In An Instant, Changed Eternally

There is very common misconception among people, especially believers, that there will be time between hearing the trumpet announcing the Lord’s coming and His actual appearance to repent, get saved or make amends for all the horrible things done in this life.  Everything about this idea is wrong and will lead to much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the future.

To begin with, the only trumpet that pertains to Christians is the trumpet that is recorded in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15.  In both instances the same event is being described.  This event is commonly known as the rapture or gathering together.  Many thought until recently that this event was for all believers, but the Holy Spirit has made in perfectly clear that this is for the remnant; the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Only those who remain faithful to Him until the end will even hear this trumpet.  No unbeliever will hear anything.  Those who claim to be in Christ but have proven themselves to be unfaithful will hear nothing.  Those who insist on straddling the fence, playing both ends against the middle and otherwise live life in the state of being lukewarm will hear nothing.  For all those who refuse to fully commit themselves in this current life to Christ Jesus; the silence of God will be the only thing ringing in their ears. 

History is full of accounts of people on their deathbed finally supposedly getting saved.  Whether they really repented and confessed with their mouth that Jesus was their Lord and that God raised Him from the dead or not; only God knows.  But, the vast majority of those who claim to have “seen the light” and given their life to Jesus moments before death do so only to get an insurance policy just in case all the crazy Christians really were right.  It is highly doubtful any of those people really were saved.

Before the trumpet sounds and we which are alive at His coming meet Him in the air; Gabriel the arch-angel shouts.  What he shouts is not known, but it will probably be something like “WAKE UP”, for the Bible says the dead in Christ rise first and THEN we which are alive and remain hear the trumpet.  All those who have lived before us and died as faithful saints will hear the shout of Gabriel to get up.  No one else hears the shout besides those it is intended for.

Once the dead in Christ have put on immortality then we which are alive have the greatest experience anyone could ever have.  In the amount of time it takes to split an atom; in the amount of time it takes for the eye to twinkle; in a literal INSTANT, the following happens:

1.       Our physical body is vaporized

2.       We receive a body fashioned unto that which Jesus received after the resurrection       

3.       We are translated to a place in the air

4.       We are in the presence of Jesus seeing Him face to face

In other words we are sitting in a chair looking out the window.  We hear a trumpet and in an instant we are totally changed.  Our entire physical make-up is changed.  We are literally vaporized and the body of sin and sickness and death is disintegrated instantly and at that same instant we receive our eternal perfect spiritual body that will never feel pain, never get sick and never die. 

In that same instant we receive the perfectly renewed mind that is incapable of thinking evil or ungodly thoughts.  We are, in an instant, totally and 100% changed.  That is the promise of 1 Corinthians 15 and we have every legal right to stand on that promise and believe it with all our heart and mind.  We are changed into what Jesus already is and has been since God raised Him from the dead.  In the amount of time it takes to blink; we go from having a body that is full of imperfections, pain, disease and death to a resurrected and glorious body as perfect as Jesus Christ’s.

In that same instant we depart this earth and instantaneously are transported into the very presence of Jesus Christ.  One minute we are looking out the window and the next instant we are looking directly into the eyes of Jesus Christ.  Nothing electrifies me faster than the realization that at any moment, the next thing I know is that I am in my Lord’s presence, face to face.  Now we see through a glass darkly, but then “face to face” 1 Corinthians 13 promises us. 

This event should really be called the appearing of Jesus Christ because that is exactly what happens.  The trumpet sounds and the next instant we see the Lord’s face in the air.  Let me ask you the most important question you have ever been asked in your life.  Think about this, don’t get distracted.

If you somehow knew that in 3 seconds you were going to see the Lord Jesus Christ face to face; how would you feel in your heart?  If there was anything other than absolute anticipation and humility you need to repent.  1 John 3 gives us the promise of our heart not condemning us at His appearing.  We need to do whatever it takes in our fellowship to get to the point we have NOTHING to be ashamed of.  We cannot be as Adam and Eve and dread hearing the footsteps of our God. 

Anything causing you shame, fear, anxiety or dread needs to be dealt with NOW.  DO NOT WAIT for the next revival.  Do not wait for the next church altar call.  Do not wait for your next vacation or day off.  NOW is the time to deal with conclusively any and all sin and darkness in your life.  You know what causes you shame.  You don’t need anyone else to tell you.  You know what sends chills down your neck when you think of seeing the Lord Jesus face to face.  Whatever it is that is causing you shame and fear DEAL WITH IT NOW.

If your heart condemns you, then you have no confidence before Him at His coming.  You won’t be there.  You won’t hear the trumpet.  You will still be waiting to deal with situations long after it will do any good.  If you are born again, you have laid before you the offer to be changed when He appears.  Do you want it?  He wants you to be there with Him.   He wants you to see His glorious and face and gaze into His loving eyes.  He wants you to hear Him say; “Well Done, good and faithful servant”.

What could this life hold that is any greater than the prospect of being changed and embarking on an eternity of glory?  What charm and appeal could this life offer that could be any greater than that of being for ever more with our Lord?  Cast off the sin that does so easily draw you off course and run with patience the race that is set before you.  You have need of patience that after you have stood faithfully in this life for Him, you might receive His reward.  He wants you to have it.