Footsteps #100

One out of every 30 verses in the Bible talks about the second coming or the events leading up to it. That makes it a very important subject!  Scripture is clear the second coming is visible (‘Every eye shall see’ Rev.1:7), it is audible (With the shout of the archangel and trumpet call of God 1Thess.4:16) and it is powerful (Light lightening out of the east, producing the resurrection of the Dead in Christ Matt.24:31,Acts.1:9-11,1THess.4:16-17.) There is nothing secret about it! In fact, the word ‘secret’ is never associated with the second coming or the resurrection. The ‘secret rapture is a man-made doctrine. Jesus comes in the sky, everyone sees Him, the dead are brought to life, the living are given immortality, and all are taken together to heaven. In one sense, it’s so outrageous, so against all that common sense, experience, and even science teaches us. Yet, this is what we have to believe; otherwise, we have no hope. If you can trust the Lord in something like this, how can you not trust Him with whatever “smaller” things you are struggling with? 

The purpose of prophecy is not to satisfy our curiosity about the future but to teach us how to live today. That is why Paul said, “Comfort each other with these words.” 4:18.NASB. The key theme of this passage is the act of reuniting with Jesus and being together with our friends and loved ones in Christ forever! 

Within the passage itself, the movement of the saved is only upward. The ‘sleeping’ dead believers first rise up from their graves. Then they and the living believers ascend together to meet their Lord in the air. Paul provides further information in 1Cor.15:23-24. There he draws a strong parallel between the experience of Jesus and of those “in Christ.” Jesus arose and ascended to heaven as a “first fruit,” which implies that those who are in Him will have a similar experience. 

The immediate destination of the saved is clarified in John.14:1-3. When Jesus comes, He will take His disciples to be where He is (heaven). He does not come to join them where they are (on earth).