for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. and the dead in Christ will rise first. then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. therefore encourage one another with these words.                          [1 thessalonians 4:16-18]

what is the day of our Lord Jesus Christ?

the day that God will intervene decisively for judgement and/or salvation. in the old testament the expression “day of the Lord” occurs eighteen times in prophetic literature, most often in the books of joel and zephaniah. a similar expression that stands close to it is “on that day, ” which occurs 208 times in the old testament. the “day” will be characterized by the unquestioned and unmistakable presence of almighty God. [biblestudytools.com] this day is known in jewish culture, and yet i know little of this day.

why should i care?

“vance havner once said… i’m not looking for signs. i’m listening for a sound.”

“with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, with the sound of the trumpet of God” -verse 16

this day is coming. this day will be obvious, no one will miss it. believers this is the moment, this is the time when we go to be with our God and father. first those who have died a physical death will rise to be with him, then those who are still alive will be taken to go meet the Lord face to face. as verse 18 says, “encourage one another with these words.” this is our future. as we toil this side of heaven, this is the moment that will mark the rest of eternity with God. though we suffer, this is the moment that will show our suffering is over.

how does this drive me to the presence of God?

celebrate. the Lord has a perfect plan, he knows what he is doing. oh believer run to him in worship that he has a plan to redeem this earth, to bring you to his complete presence. “for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. now i know in part; then i shall know fully, even as i have been fully known”  [1 corinthians 13:12]

i pray this truth encourages your heart today. i pray this truth drives you to pray and worship God who has a plan. i pray you remember those who are lost around you. i pray the excitement you have for this future draws you to hunger for the same, for the lost. as it encourages your heart, I pray it encourages you to tell others of your hope.

for more information on the day of our Lord Jesus: https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/the-day-of-the-lord-god-christ.html

songs to listen to:

how great thou art

https://music.apple.com/us/album/how-great-thou-art-feat-jennifer-hudson/1296454740?i=1296455330

https://open.spotify.com/track/3XTA0xDLKkdF0yKkKUFQDa?si=kWOIiqHcS1OwbV9k4tJiEg

lion and the lamb

https://music.apple.com/us/album/lion-and-the-lamb-live/1072210233?i=1072210730

https://open.spotify.com/track/4eLKR4wt81H4aso4KyAkO1?si=G121YyCPQg-uZPUKlU0mxA

~ holly russell