If you are believer who has trusted in Jesus Christ to be your Savior ( realizing it was His death and payment of all sin on the cross that is only thing that qualifies you to receive the gift of eternal life ),
then you are called a child of the day, and a child of the light.
Since "We belong to the Day", we can and should be rejoicing in knowing our future is secure, whether we die now before Christ's return to Earth, or find ourselves living through the Great Tribulation.
It's through having a clear understanding of promises of God, and the revealed prophesies in the Bible, that we can have a strong and confident faith that produces a out flowing of God's Love and Joy in our lives. And this can become a light to those around us. And salt to bring flavor into the lives of others.
Let's look at some of the promises and what to expect in the future.
Starting with,
I Thessalonians 4:17,
Then we who are alive,
then you are called a child of the day, and a child of the light.
Since "We belong to the Day", we can and should be rejoicing in knowing our future is secure, whether we die now before Christ's return to Earth, or find ourselves living through the Great Tribulation.
It's through having a clear understanding of promises of God, and the revealed prophesies in the Bible, that we can have a strong and confident faith that produces a out flowing of God's Love and Joy in our lives. And this can become a light to those around us. And salt to bring flavor into the lives of others.
Let's look at some of the promises and what to expect in the future.
Starting with,
I Thessalonians 4:17,
Then we who are alive,
who are left,
will be caught up
together with them ( referencing the "dead" mentioned in the previous verse = I Thess. 4:16 ),
in the clouds
to meet the Lord
in the air,
and so we will always be with the Lord.
** When do we "meet the Lord in the air"?
Let's look at a passage in the book of Mathew,
talking about The Coming of the Son of Man
Let's look at a passage in the book of Mathew,
talking about The Coming of the Son of Man
Mat 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Mat 24:30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24:30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
No "secret" Rapture mentioned here. The elect ( i.e. born again children of God ) are gather at the end of the Tribulation period ( Detailed in the book of Revelation ). The misconception that being "caught up" occurs before the Tribulation period is a deception that has been taught for about 190 years, and stems from an incorrect interpretation of Daniel's 70 weeks prophecy ( Dan. 9:24-27 ), and this mis-interpretation ( by those who hold to a "Dispensational" view of the Bible ) is covered in detail in other postings.
***
So, what else does Paul share with the Believers in his letter to the Thessalonians?
***
So, what else does Paul share with the Believers in his letter to the Thessalonians?
The Day of the Lord
1Th 5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
1Th 5:2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the
1Th 5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
1Th 5:2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the
day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them
1Th 5:3 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.
After the 2 witnesses are killed, and their bodies lay in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 and 1/2 days,
the whole world ( who seem to be able to "look at their dead bodies for 3 and 1/2 days" Rev. 11:9 ),
seems to have a global celebration. They believe their problems are over. They now feel that everything is going to get better ( "peace and safety" ).
Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
1Th 5:4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
*** Please note here --- Believers should be not surprised.
It should not catch us "off guard" like an unexpected "thief in the night". If you are paying attention - "watching", "waiting" as the scriptures advises us to be doing, then you will clearly understand what is happening. The signs and events will all make sense.
And while we are warned in Revelation 13:9-10 and 14:13, that many of us believers may be destined to captivity or to be killed, we can rejoice in knowing the Lord is about to return to Earth.
Knowing that this period of Great Tribulation will end soon ( as it is repeatedly referenced as period of not more than 3 1/2 years ). Again, a topic for a whole other post.
The words of encourage for us who are believers are:
1Th 5:5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
1Th 5:6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
1Th 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
1Th 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
To summarize:
"We" will be saved.
"They" will suffer "wrath and "destruction".
This message is for our Encouragement.
Despite the trials in our lives, or the Tribulations that are soon to come upon all the Earth, we can find peace and happiness in knowing our eternal life is guaranteed, and a glorious future is coming.
That is the message of the End Times --- Rejoice, the Lord is near.
This message is for our Encouragement.
Despite the trials in our lives, or the Tribulations that are soon to come upon all the Earth, we can find peace and happiness in knowing our eternal life is guaranteed, and a glorious future is coming.
That is the message of the End Times --- Rejoice, the Lord is near.
Youtube version Caught Up = https://youtu.be/cYvA9XZ_ZHw
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