Trumpet Call

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. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

He's coming back, brethren! He said he would, and He will. We don't have to know when, we just need to be ready. Even if I'm not ready, that will not change the fact. He has set a time when this will happen. The whole point of this teaching is comfort and assurance. There were rumors abounding in Thessalonica, and false doctrines about the return of the Christ for His own. There were questions about those who had died; would the living precede them in resurrection? There will be a shout, and then a trumpet call. If you're anywhere near a cemetery, you will see the bodies of deceased believers join their spirits in the heavens with Jesus. This will happen worldwide, no matter where the remains may be. Next, those who are still in living bodies will be caught up into the gathering. The souls in heaven who have departed their earthly bodies are awaiting this event, when they will be reunited with their resurrected bodies, which will be perfect as Jesus' resurrected body is perfect. The word "rapture" is not found in the Bible, but this intantaneous resurrection of believers (snatching away) defines that word. It is terminology which describes Jesus' return to claim His own. Imminent. Without warning. Like the thief in the night. Are you ready?