“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall ALL BE CHANGED— in a moment (atomos: an indivisible part of time), in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and WE SHALL BE CHANGED.” (1 Corin. 15:51-52) What will this change be? “Our natural bodies don’t last forever. What does not last will be dressed with what LASTS FOREVER. What dies will be dressed with what DOES NOT DIE. Then what is written will come true. It says, “Death has been swallowed up. It has LOST THE BATTLE. Death, where is the battle you thought you were winning? Death, where is your sting?“ (1 Corin. 15:53-55NIvR)
Paul encourages us by saying, “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 USELESS.” (1 Corin. 15:58) When this all happens, “…the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the 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 so, we shall ALWAYS BE with the Lord. Therefore COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.” (1 Thess. 4:16-18)
“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them…And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, ARE NOT IN DARKNESS, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief…For God DID NOT APPOINT US TO WRATH, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (1 Thess. 5: 2-4,9)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham