[boatbums]

Well; the way I read it differs. To me; it makes no sense to 'bring with Jesus' those who were allegedly already IN heaven!

It would seem to me that those allegedly in Heaven already wouldn't need to 'meet' the Lord in the air; as they would have already met Him in Heaven and been handling the prayers of Catholics.

It has to do with those souls/spirits of the dead in Christ along with those still living being changed together into their glorified bodies:

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (I Cor. 15:51-53)

I often questioned why for many years churches forbid cremation since there's nothing but dust in those graves after so many years plus the unfortunate ones who were blown to smithereens in bombs or eaten by sea creatures. But there is some way that God will raise our corrupt, mortal bodies wherever they may be and transform them into immortal, incorruptible bodies in which we will remain for eternity. I believe the souls/spirits of those who have died ARE with Christ at this moment - I reject the idea of "soul sleep". Plus...they aren't "handling" anyone's prayers. God is fully capable of hearing them all. :o)

[Elsie]

- I reject the idea of "soul sleep".

Daniel seems to disagree

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Daniel 12:2
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.