Tuesday, November 15, 2016
We learned yesterday that these words offer comforting information for the living about what will happen to those who have died believing in Jesus at the Coming of the Lord. These words are given to comfort the living that trust in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 ... Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
THIS SAME JESUS
These are the facts declared in God's Word upon which our faith rests: Jesus of Nazareth lived without sin, died for sin and rose again to confirm our sins have been forgiven. Those who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
After the resurrection Jesus instructed the Apostles for 40 days and then ascended into heaven in the presence of a gathering of His disciples. After the Savior's body was hidden from their sight by a cloud, Angels appeared with a question and a statement about the second coming of the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:11, ESV): "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
These words are recorded for us so that we may know that the same Jesus who was visibly taken from them into heaven will also return in the same way, visibly, from heaven. Moreover, when the Lord Jesus comes again, those who have died believing in Jesus will return with Him.
The souls of those who have died believing in Christ will return with Christ to be reunited with their resurrected bodies. They will not miss out on the coming of the Lord, neither will they be left behind.
Come, Lord Jesus!
