“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. 4:16-17).
Where He comes is thus distinctly told us—to “the air.” If we are among those spoken of in the passage quoted from 1 Thessalonians, then we “shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.”
How will He come to the air? He will descend from heaven as the glorious risen Man, to call to the Father’s house on high the blessed company of all saints. “The Lord Himself,” Scripture says, and these words win the heart. Himself, the Jesus whom we love, will come.
How will He descend? “With a shout.” This assembly-call, this rallying cry, this voice of the Lord, each one of His people, whether asleep or awake, shall hear, and all shall respond to it in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
“With the voice of the archangel.” Mortal man is weak; the angels “excel in strength”; at that day the mightiest of them shall pass on the Lord’s word and shall see men who sleep in Christ leave earth’s dust and rise victoriously to the clouds.
“With the trump of God.” “For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
But when shall these things be? “Surely I come quickly” (Rev. 22:20). It may seem to be a long time, but He says, “I come quickly.” May our hearts respond to His sure word and daily watch with our “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
W. T. Turpin (adapted)