This is a truth plainly established in Scripture. We read, "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring WITH Him." (1 Thess. 4: 14).
The succeeding verses then unfold how to this end, our Lord will first come FOR them, " For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and 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: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thess. 4:16, 1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)). The Lord coming FOR His saints, and then bringing them WITH Him, are two events, which Scripture nowhere presents as following each other in quick succession without a moment's break, as some teach. Even Scripture uses an illustration from nature to show that this cannot be. We read, " Doth not even nature itself teach you?" (1 Cor. 11:1414Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (1 Corinthians 11:14)).
The writer vividly remembers rising one morning very early when on a steamer between the Shetland and Orkney Islands. The faint light was sufficient to fade out of the sky the shining of every star but one. There shone the brilliant Morning Star in its solitary beauty. Far away on the horizon the sun, hidden as yet, was beginning to shoot upwards beams of light, before it emerged into sight, turning night into day. The star shone by night. The sun ruled the day. It was impossible for both of them to shine together at the same time.
And this is just the illustration the Scriptures use. Our Lord presents Himself as " THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR," the hope of the Church, the coming of the Lord at the rapture. " He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly Amen " (Rev. 22:1616I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16) and 20).
The Old Testament ends with the hope of God's earthly people, the Jewish nation, looking for the Lord's return to earth to reign. We read, "But unto you that fear My name shall the SUN of righteousness arise with healing in His wings." (Mal. 4:22But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2)).
What a wonderful prospect for this poor blood-stained, tear-soaked earth to find peace, quiet and security at last. The scepter will be in the right hands at last, even those of our blessed Lord.