The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”

Did you ever run ahead of yourself and become hopelessly confused? I sure have. Remember that children’s story about the turtle and the hare? They ran a race. The hare (rabbit) was so fast that he took out time for a nap. And while he was sleeping, the turtle, although moving much slower, passed him and crossed the finish line first.

In a similar, but much more important situation, some people become confused about who will “win the race” when the LORD Jesus returns for believers in the Rapture. Paul is careful to remind us that the Word of the LORD teaches that those who have died and are in the grave when Jesus returns will be lifted up ahead of those who are living. What’s of vital importance, however, is not “who is first,” but who will meet Him and be taken into Heaven. For those who have died without having trusted Christ will not rise to meet Him at all.

Over the years, I’ve learned that some things are far more important than others. I don’t really care whether we follow Christ one-by-one, like students, lining up for lunch at school, or whether we are grouped in a semicircle. I’ll just be content to be one among the many that the LORD takes with Him.

That event will be one of GLORY! The archangel will shout the shout of victory, his voice reverberating throughout the universe! The trumpet of God will split the heavens as it signals the Victory of the LORD Jesus! And those of us who meet the LORD in the air have the assurrance that we will be with Him forever!

Death leads to Heaven for the ones believing in Christ. Death leads to Hell for those who failed to trust in Him. Jesus wants everyone to be with Him. We must only repent (change our minds) and believe in Him and we will be ready to meet Him in the air. Are you ready? Are your friends ready? You can be; and then you can help your friends to know Him. It’s by far the most important matter you can accomplish in this life!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom