This is after Israel escaped from Egyptian bondage, “Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you ON EAGLES’ WINGS, and BROUGHT (lâqach: take out of, carry away) YOU TO MYSELF.” (Exo. 19:3-4) God parted the red sea and delivered Israel out of the pursuit of the evil Pharaoh.
The sons of Korah wrote this Psalm, “God will redeem my life. He will SNATCH (lâqach) me from the power of the grave.” (Psa. 49:15)
Remember Enoch in the Old Testament, “It was by faith that Enoch was TAKEN UP (metatithēmi: to transfer one’s self) to heaven without dying—“HE DISAPPEARED, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who PLEASED GOD.” (Heb. 11:5) Paul explains it like this, “I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will BRING WITH HIM those who sleep in Jesus. 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. For the Lord Himself will DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT (only His sheep will here this shout), with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP (harpazō: to snatch out, in Latin, raptus: a carrying off) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall ALWAYS BE with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
Paul also explains this way, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall ALL BE CHANGED (allassō: to transform)— 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.” (1 Corin. 15:51-52)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham