Verse of the Day for Wednesday, May 31, 2023

 

Verse of the Day
Wednesday, May 31, 2023

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

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. 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.

This amazing passage describes the moment when the Lord returns for His church—the dead in Christ will rise and receive their glorified bodies, and those who are alive will be gathered directly into His presence. This should not be confused with the Second Coming of the Lord, when Jesus stands upon the Mount of Olives and establishes His kingdom on earth (Matt. 25:31–46). The Rapture begins the wedding supper of the Lamb (Matt. 25:1–13), and the Second Coming takes place after the banquet has concluded (Rev. 19:7—20:15).  It is the fulfillment of the promise Jesus made in John 14:1–3, to prepare a place for us to be with Him forever. He is our faithful Bridegroom, and we can be sure that Christ will return to take us to our new, eternal, heavenly home—even if we do not know the exact moment He is coming (Matt. 25:1–13; Luke 12:35–44; Rev. 19:7–9; 21:9–27).

Read all of 1st Thessalonians Chapter 4

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Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Life Lessons from Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes.