The Lord Is Coming!

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 4
WHEN? It may be today! The Word of God does not tell us; but we read that "the coming of the Lord draweth NIGH" (James 5:88Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)), and again: "Surely I come QUICKLY" (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)).
WHY? In order to take His blood-bought ones, dead and living, to be where He is. Hence we read that "the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds... 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)). And again, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there ye may be also" (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)). Notice, the word "ye" excludes mere professors such as the "foolish virgins" of Matthew 25.
HOW? "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God" (1 Thess. 4:1616For 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: (1 Thessalonians 4:16)). "Behold, I come quickly" (Rev. 3:1111Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11)). Thus He comes in person—"the Lord Himself." He does not send an angel. He who ascended is the same as He who returns.
WHERE? The meeting-place shall be in the air, and not on earth. The Lord shall descend; they shall "be caught up... to meet the Lord in the air." Such is the appointed trysting-place.
WHITHER? To the Father's house on high, the heavenly home of the children of God, to the prepared mansion above, and the joys of the eternal presence of the Lord. (See John 14:1-31Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1‑3)). Then He shall see the fruit of His agony on Calvary, and divine love shall have its glorious consummation. How blessed is the prospect!