Select a Ring of Truth daily devotion online
Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
Select the date to display the devotion for:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
“For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”
No, not Gabriel. Not even the Archangel Michael.
“For the Lord Himself.” (And not someone else.)
What a terrific prospect. He is not sending someone else – He is coming “Himself”. This event is too great for any other king. It has to be “the Lord [Jesus] Himself”. Oh yes, as we saw yesterday, His angels will be with Him, but He is at the Head and He is the purpose and focus.
“With a loud [shout] command.” I shall never forget someone using the analogy of school. The children sit quietly at their desks, and ‘on the edge of their seats’ until the final bell of dismissal at the end of the day. Then they let go of all their pent-up vitality and excitement and shout and run as they are ‘set free’.
Jesus is seated waiting for His return. He loves us so much that He is ‘desperately longing’ to be with us forever. He is seated ‘on the edge of His throne’ awaiting the Voice of Father – ‘Now’! When that comes – He will release His pent-up excitement and there will be a shout, which will shake both the heavens and the earth.
Wow – I can’t wait for it – can you?
Michael – “the archangel” – joins in. No wonder the dead in Christ rise. Yes, they go first – they’ve had the longest wait – and then we who are still alive and left join them.
Hey, are you excited? If not, what’s wrong with you? Jesus is coming back – It is fact – He promised to do so and He always keeps His promises. It’s a ‘Ring of Truth’!
We are going to fly. Yes, without planes and without wings. Man has tried to copy this, because in his heart he knows it will happen one day – nevertheless, God will do it. All our attempts are just a pale inadequate attempt to copy the reality. This will be the real event.
Then “we will be with the Lord forever.” What are your sights set on? A successful career? A dream house? A collector’s car? A boat or a holiday home? An adequate financial inheritance to pass on to your children’s children?
Listen – the things of this earth will pass away. They are temporary and totally insignificant compared with what is in store for those that love Him and “longed for His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). (See also Job 19:26 & 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.)
Take stock today. What are you going to do today, this week, this year, which will help prepare you for Jesus’ return? What does God want you to do?
Lastly – Who are you going to “encourage” today – and this week – with these words?
Download the above Ring of Truth devotion as a PDF.
Previous Day's Devotion | Next Day's Devotion
To subscribe to this daily devotion by email visit our Daily Email subscription page.
