[I am going to show you a mystery – something which you have never known before. But what is this mystery? It is this, that we shall not all sleep; we shall not all die; but WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED:]
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but WE WILL ALL BE CHANGED— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corin. 15:51-52)
[In an indivisible point of time. In the twinkling of an eye; quicker than we can wink; which expressions show that this mighty work is to be done by the almighty power of God, as he does all his works, HE CALLS, AND IT IS DONE:]
“IN A FLASH, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and WE WILL BE CHANGED.” (I Corin. 15:52)
[We are taught that God has a divine trumpet: this trumpet shall be blown, so that the sound of it shall extend from one end of the earth to the other. At the first blast the earth shall be shaken; at the second, the dust shall be separated; at the third, the bones shall be gathered together; at the fourth, the dead bodies shall become warm; at the fifth, the heads shall be covered with skin; at the sixth, the souls shall be rejoined to their bodies; at the seventh, all shall revive and stand clothed, then WE SHALL ALL RISE!]
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? But thanks, be to God! HE GIVES US THE VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corin. 15:54-55, 57)
[All this he has done because of His merciful, beautiful grace! And our eternal thanks are due to God for this unspeakable gift. HE HAS GIVEN US THE VICTORY OVER SIN, SATAN, DEATH, THE GRAVE, AND HELL.]
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. LET NOTHING MOVE YOU. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Corin. 15:58)
[Listen to what our awesome Lord and savior promised:]
“…I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME that you also may be WHERE I AM.” (John 14:2-3)
NOTHING CAN PREVENT THE LORD FROM RETURNING TO TAKE US WITH HIM!
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that:
JESUS WILL COME AND TAKE US TO BE WITH HIM!
-Bill Stockham