April 24: THE KING IS COMING (part 3)

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36

Disciples of Christ are called to live in readiness for His return. Our opening verse makes it clear that the exact timing is not given to us. But the Lord did tell us that we can know that it is near – at the doors! (v.33) Since we are all under the death sentence of Adam, we need to make being ready to meet the Lord top priority. In the 2,000 years since Jesus walked the earth, billions have passed away. His call to readiness was also for them, as well as for all the faithful who looked forward to the first coming of the Messiah.

For those who have fallen asleep in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:6,18), their next conscious thought will be that glorious moment when they are awakened by the coming of the Lord. Having been unaware of the passage of time, it will seem as a mere fraction of a second! Or, as Paul put it, in the twinkling of an eye (v.52).

Descriptions of our blessed hope: the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13) are as follows:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. (Psalm 50:3) The LORD will roar from on high… He will roar mightily… He will give a shout… A noise will come to the ends of the earth (Jeremiah 25:30,31). When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory (Matthew 25:31). For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels (16:27a). For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (24:27). Behold, He is coming with clouds [of angels], and every eye shall see Him (Revelation 1:7).

When the Lord comes, He will resurrect His faithful ones, all of those who have died in Him (see Hebrews 11:39-40). He will bring His “bride” to the heavenly place that He has prepared (John 14:3). This includes His faithful who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:15), and those who have fallen asleep (v.13). Both of these two groups will – all together – receive new, incorruptible bodies. The victory that Jesus had over death becomes victory for His bride. This is the indescribably glorious moment (see 1 Corinthians 15:52) that is the fulfillment of things declared by Isaiah and Hosea:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54b (see also Isaiah 25:8)

“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? 1 Corinthians 15:55 (see also Hosea 13:14)