After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)
So, what should you do if Jesus comes back while you are still alive? Run and hide under something? Lock yourself in your house? Call 911? Get in your car and try to drive away as fast as possible? Pretend you don't see Him? Come up with some quick excuses why you haven't been following Him lately? Faint? Those are things not to do!
Sadly, for some people, those may actually be the responses! For true Christians, those who have surrendered to Him and are living as Christ followers, there should be a quite different response.
So what should true Christians do when Jesus suddenly returns? Fall face down in worship and reverence? Be silent and close your eyes? Kneel? Bow your head? Raise your hands? Those certainly seem like appropriate responses, but no, the scripture actually tells us followers specifically what to do!
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (The words of Jesus - Luke 21:27-28)
There's the answer on what to do when Jesus returns: stand up and lift up your heads. You are about to be taken up in the air to meet your Lord! What?!
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 one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
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 one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
It's wild to imagine that day-- the Lord coming down from heaven -- the voice of the archangel -- the trumpet call of God -- the resurrection of the believers who will meet the alive believers in the air to live with the Lord forever!!! Wow! Talk about drama!!
For Christians who are alive when He returns, it will be no surprise because we will be anticipating it. We know that His return is promised. For those who are not believers, it will be a shock.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:4)
The good news is that whether you are alive or dead when Jesus returns, you will rise to meet Him if you are in Christ. So hold on to that promise -- it's your reward.
Jesus is coming back! We just don't know when.
For Christians who are alive when He returns, it will be no surprise because we will be anticipating it. We know that His return is promised. For those who are not believers, it will be a shock.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:4)
The good news is that whether you are alive or dead when Jesus returns, you will rise to meet Him if you are in Christ. So hold on to that promise -- it's your reward.
Jesus is coming back! We just don't know when.
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36)
