Daily Devotional

-June 1, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-The Comfort Of The Lord’s Coming-

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and 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.”

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

The coming of the Lord to take us home to heaven is one of the most exciting, encouraging, and energizing subjects in all the Scriptures. Though the word Rapture is not found in the Bible, the concept is. The word rapture in the original Greek means, “A snatching away.” Those of us who are alive will be gathered together with those who have died in Christ. We will meet the Lord in the air.

Three things are associated with the Lord’s coming: the shout of the Lord, the voice of the archangel, which we know to be Michael, and the trumpet of God. Only believers will hear and see these things. In the OT, trumpets were used to gather the people of Israel together for feasts, to move out from their camp, and for battle.

Paul mentions that the dead in Christ will rise first. The saints who have died and preceded us to glory are already with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, yes, well pleased, rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” There were those false teachers in the early church sought to upset the saints regarding those who died, or as the NT says, “have fallen asleep in Jesus.” The believers wondered would become of those who died in Christ before them. There is no need to worry, they are with the Lord and they will rise first. Their bodies will be reunited with their souls and spirits.

Then we who are alive at the time of Christ’s coming will be raised up to meet them in the air. O what a reunion that will be! During this pandemic we have not been able gather as a church for about 15 months. It will be so exciting to be back together at church again. And just think of the saints who have departed to be with Christ. We miss them and we will see them again.

It will all happen so suddenly and quickly. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 says, “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.”

Paul concludes our passage with the words, “…And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Just as the disciples rejoiced to see Jesus risen from the dead, we will be excited to see Him physically for the very first time. Peter who saw the Lord on earth wrote, “Whom (that is Jesus) having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” I get goosebumps just thinking about it! I am ready to go! The Lord’s coming is imminent, meaning He could come at any time. Those who are saved are ready, but if you are unsaved, you are not ready. There will be no second chances for those left behind.

There are but two men in the history of the world according to Scripture who did not die but were taken directly to heaven: Enoch and Elijah. Of Enoch it says, “God took him.” And of Elijah, it says he went up to heaven in a chariot of fire.”

Let us then rejoice as we contemplate the Lord’s coming and comfort one another. We win either way, whether we die in Christ or we are raptured, we go to be with the Lord forever. He may come today!

Have a blessed day waiting for Christ’s return and serving Him all the way until we enter into glory. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

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