“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” — Matthew 24:27 (NKJV)

“For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” — Romans 14:10b-12 (NKJV)

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NKJV)

 

Most churches are now observing the Advent season, where we celebrate the prophecies and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. For the four weeks prior to Christmas these scriptures are preached and taught, as we remember the birth of the Messiah. These celebrations play an important role in reminding us how God brought the Messiah to us by Mary and Joseph; born into this world in a meager cattle stall, He would ultimately fulfill the role of “Lord of lords and King of kings.”

Much tradition is found in the celebration of Advent each year, as we prepare for Christmas. Most of our church services lack proper attention to the Advent season that we are now involved in. We are awaiting (whether or not we know or believe it) Christ’s return to gather His Church. All believers, living and dead, will experience this event as Jesus gathers us to Himself in the air, and will remain with Him always.

We should look forward to this “Rapture” with the same anticipation that the Old Testament believers held for the birth of the Messiah. We must be prepared for His return at any moment because we will have no warning; unlike an approaching Hurricane, there will not be newscasters warning of its proximity to our homes. The idea is to be ready now, not wait until it’s too late. We may have time to go get that last item from the grocery when a storm is approaching; there will not be any warning of the return of Christ, and no time to prepare.

Please hear the urgency in these Scriptures and prepare yourselves for the imminent return of Jesus, the Lamb of God and Lord of lords and King of kings.

 

Rev. Bobby Thornhill is a retired pastor.