In this season we remember the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ and his resurrection. We remember the great and self giving price He paid that we His creation might have eternal life and spend eternity with Him. Matthew Chapters 26–28 give us a full account of this.
Beyond this we want to remind ourselves that Jesus, our Messiah did not just die, He did not just rise from the dead, but He is coming back again. Our King is coming back soon!!!
In John 14: 1 – 3, we see the promise of His return directly coming from Him:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”.
We also see this in Acts 1: 10- 11
“And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The Bible gives us full details of the manner by which He will come back again and what will happen to us His children. This event detailed in 1 Thessalonians 4 verses 16-17
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
And 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
refers to the catching up of the Church from the earth to meet the Lord in the air. This is the greatest event of all ages that the Church of Jesus Christ is waiting for.
When it happens,
- Christ will appear in the clouds with His angels.
- The voice of the archangel will announce His return.
- The trumpet will be sounded, heralding His return.
- The dead in the Lord (saints who have died before His return and the rapture) will be raised to their immortal, imperishable, incorruptible, non-ageing bodies.
- The believers alive at the time will be instantly changed to their immortal bodies in a twinkling of an eye.
- Both the resurrected believers and the transfigured believers will be caught up together to meet Christ in the air.
- Believers will be visibly united with Christ and taken to heaven.
- Distress, sickness and disease, persecution and oppression will no longer be known by raptured believers as they are removed from the realm of sin and death. Afflictions, infirmities, deformities will all be removed.
- The seven year period of the marriage supper of the lamb – a time of great festivity and rejoicing will immediately commence in heaven as it happens at wedding ceremonies here on earth.
- Meanwhile, the stage will be set in the world for the beginning of the Great Tribulation, also known as “the day of the Lord”. This is a time of great distress and wrath upon the remnants of Mankind left behind on earth.
- Following the rapture is “the day of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5 verse 2–10)
The rapture will be a very happy event for true believers worldwide. All our tears and troubles will be over and it will be fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. It will be a sudden and glorious event.
This event might appear impossible just like it did to the people in the time of Noah. It might even appear foolish and fictional but history has taught us that God is never to be doubted. Matthew 24 teaches us that no one knows the day or the hour, however we are commanded to do certain things while we wait for our King to return to take us home.
- Watch and Pray – Matthew 24 verses 42–44. To watch is to be continually conscious of something happening. This consciousness then regulates everything we do – the way we cat, think, plan, associate and interact
- Resist the enticing and distracting gestures of the enemy of our soul
- Continue in Christ and His service steadfastly
- Examine our lives regularly to ensure we have not become lukewarm or cold
- Continue to labour for the kingdom, evangelising the lost, making disciples, teaching others what Christ has taught us – Occupy till Christ comes (Luke 19:13)
The questions to ask now are:
- Have you become truly born again and receive the new life of Christ in you
- Where will you be when the trumpet sounds?
- Will you be caught up or cut off?
- What is your current spiritual state?
- What is God’s Spirit ministering to you to put right now?
Your King is coming back soon to take you home if you are a true believer, be prepared, be ready. If you are not a believer yet, you can also be ready by turning from your sin, giving your life totally to Jesus and putting your trust in Him! Then begin to live solely for Him.
