The Promise of Rapture – March 18, 2015

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
 

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

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.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

If you have lived in a farm before, you know too well that a seed must die first before it will sprout to begin a new life. There’s no such seed that did not die and rot prior to springing fresh sprouts out of the ground. This is a requirement for us to see new hope in the farm.

And this is the same requirement concerning life ahead of us. Of course, when we die, we will go straightway to heaven when we die. But one day, Jesus will come to bring us up with in heaven. The Bible says Jesus will meet us up in the air and our corruptible body will be changed into an uncorruptible one.

This is a glorious promise of God. He does not just promise that our souls will be in heaven, but He also promised to bring our bodies to heaven. And it will be a victory for the people of the Lord.

In this exhortation Paul is reminding us not to sorrow much about death for Jesus had conquered it when He died on the cross and rose again after the third day. Without death, we will not be promoted to glory with God on heaven. Yet if Jesus comes today and we are still alive, He will bring us up with Him in heaven.

The entire picture of the rapture is a complete expression of God’s goodness on His children. It is a promise of hope sown in love. We should always be excited for that special day for even them that already sleep are excited to see their corruptible body changed into an uncorruptible one.