If you believe Jesus died, rose, and ascended like the Bible predicted, have you paid attention to what it says about His return? Jesus is coming back, and you will know it when He does.
The longer I live, the more concerned I am about the state of the world. While sin has always been rampant, it does often appear that humanity grows increasingly depraved. Our culture defines evil as good and good as evil. In an “anything goes” society, I’m losing my ability to be shocked.
I want to see change happen; I know you do, too. While I do believe that there is good still left to be done in this world, I also realize that what this world really needs will not be actualized until Jesus returns. And you won’t have to wonder if it happened. Trust me, you will know. Jesus Himself will come back with a shout so loud that the whole earth will hear.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
Those who have died before that time will rise at that sound. This earth is not our resting place. Those who have passed are promised to dwell with God forever. Those still alive at that time will join them in the clouds. As if that combination of saints passed and saints present isn’t exciting enough, we will meet the Lord in the air! Jesus’ rescue mission will be complete when He gathers all who belong to Him, and we will be with Him forever.
While the Apostle Paul does not provide us with all the details about Jesus’ return, he gives us the most important piece of information: it’s going to happen. People have been debating what His return will be like since His ascension, and I am confident someone will be arguing about the details at the moment it happens.
In the midst of current craziness and despite future uncertainty, we all need some type of encouragement to ground us. That’s why Paul wrote these words down. When he ends this paragraph with the exhortation to “encourage one another with these words” (1 Thess. 5:18), he ensures that this future promise should help us navigate current problems. All the pain of this world is temporary; Jesus’ rescue will be eternal.
If Jesus’ return seems scary to you, you are missing an important truth. He is rescuing us to something far better. Pray through your honest feelings about Jesus’ return and ask Him to replace them with worthy encouragement.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
