1st Thessalonians 4:16 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: 17 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
This passage of scripture confirms to every believing child of God, the hope of eternal salvation, that will be consummated at the resurrection of the just. It's very important that as we go through our pilgrim journey on this earth, that we remember that the trials and tribulations of life are just temporary in nature, and therefore we should cultivate the disposition to look forward to the future, that by so doing, the experiences we go through may be put in their right perspective.
Christ did not leave us comfortless, but confirmed in a literal manner, the sacred truth of the resurrection by bringing a multitude of captives from their dusty beds when He arose. The promise of eternal life was actually given throughout sacred history, and was also confirmed by Isaiah, who, by the inspiration of The Holy Ghost, predicted that Christ would conquer the grave and thus bring a multitude of people with Him. Let's read:
Isaiah 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
This prophecy was later fulfilled literally when Christ burst the portals of the tomb, thus defeating death and the grave. Let's read:
Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
In our day there is a tendency to be all consumed with the temporal aspects of life, while the eternal realities are given little thought. However, the Bible tells us that the average time of our pilgrimage on this earth is between seventy and eighty years, and even though there are many who live to see one hundred, yet there is a gradual depleting of strength and energy as we grow older, and therefore we should often consider that there is much more to life than just the temporary experiences we go through from day to day. The hope of the resurrection is what keeps faith alive, and we would do well if we study those passages of scripture which point forward to the earth made new, for this will have a reassuring and calming effect on us when the trials of life get us down.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reminds and encourages us to look forward to that great day, for the Christian's hope is all wrapped up in the promise of eternal life, given to us by Christ Himself. Let's read:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
May this promise of immortality cheer us on our way, for God is faithful who has promised. God bless!