16. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
This teaching is on the return of Christ and the bodily resurrection of the saints. This is also called the rapture of the church to meet the Lord in the air. At that time when Christ returns the souls of the saints will join with Christ and the angels and receive their permanent resurrected bodies. The dead in Christ will rise first. Their souls and bodies unite.
We shall be changed at the twinkling of an eye. The resurrected Jesus becomes for us our confidence of life after the grave. Death no longer has mastery over us. God is faithful in fulfilling His promises and Jesus wanted to encourage us by saying this was all planned out by God, our Father. He is fulfilling His covenant with His people.
I think of the songs and writings of Joni Eareckson-Tada who talks about a new body that is no long hindered by a wheelchair. Her hand will be able to hold her paintbrushes. She can comb her own hair and shower herself. Her focus isn’t on what she cannot do because of her paralysis, but the greater joy of faith awaiting her new body with joy and celebration.
At the coming of Jesus we will be reunited with brothers and sisters in Christ. We will meet the saints of old and find great comfort in the presence of our Savior. For now, we live in the readiness. We live not in discouragement, but hope. We should live a life of love and service.
Because of the Atonement of the cross, (Christ taking our place in death), we shall live in celebration and worship of the One who loves us most.
I like the song written and sung by Patti Sandy:
“The sky shall unfold- Preparing His entrance.
The stars shall applaud Him- With thunders of praise
The sweet light in His eyes, shall enhance those awaiting
And we shall behold Him, then face to face!
O we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory
O we shall behold Him, yes we shall behold Him,
Face to face, our Savior and Lord
The angel will sound, the shout of His coming
And the sleeping shall rise, from their slumbering place
And those remaining, shall be changed in a moment
And we shall behold him, then face to face.
We shall behold Him, O yes, we shall behold Him,
Face to face in all of His glory
We shall behold Him, face to face Our Savior and Lord!”
