“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” - 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18

Jesus Christ is coming again - a second and final time.  This should be encouraging to the church - an event that we should be looking forward to with great expectation!  What a great homecoming that day will be, to be with old and new testament saints, to be with loved ones who died in Christ, and to be with all of the redeemed - past, present and future - on earth and in heaven!  We will see Jesus face-to-face and be forever with God and one another.  Scripture  goes on to explain that all things will be made new; there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more death. (cf. Revelation 21:4)

The bible says that Jesus will come as a thief in the night - meaning “unexpectedly!”  Scripture tells us that every one will see Him (cf. Rev. 1:7) and it will happen in a twinkling of an eye (cf. 1 Cor. 15:52).  Jesus Himself said that “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” - therefore, we are instructed to be ready!   As part of being ready, we are to be the people God has called us to be, a holy people, actively/intentionally living out our faith in Christ in our daily lives.

Although it will be a great day for the church, it will be an equally terrible day for the unredeemed.  There will be no second chances.  All opportunities to accept God’s free gift of salvation will be over and “anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (cf. Rev. 20:15)

Jesus second coming will be - the end and the beginning!

“Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” - Jesus

In His Service,

Pastor Rodney