Meditate.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want
you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not
grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and
was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will
bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from
the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead
of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a
commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of
God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then,
together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be
caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the
Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
What’s going to happen? Your guess is as good as mine…but God has a plan. He tells us in this passage that He is going to send the believers who have died back with Jesus when He returns. Who? All the believers will be taking part in being caught up in the air. First the dead and then those who are still living. The Rapture. All Christians will go to be with the Lord forever.
When is that going to happen? That’s where the guessing comes in. There are people out there calculating when Jesus Christ will return. Things are lining up. The Jews are back in Israel and they have been for seventy years now. There are wars and rumors of wars…and peace. Peace between Israel and some Middle Eastern nations. But we have passed the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles which is a feast that has not yet been prophetically fulfilled. Will we have to wait another year? We just have to trust. God has a plan.
Where is it going to happen? All around the
world there are people who are or have been believers. The living and the dead.
God has a plan. He has told us the dead in Christ will rise first. Can you
imagine? Graves opening up, the sea giving up its dead, and bodies being
reformed from ashes? Dust to dust…ashes to ashes. Our bodies will be glorified,
just as Jesus’ body was glorified after His resurrection. It will be an awesome
time. It will be glorious to stand before our Lord Jesus one day…forgiven and
redeemed.
Jesus is the Light of the World.
All those who believe have Hope.
After all, what gives us hope and joy, and
what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when
he returns? It is you! 1
Thessalonians 2:19
Who? What? Where? When? God has a plan. Trust Him and believe. What will happen to you when Jesus Christ returns?
Prayer
~ Lord God, May all those whom You have chosen believe in Jesus as their
Savior—even now, today. Send Jesus quickly to rescue His believers.
Verse
of Salvation ~ Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up,
some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who
are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to
righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Daniel 12:2-3
© 2020 Text,
photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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