Everything ready!?

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
(John 14:1‭-‬3 NLT)

Everything is almost ready, it looks like!

Jesus died on our behalf, was buried, resurrected and went back to heaven. He sent the Holy Spirit as companion to lead and guide us on our life’s journey. He took care of everything, past, present and future.

Troubles

But at that point in time when they listened to Jesus the disciples didn’t fathom the weight of the Master’s assurance. They were troubled, as we often are today. The uncertainty of the future, the pressures of the present, and lingering pains of the past, all leave us troubled. When our hearts are troubled we are unable to really understand what we hear. Jesus told the troubled followers to trust.

Trust

The antidote to the troubled heart is a trusting mind. To trust is to put our full weight upon the object of our trust. It is to lean on or to depend upon something or someone. Jesus told us to lean fully on God and Him.

This world of troubles is not our permanent dwelling place. Jesus is preparing an eternal dwelling place for us in heaven. He assured us that when everything is ready He Himself will come to take us to that new home. That will be a place where the earthly troubles can never bother us. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee for this. So, until that time let’s learn to trust Him and lean fully on Him.

Everything ready

It will not be too long before “everything is ready” as Jesus said. The signs and signals are everywhere. Our days of trouble are soon going to be over. Let’s live today with that longing to meet our Saviour in the mid air. Hallelujah!

The Reunion – for Believers only!

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.
(1Thessalonians 4:13‭-‬18 NLT)

Death is painful. The absence of a loved one from the routines of daily life is very hurting. Certain objects and spaces in the house will bring vivid memories and tears. They say time will heal. But until then it is agonizing.

The Resurrection

Yet, there is hope for a child of God. Death is the end for an unbeliever, but it’s the beginning of real life for a true believer in Christ. The scriptures say that the dead in Christ will rise from their graves when Christ comes down from heaven in mid air to snatch away His bride the Church. This is a mystery event that is not marked on the church calendar. In fact most churches don’t even talk about it, let alone preach or teach about it. One of the important facts to note about this mystery event is that it is a  “Bride snatching” ceremony, similar to one that happens in a Jewish wedding. The bride of Christ will disappear into the bridal chamber which was prepared for her by her groom. Remember what Jesus said in John 14:2-3?

“There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.”
(Jn 14:2‭-‬3 CEV)

The Rapture

This mystery is called the Rapture. The Church the bride of Christ will be raptured from this world. The dead believers rising first and the living ones being transformed and snatched away into the place prepared for them by the Lord. The bride will be with her groom in that chamber for seven days after which they will appear before people for the banquet. Exactly like this, the Church will be with Christ for seven years while the world will go through the great tribulation under the Antichrist. After the seven years we will come down to the earth with Christ for the great banquet in the millennial Kingdom.

The Return

When Christ returns to the earth with his Church He will reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Satan will be bound for a thousand years and under the reign of Christ the whole creation will experience the joy and freedom it had been longing for (Rom.8:18-25)

So, if you are a born again believer grieving at the loss of a loved one who had made a commitment to trust Jesus as Lord and Saviour, I would like to remind you from God’s Word that you will be reunited with that person very soon. There is going to be a grand reunion in the mid air where we will meet our Saviour along with our loved ones. God’s Word reminds us to encourage one another with these words of hope. (1Thess.4:13-18)

Knowing the times and seasons

We are almost at the end of the season of grace. What we see around us are it’s signs, as predicted in the Bible. All the prophecies regarding the rapture of the Church are fulfilled and the Lord will come anytime now to gather His people unto Himself. Are you ready!?

The Bible says,
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”
(1Thessalonians 4:16‭-‬17 NLT)

We don’t know exactly when this is going to happen, but this will be the next major event that will shock the whole world. According to Bible prophecy the stage for this event is ready. Jesus told His followers in Matthew 24:32-33 the example of the fig tree. The blossoming fig tree announced the arrival of summer season. The fig tree is used as a type of Israel. Israel has been revived as a nation. Today it is a flourishing and prosperous and powerful nation. Most Jews have returned to their homeland from all corners of the world where they had been scattered. All these were fulfillment of Biblical prophecies.

The true Church will be snatched away from this world and there will come a world leader who will control the whole world. He will promise peace and security to everyone. There will be one leader, one government and one religion for seven years. This is known as the time of Jacob’s trouble or the great tribulation. He will break his promises by the middle of this period, will sit in the temple at Jerusalem and demand that everyone should worship him. Anyone who refuses will be put to death.

The world is already moving towards the ONE government, ONE religion philosophy. What everyone needs is peace and security. But the Word of God has warned about the false promises of peace and security.

Recently the UN has erected a statue in its premises in New York which they say is the guardian of peace and security. This sounds like what we see in Daniel 7:4 and Revelation 17:2-3.

Guardian for international peace and security

“While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
(1Thessalonians 5:3 ESV)

Though we do not know the date and the time we have been given signs of the season. It is wise to be prepared to meet the judge of all mankind.

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!
(Mark 13:32‭-‬33 NLT)

The Kingdom of God

I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened. I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn’s boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire. The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer. As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me. So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this: “These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.” Daniel 7:9-18 NLT

The Eternal Kingdom

Taken in isolation, this is a difficult passage of scripture to explain. This should be read along with the book of Revelation and other prophetic passages that describe the end time events. The book of Daniel contains the historic narrative of the captivity and life in exile of the Jewish boys Daniel and his friends. Daniel served under the Babylonian Kings Nebuchadnezzar, his grandson Belshazzar, and the Medo-Persian Kings Darius and Cyrus. In spite of persecution and suffering, Daniel and his friends faithfully followed their Jewish religious disciplines by not eating foods prohibited for them and praying at the appointed times of the day. God was faithful in protecting and prospering them as they were faithful to Him. The book also contains several dreams the kings and Daniel had, containing prophetic messages.

Rule of the Antichrist

Chapter seven records a dream Daniel had of four strange animals which represent four different kingdoms or governments. Some believe it could be contemporary powers. But towards the end a union of governments will come which will bring in the New World order or the One World Government everyone is longing for, nations without borders, promising peace and prosperity. From among the leaders of the New World order one will become the ruler of the world government. The Bible talks about this in the first part of Daniel 7, in second Thessalonians 2 and in Revelation 13. He is the Anti-Christ also called the ‘lawless one’, or the ‘son of perdition’. He will rule the world for seven years promising peace and prosperity. He will be controlled by Satan. He will make agreements with the Jewish people and the muslims to rebuild the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. Temple worship will be re-established. But by the middle of his rule he will change his agreement and sit in the temple claiming to be god demanding worship. Anyone refusing to worship him and his image will be killed.

Rapture of the Church

Our passage for today doesn’t give much of these details but in 2Thessalonians, Revelation and elsewhere we can find them. Daniel sees the Son of Man coming in the clouds in all His glory. This is Jesus coming for His Church and receiving her to Himself. This will precede the Anti-Christ’s coming to power. He will release terrible persecution towards all who will believe in God and worship anything other than himself. At the end of seven years he will be defeated and thrown into the lake of fire.

Rule of Christ

After the end of the great tribulation Christ will establish His kingdom. This is the Kingdom promised to the Jewish nation. Jesus will reign as the King of kings and all the nations will surrender to His authority. His saints will rule with Him. Daniel didn’t have any idea of the Church and it’s place in the prophetic calendar of God. As Apostle Paul says, it was a mystery. The next big event in God’s calendar is the rapture of His Church. This can happen any time now because the stage is set as per Bible prophecy. Those who have put their trust in Jesus as their only Saviour and Lord will go with Him when He comes in the clouds.

Will you be going with Him? Are you ready?

There’s Hope

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.” (1Thes. 4:13-18 NLT)

1. Believers who died will come with Jesus when He returns (“those who sleep in Jesus”-NKJV)

* Death of the believer is likened to falling asleep

– Figurative use of the word “sleep”

– Sleep is a temporary state from which you will wake up

– This is in reference to the body

* Like Jesus rose again, they will also rise with a glorified body 

Right now they are rejoicing in the presence of God and the company of all the believers who have died.

* We should know this so we won’t grieve like those who have no hope

Grief is there at the loss of a loved one. It pains to realise that you won’t see them around in this world anymore. But as believers in Christ we have this eternal hope.

2. Believers who are still alive when Jesus returns will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

There will be a mass disappearance of believers and non believers will be left behind.

* We will be with the Lord for ever.

3. Encourage each other with these words

People go through bereavement and grief and some find it difficult to overcome. Remind them of these passages from God’s Word. Human words are insufficient to bring peace and comfort. Only God’s Word can do that. Jesus said, “ my peace I give to you”. He is the prince of peace. Let us bring the grieving to the Lord.