Catching Away of the Church or The Rapture as some call it

Revelation

The Catching Away

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. -- Rev 5:1 (KJV)

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? -- Rev 5:2 (KJV)

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. -- Rev 5:3 (KJV)

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. -- Rev 5:4 (KJV)

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. -- Rev 5:5 (KJV)

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. -- Rev 5:6 (KJV)

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. -- Rev 5:7 (KJV)

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. -- Rev 5:8 (KJV)

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; -- Rev 5:9 (KJV)

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. -- Rev 5:10 (KJV)

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; -- Rev 5:11 (KJV)

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. -- Rev 5:12 (KJV)

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. -- Rev 5:13 (KJV)

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. -- Rev 5:14 (KJV)

The Sealed Book

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. -- Rev 5:1 (KJV)

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? -- Rev 5:2 (KJV)

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. -- Rev 5:3 (KJV)

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. -- Rev 5:4 (KJV)

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. -- Rev 5:5 (KJV)

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. -- Rev 5:7 (KJV)

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb,

having every one of them harps,

and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. -- Rev 5:8 (KJV)

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain,

and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; -- Rev 5:9 (KJV)

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. -- Rev 5:10 (KJV)

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. -- Rev 5:12 (KJV)

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. -- Rev 5:14 (KJV)

Notes

And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. -- Gen 49:1 (KJV)

Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. -- Gen 49:2 (KJV)

Reuben, Unstable as water: Aquarius

Pegasus was the symbol of strength and might as

it was the steed of the king of the heavens

Cygnus is a Swan - symbolizing dignity and excellence

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: -- Gen 49:3 (KJV)

Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. -- Gen 49:4 (KJV)

Simeon and Levi - be not thou united: Pisces

The Band united the fish together as one

Andromeda is also the bound woman

Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. -- Gen 49:5 (KJV)

O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. -- Gen 49:6 (KJV)

Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. -- Gen 49:7 (KJV)

Judah - Judah is a lion's whelp : Leo

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. -- Gen 49:8 (KJV)

Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? -- Gen 49:9 (KJV)

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. -- Gen 49:10 (KJV)

Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: -- Gen 49:11 (KJV)

His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. -- Gen 49:12 (KJV)

Zebulun - haven (protective covering or shelter): Virgo

Bootes is the protector who stands at the door of the sheepfold

Argo was the ship which carried the people to the sheepfolds of safety (see Cancer). It is Bootes who protects the entrance or door to the sheepfold which makes him the safe haven of the ship Argo.

Bootes is the child of the Virgin (Virgo) which is found also

in the lap of Coma.

Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. -- Gen 49:13 (KJV)

Issachar - a strong ass couching down

between two burdens (sheepfolds) : Cancer

Cancer was also called the two asses

Ursa Major and Minor are two sheepfolds

Argo was the ship which carried the people to safety

Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: -- Gen 49:14 (KJV)

And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. -- Gen 49:15 (KJV)

Dan - a serpent , an adder , : Scorpio

Serpens wrestles with Ophiuchus

Scorpio strikes his heel

Hercules is the strong and mighty one who

crushes the head of the dragon

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. -- Gen 49:16 (KJV)

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. -- Gen 49:17 (KJV)

I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. -- Gen 49:18 (KJV)

Gad - a troop shall overcome him:

but he shall overcome at the last : Aries

Aries is a wounded Ram

Cetus is the enemy who overcomes him

Perseus the divine son who slays the enemy

Cassiopeia overcomes in the end and is enthroned

Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. -- Gen 49:19 (KJV)

Asher : Sagittarius

Lyra is a harp of praise and joy

Draco is a dragon cast down and defeated

Ara symbolizes judgement against the enemy

Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. -- Gen 49:20 (KJV)

Naphtali : Capricorn

Naphtali is a hind let loose(to shoot forth): he giveth goodly words. -- Gen 49:21 (KJV)

Sagitta is an arrow shot forth or loosed

Aquila is a soaring eagle - free

Delphinus is associated with Divine oracles of wisdom

Joseph the arms of his hands were made strong : Taurus

2 horns - Ephraim and Manasseh

also Orion was the mighty one

Auriga is the shepherd

Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: -- Gen 49:22 (KJV)

The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: -- Gen 49:23 (KJV)

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) -- Gen 49:24 (KJV)

Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: -- Gen 49:25 (KJV)

The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. -- Gen 49:26 (KJV)

Benjamin - as a wolf: in the morning

he shall devour the prey : Gemini

2 hunting dogs Canis major and Canis minor

Lepus is the hunted prey overcome

Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. -- Gen 49:27 (KJV)

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. -- Gen 49:28 (KJV)

He said to Preach the Gospel to every creature

not every human being or person

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to

every (pa/j) creature (kti,sij). -- Mark 16:15 (KJV)

The Gospel is also to be proclaimed to

Lucifer's prisoners

That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? -- Isa 14:17 (KJV)

WHOLE creation was affected by Lucifer's

rebellion. The Gospel is the promise of restoration of all things to

the whole of creation every (pa/j) creature (kti,sij)..

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. -- Rom 8:18 (KJV)

For the earnest expectation of the creature (kti,sij) waiteth for the manifestation (avpoka,luyij) of the sons of God. -- Rom 8:19 (KJV)

For the creature (kti,sij) was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, -- Rom 8:20 (KJV)

(side note: take note of the words in hope, )

WHOLE creation was made subject to vanity

For the creature (kti,sij) was made subject to vanity (mataio,thj), not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, -- Rom 8:20 (KJV)

3153 mataio,thj mataiotes {mat-ah-yot'-ace} -- vanity; empty, void, aimless, nonsense, nothingness, emptiness; purposelessness, worthlessness, futility, pertaining to being useless on the basis of being futile and lacking in content - ‘useless, futile, empty, futility; .

WHOLE creation SHALL BE delivered

Because the creature (kti,sij) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. -- Rom 8:21 (KJV)

For we know that the whole (pa/j) creation (kti,sij) groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. -- Rom 8:22 (KJV)

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. -- Rom 8:23 (KJV)

Jesus has opened the door and

NO ONE CAN SHUT IT !

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. -- Rev 3:8 (KJV)

Many believe this open door is the same door

which John saw

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. -- Rev 4:1 (KJV)

We have a promise that we shall escape the

Great Tribulation

"The Catching Away" or "The Rapture"

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. -- Rev 3:10 (KJV)

Shepherd of Hermas

Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. -- Rom 16:14 (KJV)

Irenaeus quotes it under the name as scripture

Origen thought it as divinely inspired

Eusebius says it was not esteemed as cannonical but read publicly throughout the churches

also coroborated by Jerome and Athanasius

(A.D. 160)

VISION FOURTH

CONCERNING THE TRIAL AND TRIBULATION THAT ARE TO COME

UPON MEN.

CHAPTER 1

I see dust rising even to the heavens. I began to say to myself, “Are cattle approaching and raising the dust?” It was about a furlong’s distance from me. And, lo! I see the dust rising more and more, so that I imagined that it was something sent from God. But the sun now shone out a little, and, lo! I see a mighty beast like a whale, and out of its mouth fiery locusts proceeded. But the size of that beast was about a hundred feet, and it had a head like an urn. I began to weep, and to call on the Lord to rescue me from it. Then I remembered the word which I had heard, “Doubt not, O Hermas.” Clothed, therefore, my brethren, with faith in the Lord? and remembering the great things which He had taught me, I boldly faced the beast. Now that beast came on with such noise and force, that it could itself have destroyed a city. I came near it, and the monstrous beast stretched itself out on the ground, and showed nothing but its tongue, and did not stir at all until I had passed by it. Now the beast had four colors on its head-black, then fiery and bloody, then golden, and lastly white.

CHAPTER 2

Now after I had passed by the wild beast, and had moved forward about thirty feet, lo! a virgin meets me, adorned as if she were proceeding from the bridal chamber, clothed entirely in white, and with white sandals, and veiled up to her forehead, and her head was covered by a hood. And she had white hair. I knew from my former visions that this was the Church, and I became more joyful. She saluted me, and said, “Hail, O man!” And I returned her salutation, and said, “Lady, hail!” And she answered. and said to me, “Has nothing crossed your path?” I say, “I was met by a beast of such a size that it could destroy peoples, but through the power of the Lord and His great mercy I escaped from it.” “Well did you escape from it,” says she, “because you cast your care on God, and opened your heart to the Lord, believing that you can be saved by no other than by His great and glorious name. On this account the Lord has sent His angel, who has rule over the beasts, and whose name is Thegri, and has shut up its mouth, so that it cannot tear you. You have escaped from great tribulation on account of your faith, and because you did not doubt in the presence of such a beast. Go, therefore, and tell the elect of the Lord His mighty deeds, and say to them that this beast is a type of the great tribulation that is coming. If then ye prepare yourselves, and repent with all your heart, and turn to the Lord, it will be possible for you to escape it, if your heart be pure and spotless, and ye spend the rest of the days of your life in serving the Lord blamelessly. Cast your cares upon the Lord, and He will direct them. Trust the Lord, ye who doubt, for He is all-powerful, and can turn His anger away from you, and send scourges” on the doubters. Woe to those who hear these words, and despise them: better were it for them not to have been born.”

The appearing (fanero,w) of the Lord

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear (fanero,w), we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming (parousi,a). -- 1 John 2:28 (KJV)

5319 fanero,w phaneroo {fan-er-o'-o} -- appear, manifest, show, be manifest, show (one's) self, to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way, make actual and visible, realised, to become manifest, be made known, expose to view, make manifest, to show one's self, appear, to become known, to be plainly recognised, thoroughly understood who and what one is

Two comings (e;rcomai) of the Lord

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. -- John 14:1 (KJV)

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. -- John 14:2 (KJV)

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come (e;rcomai) again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. -- John 14:3 (KJV)

2064 e;rcomai erchomai {er'-khom-ahee} -- to come from one place to another, to appear, make one's appearance, come before the public

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming (e;rcomai) in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. -- Mat 24:30 (KJV)

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. -- Acts 1:9 (KJV)

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; -- Acts 1:10 (KJV)

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come (e;rcomai) in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. -- Acts 1:11 (KJV)

The Lord's 2nd Advent (parousi,a)

3952 parousi,a parousia {par-oo-see'-ah} -- coming, arrival, advent, the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming (parousi,a) of the Lord draweth nigh. -- James 5:8 (KJV)

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? (parousi,a) for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. -- 2 Pet 3:4 (KJV)

Looking for and hasting unto the coming (parousi,a) of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? -- 2 Pet 3:12 (KJV)

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming (parousi,a) of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- 1 Th 5:23 (KJV)

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming (parousi,a) of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. -- James 5:7 (KJV)

The gathering together into one in Christ

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: -- Eph 1:9 (KJV)

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: -- Eph 1:10 (KJV)

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming (parousi,a) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, -- 2 Th 2:1 (KJV)

In the twinkling of an eye

Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, -- 1 Cor 15:51 (KJV)

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. -- 1 Cor 15:52 (KJV)

The Catching away (a`rpa,zw) of the saints

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming (parousi,a) of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. -- 1 Th 4:15 (KJV)

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: -- 1 Th 4:16 (KJV)

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (a`rpa,zw) (rapiere) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. -- 1 Th 4:17 (KJV)

726 a`rpa,zw harpazo {har-pad'-zo} -- catch up, catch away, carry off by force, to snatch out or away

The Catching away of Philip

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away (a`rpa,zw) (rapiere) Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. -- Acts 8:39 (KJV)

The Catching away of Paul

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up (a`rpa,zw) (rapiere) to the third heaven. -- 2 Cor 12:2 (KJV)

How that he was caught up (a`rpa,zw) (rapiere) into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. -- 2 Cor 12:4 (KJV)

The Catching away of the man child

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up (a`rpa,zw) (rapiere) unto God, and to his throne. -- Rev 12:5 (KJV)

The Catching away of Enoch

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him ( xq;l'). -- Gen 5:24 (KJV)

3947 xq;l' laqach {law-kakh'} -- receive, take away, fetch, take out, carry away, fetch, seize, marry, take a wife, snatch, to be taken out of

The Catching away of Elijah

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up (hl'[) by a whirlwind into heaven. -- 2 Ki 2:11 (KJV)

5927 hl'[' `alah {aw-law'} -- ascend, arose, to go up, to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away, to bring up, take away, to cause to ascend, to be carried away, to be taken up into

The GLORIOUS appearing (evpifa,neia) of the Lord

That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing (evpifa,neia) of our Lord Jesus Christ: -- 1 Tim 6:14 (KJV)