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THE SECRET MEANINGS OF THE PARABLES OF THE
MUSTARD SEED, LEAVEN, AND THREE MEASURES (Matthew 13:31-33; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-21)
By George Lujack
Yeshua (Jesus) often spoke to the multitudes in parables in order to keep the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven a secret, which would not be made known until the times of the end.
MATTHEW 13:10-11,34-35 (NKJV):
And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of
the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” …
All these things Yeshua (Jesus) spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
“I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
Yeshua’s (Jesus’) parables of the mustard seed, leaven, and three measures are prophetic parables, which could not be fully understood until the end times. This article will reveal the prophetic parabolic metaphoric meanings of the mustard seed, leaven, and three measures (Matthew 13:31-33; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-21).
MATTHEW 13:31-33 (NKJV):
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard
seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but
when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air
come and nest in its branches.” Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
MARK 4:30-32 (NKJV):
Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we
picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all
the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs,
and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”
LUKE 13:18-21 (NKJV):
Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a
mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree,
and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”
And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a
woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
Theologians throughout the ages have attempted to explain the meanings of the mustard seed, leaven, and three measures, not fully understanding that these were prophetic parables, which could not be fully revealed until the time of the end. Many have proclaimed that the parables of the mustard seed, leaven, and three measures generally represent the following…
THE MUSTARD SEED:
1. The sower is Yeshua (Jesus) who came to earth to preach the kingdom of God.
2. The field represents the earth.
3. The mustard seed, known at the time by the Jews as the smallest seed, represents the Gospel of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ), which started off with twelve apostles, but has grown to the world’s largest faith via various denominations of Christianity.
4. The mustard tree represents the growth of the tiny mustard seed, which grows large with far reaching branches and is rooted in Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ).
5. The birds of the air represent the faithful saints who come to enter into in God’s kingdom.
THE LEAVEN:
1. The leaven represents the gospel and/or the first believers (apostles), who were small in number, then grow, expand, and rise like leaven to transform the world for the better.
2. The leaven represents teachings (e.g. the leaven / teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees – Matthew 16:6-12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1).
THE THREE MEASURES
There is no general consensus on the meaning of the three measures. Some interpretations:
1. Three components of a man: body, soul, and spirit.
2. Three attributes of Yeshua (Jesus): the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
3. Three stages of salvation: repentance, water baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Some aspects of the aforementioned common interpretations of the parables of the mustard seed, leaven, and three measures reflect some truth, but they do not reveal the whole story.
The MUSTARD SEED is the little flock of believers, who worship Yeshua (Jesus) in spirit and truth.
The LEAVEN is His end times saints who will be taken (raptured) and hid away from the world.
The THREE MEASURES are the three major raptures of the end times righteous saints.
The secret prophetic metaphoric meanings of the parables of the mustard seed, leaven, and three measures are hereby deciphered and revealed [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
MATTHEW 13:31-33 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
[A LITTLE FLOCK], which a man [YESHUA (JESUS)] took [RAPTURED] and sowed [RELOCATED]
in his field [MILLENNIUM KINGDOM IN ISRAEL], which indeed is the least [SMALLEST] of all the
seeds [WORLD’S FAITHS]; but when it [THE LITTLE FLOCK] is grown [MULTIPLIED AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM KINGDOM REIGN] it [THE LITTLE FLOCK] is greater [IN SIZE AND STATUS] than the herbs [OTHER FLOCKS] and becomes a tree [FIRMLY ESTABLISHED, PROMINENT],
so that the birds of the air [PEOPLE OF THE WORLD] come [FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH] and nest in its branches [TAKE REFUGE IN THE CARE, INSTRUCTION, AND SHELTER OF THE FIRST FRUIT SAINTS TO BE GRAFTED INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF HEAVEN].”
Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven [THE RIGHTEOUS SAINTS], which a
woman [YESHUA (JESUS)] took [RAPTURED] and hid [AT HIS HOLY MOUNTAIN AND THEN IN THE CLOUDS] in three measures of meal [THREE MAIN RAPTURES: 144,000 MESSIANIC JEWS OF ISRAEL, THE AMERICAN RAPTURE, THE WORLD RAPTURE] till it [THE RAPTURED SAINTS] was all leavened [MULTIPLIED IN THE MILLENNIUM KINGDOM].”
MARK 4:30-32 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a
mustard seed [A LITTLE FLOCK], which, when it is sown [RELOCATED] on the ground [MILLENNIUM KINGDOM IN ISRAEL], is smaller [IN SIZE] than all the seeds [OTHER FLOCKS] on earth; but when it is sown [RELOCATED], it grows up [MULTIPLIES IN THE MILLENNIUM KINGDOM] and becomes greater [IN SIZE AND STATUS] than all herbs [OTHER FLOCKS], and shoots out large branches [EXPANDS], so that the birds of the
air [PEOPLE OF THE EARTH] may nest under its shade [TAKE REFUGE IN THE CARE, INSTRUCTION, AND SHELTER OF THE FIRST FRUIT SAINTS TO BE GRAFTED INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD].”
LUKE 13:18-21 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed
[A LITTLE FLOCK], which a man [YESHUA (JESUS)] took [RAPTURED] and put [RELOCATED] in his garden [MILLENNIUM KINGDOM IN ISRAEL]; and it [THE LITTLE FLOCK] grew [IN SIZE AND STATUS] and became a large tree [A LARGE FLOCK, FIRMLY ESTABLISHED, PROMINENT], and the birds of the air [PEOPLE OF THE WORLD] nested in its branches [TOOK REFUGE IN THE CARE, INSTRUCTION, AND SHELTER OF THE FIRST FRUIT SAINTS TO BE GRAFTED INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD].”
And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven [THE RIGHTEOUS SAINTS], which a woman [YESHUA (JESUS)] took [RAPTURED] and hid [AT HIS HOLY MOUNTAIN AND THEN IN THE CLOUDS] in three measures of meal [THREE MAIN RAPTURES: 144,000 MESSIANIC JEWS OF ISRAEL, THE AMERICAN RAPTURE, THE WORLD RAPTURE] till it [THE RAPTURED SAINTS] was all leavened [MULTIPLIED IN THE MILLENNIUM KINGDOM].”
SUMMATION AND REVIEW
The kingdom of heaven – the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed – little flock (Luke 12:32[1]), which a man – Yeshua (Jesus) took – raptured from the world (John 11:25-26[2]), and sowed – relocated in His field – His Millennium Kingdom in Israel (Revelation 20:4,6[3]). The mustard seed – His little flock of true believers who worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24[4]) by doing His commandments (Psalm 111:10;[5] 1 John 3:22;[6] Revelation 22:14[7]), is the smallest of all the seeds – world’s faiths.[8] But when it – the little flock, is grown – glorified in the Millennium Kingdom (Daniel 12:3;[9] Matthew 13:43[10]), it – the little flock is greater in size and status than the herbs – the people of other flocks who are able to enter the kingdom of heaven, but are regarded as least in the kingdom (Matthew 5:18-19[11]). The little flock, the first fruit saints in the Millennium Kingdom, will also be bearing many children (Isaiah 54:1-4[12]) during the 1,000 year reign of Yeshua (Jesus), which is indicated by the expansion of the branches of the little flock through childbearing (Isaiah 65:17-23[13]). The mustard seed – the little flock of righteous saints grows – multiplies and becomes a large tree – a large flock, firmly established, prominent, and wise (Proverbs 11:30[14]), so that the birds of the air – the penitent people of the rest of the world and those of the second resurrection (Revelation 20:5[15]) will come from the ends of the earth (Jeremiah 16:19[16]) and nest in its branches (Isaiah 4:1-4[17]) – take refuge and shelter to be grafted in (Romans 11:16-27[18]) to the everlasting kingdom of heaven (Luke 1:33[19]). The kingdom of heaven – the kingdom of God is like leaven – the righteous saints, which a woman – Yeshua (Jesus) took – raptured and hid – at His holy mountain and then in the clouds in three measures of meal – three main raptures: 144,000 Messianic Jews of Israel (Revelation 14:1-5[20]), the American rapture (Isaiah 18:1-7[21]) and the world rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-54;[22]
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17[23]) till it – the raptured saints were all leavened – fully matured, expanded, and glorified in the Millennium Kingdom (Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43).
The parables of the mustard seed, leaven, and three measures cannot be understood by taking the parables out of the Scriptures and attempting to figure out their meanings without a precept upon precept understanding of prophecy. In order to understand these parables, one must understand the prophetic elements of what they are a reference to: the Millennium Kingdom, the first fruit righteous saints of the kingdom, and the three main raptures, (Israeli, American, and world). Yeshua (Jesus) will take the righteous from the world, hide and protect them during the great tribulation and 7-year reign of the Antimessiah (Antichrist), and afterward relocate them to Israel to be righteous priests for Him. The righteous first fruit saints will act as branches to extend the kingdom to the rest of the world. Without the understanding all of these prophesies, it is impossible to understand the parables of the mustard seed, leaven, and three measures.
[1] LUKE 12:32 (NKJV):
“Do not fear, LITTLE FLOCK, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
[2] JOHN 11:25-26 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
Yeshua (Jesus) said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though He may die [THE FIRST DEATH], he shall live. And whoever lives [IS ALIVE WHEN I RETURN] and believes in Me [WILL BE RAPTURED AND] shall never die.”
[3] REVELATION 20:4,6 (NKJV):
And they lived and reigned with Messiah (Christ) for a thousand years. … Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Messiah (Christ), and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
[4] JOHN 4:23-24 (NKJV):
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth.”
[5] PSALM 111:10 (NKJV):
The fear of YHWH (the Lord) is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
[6] 1 JOHN 3:22 (NKJV):
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
[7] REVELATION 22:14 (NKJV):
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
[8] Hackett, Conrad and McClendon, David, “Christians remain world’s largest religious group, but they are declining in Europe,” April 15, 2017
< http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/05/christians-remain-worlds-largest-religious-group-but-they-are-declining-in-europe/ >.
The world’s largest religions and their number of believers are: Christianity* (31.2%, 2.4 billion), Islam (24.1%, 1.8 billion), Nonreligious (Secular/Agnostic/Atheist) (16%, 1.2 billion), Hinduism (15.1%, 1.1 billion), Buddhism (6.9%, 500 million), Folk traditional religion (5.7%, 400 million), Other religions (0.8%, 100 million), and Judaism (0.2%, 13 million).
*Non-denominational Hebrew Roots Christianity and Messianic Judaism combined, a little flock, comprise about (0.01%, 650,000) believers worldwide. Those numbers represent the smallest faith and are statistically included among Christianity’s numbers in general.
[9] DANIEL 12:3 (NKJV):
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
[10] MATTHEW 13:43 (NKJV):
“Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
[11] MATTHEW 5:18-19 (NKJV):
“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does and teaches them, he
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
[12] ISAIAH 54:1-4 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
“Sing, O barren, you who have not borne [CHILDREN]! Break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate [BARREN AND RIGHTEOUS DIVORCED WOMEN WHO DID NOT REMARRY IN ADULTERY – IN THE MILLENNIUM KINGDOM] than the children of the married woman [OF THIS AGE],” says YHWH (the Lord). “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities [OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION] inhabited.”
[13] ISAIAH 65:17-23 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. but be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem [DURING MY MILLENNIUM KINGDOM REIGN], and joy in My people [THE FIRST FRUIT RIGHTEOUS SAINTS]; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying. No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die [MATURE INTO ADULTHOOD AT] one hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. They [THE FIRST FRUIT RIGHTEOUS SAINTS] shall build houses and inhabit them; they [THE FIRST FRUIT RIGHTEOUS SAINTS] shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They THE FIRST FRUIT RIGHTEOUS SAINTS] shall not build and another inhabit; they THE FIRST FRUIT RIGHTEOUS SAINTS] shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They THE FIRST FRUIT RIGHTEOUS SAINTS] shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; for they [CHILDREN BORN DURING THE MILLENNIUM KINGDOM] shall be the descendants of the blessed [CHILDREN OF THE FIRST FRUIT RIGHTEOUS SAINTS] of YHWH (the Lord), and their offspring with them.”
[14] PROVERBS 11:30 (NKJV):
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
[15] REVELATION 20:5 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
But the rest of the dead [THE SECOND RESURRECTION] did not live again until the thousand years
[MILLENNIUM KINGDOM REIGN] were finished.
[16] JEREMIAH 16:19 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
The Gentiles [PENITENT CHRISTIANS OF THE SECOND RESURRECTION] shall come to You [YESHUA (JESUS)] from the ends of the earth and say, “Surely our [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] fathers have inherited lies [FALSE DOCTRINES], worthless and unprofitable things.”
[17] ISAIAH 4:1-4 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
And in that day [OF THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT – REVELATION 20:11-15] seven women [PENITENT PERSONS OF THE SECOND RESURRECTION – JEREMIAH 16:19] shall take hold of one [FIRST FRUIT RIGHTEOUS] man, saying, “We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach [LUKE 15:17-19].” In that day [OF THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT] the Branch [RIGHTEOUS SAINTS OF THE MILLENNIUM KINGDOM] of YHWH (the Lord) shall be beautiful and glorious; and the fruit [DOCTRINES / TEACHINGS] of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped [HELL, THE SECOND DEATH – REVELATION 20:6,11-15].
[18] ROMANS 11:16-27 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
For if the firstfruit [YESHUA (JESUS)] is holy, the lump [BODY] is also holy; and if the root [YESHUA (JESUS)] is holy, so are the branches [RIGHTEOUS SAINTS]. And if some of the branches were broken off [JEWS], and you [GENTILES], being a wild olive tree [A SEPARATE GENTILE TREE], were grafted in among them [SPIRITUAL ISRAEL], and with them [SPIRITUAL ISRAEL] became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree [GOD’S KINGDOM], do not boast against the branches [JEWS]. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root [YESHUA (JESUS)], but the root [YESHUA (JESUS)] supports you [GENTILES]. You [GENTILES] will say then, “Branches [JEWS] were broken off that I [A GENTILE] might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they [JEWS] were broken off, and you [GENTILES] stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear [GOD]. For if God did not spare the natural branches [JEWS], He may not spare you [GENTILES] either. And they [JEWS] also, if they [JEWS] do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them [JEWS] in again. For if you [GENTILES] were cut out of the olive tree [BABYLON] which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree [GOD’S KINGDOM], how much more will these [JEWS], who are natural branches [DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM], be grafted [BACK] into their own olive tree [SPIRITUAL ISRAEL – GOD’S KINGDOM]? For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel [JEWS] until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in [BEEN GRAFTED INTO GOD’S KINGDOM]. And so all Israel [JEWS AND GENTILES] will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer [YESHUA (JESUS)] will come out of Zion [JERUSALEM], And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob [ISRAEL]. For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
[19] LUKE 1:33 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
“And He will reign over the house of Jacob [ISRAEL] forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
[20] REVELATION 14:1-5 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb [YESHUA (JESUS)] standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand [ISRAELI MESSIANIC JEWS], having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand [ISRAELI MESSIANIC JEWS] who were redeemed [RAPTURED] from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women [THROUGH FORNICATION OR ADULTERY], for they are virgins [OF THE WICKED WAYS OF THE WORLD]. These are the ones who follow the Lamb [YESHUA (JESUS)] wherever He goes. These were redeemed [RAPTURED] from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb [YESHUA (JESUS)]. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault [BLAMELESS / RIGHTEOUS] before the throne of God.
[21] ISAIAH 18:1-7 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
Woe [THE SECOND WOE OF REVELATION, THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON THE GREAT (AMERICA) – REVELATION 18] to the land [AMERICA] shadowed with buzzing (whirring HSV, NIV) wings [COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES], which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia [ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN], which sends ambassadors by sea, even in vessels of reed [USS BATTLESHIPS] on the waters. “Go, swift messengers [RAPTURING ANGELS], to a nation [AMERICA] tall and smooth of skin, to a people [AMERICA] terrible from their beginning onward, a nation [AMERICA] powerful and treading down [IMPOSING ITS WILL UPON OTHER NATIONS], whose land [AMERICA] the rivers divide.” All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth: when he [AMERICA] lifts up a banner [RAISES A FLAG] on the mountains, you [THE WORLD] see it; and when he [AMERICA] blows a trumpet, you [THE WORLD] hear it. For so YHWH (the Lord) said to me, “I will take My rest, and I will look from My dwelling place [MY HOLY MOUNTAIN IN ISRAEL], like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest [THE AMERICAN PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE IS THE SECOND HARVEST (RAPTURE) OF THE RIGHTEOUS SAINTS].” For before the harvest [THE WORLDWIDE HARVEST (RAPTURE)], when the bud [TIMING] is perfect and the sour grape [THE HOMOSEXUAL GENERATION] is ripening [AGING] in the flower [AMERICAN MAINSTREAM CULTURE], He [GOD] will both cut off the sprigs [AMERICAN SAINTS] with pruning hooks [RAPTURING ANGELS] and take away [RAPTURE THEM] and cut down [DESTROY] the branches [UNRIGHTEOUS AMERICANS]. They [UNRIGHTEOUS AMERICANS] will be left [BEHIND] together for the mountain birds of prey and for the beasts of the earth; the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth will winter on them [EAT THEM – REVELATION 18:2]. In that time [OF BABYLON THE GREAT (AMERICA’S) DESTRUCTION] a present [THE AMERICAN RAPTURED SAINTS] will be brought to YHWH (the Lord) of hosts from a people [AMERICA] tall and smooth of skin, and from a people [AMERICA] terrible from their beginning onward, a nation [AMERICA] powerful and treading down [IMPOSING ITS WILL UPON OTHER NATIONS], whose land [AMERICA] the rivers divide – to the place [HOLY MOUNTAIN] of the name of YHWH (the Lord) of hosts, to Mount Zion.
[22] 1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-54 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [DIE], but we shall all be changed [INTO INCORRUPT SPIRIT BEINGS] – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised [FROM THE GRAVE] incorruptible, and we [WHO ARE ALIVE AT THE TIME OF HIS RETURN] shall be changed [INTO INCORRUPTIBLE SPIRIT BEINGS]. For this corruptible [FLESH] must put on [SPIRITUAL] incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible [FLESH] has put on [SPIRITUAL] incorruption, and this mortal [BODY] has put on [SPIRITUAL] immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
[23] 1 THESSALONIANS 4:15-17 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
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 [DEAD]. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Messiah (Christ) will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [RAPTURED] together with them [THE DEAD] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
