From: user6340@newsgrouper.org.invalid   
      
   JTEM  posted:   
   > On 1/12/26 1:32 AM, Steven Douglas wrote:   
   >   
   > > No, it's actually right there in the Bible for anyone   
   > > and everyone to embrace -- or what else would you call   
   > > being CAUGHT UP and meeting Jesus in the air? Why are   
   > > you ignoring this question every time I ask it?   
   >   
   > Because it's not literal.   
      
   Based on what? Being CAUGHT UP and meeting Jesus IN   
   THE AIR sounds literal to me. See below, where I   
   quote the verse that shows those words in the Bible.   
   >   
   > And the passages used to support the concept of the   
   > bible are disarticulated. They are not found in one   
   > place. They are each removed from their context.   
      
   In that case, let's just deal with this one verse:   
      
   [quoting] "Then we who are alive, who are left, will   
   be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds to meet   
   the Lord IN THE AIR, and so we will always be with   
   the Lord." [end quoting] 1 Thessalonians 4:17   
      
   The emphasis of capitalization is mine, just to make   
   sure you don't miss those words in that verse. So,   
   again I ask -- what do you think that verse means?   
   >   
   > >> These are people who set themselves above God, appoint themselves   
   > >> "Saved," they're all going to Heaven -- God has no say in this --   
   >   
   > > Not true. Jesus told us how to be saved. It's not   
   > > difficult, and it's available to everyone.   
   >   
   > The teacher teaches the students Latin. And then tests them,   
   > judges them on their success or failure.   
      
   We are saved by God's grace. It's a free gift that is   
   available to anyone who chooses to believe, and ask   
   Jesus to come into their heart:   
      
   [quoting] "For it is by grace you have been saved,   
   through faith. And this is not from yourselves,   
   it is the gift of God, not by works, so that   
   no one can boast." [end quoting] Ephesians 2:8-9   
      
   We are saved through faith in Jesus:   
      
   [quoting] "For God so loved the world that he gave   
   His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should   
   not perish but have eternal life." [end quoting] John 3:16   
      
   Faith in Jesus is the only way to be saved:   
      
   [quoting] "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and   
   the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father   
   except through me.'" [end quoting] John 14:6   
      
   It's not difficult to be saved. All it takes is   
   to believe in Jesus -- to believe that Jesus was   
   conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of the   
   Virgin Mary, was crucified for our sins, and was   
   resurrected on the third day -- where He was seen   
   alive by hundreds of witnesses.   
      
   There is a reason the Bible is the best selling   
   book in the history of books. There is a reason   
   those myths you like to compare to Jesus fall   
   flat, and no one remembers who they are. But   
   everyone knows who Jesus is.   
      
   In fact, every movie I watch these days, Jesus   
   gets a mention when someone uses His name as   
   a swear word. And I always wonder why they   
   never use some other name as a swear word, but   
   it's always Jesus name?   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)