Christ Shall Return in Glory Christ Shall Return in Glory
When the Lord appears in the air, the dead in Christ will rise from their graves. They will gain an imperishable body like the glorious body of Christ. Just as how the grass, flowers, and leaves fall and wither in winter, and grow and thrive again in spring, God uses the nature He created to illustrate the truth on resurrection. He is the God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Concerning the physical transformation and the rapture of believers who are alive, the Bible says: �乪e shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed�㻳n a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality�� (1 Cor. 15:51��53). When the Lord appears in the air, the weak and shameful bodies of the believers who are alive will be quickly transformed into glorious, powerful bodies just like the Lord�䏭. It�䏭 like how an ugly caterpillar morphs into a lovely butterfly. God uses the life cycle of insects to reveal the truth on transformation. For �𠨑lesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption�� (1 Cor. 15:50). Thank God for preparing a spiritual body for us to inherit so that we may enjoy the eternal heavenly blessing. From then on, there will be no more sickness, suffering, weakness, tears, and death. If the Lord comes today, we who are still alive will not have to experience physical death. In an instant of a moment, our bodies will be changed and caught up together with the resurrected believers to meet Him in the clouds.
On that Day, before the throne of Christ, each man�䏭 work will be tried by fire. Work achieved through one�䏭 own idea and effort for selfish gains is the work of wood, hay, or straw. It will not withstand fire, but will be burned and suffer loss. On the other hand, work done completely in God�䏭 will, by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God, is built with gold, silver, precious stones. It will endure forever and the builder will receive his reward (see 1 Cor. 3:12��15). Dear brothers and sisters, what kind of work is ours? Is our work in accordance with God�䏭 will? Is it done strictly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
As the great Day approaches, every Christian who longs for His appearance will be filled with excitement. But the lukewarm Christians will be panic-stricken. We often sing and pray: �𦒄ome quickly, Lord!�� But are we really prepared? Where will you be when the last trumpet sounds? In a cinema? A club? Or, a casino carousing your time away? Or, in the act of doing what is evil in God�䏭 eyes? If your ears are filled with worldly music and lustful songs, how will you be able to hear the Lord when He calls the roll in the air? Do not be entangled in sinful pleasures, lest you miss the rapture and end up in the dreadful great tribulation! It will be too late to regret. For this reason, all Christians should be filled with the Holy Spirit to gain power from above. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we shall abide by the truth, preach the gospel, do what pleases the Lord, love and serve Him, and above all, bear witness for Him in holiness and godliness. When people turn to the Lord on our account, we will not have to meet the Lord in shame and empty-handed!
After the rapture, the great tribulation will begin on earth. When the days of tribulation are fulfilled, the Lord will come from heaven with all the saints. �輶ehold, the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him�� (Jude 14��15). �輶ehold, He (Jesus) is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen�� (Rev 1:7). On that Day the saints will judge all nations together with the Lord. The good will be rewarded and the wicked punished.