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A Closer Walk

The Rapture. A term we believers use to describe a time and an event when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to call His bride, the Church, home to glory to be in Heaven with Him for all eternity. This is described in 1 Thessalonians. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall 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," 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NASB.

Some years ago in one of the ALCO stores I worked in, some of the high school and college age staff were having a discussion about the Rapture. One girl had never heard of this or even heard about this and it scared her. The young people decided that as many as wanted to would meet together at someone's house and they would use this opportunity to explain the Rapture to the girl and offer her words of comfort. At the same time they would try to answer questions from anyone else who had them, and let everyone know that the Rapture was not something to be frightened of, but rather something for us to look forward to.
The Rapture was predicted. "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and they also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven'," Acts1:9-11 NASB. So the Lord Jesus will return in the clouds at the Rapture and we will meet Him in the air.
Those believers who have already passed away will not be left behind. In fact they get to go first. Some pastors have said that the reason they go first is because they have six feet further to go. But it is clear that, “...the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Each and every person in each and every place on earth that has been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb will be taken to meet Jesus in the air and continue on with Him into eternal glory in our Heavenly home. We will no longer be sojourners, but permanent and eternal residents.
In Heaven, there will be no more aches and pains, no more sadness and tears, no more suffering or sorrow. There will only be eternal joy and rejoicing. Eternity with Almighty God, with the Only Begotten Son, and with the Holy Spirit. We will be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us. And we will also be with the mighty believers of old. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses, Joseph, David and Solomon. Peter, James, and John. And Paul; the Apostle Paul. Can you imagine being in the Sunday School Class of any of these great teachers? How about the blessing of hearing the Heavenly Choir? For all eternity. And being face to face with the Lord God Jehovah and our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ? Or can you imagine the blessing of the Marriage Feast of the Lamb? The best food we have ever eaten, prepared the very best any food has been, ever? We can imagine that the entire length of eternity will be precious little time to partake of all the joy and blessing that will be available for us in heaven.
So the Rapture is not an event to be frightened of. Rather it is an event for us to look forward to. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Even so Lord Jesus.
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October is Pastor Appreciation month and your pastors would likely enjoy some expression of your appreciation for them and the work they do.

 

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