Sunday-Day 18
The majority of times when we speak of the coming of the Lord Jesus we talk in relationship to His two coming to the physical earth. Yet in all actuality, there are three comings, but all three are not to the physical earth. The first coming was at His birth and when the Second Coming happens He will rule and reign as King of Kings. The third coming is the coming in between these the first and what is called His Second Coming. We do not usually classify it as a coming since He does not come to earth, but it is the coming of the church to where He is at in the clouds. This is referred to as the "rapture" of the church.
Paul addresses this event to the church in Thessalonica who are very concerned about those who died in the faith before the Second Coming! What will happen to them? Paul describes this "catching away" in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
Vs.13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Vs. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Vs. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
Vs.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Vs. 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Vs.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
When describing this coming we understand that the stress is placed upon the Lord coming, Himself! It is not someone or something sent to represent Him as a prophet or an angel who would be possibly bringing a message from Him! It will be the Lord! He is descending or coming down from the Throne of Heaven. This will be marked with a shout of command. Strong's states that the Greek word κελεύσματι is used by classical Greek writers as the cry of soldiers charging their enemies, rowers encouraging each other in their work, charioteers inciting their horses. 1 Thessolians 4:16 refers to the shout of the Lord Jesus when He comes to call His own to meet Him in the air at His parousía (3952), appearance.[1]
This shout of command from the Lord is a summons! The following two phrases of the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God are not two more sounds but are describing the how of the shout or summons!
The shout is an audible sound. There is a rising of dead in Christ, or resurrection from the dead, and a rising up of those who are alive who are followers of Christ. The audible sound seems to be connected to the noise of a call that allows the Lord's disciples to be able to break the chains of gravity that are produced by the physical earth and allow them freedom to fly through the atmosphere.
This is could also be referenced by Paul when speaking to the church at Philippians. The statement he makes is:
Philippians 3:12-14 ESV
Vs. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Vs. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.
Vs. 14 But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The imagery here is of running in a race! Staining as you lean forward trying to cross the finish line first! Then listen for your name to be called to receive the victor's crown of olive branches. For Paul that race would be the living of life on this earth (2 Timothy 4:6-8). The hearing of the upward call was the goal of his life! This would ultimately be the call to come up to join the Lord in the clouds in the "catching away." He marches ahead in life, forgetting the sorrows, hurts, pain and disappointments that have come. Some of these experiences have come from his own wrong choices and some by the mouth and hand of others (2 Corinthians listing of lashing etc.). He does not focus on the past but chooses to forget it! He is focused on the future! His commitment to total obedience to the Lord and His Word is how he is pressing to hear the upward call!
When thinking of the first coming we see that the shepherds and the wise men journeyed to where the Lord was at. The destination of the journey of the shepherds was given by the words of direction by the angel. They were going to Bethlehem, the city of David, and find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger (Luke 2:11-12). The wise men were led on their journey by the signs in the heavens, a star! They too would travel to Jesus (Matthew 2:1,2, 8,11). The church will join in the same actions of the shepherds and wise men at the first birth and during the rapture make the journey to where the Lord is at. It will not be a stable or earthly house but to clouds of the heaven and onward to His heavenly home. This journey will only be made because the Word of God directs our individual physical lives. This blessed hope of the rapture causes us to focus on things that are Spiritual and to forget about the earthly treasures. We release ourselves from the love of this world by realizing that this world will pass away! True security is doing the will of God for they will abide forever (John 2:15-17). By this release of the world and connecting ourselves to obedience to His will we become love slaves of our Lord! Our bonds of love for serving the Lord with our entire being cause our ears to strain to hear His voice! We are focused upon hearing His shout at the upward call!
Your Response
Take time and think about the actives of your week. Did you respond to the Lord when He called you? You heard a call to prayer and you were going to spend some time with Him, but you were distracted by life! Life makes a lot of noise! Noises can hinder you from hearing the urgent call you were waiting for on your phone! Surrounding noise can cause you not to understand the voice of those you love! Jesus teaches that His sheep know His voice and another (voice) they will not follow (John 10:1-5). Remember you will not hear the upward call if you are not staining to distinguish His voice from all other noise! The more time you spend with Him, the more confident you are of knowing and hearing His voice! Right now plan some time with Lord for today!
[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, electronic ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).
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