He Will Return

In yesterday’s blog entitled “Many Mansions”, I quoted from John 14: 1-6 in support of what we can expect to find in the way of residences in heaven. Since revising the blog, I have been contemplating the words of Jesus in verse 3.

3 "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. (John 14:3)

Contained with in that verse is a truth that many Christians don’t think about too much and those words are “I will come again and receive you to Myself”. Mainstream Christian religions, in most cases, simply ignore the Bible’s claim that one day Christ will return to this earth. Sermons are not preached on the subject and the possibility is simply not acknowledged. There indeed is more than one way to get to heaven. If the Lord returns before we, as believing Christians die, we will be with Him in an instant and no funeral will have taken place. There are two very clear descriptions of what is often called “The Rapture”, although the word rapture is not in the Bible. Today I have gone to 1Thessalonians 4:13-18.

13 ¶ 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.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

In his letter to the believers at Thessalonica, Paul tells us very clearly what will happen. He does not tell us when it will happen. Jesus made it clear, as He is quoted in the gospels, that we can never know the appointed time. The power of the description is dramatic. Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God. The dead believers from literally thousands of years will rise first followed by those who are alive and believe in their hearts that Jesus died and rose again on the third day. Many doubters would claim that the Rapture as described is simply impossible by human standards. I agree. By the standards of God; however, everything is possible. He has proven that over and over in the physical and spiritual world. Nothing is beyond the capabilities of God. How can we believe parts of the Bible and have our doubts about other parts of the Bible?

As a believer, the prospect of joining Jesus in heaven in the twinkling of an eye is indeed something to cherish. There is, however, a down side realized all too well by most Christians. What about loved ones and friends who are left behind? They will still be able to become believers, but they will live in a very difficult period described in the Bible as “The Tribulation”. We continue to live in a period of grace. Have you accepted the grace offered to you as a free gift by a loving God? The period of grace could end in several hundred years or indeed it could end this afternoon.

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