"Catch Me Away": The Rapture (lifting up, taking, carrying, elevation) of the Bride.

The often debated topic of the "Rapture" has been the subject of many movies in the last few decades. Also called in the Bible the "departure", or the "catching away", it speaks of a moment in time where Christ translates true believers to "be with him in the air." We are not given many details about this event, but when read cover to cover, the Bible is clear about the time of the end - the great tribulation, and the reason for that time. It is called "the time of Jacob's trouble." It is a 3 and a half year period where God will win the hearts of the nation of Israel. The world will follow a coming leader, supposing him to be the Messiah. Jews will follow him, rebuild their temple and resume sacrifices there. At the midpoint of the tribulation, this pompous leader will sit himself in the Jewish temple and proclaim himself to be God. Israel will realize that this leader is an imposter, and be awakened to the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. A key verse in the book of Thessalonians tells us that this leader (the Antichrist, or better the "in place of Christ") cannot be revealed until something happens... he is being restrained by a force of good on the earth. It is the Spirit of the Living God in His people who are praying, weeping and crying out for God's Kingdom to come and His will to be done on our planet. This amazing force is literally holding back a riptide of darkness that wants to consume humanity. This force that is holding back the revealing of the "man of sin", the antichrist, will do so until "he", the Spirit of the Living God in Christ's true followers, is taken out of the way..

"Now you know what is holding back the man of sin. He is held back so that he can make his appearance at the right time. 7 The secret power of sin is already at work. But the one who now holds back that power will keep doing it until he is taken out of the way. " That verse is in the book of 2nd Thessalonians, chapter 6, verse 2.

"This event, the "catching away" was a part of the ancient Jewish betrothal and subsequent wedding. During the betrothal period, called "Erusin", the groom was to prepare a place for his bride, while the bride focused on her personal preparations: wedding garments, lamps, etc." "Although the bride knew to expect her groom after about a year, she did not know the exact day or hour. He could come earlier. It was the father of the groom who gave final approval for him to return to collect his bride."

For that reason, the bride kept her oil lamps ready at all times, just in case the groom came in the night, sounding the shofar (ram’s horn) to lead the bridal procession to the home he had prepared for her. Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:3), speaking to his disciples. The final step in the Jewish wedding tradition is called nissuin (to take), a word that comes from naso, which means to lift up.

"At this time, the groom, with much noise, fanfare and romance, carried the bride home. The nuptials are called nissuin, a term derived from the word nassa (to carry), which recalls the days when the townspeople carried the bride on a carriage from her parents’ home to her new home with the groom. Kiddushin connects two equals, man and woman, in a relationship as husband and wife. nissuin, which also means elevation, connects husband, wife, and God in a permanent commitment."

"The wedding feast (seudah) after the nissuin might have included seven full days of food, music, dancing and celebrations (Judges 14:10–12) and Orthodox Jews celebrate after the wedding for seven nights, with friends and family, hosting festive meals in honor of the bride and groom."

So, "catching away", "lifting up", "taking", "carrying", "elevation" are all part of the ancient Jewish wedding celebration and one day very soon God the Father will turn to his Son and say "Go and get your bride". He will catch away His bride and rejoice with her while a period of "sevens" pass on the earth.

Study for yourselves!

References:
Bibles for Israel (2021). Ancient Jewish wedding customs and Yeshua's second coming. Retrieved from https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/ancient-jewish-wedding-customs-and-yeshuas-second-coming/

Chabad.org (2021). The Jewish Nuptuals (Nissuin). Retrieved from: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/479942/jewish/The-Jewish-Nuptials-Nissuin.htm