1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 NIV
Everybody needs encouragement from time to time. The most encouraging words a Christian can hear is that Jesus is coming back soon to reunite us together with Him. What a glorious day that will be. The exciting part is it could happen today so be encouraged. This is an astounding revelation from the Lord to us, that when He returns and calls us to Himself, those alive in Christ will not precede those who have already died. For all practical purposes, the resurrection of the dead and the rapture, or being caught up, of the living, will be a simultaneous event. Only a moment of time will separate the resurrection of the dead and the translation of the living, it will happen as 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 says, “in the twinkling of an eye.” Our hope is that death and sin are defeated. Our hope is that we will be resurrected one day and live eternally apart from the evils of this age. Our hope is not in completing some checklist of good activities. Read this passage again and imagine the sights and sounds of that day when Jesus descends to call us into new resurrected life. What might that be like? What is the content of that “cry of command?” What will it feel like to be completely free from all sin and pain? Reflect on that day of true hope. This is the most astonishing promise which is given to all who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ. The spirit and souls of Christians who are already with the Lord will be united with their new, eternal, resurrected bodies, which will be freed from the ravages of death. The bodies of believers who are still alive will be changed into eternal, incorruptible bodies in a moment of time, and together with 1 Corinthians we have the most amazing panoramic view of all that will take place on that wonderful day when, in the twinkling of an eye, we will all be changed and taken to be with the Lord forever. Let us occupy in the work that God has prepared for us to do and encourage one another as we see the day getting closer. But let us also remain alert and ready for that wonderful day, when the trump of God sounds, and we are taken as He promised, to be with the Lord forever. Every person on earth should live each new day as the day that Jesus is returning. One day it will happen suddenly, today just might be that day!!!
Father thank You for this day and for the wonderful truth that Jesus is coming to take us to be with Himself forever. Lord let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family’s portion today. Lord may we prepare our hearts and souls to be ready for that special day when the trump of God sounds and both the dead and living members of Your Body will receive our new, eternal bodies. Lord we long for that day when we will all be translated into Your presence, but in the meantime, we pray that we may live and work to Your praise and glory.
Lord use my friend to be a bold witness of the true gospel to all today. Daddy we love you amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !!
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