# 16 2019. Dev. I Th.4:15. Rapture! Read Ch. 4:13-18. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Thessalonians 4:13 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”
There are various positions about the reign of Christ for a thousand years and the idea of the rapture. We mention the four predominate views here but will concentrate on the reformed view: 1) There is the post tribulational, pre-millennialism. 2) the next view is the pre-tribulational, dispensational pre-mill., 3) The third view Is post- mill., 4) the last view is Amillennialism held by Reformed and Presbyterian believers.
We believe Amillennialism is the more correct biblical position. The thousand-year reign of Christ is going on right now, “Our God Reigns”! One thousand years is a symbolic number covering the time from Jesus’ birth, death on the cross, resurrection at Easter and His ascension into heaven to the coming “Day of the Lord” – when Christ comes again at the end of time, as we know it. Jesus will come with great glory, all people on earth will see Him coming and He comes to judge the living and the dead.
So what is the great hope of the followers of Jesus? Paul explains what will happen to those who have fallen asleep in the Lord: When Jesus comes again all His followers will be risen from the grave and meet Him as He is coming and His followers still alive at the time will be taken up to meet Him, all in their glorified bodies; a great multitude will accompany Jesus as He comes to judge the living and the dead. The rapture happens on the day of the Lord; at the end of time.
Jesus said to Martha at Lazarus’ death: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:24-28). Eternal life, our hope and our reality! Praise be to God!
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