1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, “For this we declare to you, by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the LORD, will not proceed those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven, with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of a trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
We are all seeing various “birth pangs” taking place, of the coming of Christ’s imminent return more and more. Pain, debt, outbreaks of COVID and the controversies about the vaccine, voting fraud, fake news, various injustices, and conflicts will be gone, in an instant, for every saved person when the Rapture occurs! Thoughts of despair or any tragic worldly event will no longer matter because Christ’s return will bring us right into God’s presence! The most magnificent and fabulous word of the Lord we will ever hear that are believers in Christ will abolish any crisis on this earth because we will be delivered, and with Christ up in heaven.
I often wonder what the “cry of command” will sound like, as is stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:16? It will be an authoritative command and a note of urgency that we are told. The Rapture will not be a secret or silent event. Note there will be three different sounds at Christ’s return that summon the elect of those who have died (fallen asleep) first, and then those who are living along with the dead are caught up into the air to meet Christ. The Lord’s shout, the trumpet, and the voice of the archangel, which many believe to be Michael (see Jude 9), as he was the only archangel mentioned in the New Testament, are the three sounds I am very anxious to hear and could be today!
In Acts 9:7; 22-9, it states that the men traveling with Paul heard a sound when Jesus was speaking directly to Paul but did not see anyone. So they heard something but did not understand its meaning. It may very well be that the shout/voice/trumpet sound we in Christ will hear that accompanies the Rapture, will have the same effect on those left behind. The entire world may have no idea what the meaning is of this heavenly sound. I wonder if I will be taken directly up while I am sleeping, or being in my home, or driving somewhere, or will I be one of those that are “dead in Christ shall rise first?” Either way, I am expectant, whether I will be dead or alive, for the Lord’s coming and for the great reward of heaven – to be with Jesus for eternity.
Meanwhile we are to live each day that the Lord has given us, on this earth, for His glory and to faithfully perform whatever work He has given us to do in our employment or role in life (Luke 12:41-48) and to share the gospel, until He comes back for us. We are to live into our calling with integrity and efficiency in being faithful shepherds and leaders in managing the sphere of influence God has given us, as we focus on His provision, protection, and presence. Even so, Lord Jesus come (Rev. 22:20)! May I keep my eyes better focused on Christ and have the faith that He will equip me with all I need for doing His will (Hebrews 13:20-21) until the day that He returns (1 Thess. 4:15-17) – which could be PERHAPS TODAY!
Listen to Natalie Grant’s Alive Song Lyrics 1/6/2020