John314-16.com

Philippians 3:20 and the Other Verses of Philippians 3

Links:  Print Version | Homepage | Rapture Letter | Verses of the Day | Site Map

“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.  

archive.is/John314-16.com/Philippians_3-20_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Philippians_3.html

archive.ph/John314-16.com/Philippians_3-20_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Philippians_3.html

web.archive.org/*/John314-16.com/Philippians_3-20_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Philippians_3.html

Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verse of the day for June 14th is Philippians 3:20.  The book Philippians was written by the apostle Paul.  The title of the book Philippians is also known as “The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians” and “The Letter of Paul to the Philippians.”  The Philippians were people who lived in Philippi [FILL-uh-pie or fuh-LIP-eye], which was located in Macedonia [mass-uh-DOH-nee-uh].  

When the book Philippians was written, Macedonia was part of the Roman Empire.  The capital city of the Roman Empire was the city Rome.  The word Rome can be used to refer to the city Rome, to the kingdom of which that city was the capital, to the republic of which that city was the capital, or to the empire of which that city was the capital.  The settlement that became the city Rome was founded in the 700s B.C.  Rome eventually became a kingdom.  That kingdom is known as the Roman Kingdom.  Then Rome became a republic.  That republic is known as the Roman Republic.  After that, Rome became an empire.  That empire is known as the Roman Empire.  The Lord Jesus Christ was born during the time of the Roman Empire.  

Below is a link to a map that shows the locations of Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/50Phi-1.jpg

Below is a link to a larger map that shows the location of Philippi in a broader geographical context.  The map also shows the apostle Paulʼs first missionary journey.  On that map, there are grid numbers at the left side and grid letters at the bottom.  Philippi is located in grid coordinate C1.  For reference, Jerusalem is located at grid coordinate F4.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/jp1.jpg

Below is a link to a map of the apostle Paulʼs second missionary journey.  Philippi is located in grid coordinate C1.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/jp3.jpg

Below is a link to a map of the apostle Paulʼs journey to Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire (which was also called Rome).  Philippi is located in grid coordinate C1.  The capital city Rome is located in grid coordinate A1.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/jp4.jpg

Below is a link to a map that shows the seven churches of Revelation.  The key for that map is located in grid coordinates B3 and C3.  The seven churches of Revelation are located in grid coordinate B2.  A list of those seven churches, sorted in order of mention in Revelation 2–3, is located in grid coordinate D1.  For reference, Philippi is located in grid coordinate A1.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/nt2.jpg

The city Philippi mentioned in The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians is different from Caesarea [sess-uh-REE-uh or sez-uh-REE-uh or seez-uh-REE-uh] Philippi.  In that regard, below is a link to a map of Israel during the time of the Lord Jesus Christʼs First Advent.  On that map, Caesarea Philippi is located in grid coordinate D2.  For reference, Jerusalem is located at grid coordinate C6.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/nt1.jpg

Also, Caesarea Philippi is different from Caesarea (also known as Caesarea of Palestine).  Caesarea is on the four journey-of-Paul maps linked above.  On each of those four maps, Caesarea is located at grid coordinate F4.  

For context regarding the city of Philippi, the Ancient Greek name of that city had been Κρηνῖδες [pronounced kray-NEE-dess and transliterated as Krēnides].  The name of the city using the Latin alphabet can be spelled as Crenides.  The Ancient Greek name Krēnides is related to the Ancient Greek noun κρήνη [pronounced KRAY-nay and transliterated as krēnē].  The noun krēnē can be translated as “fountain,” “spring,” or “well.”  In 356 B.C., Philip II of Macedon, the king of Macedonia and the father of the man some people refer to as Alexander the Great, renamed Crenides after himself.  In Ancient Greek, the new name was Φίλιπποι [pronounced FEE-leep-poi and transliterated as Philippoi].  The name of the city using the Latin alphabet can be spelled as Philippi.  

During the time that Paul lived on the earth, as well as for some years before and for some years after, there were various Roman rulers who fell short of ideal.  Some of those rulers are categorized using the word dictator, and some are categorized using the word emperor.  The emperors of Rome were referred to as Caesars.  The term Caesar is derived from the name Julius Caesar [JOOL-yuhs SEE-zuhr].  Julius Caesar (also known as [aka] Gaius Julius Caesar) was a dictator of the Roman Republic.  He was dictator from 46 B.C. until 44 B.C., when he was assassinated on the Ides [IGHDZ] of March (March 15th).  Among those involved in the assassination of Julius Caesar were a Roman senator named Brutus (aka Marcus Junius Brutus and Quintus Caepio Brutus) and a Roman military officer named Cassius (aka Gaius Cassius Longinus).  In Julius Caesarʼs will, Julius Caesarʼs great-nephew Octavian [ahk-TAY-vee-uhn] (aka Gaius Octavianus [GUY-uhs ahk-tay-vee-AHN-uhs in English and GUY-oos ohk-tah-WEE-ah-noos in Latin]) was officially adopted by Julius Caesar.  While Octavian was thereby officially the heir whom Julius Caesar had wanted to become the next ruler of Rome, there were power struggles for a number of years.  In that regard, in 42 B.C., the forces of Octavian, Mark Antony (aka Marcus Antonius), and Lepidus (aka Marcus Aemilius Lepidus) defeated the forces of Brutus and Cassius in two battles at Philippi (the location of the Philippians to whom the apostle Paul would later write The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians).  Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus had been ruling together as the Second Triumvirate, which had been formed in 43 B.C.  The First Triumvirate, which had been formed in 60 B.C., had consisted of Julius Caesar, Pompey (aka Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus), and Crassus (aka Marcus Licinius Crassus).  

After Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus had defeated Brutus and Cassius, Octavian was later opposed by Mark Antony and Cleopatra, the Ptolemaic queen of Egypt.  The Ptolemies were Macedonian rulers of Egypt.  They had ruled Egypt since Ptolemy, a Macedonian general who had served under Alexander of Macedonia (aka Alexander the Great) became ruler of Egypt in 304 B.C. after Alexanderʼs empire had been split up upon Alexanderʼs death in 323 B.C.  

The forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra were defeated by the forces of Octavian in the Battle of Actium, a naval battle that occurred off the promontory of Actium in western Greece in 31 B.C.  In 27 B.C., Octavian became the first emperor of Rome.  On that occasion, Octavian became known as Augustus.  When Augustus became emperor, the Roman Republic became the Roman Empire.  Augustus was the emperor when the Lord Jesus Christ was born.  

The two battles that occurred near Philippi in 42 B.C. are known collectively as the Battle of Philippi.  After the Battle of Philippi, veterans of the Roman military were settled at Philippi, and Philippi was given the status of Roman colony.  As a Roman colony, Philippi was given certain privileges, including immunity from taxation.  

The Via Egnatia [VEE-uh eg-NAHT-ee-uh], which was the main road from Rome to Asia, went through Philippi.  In that regard, Philippi was situated along a major trade route.  Also, the Gangites River was near Philippi.  

Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Philippians 3.  

Philippians 3:1

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.  To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Philippians 3:2

Beware of the dogs; beware of the evil workers; beware of the mutilation, 

Note:  In this verse, Paul uses the word dogs to refer to false teachers.  Also, the word mutilation found in Philippians 3:2 is a translation of the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word κατατομήν [pronounced kah-tah-tah-MAYN].  That word is transliterated into English as katatomēn.  It is an inflected form of the root word κατατομή [pronounced kah-tah-tah-MAY and transliterated as katatomē].  In this verse, Paul uses the word mutilation to refer to circumcision for the purpose of trying to obtain eternal life.  In that regard, Paul warned against the false notion that involves trying to obtain eternal life by means of circumcision, and in giving that warning, he used the word mutilation instead of the word circumcision.  

Philippians 3:3

for we are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

Note:  The Koine Greek word translated as “glory” in this verse is a verb.  That Koine Greek verb is καυχώμενοι [pronounced kow-KHOH-meh-noy].  That word is transliterated into English as kauchōmenoi.  It is an inflected form of the root word καυχάομαι [pronounced kow-KHAH-ah-migh and transliterated as kauchaomai].  

In this verse, the word circumcision is a metaphorical reference to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  In that regard, the word circumcision found in Philippians 3:3 is a translation of the Koine Greek noun περιτομή [pronounced peh-ree-tah-MAY].  That word is transliterated into English as peritomē.  It is an inflected form of the root word περιτομή [pronounced peh-ree-tah-MAY and transliterated as peritomē].  A literal translation of peritomē is “circumcision.”  Also, putting confidence in the flesh refers to trying to rely on human power rather than on the power of the Trinity.  

Philippians 3:4

although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh.  If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:

Note:  Regarding the content of verse 5, Paul had been a Pharisee [FEHR-ih-see].  The Pharisees were a powerful group of Jewish people.  The Pharisees had been opposed to the Lord Jesus Christ during the First Advent, and they had been opposed to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ during the First Advent, then also during the ten days after the First Advent ended on the occasion of the Lord Jesus Christ ascending to Heaven, and then also during the Church Age.  With regard to the First Advent, the ten days after the First Advent that ended on the occasion of the Lord Jesus Christ ascending to Heaven, and the Church Age, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations.  In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn].  This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity.  The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis].  After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights.  He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected.  He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.  

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m.  In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word.  The formation of the word judgment is shown below.  

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations.  Civilizations begin only with believers.  Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood).  That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization.  In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood.  Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.  

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth:  Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives.  With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started.  That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization).  Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood.  Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial.  The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth.  Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood.  This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent.  The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.  

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire.  That civilization is called the Millennium.  The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation.  The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.  

Philippians 3:5

circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;

Note:  In this verse, the phrase eighth day refers to the eighth day of Paulʼs life.  In that regard, the first day of his life was the day of his birth.  Therefore, the eighth day of Paulʼs life was seven days after the day of his birth.  

In the context of this verse, the word Law with a capital L refers to the Mosaic Law.  The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites.  Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled.  

Philippians 3:6

as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, becoming blameless.

Note:  The term church as used in the Bible refers to a collection of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ rather than referring to a building.  In this verse, the word Church with a capital C refers to all Church Age believers collectively.  The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “Church” in this verse is ἐκκλησίαν [pronounced ek-klay-SEE-ahn and transliterated as ekklēsian].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἐκκλησία [pronounced ek-klay-SEE-ah and transliterated as ekklēsia].  In addition to being used to refer to a collection of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the word ekklēsia can be used to refer to an assembly of people.  For the sake of clarity when referring to Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the word church with a lowercase c can be used to refer to a specific collection of Church Age believers rather than to all Church Age believers collectively, and the word Church with a capital C can be used to refer to all Church Age believers collectively.  Regarding the foregoing, when Paul had been a Pharisee, he had persecuted believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Also, from the viewpoint of the false idea that a person can obtain eternal life by obeying the Mosaic Law, it had seemed that Paul had been becoming blameless when he was a Pharisee.  

Philippians 3:7

Nevertheless, whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Note:  In reality, the things that Paul believed and did before Paul became a believer were useless.  

Philippians 3:8

More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, because of Whom I have suffered the loss of all things / all types of things and count them but rubbish/dung/ordure so that I may gain Christ 

Note:  In verses 5 and 6, Paul refers to the time when he was an unbeliever.  In verse 8, Paul refers to himself having become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  When Paul wrote this epistle, he was already a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, the content of verse 8 refers to the past when Paul became a believer.  

As a result of becoming a believer, Paul lost things.  In that regard, the Koine Greek adjective that is translated “all things” or “all types of things” in this verse is πάντα [pronounced PAHN-tah and transliterated as panta].  That word is an inflected form of the root word πᾶς [pronounced PAHS and transliterated as pas].   The word pas has a variety of meanings.  For example, pas can be used to refer to everything, to all types of things, or to all things of a specific type.  The context of this verse is such that the usage of pas in this verse could refer to all of the things that Paul had or to all types of things that Paul had.  

Because the content of verse 8 refers to the past when Paul became a believer, the phrase the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord refers to Paul knowing that Jesus is Paulʼs Lord and Savior.  Also, the phrase so that I may gain Christ refers to Paul having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ when Paul became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  In that regard, it is important to note that Paul refers to gaining Christ rather than to gaining eternal life; therefore, the phrase so that I may gain Christ is focused on Paulʼs relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ rather than focused on the eternal life that Paul received when he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  

Philippians 3:9

and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

Note:  As with the content of verse 8, the content of verse 9 refers to the past when Paul became a believer.  The phrase in Christ refers to being in union with the Lord Jesus Christ—in other words, being associated with Him.  This is what is known as positional truth.  Also, the righteousness of the Trinity can be referred to as +R.  The righteousness of mankind falls short of the righteousness of the Trinity; therefore, the righteousness of mankind can be referred to as −R.  Isaiah 64:6 covers the matter of the −R being contrasted with the +R of the Trinity.  In that regard, below is content related to Isaiah 64:6.  

Isaiah 64:6

However, all of us are like an unclean thing, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags / menstrual rags.  All of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Note:  The Hebrew word translated as “filthy” or “menstrual” in Isaiah 64:6 is עִדִּים [pronounced eed-DEEM and can be transliterated as `iddiym], which is an inflected form of the root word עִדָּה [pronounced eed-DAH and can be transliterated as `iddah].  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  The Hebrew word `iddah refers to something filthy in the sense of being soiled by menstrual flux—in other words, soiled by menses, which is blood and other matter that is discharged from the uterus of a woman during menstruation.  The Hebrew word translated as “rags” in Isaiah 64:6 is בֶגֶד [pronounced VEHG-ed and can be transliterated as veged], which is an inflected form of the root word בֶּגֶד [pronounced BEHG-ed and can be transliterated as beged].  Regarding the content of Isaiah 64:6 containing the phrase `iddiym veged, the content of that verse indicates that in comparison to the righteousness of the Trinity, the righteousness of mankind is yuck, yuck, yuck!  

At the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, +R is imputed to that person.  In other words, that person is credited as having righteousness, which means that that person is declared sufficiently righteous to have an eternal relationship with the Trinity.  This crediting of righteousness is a free gift that occurs at the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  

Philippians 3:10

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of [or participation in] His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Note:  This verse indicates that Paul was willing to experience suffering while serving the Lord.  The context of this verse and the preceding verses is such that the phrase being conformed to His death refers to Paul wanting to behave properly just as the Lord Jesus Christ behaved properly when the Lord was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  In that regard, the Lord was completely dedicated to executing God the Fatherʼs plan for the Lordʼs life.  

Philippians 3:11

by what means I may arrive at the resurrection out from the dead.

Note:  The Koine [KOI-nay] Greek adjective that is translated as “dead” in this verse is plural.  That Koine Greek adjective is νεκρῶν [pronounced neh-KROHN and transliterated as nekrōn].  That word is an inflected form of the root word νεκρός [pronounced neh-KRAHS and transliterated as nekros].  Because the plural form nekrōn is used in this verse, Paul is indicating that the resurrection will be from among dead people.  In that regard, on the occasion of the Rapture, Church Age believers who have experienced physical death will receive resurrection bodies while unbelievers who have experienced physical death will not receive resurrection bodies.  Likewise, on the occasion of the Rapture, Church Age believers who will be physically alive will be resurrected while unbelievers who will be physically alive at that time will be spiritually dead.  At the moment of salvation, each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ receives a human spirit, which is a believerʼs essence that involves thinking of Bible doctrine—in other words, thinking that involves the Word of God.  An unbeliever lacks a human spirit.  In contrast with a human spirit, a soul is a personʼs essence that involves thinking in general.  Each unbeliever has a body and soul; therefore, unbelievers are dichotomous [digh-KAHT-uh-muhs].  Each believer has a body, soul, and human spirit; therefore, believers are trichotomous [trigh-KAHT-uh-muhs].  

It is possible that the content of this verse refers to Paul wanting to be alive when the Rapture occurs.  In that regard, it is possible that the phrase the dead in this verse refers to unbelievers rather than to deceased believers and that the phrase out from the dead refers to Paul being resurrected out from amongst unbelievers on the occasion of the Rapture.  In contrast with Paulʼs usage of the phrase out from the dead in Philippians 3:11, Paul metaphorically referred to deceased believers as being asleep rather than referring to them being dead when Paul referenced deceased believers in the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, which is a passage that refers to the Rapture.  

Philippians 3:12

Not that I did already obtain or have already been matured/completed, but I press on if I may even lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Note:  In this verse, Paul seems to be referring to resurrection with the phrase Not that I did already obtain.  Also, Paul indicates that the process of him becoming completely spiritually mature was still continuing.  The phrase I press on if I may even lay hold of that for which refers to Paul striving to have a more complete understanding about the Lord Jesus Christ.  In that regard, Paul indicates in this verse that he was continuing to learn the Word of God.  

Also, the phrase I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus in this verse seems to be a metaphorical reference to Paul believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  When Paul became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul was traveling to the city Damascus in order to persecute believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  While Paul was traveling to Damascus, Paul encountered the Lord Jesus Christ, Who had returned to the earth after having been resurrected and after having ascended to Heaven.  The content of Acts 9:1–8 covers that topic.  In that regard, absent from Acts 9:1–8 is anything indicating that the Lord Jesus Christ literally laid hold of Paul; therefore, it is possible that Paulʼs use of the phrase I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus in Philippians 3:12 is a metaphorical reference.  

Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold, but one thing:  forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things in front,

Note:  In this verse, the phrase I do not regard myself as having laid hold refers to Paul not having a complete understanding about the Lord Jesus Christ.  Also, Paul indicates in this verse that he was forgetting things that were behind and reaching forward to things in front.  In that regard, the phrase things in front is a metaphorical reference rather than a literal reference.  From the context of the content in verse 14, it can be concluded that the phrase things in front refers to eternal rewards.  

From the context of Philippians 3, it is logical to conclude that Paul was forgetting the sins that he had committed in the past.  In that regard, in verse 6, Paul referenced his past sinful activity of persecuting believers.  Of course, Paul was able to remember those sins, as evidenced by the fact that he mentioned those sins.  Therefore, it can be concluded that Paul is indicating that he refrains from dwelling on his past sins.  In that regard, after a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, God the Father forgives that believer for those sins and any unknown sins, as mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Because God the Father forgives the known unconfessed post-salvation sins that a believer confesses/acknowledges to God the Father as well as that believerʼs unknown sins, that believer should then refrain from dwelling on those sins that the believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father.  

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call / high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Note:  Because the word things in the phrase the things in front in verse 13 is plural, it can be concluded that the word prize in verse 14 is used to refer to eternal rewards as a collection.  Regarding the upward call / high calling, Paul indicates that God the Father has given believers a noble calling—in other words, God the Father wants believers to live their lives with integrity.  In that regard, a believer living his or life with integrity involves that believer being unselfish.  

In order to be unselfish, a believer must learn the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and then apply the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins to God the Father, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn and obey the Word of God again.  

Philippians 3:15

Let us, therefore, as many as are mature/complete, have this attitude, and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 

Note:  Believers should be focused on living their lives unselfishly so as to receive eternal rewards in Heaven.  In this verse, the phrase a different attitude refers to a hidden area of arrogance.  A hidden area of arrogance can also be referred to as a hidden area of selfishness.  A hidden area of arrogance is human viewpoint that a person fails to notice in that personʼs thinking.  The term human viewpoint refers to any viewpoint that deviates from the Word of God.  In contrast, the term divine viewpoint refers to the viewpoint of the Trinity.  All three Members of the Trinity have the same viewpoint.  Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can learn divine viewpoint by learning the Word of God.  Therefore, the term divine viewpoint refers to the viewpoint that comes from a proper understanding of the Word of God.  With human-viewpoint thinking, a person has unrealistic expectations regarding life.  Such a person is divorced from reality.  In order for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to discover hidden areas of arrogance in that believerʼs thinking, that believer needs to learn the Word of God.  As mentioned in the notes for verse 14, in order to learn the Word of God, a believer must be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit while the believer is studying the Word of God.  

Philippians 3:16

however, let us keep marching in rank by that same to which we have attained.  

Note:  From the context of the content in verse 15, it can be concluded that the pronoun same in verse 16 refers to an unselfish attitude.  Also, the reference to marching in rank is a metaphorical reference to a believerʼs manner of life.  In that regard, when a believer starts living his or her life in an unselfish manner, that believer should continue to live his or her life in an unselfish manner.  Also, the metaphorical reference to marching calls attention to the fact that each believer needs to have thinking that is organized in accordance with the Word of God rather than thinking that is chaotically controlled by a believerʼs old sin nature (OSN).  In that regard, every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human.  The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature.  It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16.  The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies.  Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned.  All other human beings have been conceived.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature.  All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures.  Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived.  

Philippians 3:17

Brethren, join in following my example and take notice of those who walk according to our pattern that you have, 

Note:  By means of pattern-matching when noticing proper behavior exhibited by a believer or believers who are in the process of obeying the Word of God, each believer doing the noticing can learn from the example or examples of unselfishness exhibited by the other believer or believers.  

Philippians 3:18

for many walk, of whom I often told you—and now tell you even weeping—the enemies of the cross of the Christ,

Note:  In this verse, the word walk refers to a believerʼs manner of life.  In that regard, in this verse and the next one, Paul refers to believers who disobey the Word of God.  Regarding the content of this verse that is after the second em dash, Paul wrote that part elliptically, omitting a verb.  In that regard, Paul wrote in such a manner as to get the attention of a believer who understands Koine Greek and who reads or hears the content of this verse.  

Philippians 3:19

whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is by means of their dishonor/shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Note:  Regarding the phrase whose end is destruction, if after a believer sins, that believer refrains from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, then that believer will remain out of fellowship with the Trinity.  A believer who remains out of fellowship eventually becomes a reversionist.  Such a believer reverts back to acting like unbelievers.  Being a reversionistic believer is known as being involved in reversionism.  Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death.  The sin unto death involves an early physical death.  For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.  The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.  The topic of the sin unto death is covered in 1 John 5:16.  Rather than the content of 1 John 5:16 referring to some particular sin that is categorized as the sin unto death, the content of 1 John 5:16 refers to sinning in general that results in a believerʼs physical death occurring earlier than it would have had that believer regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.  

In the context of Philippians 3, the word belly is a metaphorical reference to lusts.  In that regard, Paulʼs use of the word god in this verse calls attention to the fact that a believer who tries to satisfy his or her lusts serves those lusts as though the lusts are a god.  Also, the believers who try to satisfy their lusts bring attention to their dishonorable/shameful behavior.  In addition, such believers are focused on things other than the Word of God.  

Philippians 3:20

Indeed, our citizenship/commonwealth is in Heavens, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Note:  In this verse, there is an absence of a definite article in front of the noun Heavens.  The absence of a definite article in front of a noun is known as an anarthrous construction.  When there is an anarthrous construction, the quality of the noun is what is being emphasized in the grammar of the Koine Greek.  In that regard, the quality of the Heavens is being emphasized in this verse.  Also, from the context, it can be concluded that the word Heavens as used in this verse refers to the Third Heavens (also known as the Third Heaven or simply as Heaven), which is where the throne room of God the Father is located.  In that regard, the Koine Greek noun that is translated “citizenship” or “commonwealth” in this verse is πολίτευμα [pronounced pah-LEE-tyoo-mah and transliterated as politeuma].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word πολίτευμα [pronounced pah-LEE-tyoo-mah and transliterated as politeuma].  In that regard, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are citizens of a commonwealth associated with the Trinity.  

In this verse, the phrase we eagerly wait for a Savior refers to waiting for the Rapture.  In that regard, Paul indicated that Paulʼs and other believersʼ waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ involved eagerness.  Likewise, believers who live during any time of the Church Age should eagerly wait for the Lordʼs return on the occasion of the Rapture.  

Philippians 3:21

Who will transform the body of our humble state / our lowly body into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Note:  This verse refers to the Rapture.  As mentioned further above, the Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  

Sincerely,

John