Truth

Where did they go? 

To put it simply, the Bible is real. The Bible has always been real - and the Truth is Jesus. The loved one who shared this message with you knew this. The following pages will share the words of God in vivid detail, outlining what happened, and how your loved one knew it would happen.

Jesus, the Lord and Savior of your loved one, said this to his followers when He was asked about the End of the Age? (Matthew chapter 24 verses 36-44)

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son,[b] but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

“During the Days of Noah” references the story of Noah and the Ark. During this time the destruction of the earth took place through a worldwide flood. Noah was given instructions by God to build an Ark (a very large boat). On this boat Noah was allowed to take those faithful to God, to be spared from the destruction. (This story found in the first book of the Bible, Genesis chapters 6-9)

In verse 40 of Matthew chapter 24, Jesus goes on to tell of one taken and one left. Then the verses become personal: Jesus then says to stay awake, “for You do not know on what day Your Lord is coming….” And that “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour You do not expect.”

The story of Jesus was written by different apostles during the time Jesus was on earth, this allows us to gain more insight into the story, as we have the different accounts by 4 writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. In Luke’s account of this conversation with Jesus (Luke chapter 17 verses 26-36), Jesus said:

26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”

Again, Jesus references the story of Noah. Luke records in his account of Jesus’ words that it was also like the days of Lot. When Lot went out of Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all. The story of Lot, like Noah, included a man named Lot who was called by God to leave his home in Sodom. As soon as Lot left his home, the city was destroyed. Read the full story in Genesis chapter 19 verses 1-38. Note Jesus warns You to not look back, like Lot’s wife.

Don’t lose hope here, these stories outline destruction for those left, and the coming pages will outline so much more coming, but the truths outlined will also bring Hope and Joy for what You can do to have life everlasting. Regardless of where you are now understanding or still doubting, please keep reading, the loved ones who have departed knew this, and they know so much more is coming as well.

In Revelation chapter 3 verse 10, the Bible says, “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.”

So, what other verses speak of this time when your loved one would disappear? In the first book of Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 15-18, the question is asked by believers in Jesus about loved ones who have died before the time of Jesus’ coming. The words go on to say that those who are dead in Christ Jesus will rise first. 

15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[d] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Then verse 17 has brought so much peace to your loved one: “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 be with the Lord Jesus always.” This passage outlines what happens when the Lord comes for his followers, He will call up the dead in Christ (Jesus) first, then he will call those who are alive on this earth. They will be called up in the air with Him (Jesus).

In the first book of Thessalonians, chapter 5 verse 9, the Apostle Paul says, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And in the first book of Thessalonians, chapter 1 verse 10, he says, “And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 

Your loved one also found peace in the words of Jesus when he said, in Matthew chapter 25 verses 31-46, 

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

This sounds different than what happened, it was without any warning…. at an unexpected time?

Matthew chapter 24 verse 44 says   “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Mark chapter 13 verses 32-37 says: 

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake.[a] For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants[b] in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows,[c] or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Matthew chapter 25 verses 1-13 outlines a story of brides waiting for their groom to come. In the Galilean culture that the followers of Jesus would have known and understood, the groom actually came at an unexpected hour in the evening for their bride, and they were instructed to stay ready. The verse ends and says such is the way Jesus will come.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The wedding of this time included a clear rule of understanding for all, when the feast begins the doors will be shut and no one is allowed to come in late. Your loved one was encouraged by these verses to stay awake and aware, as they did not know when the Son (Jesus) would return. As in the Galilean wedding, the groom arrives by surprise, when his father directs him to go and get his bride. This cultural wedding was well known by the apostles - it would be how they knew the wedding would begin. The Groom would be directed by the Father at what time he was to go and join his bride. The story of the wedding outlined by Christ Jesus is so similar to the coming back of Jesus that it leads the apostles to be satisfied with the answer. Your loved one trusted Jesus’ words in Mark chapter 13 verse 32: only the Father(God the Father) knows when the groom(Jesus) will return, as Jesus is ready to return for his bride, the church, your loved one.

When Paul, a writer and follower of Jesus, spoke with the followers in the town of Thessalonica, Paul stated in the first book of Thessalonians chapter 15 verses 51-53: 

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 imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

What can we learn from this scripture? That it happened quickly, in the twinkling of an eye. Those who were followers were told it would happen, and they and their loved ones that had passed from this life would be changed to be with the Lord, Jesus Christ. 

So much more is to be shared, if you are willing to go deeper. The next page tells you more about what is coming.