Paul's callings
"But last of all, he appeared also to me as if to one born prematurely.” - 1 Corinthians 15:8
The Urge of Studying Paul's Calling
“All Scripture is beneficial for teaching,” and everything written therein was “written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have come.” What significance is expected at the ends of the systems of things? If I try to refer to the Scriptures, I must mention the transformation that would take place on the earth when God's Kingdom comes to ruin all other kingdoms and itself will remain forever.
“‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth." - Matthew 6:9,10
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever" - Daniel 2:44
So far, I don't know of any significant religious organization that builds its faith on the these two Scriptures, besides Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are expecting God's Kingdom to come and fulfill God's will on earth as it is in heaven. Most people who represent Christendom refer primarily to heaven—the life “behind the curtain” of the human body, which is normally associated with the death of the body and resurrection, similar to what Jesus experienced, as recorded in 1 Peter 3:18: "For Christ died once for all time for sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit."
All of a sudden, my attention was caught by the fact that many who also know the Bible often quote it but never grasp the meaning that I suddenly discovered for myself. I will quote it here now just for the purpose of your test, my dear reader. If you catch what I caught, you probably don't need to read the rest of this chapter; but if not, I am more than willing to share further. Here is the quote: "Moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who are sleeping in death, so that you may not sorrow as the rest do who have no hope. For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus. For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord. So keep comforting one another with these words." — 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Caught away is definitely a significant term, one that contains many unknowns. Many expect a transformation, though others have already experienced disappointment in their expectations. For many, it’s difficult to believe without proof. I mentioned earlier in this book, under the chapter “Temporary Things,” my mother’s conversation with her own mother about the possibility of life after death. She said: “If it’s true, and if you die but live on as a spirit or soul, give me a sign—maybe a knock on the window.” This was her way of gently touching the idea—echoing the common saying, “Nobody ever came back from there.” It expressed a quiet curiosity that existed alongside her skepticism.
Generally speaking, believers who build their faith on the Bible understand this concept of being “caught away” or “caught up” (as rendered in the King James Version) as the hope of being transferred—after death of the physical body—in a fleshless soul to a spiritual realm: heaven for the good and hell for the bad. There is plenty of reason in the Bible not to believe in hell as a place where a loving God tortures sinners forever, but that’s another discussion, best reserved for those who have ears to hear (see more on that in the chapter “Power of Reason”).
Regarding the opportunity to meet the Lord in heaven and to be with him—this is certainly a more positive hope, and there is ample scriptural support for it. However, this idea is not without its difficulties. For many, it remains a theoretical belief—something nice, but ultimately not compelling enough to replace the sense of finality people associate with death. Even among those more convinced of heaven, many still pursue every opportunity to extend their life here on earth—even through means that conflict with biblical ethics.
Then there's the matter of the number—144,000—which greatly narrows the opportunity. And finally, there’s the matter of timing. Paul emphasized: “We the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death.” But Paul himself did not survive until the Lord’s presence. He spoke prophetically, by Jehovah’s word, that the resurrection would take place during the Lord’s presence. I’ll reason further in this chapter about the signs, timing, and developments of that presence. As you’ll see, the Lord’s presence may be invisible to many for a long time.
Even in the passage we are reviewing, Paul said: “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet.” Do you have reason to believe that he has already descended? Any evidence of a commanding call, an archangel’s voice, or the sound of God’s trumpet?
If those events have not yet taken place, then what of those who died in union with Christ? Were they simply nominal Christians? Is dying in name only truly being “in union” with Christ? Peter was confident he could follow Jesus, but Jesus said he wasn’t ready yet. Consider this conversation: Simon Peter said to him: “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered: “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” Peter said to him: “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will surrender my life in your behalf.” Jesus replied: “Will you surrender your life in my behalf? Most truly I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you have disowned me three times.”
Many may feel confident they will die in union with Christ, but how many are truly capable of doing so? Consider Romans 6:3–5: “Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? So we were buried with him through our baptism into his death, in order that just as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in a newness of life. If we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection.” How many have truly become united with Christ in the likeness of his death? After careful study of such scriptures, not many would confidently say they expect to be resurrected during the Lord’s presence—after hearing the voice of the archangel and God’s trumpet. Besides that, I know of few religious organizations that even believe in the Lord’s presence.
Now, what about the hope of being alive during that presence—of hearing the commanding call, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God? What kind of transformation will those people experience, that could be described as being “caught away” or “caught up” in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air? In this chapter, I will walk through the specific wording of various Bible passages to discover connections. As you follow this journey, you may discover something new—even new meaning in old sayings. I know my ears are already opened to hear what the spirit is saying through these scriptures.
Are you ready for an adventure? As 1 Peter 1:10–13 says: “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the undeserved kindness meant for you made a diligent inquiry and a careful search. They kept on investigating what particular time or what season the spirit within them was indicating concerning Christ as it testified beforehand about the sufferings meant for Christ and about the glory that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were ministering, not to themselves, but to you, regarding what has now been announced to you by those who declared the good news to you with holy spirit sent from heaven. Into these very things, angels are desiring to peer. So brace up your minds for activity; keep your senses completely; set your hope on the undeserved kindness that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Study of Paul’s Call
1. Learning Report on 1 Corinthians 15:8:
“But last of all, he appeared also to me as if to one born prematurely.”
Kingdom Interlinear:
ἔσχατον. last
δὲ. but
πάντων. of all (ones)
ὡσπερεὶ. as-even-if
τῷ to the
ἐκτρώματι wound out of
ὤφθη. he was seen
κἀμοί. also to me
Study Note to the Study Bible of the New World Translation :
The Greek word rendered “one born prematurely” can refer to a child whose birth comes abruptly, traumatically, and at the wrong time. Paul uses this term in a figurative sense to describe what happened at his conversion when the resurrected Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. However, Paul’s use of this term could be understood in more than one way . Perhaps he meant that his conversion, during which he lost his sight temporarily, was both unexpected and traumatic not only to him but also to others.
Or he may have meant that he had figuratively been born as a Christian (or converted) at the wrong time compared with those mentioned in the preceding verses, that is, after Jesus had already returned to heaven. Or perhaps Paul was speaking of himself in a humble way, acknowledging that he did not deserve the privilege he had been given. This would harmonize with what he says at 1Co 15:9, 10. Whatever Paul had in mind, he clearly treasured the experience of seeing the resurrected Jesus. It proved to him beyond a doubt that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead.
In Study Note there is a reference to Watchtower Sept 2022 Questions From Readers
What did the apostle Paul mean when he referred to himself as “one born prematurely”? (1 Corinthians 15:8)
According to 1 Corinthians 15:8, Paul stated: “Last of all he appeared also to me as if to one born prematurely.” In the past, we have explained that Paul was apparently referring to his own experience when he had a vision of Jesus in heavenly glory. It was as if he had been granted the honor of being born, or resurrected, to spirit life ahead of time , centuries before that type of resurrection was to occur. However, further study of this verse points to a need to adjust the explanation of this verse.
It is true that Paul is here referring to what happened at his conversion. But what did he mean when he said that he was “born prematurely”? There are several possibilities.
His conversion was abrupt and traumatic . A premature birth often comes as a surprise. As Saul (who later became known as Paul) traveled to Damascus to persecute the Christians there, he was not expecting to see a vision of the resurrected Jesus. Paul’s conversion was a surprise not only to him but also to the Christians whom he was planning to terrorize in that city. Additionally, this experience was so traumatic that he temporarily lost his sight.—Acts 9:1-9, 17-19.
He was converted at “the wrong time.” The original Greek word translated “one born prematurely” can also be rendered “one born at the wrong time.” The Jerusalem Bible puts it this way: “It was as though I was born when no one expected it .” By the time of Paul’s conversion, Jesus had already returned to heaven. Unlike those whom Paul had referred to in the preceding verses, he had not seen the resurrected Jesus prior to his ascension to heaven. (1 Cor. 15:4-8) Jesus’ unexpected appearance to Paul granted him that opportunity, even though it seemed to be at “the wrong time.”
He was speaking of himself in a modest way. According to some scholars, the expression Paul uses here can have a derogatory connotation. If Paul had that in mind, he was acknowledging that he did not deserve the privilege he was given . In fact, he went on to say: “I am the least of the apostles, and I am not worthy of being called an apostle, because I persecuted the congregation of God. But by God’s undeserved kindness I am what I am.”—1 Cor. 15:9, 10.
Consequently, it seems that Paul could have been referring to the unexpected and abrupt manner in which Jesus appeared to him, the untimeliness of his conversion, or the fact that he was spiritually unworthy to have such an amazing revelation. Whatever the case, Paul clearly treasured this experience. It proved to him beyond a doubt that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. No wonder he often referred to this untimely experience when preaching to others about Jesus’ resurrection.—Acts 22:6-11; 26:13-18
2. Learning from Acts 9:3-9:
«Now as he was traveling and getting near Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He asked: “Who are you, Lord?” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Sergei's Note: Interestingly, Paul didn’t include everything that Jesus told him in his first report. This makes me wonder whether Paul was actually told everything in a single conversation—or if there were several instances of calling.) Now the men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing, indeed, the sound of a voice but seeing no one. Saul then got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he did not see anything, and he neither ate nor drank.»
3. Learning from Acts 9:10-16:
The first report gives the impression that the call wasn’t just a direct encounter between Jesus and Paul, but also came through a respected disciple in Damascus—highlighting important details regarding Paul’s appointment. However, the final account, recorded in Acts 26, suggests that Jesus may have conveyed everything to Paul during their initial conversation, with Ananias later reiterating parts of that message. Considering what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12:
“For now we see in hazy outline by means of a metal mirror, but then it will be face-to-face. At present, I know partially, but then I will know accurately, just as I am accurately known”—this makes me wonder whether Paul received the full message gradually, rather than all at once. Now let's review Ananias' report:
«There was a disciple named An·a·niʹas in Damascus, and the Lord said to him in a vision: “An·a·niʹas!” He said: “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him: “Get up, go to the street called Straight, and look for a man named Saul, from Tarsus, at the house of Judas. For look! he is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named An·a·niʹas come in and lay his hands on him so that he may recover sight.” But An·a·niʹas answered: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, about all the harm he did to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those calling on your name.” But the Lord said to him: “Go! because this man is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel. For I will show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name. ”
4. Learning from Acts 9:17-19:
«So An·a·niʹas went and entered the house, and he laid his hands on him and said: “Saul, brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road along which you were coming, has sent me so that you may recover sight and be filled with holy spirit .” And immediately, what looked like scales fell from his eyes, and he recovered his sight. He then got up and was baptized, and he ate some food and gained strength. He stayed for some days with the disciples in Damascus»
5. Learning from Acts 22:6-11:
"But as I was traveling and getting near to Damascus, about midday, suddenly out of heaven a great light flashed all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' I answered: ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me: ‘I am Jesus the Naz·a·reneʹ , whom you are persecuting.’ Now the men who were with me did see the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one speaking to me. At that I said: ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me: ‘Rise, go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything it is appointed for you to do.' But since I could not see anything because of the glory of that light, I arrived in Damascus led by the hand of those who were with me."
6. Learning from Acts 26:13-18:
«I saw at midday on the road, O King, a light beyond the brilliance of the sun flash from heaven around me and around those traveling with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice say to me in the Hebrew language: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? To keep kicking against the goads makes it hard for you. ’ ( Sergei's Note: This statement—and the ones that follow in bold—are details Paul did not mention in his earlier reports). But I said: ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said: ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet. This is why I have appeared to you, to choose you as a servant and a witness both of things you have seen and things I will make you see respecting me. And I will rescue you from this people and from the nations, to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by their faith in me .’
It is very interesting to read the entire account of Paul’s 1st call:
Acts 9:
«But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that he might bring bound to Jerusalem any whom he found who belonged to The Way, both men and women. Now as he was traveling and getting near Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He asked: “Who are you, Lord?” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Now the men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing, indeed, the sound of a voice but seeing no one. Saul then got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he did not see anything, and he neither ate nor drank. There was a disciple named An·a·niʹas in Damascus, and the Lord said to him in a vision: “An·a·niʹas!” He said: “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him: “Get up, go to the street called Straight, and look for a man named Saul, from Tarsus, at the house of Judas. For look! he is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named An·a·niʹas come in and lay his hands on him so that he may recover sight.” But An·a·niʹas answered: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, about all the harm he did to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those calling on your name.” But the Lord said to him: “Go! because this man is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel. For I will show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name.” So An·a·niʹas went and entered the house, and he laid his hands on him and said: “Saul, brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road along which you were coming, has sent me so that you may recover sight and be filled with holy spirit.” And immediately, what looked like scales fell from his eyes, and he recovered his sight. He then got up and was baptized, and he ate some food and gained strength. He stayed for some days with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately in the synagogues he began to preach about Jesus, that this one is the Son of God. But all those hearing him were astonished and were saying: “Is this not the man who ravaged those in Jerusalem who call on this name? Did he not come here for the purpose of arresting them and taking them to the chief priests?” But Saul kept on acquiring more and more power and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus, as he proved logically that this is the Christ."
7. "Caught away to the third heaven"
"I have to boast. It is not beneficial, but I will move on to supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in union with Christ who, 14 years ago—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows—was caught away to the third heaven. Yes, I know such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows— who was caught away into paradise and heard words that cannot be spoken and that are not lawful for a man to say. I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself except of my weaknesses. For even if I want to boast, I will not be unreasonable, for I would say the truth. But I refrain from doing so, in order that no one should give me more credit than what he sees in me or hears from me, just because of receiving such extraordinary revelations. To keep me from becoming overly exalted, I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep slapping me, so that I might not be overly exalted. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. But he said to me: “My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you, for my power is being made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly, then, I will boast about my weaknesses, in order that the power of the Christ may remain over me like a tent. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in times of need, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful." - 1 Cor 12:1-10.
This passage brings to mind what Paul later wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18:
“Moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who are sleeping in death, so that you may not sorrow as the rest do who have no hope. For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus. For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord. So keep comforting one another with these words.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
This leads me to the following thought: Jehovah preserves in the clouds—the heavenly realm—our Lord Jesus Christ and his chosen ones who have died in union with him. Those who survive until the day of the Lord’s presence will not go ahead of the chosen ones who died before that moment. Just as Jesus was resurrected, they too are brought to life during Lord's Presence.
Those still living in human bodies cannot ascend to the heavenly realm or be "clothed with" their heavenly bodies until the sounding of the last trumpet and the voice of the archangel. It is that calling that will catch away those who survive until his presence. They will not die, but rather be transformed—resurrected into their heavenly tents—during last trumpet of his presence.
From Hazy Outline to Heavenly Clarity: Paul’s Vision of Spiritual Birth and Resurrection
I want to draw a parallel between the development of an embryo up to the point of birth and what Paul described as a spiritual transformation. In 1 Corinthians 13:8–12, Paul wrote: “Love never fails. But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we have partial knowledge and we prophesy partially, but when what is complete comes, what is partial will be done away with. When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, to think as a child, to reason as a child; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the traits of a child. For now we see in hazy outline by means of a metal mirror, but then it will be face-to-face. At present I know partially, but then I will know accurately, just as I am accurately known.”
The “hazy outline” Paul refers to reminds me of what a child might perceive while still in the womb—limited, unclear, disconnected. But when a child is born, they can finally see face-to-face. That moment of clarity, of recognition, mirrors what happens during our spiritual metamorphosis: we pass from partial understanding to direct perception.
This mirrors our personal spiritual journey. At the stage when our hearts receive the seed of God’s Word, we are still in our earthly bodies—what Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15:36–40: “What you sow is not made alive unless first it dies. And as for what you sow, you sow, not the body that will develop, but just a bare grain… God gives it a body just as it has pleased him… Not all flesh is the same… And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly bodies is one sort, and that of the earthly bodies is a different sort. The glory of the sun is one sort, and the glory of the moon is another, and the glory of the stars is another; in fact, one star differs from another star in glory. So it is with the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised up in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised up in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised up in power. It is sown a physical body; it is raised up a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual one. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living person.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, what is spiritual is not first. What is physical is first, and afterward what is spiritual. The first man is from the earth and made of dust; the second man is from heaven. Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust; and like the heavenly one, so too are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we will bear also the image of the heavenly one. But I tell you this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s Kingdom, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Look! I tell you a sacred secret: We will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and this which is mortal must put on immortality. But when this which is corruptible puts on incorruption and this which is mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: “Death is swallowed up forever.” “Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?”
The first transformation begins when we accept Christ. We willingly die to our former, self-centered life and begin a new one—this is the development of a new earthly body capable of bearing fruit for God. Many who become Jehovah’s Witnesses undergo this transformation with a clear hope of everlasting life on earth. We die to the world, live for Christ, and gradually wear down in this system while holding firm to the resurrection hope—like Martha expressed when her brother Lazarus died: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus confirmed this hope by resurrecting Lazarus.
From Childlike Humility to Spiritual Conception: Developing as an Embryo of Faith
The second transformation, at least in my personal experience, took much longer to take shape. It began when my ears and heart opened not just to comprehend heavenly things but to appreciate their purpose: to reconcile heaven and earth. This is when I began collecting fragments of truth, piecing together the broader design that Jehovah has revealed through Scripture—often in the form of vivid illustrations and symbols.
Just as my son could hear my voice while still in the womb but only recognized me clearly after birth, I too moved from hearing “in the womb” to seeing “face-to-face.” That birth marked my entry into what I now recognize as spiritual service in the holy place. This is difficult to explain unless you’ve experienced it, but I feel compelled to describe it as best I can.
Paul also hinted at such an experience in 2 Corinthians 12:1–4: “I have to boast. It is not beneficial, but I will move on to supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord… such a man was caught away into paradise and heard words that cannot be spoken and that are not lawful for a man to say.”
Here lies a dilemma: I’m trying to express something that Paul could not lawfully express in his time. But I believe our time is different. The “third heaven” has been established, Satan has been cast down, and the revealing of the sons of God is drawing near.
After experiencing the transformation of the new birth and entering a state of anointing—symbolically serving in the holy place—I felt the powerful urge to fulfill what Jesus described: “You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before men so that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father in the heavens.” (Matthew 5) And again in Matthew 13:52: “Every public instructor who is taught about the Kingdom of the heavens is like a man, the master of the house, who brings out of his treasure store things both new and old.” This is the stage I believe I have reached—a place of spiritual clarity, with a responsibility to let light shine, to teach others what has been revealed, both new and old. I will move on to supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord…For the creation is waiting with eager expectation for the revealing of the sons of God.