Hope of Resurrection
“For the Lord Himself will descent from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess.4:16,17)
What is the faith of the saints who accept Jesus Christ and die? Their only hope is that we will be resurrected when Jesus Christ comes. Moreover, children of God who are alive will be transformed, when Jesus Christ comes. This is the promise made to the children of God and the church who have accepted Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul said that he was trying hard to become a partaker of this promise.
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phill.3:10,11)
Paul dared to suffer the burden of gaining the promise of resurrection from the dead, rather than to lose everything. Yes, dear friends, we too will live for the Lord, to be resurrected or transformed at the coming of Jesus Christ Let us eagerly prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
The promise of the reign of Jesus Christ
“He will be great, and will be called the son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:32)
This is the promise told about the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, when he was born. God will give the throne of David to Jesus Christ. That is, the promise that Jesus Christ will rule over Israel and the entire earth. Many of the Israelites expected this promise to be fulfilled at the first coming of Jesus Christ. But, that is not the Father’s hour; After Jesus resurrection the disciples asked him, saying, “will the Kingdom come again to Israel now?” He says that it is not for you to know the time of the Father. He doesn’t tell that it is not the will of the Father. He tells that you will not know the time of the Father. When will Jesus Christ appear as King? Jesus Christ will appear as King during His Second Coming.
“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Rev.19:16)
Referring Jesus as the King of Kings in the verse explaining the second coming of Jesus Christ at the first coming Jesus is mentioned as the Savior who removes the sins of the people and saves them. But, at the second coming, Jesus Christ is mentioned as King of Kings. Like how david ruled the Israelites, Jesus Christ will rule over the whole earth, not just the Israelites. Then, justice will stand on earth. Peace will flourish, The saints who have faithfully followed Jesus Christ will also rule with Him.
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand year’s” (Rev.20:6)
Jesus Christ will rule this world. That time, Kingdom of David which the Israelites expected will come. Jesus Christ will be king of all the earth on the throne of David. Not only that, but those who have suffered with Jesus Christ will also rule with him. At the coming of Jesus Christ, all the promises that the Lord made to the Israelites and to the church will be fulfilled.
So, Let us also take part in those promises. Let us stay awake and pray and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
