The clause ‘catching up of the saints’ is compressed in one word ‘rapture’ – i.e the withdrawing of God’s people from the earth. It is an event whereby all true believers that keep God’s commandments will be supernaturally caught up to meet Jesus in the sky (II Thessalonians 4:15-18). It will precede, but usher in the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21) and the marriage supper of the lamb simultaneously (Revelation 19:7, 9). Then the second coming of Christ (Revelation 1:7); the millennial reign of Christ (Revelation 20:6); God’s final judgement (Revelation 20: 10-15); and God’s everlasting kingdom known as the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21:1-5; 3:12).