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These verses in I Thessalonians Chapter 4 take us into areas where each of has to visit at some time – areas of life and death and bereavement and grief and sadness

But in Verse 14 we learn that death does not have the last word. Jesus Christ has!

Jesus who died and rose again is one of the central themes of Paul’s preaching and teaching and writing.

It was central to Peter’s preaching too and it must remain central today.

Verse 15 – The Lord revealed it to Paul. Jesus is still revealing truths to men. He says it all here with such assurance.

Verse 16 – Paul goes on to speak about that day when Jesus Christ will return.

The Lord Himself will come down and there will be a shout and there will be the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Do you see how important it is to be ‘in Christ’?

Verse 17 – Then those who are alive will be caught up with them.

“Caught up” indicates that there will be a sudden swoop and of such a force which cannot be resisted.

On that day, nothing will be able to hold me or tie me to this earth. This may sound so fantastic that it is beyond belief – but it will happen.

Some believers will never die. There will be a meeting with Christ in the air because no auditorium on earth will be large enough to hold everyone who will be present.

This is what is popularly called the Rapture. Rapture has that sense and meaning of ‘being seized’ – to plunder – a thing retained with an eager grasp – or – eagerly claimed and conspicuously exercised – to take away by force!

We shall be with Him and with His. We shall be caught up in a similar manner as he was caught up in Acts Chapter 1. How else are we going to get up into the air?

God will accomplish this at the correct time – and we will be away from all pain – sorrow – tragedy – suffering – fear – sin – and away from all this for ever.

This is the next great world event – an ever lasting indestructible body – the details of which we are not given.

Jesus was raised with a new body – the first of its kind – and the only one of its kind in the whole universe. It is not like the body of the raised widow of Nain’s son – or that of the resurrected Lazarus – these were mortal bodies which would die again - and which did die again.

Verse 18 – Encourage or comfort or fortify one another with these words.

With this knowledge from the Scriptures, our aim now is to get on with living for Jesus Christ.

Earthly words at such a time are weak and pathetic and that is why we are to speak divine words. Let this inspire your heart and increase your faith in Christ and his word.

This is one of the central doctrines of our Christian Faith. There are some 300 references to this in the New Testament. There are also some 300 references to the Cross. There is not a word here about those who fall asleep outside of Christ.

Our faith looks back to the Cross and our hope looks forward to His Coming, and we live in love right in the middle of these two events.

Death is like an anaesthetic which God uses to put us to sleep while He changes our mortal bodies into immortal.

Garrison and guard your heart with these truths.

“Lord our God – we thank You for revealing the wonder of these truths – we thank You that when we need to know we can know – and we trust you totally for these matters that as yet we do not know. We thank you for such a complete and comprehensive and satisfying faith – all available to us through the grace and mercy and love of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.”

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

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