As most of us wait for the rapture, I feel led to expound on just ''what'' is going to happen. So many are focused on ''when''.  I am afraid that many see the rapture as a 'change in location'.........of going from planet earth to 'heaven'.....a change of physical locations. A divine ''rescue'' you might say.
 
However, I feel the rapture, which I prefer to call 'the Translation from mortal to immortal' is a change TO A Son of God!
 
One of the most profound sections of scripture is found in Hebrews chapter 2. I simply refer the reader to open their Bible and read carefully that chapter. It speaks in this one chapter of just ''what'' we are called to.
 
That chapter, quoted from Psalms 8, tells us WHY, for what purpose Jesus came and died and was resurrected for.
 
Simply put.......it was to Bring Many Sons to Glory.
 
Very few I am afraid KNOW exactly what this means. But God is revealing that Jesus, who was with God and was God, emptied Himself to become a 'man' for all time!
 
It is a glorified Man, 'the man Christ Jesus' says Paul, that sits on the Throne of the Majesty on High even as you read this.
 
Yes, Jesus did receive back the Glory He had with the Father. But listen closely. Jesus is both Lord and God, but as a Man.............a glorified man.
 
For the real serious student of scripture I refer you to the Old Testament story, laws concerning slaves.
 
There are several laws concerning slaves, but one in particular applies to what I am saying here.
 
If a man became a slave and had a family with him at the time he became a slave, then when he obtained his freedom, his family could 'go out' /to freedom/ with him.
 
But, if the man was single and became a slave, and Then had a family it was different. HE could obtain His freedom after working so many years......but IF he left and took his freedom........he could not take his family out with him! His family would be ''left behind''.
 
Now.... If he chose to stay with his family, wife and children, then he had to make a commitment to REMAIN a slave for the REST OF HIS LIFE............but he would be with his family.
 
It is said of Jesus............''behold in the volume of this book IT IS WRITTEN OF ME''. Every story, every rule, every law, in some way applies to Jesus.
 
We are now treading on Sacred ground. This will be entirely new to most every reader. It was new to me when I first learned it.
 
Jesus, while on earth as a man, could have saved himself. He could have returned to the Father 'just as He was before becoming a man'...........but...........if He did.......He would only be 'saving Himself'. Us slaves to sin ..........his kin, being human, would remain as slaves.
 
So Jesus, had to forever give up the status He once held in heaven with the Father..........to be the Savior of all mankind! He had to ''take his part'' Forever as a Man!
 
Most have never heard or understood this.
 
But look at the ''evidence'' as it is presented in the Scriptures.
 
Have you ever considered ''why'' the temptation of Jesus was so hard. I am speaking of the temptation of Jesus by satan in the wilderness. It was just not an appeal to the hunger or the pride of Jesus. NO, it was much more subtle than that!
 
Notice that satan would pose the question ''IF you are the Son of God, then...........do this or that........''. What satan was attempting to do was to get Jesus to act based on the fact that He was the Son of God............which means acting as His position as a Son of God.
 
If Jesus had acted as God, then He would have dis-qualified Himself to be the Savior of mankind. He had to act as a Man anointed by the Holy Spirit...........and not act as ''the Son of God''.
 
What I am saying is that Jesus' purpose was to ''bring Many Sons to Glory'' and not just save Himself as the only Son of God.
 
You see, to be 'a' Son of God means a person is in the Family of God, just as a son of a man is in that Father's family. There is only one, and will always be only one God the Father. There is only one, who is THE Son of God.........Jesus. But the plan of God is to bring Many Sons to Glory! To bring humans into the actual Family of God. To bring humans to the God level!
 
No wonder Jesus never once called Himself the Son of God! Notice He would call Himself the Son of Man..........only! When on trial Pilate and the Jews demanded to know 'who are you', and even demanded an answer to the specific question ''Are you the Son of the Blessed One''........ meaning the Father. Jesus answered that by saying ''It is as you say'', but again avoided making the direct statement 'I am the Son of God'.
 
This is not blasphemy. This shows the Incredible sacrifice that Jesus made by taking on humanity, and then as a human..........to Become a Son of God. He did this so that we too can share in what He has accomplished for us!
 
Notice in Hebrews, Jesus is quoted in prophetic utterance as saying '' here I am the children you have given me''. Notice Jesus told the disciples after His resurrection ''go tell them I ascend to My Father and YOUR Father'' ............also!
 
We are destined for the Throne of God to be members of the God Family. For Jesus is 'only' the Firstborn of Many Sons and Daughters yet to come.
 
God's end time plan has taken 6000 years. It called for ''planting Jesus in the earth'' so that He would not 'abide alone'. The seed of Jesus being planted in death in the world, as a man without sin, is going to bring up MANY SONS UNTO GLORY.
 
Jesus is Not going to marry an ''inferior'' being! The Bride of Christ is going to be ''on the same plane'' as the Groom is. THIS IS THE CALLING TO WHICH WE ARE CALLED. To deny this is to deny the Purpose and Plan of God. Jesus is not going to have a bride that ''wants to argue with Him''!
 
Jesus and His Bride are going to bring about the Restoration of planet earth. Being ''raptured'' or translated to immortality is just ''part'' of the plan.
 
''Going to heaven'' is Not the Destiny of our calling! God is going to redeem the Entire person.........the Spirit, Soul, and Body. And heaven is coming to EARTH.
 
Of course to die in the Lord, is to have the Spirit/Soul go to be with the Lord. But heaven is not the final Goal.
 
The redemption of planet earth and those on it is the Plan. That was God's plan in Genesis and He has never changed that plan.
 
The 'destiny' of man is AWESOME! We are to be in God's actual Family. That is WHY Jesus became a man. It is why Paul wrote ''there is ONE mediator between God and Man, the MAN Christ Jesus''.
 
Jesus was the first son to be made in the likeness of God, to be perfected in the image of God, then to ascend, to be lifted up and exalted to sit on the throne of God, and given dominion, as a man, over all the works of His hands.  It was not God who was so exalted; it was the man Christ Jesus!  God has highly exalted Him, placed Him at His own right hand, and put all things under His feet.   He has been given the dominion God made man to have!  In Him, through Him, and by Him we shall all ascend until we are also seated on the throne and receive the dominion God’s “man” has been created for.  Jesus has led the way!  On that blessed resurrection morning Jesus was transformed from mortal to immortal, from physical to spiritual, and it was done in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.  Is it too incredible to believe that the very Spirit of God who has quickened and transformed us in our souls will also, at His appointed time, change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His body of glory?  And now He has ascended, He is seated on the throne of God: and because He is there, it is our blessed assurance that we also will be there, for did He not pray,
 
“Father, I would that they be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory…and the glory Thou hast given me I have given unto them, that they may be one in us.”
 

Heb 2:1    
    ¶
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Tools specific to Heb 2:2    
    Heb 2:2    
    
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Tools specific to Heb 2:3    
    Heb 2:3    
    
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Tools specific to Heb 2:4    
    Heb 2:4    
    
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
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    Heb 2:5    
    ¶
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
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    Heb 2:6    
    
But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
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    Heb 2:7    
    
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
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    Heb 2:8    
    
Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Tools specific to Heb 2:9    
    Heb 2:9    
    
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Tools specific to Heb 2:10    
    Heb 2:10    
    ¶
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Tools specific to Heb 2:11    
    Heb 2:11    
    
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
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    Heb 2:12    
    
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
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Heb 2:13    
    
And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
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Heb 2:14    
    
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
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Heb 2:15    
    
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
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Heb 2:16    
    
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
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Heb 2:17    
    
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Tools specific to Heb 2:18    
    

Heb 2:18    
    
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.