TALES FROM THE RAPTURE: Up, Up and Away!

William Anthony Mann had one of those names that provided a plethora of opportunities for friend and foe alike to have too much fun at his expense. His initials, W.A.M., or even B.A.M. if you called him Bill, seemed to describe what he did to opposing team members on the football field. That, and his middle name Anthony, or Tony to some friends, also earned him the moniker Tony "the tiger." The fact that a Tiger was the school mascot didn't hurt either.

His parents and teachers, not to mention others, were pretty adept at taunting him, whether knowingly or not, by reminding him of his first two initials and last name (when called Bill) to tell him to "be a man" whenever he did something childish or foolish. His retort would usually involve reversing the first two letters of his given name by saying, "Awe, man!" Though this seemed lost on most, he relished this stroke of ironic genius on his part, meaning that he had learned to take it all in stride.

He also enjoyed fantasy and science fiction and employed his last name to great effect in his younger days. He always wanted to fly and often called himself "Supermann." This led inexorably to an interest in aviation which he had decided to pursue in college and then, most likely, in the Air Force.

One person who did know all this about him, and more, was his best friend Mark. They had met at church when they were much younger and had been together ever since. They were often referred to as "TM" for Tony and Mark, or even TradeMark when together. Mark even told Tony once that he'd have a leg up on acronyms when he joined the military. Since they used alot of acronyms in the military, he thought this an amusing observation even though these acronyms were personal and would doubtless have little to no relevance in the service.

Life seemed perfect for the popular school football hero with the best friend, but that would be wrong. Although Tony did well in school, he felt that his whole life consisted of making others, namely friends and family, happy. This seemed all well and good except for the fact he felt empty inside. What was he missing?

After one Sunday morning service at the local Baptist church he and Mark grew up in, he suddenly realized what the problem was: he had never actually been genuinely born again or saved! He'd been merely going through the motions of what he thought he was expected to do. While this maintained an outward appearance that all was well, inside he knew it was not the case.

As he sat down on a nearby bench in the park near the church, Mark joined him and asked him what was bothering him. After explaining his epiphany, Tony asked Mark what he should do.

"Get saved, of course," was the reply.

"But everyone already thinks I am," he said.

"I know three who don't," said Mark. "You and I and God."

"You?!" said Tony a bit bewildered.

"Yes, me," replied Mark. "I know when something's bothering you. I've been praying that God would reveal the truth to you in time to do something about it."

Tony knew what he meant about time. It had been drilled into his head that no one knows how much time they have on Earth. "You could have a car accident after you walked out the front door," was a popular admonition at church during altar call. "Or you could simply keel over from a heart attack; the point is, you don'y know how much time you have left," was another. Then there was the Rapture, the calling up of all the saints before the 7-year Tribulation Period began. No one knew when exactly this would occur, but it was emphasized that this could happen at any moment. He'd often wondered, after the pastor had mentioned it once or twice in passing during a sermon, what it would be like to be the last, or one of the last, to be saved before that critical moment. . . .

"You're right, of course," he told Mark. He was never one to argue with fact, especially after having seemingly being oblivious all these years. He'd been too wrapped up in his life to see the obvious, so now he would remedy that.

They bowed their heads together and Tony asked God to forgive him for being so long in reaching this moment in his life. He confessed that he was a sinner and needed Christ's atoning sacrifice made for him on he cross to be perfect in God's sight; washed and cleansed of his iniquity by the shed blood of Calvary. " . . . and thank You for your longsuffering and patience with me and saving my soul. Amen."

When he said that last word, a feeling of unbelievable relief spread over him. It was like a huge burden had been lifted off him. He smiled at Mark and they both wiped tears from their eyes. Then they heard it: a loud sound ringing out clearly in every direction. . . the unmistakable sound of a trumpet. They looked up to see the clouds rolling back, evaporating really, from the sky, and what seemed like heaven itself opening up.

They looked at each other and knew instantly that they were different. For one thing, they were clad all in white, and they both felt like a new awareness had come to them, a new perception of time and everything around them. They looked at each other and smiled, then looked to heaven listening for the call. "COME UP HITHER!" came the call, and they were both instantly ascending into the skies and then space.

As Earth fell away beneath them, Mark said, "Looks like it's 'Up, up and away,' as Supermann would say! What do you think?"

Even though he knew all of this was instantaneous by mortal standards, his new perception of reality in his new body seemed to explain everything. As they soared toward their welcome in heaven, he shouted, "IT'S GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:3,6-7 (KJV).

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

I Corinthians 15:49-53 (KJV).