Oh, What a Day
Dearly beloved of God, I hope that the Lord Jesus Christ returns for us today! What a day that will be.
No one knows when that will be. No man knows, no, not the angels in heaven, neither the Son of God, but the Father only. But when the Lord does come, no one will miss what will come to pass.
Thessalonians 4:16 and 17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The Lord's coming will be “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God.” What a magnificent announcement that will be!
Everyone will have a ring side seat for this spectacular event.
First, the announcement is made, and the Lord himself descends from heaven. He gives the command for the saints to assemble – both the dead in Christ, and those who are still alive.
I Thessalonians 4:16: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. . .” “Shout” is Greek word, “keleusma,” which is a command that assembles.
In the sport of crew, this word is used for the shout that gives the rowers the timing for their strokes so that they can synchronize their efforts. It is the word used when hunters call their dogs to assemble.
Our Lord will give the command for his Church to assemble, both those who have died and those who are yet living. Just think of the magnificent power behind his word.
The words “caught up” are the Greek word “harpazo.” It means to snatch by authority. The Latin means rapture.
The Lord will execute the vast authority that the Father has given His Son to bring His children home.
When the Lord Jesus Christ gives the command, every member of the body of Christ will respond, whether by rising from the dead, or by transformation. We will obtain the redemption of our bodies!
When the heavenly trumpet of assembly is blown the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Then, the saints that are alive and remain on the earth will be changed from mortal to immortal.
Together we will be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and then he will lead the victory procession into the heavenlies.
From this event forward, the Church, which is the body of Christ, will always be with the Lord Jesus Christ. So, in the Lord's Day, when he does come to the earth, we will be with him.
When you were saved, you received "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
That glory will no longer be a hope, when Christ returns for us, it will be a present tense, firsthand reality.
When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to gather us up to meet him in the air, we will take acquisition of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rejoice, dearly beloved, our citizenship is in the heavenly realm from where we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The gathering together will not be the end; it is only the opening event of the glory to come.
Ephesians 2:7
That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Isn't it wonderful to be beloved by God our Father?
Oh, rejoice! Who knows, he could come today! Whether he does, or he doesn't, we should live with that reality ever before our eyes, dearly beloved of God.