ARE YOU READY FOR THE IMMINENT GATHERING? (PART 2)
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." - 1 Cor 15:51-52 (KJV)
Like as I said in part 1 to these series, the information about the imminent coming of the Lord, otherwise called the rapture was given for the comfort of the Church (1 Thess 4:18).
There are two chapters of the Bible that the Holy Spirit has used to inform the Church of rapture. They are 1 Cor 15:51-57 and 1 Thess 4:13-18. The common thing that is noticeable in these two chapters is that the subject of rapture emerged from the broad subject matter of resurrection. At that time, the subject matter of resurrection became terribly contentious, so much that some said that there was no resurrection of the dead (1 Cor 15:12); some, that even if there was any resurrection, it had passed (2 Tim 2:18); others, that if there was resurrection, how are the dead raised and with what body do they come? (1 Cor 15:35).
According to Apostle Paul, the order, the events and the nature of rapture, is a mystery (1 Cor 15:51); something about which much wasn't known until its revelation. That being so, it's important that we pay some close attention to it. Like as pointed out earlier, the rapture is the very next item in God's agenda for humanity. It shall happen at the soon coming again of the Lord with some people still alive to witness it. "We shall not all sleep," says 1 Cor 15:51. "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep." (1 Thess 4:15).
One noticeable fact about the rapture is that the living and the dead have their different orders of participation: "the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess 4:16-17)
One of the great things that will happen at rapture is that "we shall all be changed," (1 Cor 15:51). This change refers to our full adoption or the much awaited redemption of our mortal bodies. That's when we will have spiritual or glorious bodies; when mortality will be replaced with immortality. ( Rom 8:22-23; 1 Cor 15:43-44,50-53; 2 Cor 5:3-4; Php 3:21; Eph 4:30.); that's when death will be swallowed in victory (1 Cor 15:54).
The imminent nature of its occurrence calls for diligence and preparedness on our part. The event shall occur "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump" (1 Cor 15:51). At its occurrence, there will be no moment for preparation by anyone. It will be in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the Bible says. It will take very many people unawares because of its suddenness. Very many will miss it because they have not prepared themselves for it. The qualification to partake in it is simply whether you are a true child of God, living your life for Him and preparing for the imminent coming of God's Son. The knowledge that there's such a day in the offing should serve to gear us to prepare for it. Unfortunately, very many people are taking things for granted.
The rapture will be a clarion call of true believers to meet with the Lord in the air. Are you a child of God? Are you prepared for the rapture?
PRAYER:
Thank You LORD for the imminent coming of Your Son. I am prepared daily for that day. When At rapture, I shall be in the number, in Jesus name.