love them even from beyond the grave.”

Jesus and the Rapture

A Radical Idea

Most people believe that John 14:1-3 was when Jesus prophesied His return. This is believed to be the earliest prophecy of the Rapture of the Church. What if John 14 was not the first time Jesus prophesied the Rapture? Here is a radical idea, what if He alluded to it in John 11?

            In John 11, Jesus was ministering about a day’s journey from Bethany when He and His disciples heard that Lazarus was sick. According to the Scriptures, Jesus loved Lazarus. This may mean that He was fond of Lazarus rather than He loved Lazarus seeing that Jesus loved everyone. Yet, instead of going immediately to him, Jesus tarried where He was for two more days. After those days, He told His disciples that Lazarus was asleep and that He is going to wake him. Thinking that He meant that Lazarus was physically sleeping, they said, “It’s good that he sleeps for if he sleeps he will get well.” Then He told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”

            Upon arriving in Bethany, He was met by Martha, Lazarus’ sister. She told him, “Lord, had you been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus answered her and said, “Your brother will rise again.”

She responded, “Yes, Lord, in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

I believe in this exchange Jesus was hinting about the Rapture of the Church and He was using Lazarus as a living illustration. To prove my point, let’s compare what Jesus said with what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

In this portion of Paul’s letter to the Church in Thessalonica, he was refuting some in the church who had said that the Rapture had taken place and those who are dead had missed it. Paul inquired of the Lord what to write then he responded to their lies with “the word of the Lord.” He said that Christians are not to sorrow over those who have fallen asleep as those who have no hope.  For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with the trump of God and the voice of the Archangel and the dead in Christ will rise. And we who are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. We shall forever be with the Lord.

Not only is there the same wording Jesus used but there is also a parallel of the event. Jesus called those who have passed on, asleep. Paul also calls them asleep. Jesus first points out that the dead will live again. Paul starts talking about how the dead will rise first. Jesus then says that those who live will never die. Paul says that those who are alive and remain will be caught up. In other words, they will not die.

In addition to this parallelism, there is one more illustration of the Rapture. When Jesus raises Lazarus, He says, “Lazarus, come forth!” This is similar to His calling of John the Revelator in another picture of the Rapture in Revelation 3, “Come up here.” Jesus didn’t tell Lazarus to “come up here” because He was on earth. But when He returns He will say, “Come up here” because He will be in the air above the clouds.

I know this idea sounds radical, that Jesus spoke of the Rapture during the raising Lazarus, but I thought it was worth sharing.