1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:2 – [16] For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a rousing cry, with a call from one of the ruling angels, and with God’s shofar; those who died united with Messiah will be the first to rise; [17] then we who are left still alive will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord. [18] So encourage each other with these words. [5:1] But you have no need to have anything written to you, brothers, about the times and dates when this will happen; [2] because you yourselves well know that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
The King is coming! The King is coming! The King is coming! I can not stress the importance of saying this enough. Jesus, our King is coming!
Picture if you will a treasure map. Each dash on the map is a scripture related to the coming of the King. These dashes span across the scriptures encompassing both the Old and New Testaments. Our starting point is the above scripture from Thessalonians. We are going to go dash to dash, scripture to scripture as they tie together to reveal the ultimate X marks the spot, Yeshua, our coming King.
For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a rousing cry, with a call from one of the ruling angels, and with God’s shofar;
Our first dash is the shofar. The shofar or ram’s horn is associated with Rosh-HaShanah, the Jewish New year. Scripture tells us that end-time events will be announced with the blast of the shofar. Multiple scriptures relating to end time prophecy involve the sounding of the shofar. “On that Day”, “That Day”, “This Day”, “Times of trouble” all speak of prophetic events.
On that day, a great shofar will sound. Those lost in the land of Ashur will come, also those scattered through the land of Egypt; and they will worship Adonai on the holy mountain in Yersuhalayim. Isaiah 27:13
[14] The great Day of Adonai is near, near and coming very quickly; Hear the sound of the Day of Adonai! [15] That Day is a Day of fury, a Day of trouble and distress, a Day of waste and desolation, a Day of darkness and gloom, a Day of clouds and thick fog, [16] A day of the shofar and battle-cry against the fortified cities and against the high towers [on the city walls]. Zephaniah 1:14-16
Adonai will appear over them, and his arrow will flash like lightning. Adonai EloHIM will blow the shofar and go out into the whirlwinds of the south. Zechariah 9:14
He will send out his angels with a great shofar; and they will gather together his chosen people from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:31
It will take a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever, and we too will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52
There is a day that is coming, and I believe it is sooner than we think, that the shofar will sound. What is going to happen when it sounds? First and foremost, are you ready? Jesus shared a parable in Matthew 25 Yeshua spoke of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five were foolish and took only their lamps, and five were wise, who took not only their lamps, but extra oil for them. The bridegroom was late, so they all went to sleep, but in the middle of the night, the cry rang out “The bridegroom is here!” They all woke and set about preparing their lamps, but the foolish bridesmaids needed oil and begged the others to share. The wise girls replied, “We do not have enough for both you and us.” The foolish girls ran back to town to get more oil, but while they were gone, the bridegroom appeared. The wise went with him to the wedding feast and the door was closed. When the five foolish bridesmaids came back, they cried to be let into the wedding feast, but he answered, “I do not know you!” This parable was not just for those who there with Yeshua listening to him teach. This parable is for us. If we are not ready when the shofar sounds, alerting us to the return of the bridegroom, if we do not have our lamps trimmed with extra oil on hand, we are going to miss being taken to the wedding feast.
those who died united with Messiah will be the first to rise
Our second dash on the map is that of the dead in Christ rising first. The days that the crucifixion and resurrection fell upon were not random days, nor by happenstance. They were critical dates on the Hebrew calendar. Yeshua was crucified as the lamb to take away the sins of the world on Passover. As sacrifices were being made at the temple, the ultimate sacrifice for mankind was taking place just outside the gates on the cross. The resurrection took place the day after the Sabbath, which also happened to be a festival on the Hebrew calendar. Sfirat HaOmer, or the Festival of Firstfruits. In the Book of Leviticus (23:9-14), Adonai told Moses that before the people were to harvest the fields, they were to bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest to the priest and that it was to be waved before the Lord. We are the harvest and Yeshua was the firstfruits of those who have died.
[20] But the fact is that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died. [21] For since death came through a man, also the resurrection of the dead has come through a man. [22] For just in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. [23] But each in his own order: The Messiah is the firstfruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
[10] Yes, I gave it all up in order to know him, that is, to know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings as I am being conformed to his death, [11] so that somehow, I might arrive at being resurrected from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11
It will take but a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever, and we too will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52
Then we who are left still alive will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord
Our third dash on the map is those who are alive in Him will be caught up with them. It is hard to picture what this will be like not only for those who are in Him, but those who are not. My greatest fear is that there will be those I know and love, family and friends who are not going to be ready. What is it going to be like for them if they are left behind? But on the flip side, how is it going to be for those of us who are taken? While the Word gives us a written account of what is to come, it is still hard to picture the greatness and grandeur of that day.
[1] Do not let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. [3] Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also. [4] Furthermore, you know where I am going; and you know the way there. John 14:1-3
Look, I will tell you a secret – not all of us will die! But we will all be changed! 1 Corinthians 15:51
[20] But we are citizens of heaven, and it is from there that we expect a Deliverer, the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. [21] He will change the bodies we have in this humble state and make them like his glorious body, using the power which enables him to bring everything under his control. Philippians 3:20-21
But you have no need to have anything written to you, brothers, about the times and dates when this will happen; [2] because you yourselves well know that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
The last dash on the map is times, days, and seasons. Psalm 90:4 tells us: For from your viewpoint a thousand years are merely like yesterday or a night watch. This point is stressed again in 1 Peter 3:8, Moreover, dear friends, do not ignore this: with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. God does not look at time as we do. There is a wonderful scene in Season 2, Episode 2 of The Chosen in which Jesus and Simon (Peter) is having a conversation about leadership and structure. As the conversation unfolds, Jesus tells Simon “That’s a conversation for another time.” And Simon replies, “But we will talk about it.” Jesus says, “I think so.” Simon, not giving up says, “Soon?” and Jesus comes back with a reply that is one that we all should take note of, especially when we feel as if our prayers are not being answered or even heard. Jesus tells him, “Ah, there is that word, ‘soon’. It’s the most imprecise thing in the world. What is soon? A few hours? A few days, years, a hundred years, a thousand years? Ask my father in heaven how long a thousand years is. Then talk to me about soon.” We humans are impatient creatures and want things done when we want them. But God is on an entirely different timeline than ours, and His way is perfect. He and He alone knows the date and time of the return of Jesus, which is why we must always be ready.
[23] At that time, if someone says to you, ‘Look! Here’s the Messiah!’ or, “there he is!’ don’t believe him. [24] For there will appear false Messiahs and false prophets performing great miracles – amazing things! – so as to fool even the chosen if possible. [25] There! I have told you in advance! [26] So if people say to you, ‘Listen! He’s out in the desert!’ don’t go; or ‘Look! He’s hidden away in a secret room! Don’t believe it. [27] For when the Son of Man does come, it will be like lightning that flashes out of the east and fills the sky to the western horizon. Matthew 24:23-27
[36] “But when that day and hour will come, no one knows – not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father. [37] For the Son of Man’s coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach (Noah). [38] Back then, before the flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; [39] and they didn’t know what was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of man comes. [40] Then there will be two men in a field – one will be taken and the other left behind. [41] There will be two women grinding flour at the mill – one will be taken and the other left behind. [42] So stay alert because you don’t know on what day your Lord will come. [43] But you do know this: had the owner of the house known when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. [44] Therefore you too must always be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him.
No matter the date or time, there is one thing I know for sure. I intend to be always ready, in life or in death. If He comes while I am alive, I will meet him in the air. If He comes after my death, I will be resurrected at the blast of the shofar. The King is coming, there is no question of that. There is question however of who and how many will be ready? There is only one way. It is not by being a good person. It is not by doing good things. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-27 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. [22] On that Day, many will say to me, “Lord, Lord! Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we expel demons in your name? Didn’t we perform many miracles in your name?” [23] Then I will tell them to their faces “I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!” [24] So, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on bedrock. [25] The rain fell the rivers flooded, the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock. [26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain fell, the rivers flooded, the wind blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed – and its collapse was horrendous!
Unless you are built on that Rock, you will not stand. Unless you are born again, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the X marks the spot on the treasure map. John 3:1-21 lays out the beautiful account of a meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus the Pharisee. If you have seen this scene in season one of The Chosen, and how this conversation may have happened it will move your heart. Although he was a Pharisee, Nicodemus KNEW that there was more to Jesus, but because he was a man of religious power and prestige, he met Him under the cover of night. Jesus told him flat out that unless a person is born again, they cannot see the kingdom of heaven. This of course was confusing to Nicodemus as he was looking through physical eyes and not spiritual and he asked how a man can be born again, even questioning, can he go back into his mother’s womb and how one can be born of the spirit. In a gentle rebuke, Jesus replied, “You hold the office of teacher in Isra’el, and you don’t know this?” He then went on to explain the real reason that He had come by speaking the words of the most famous verse of the bible, John 3:16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. You can not go to heaven without Jesus. He summed it up like this in a conversation with His disciples [5] T’oma (Thomas) said to him, “Lord we don’t know where you are going; so how can we know the way? [6] Yeshua said, “I AM the Way – and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me. [7] Because you have known me, you will also know my Father; from now on, you do know him – in fact you have seen him.” John 14:5-7
Acts 4:12 tells us There is salvation in no one else! For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by whom we must be saved!
It is in Christ alone and without Him we will never see heaven. Without Him, we do not have access to the Father. And without Him, the Coming King, when the shofar sounds, we will be left behind. Don’t miss heaven for the world. Be in the world but not of it. Set your heart and mind on Him. The King first came as prophesied by Zechariah riding a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) but soon He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him! His hair as white as snow-white wool, his eyes like a fiery flame, his feet like burnished brass, his voice like the sound of rushing waters. He is the Alef and the Tav, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, God of heaven’s armies, The one who is, who was and who is coming! (Revelation 1)
Comentários