It is readily accepted that when Jesus returns for the saints, there will be a lot of commotion and chaos on earth. This notion exists because it is believed that all of the saints will suddenly disappear when Christ returns. It is believed that machinery, such as cars, boats, planes, trains, and etc, operated by saints will suddenly become driverless. The end result will be numerous accidents, causing mass confusion.
Wait a minute. Is this belief system in alignment with scripture? Remember, God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor.14:33.) God wants things to be done decently and in order. Let’s consider some scripture concerning this matter. Jesus is to return to earth just as he left earth to go to heaven, (Acts 1:9-11.) When He left, there was no confusion, so when He returns there will be no confusion. Jesus will return as a thief in the night, (1 Thess.5:2.) Usually, thieves are not noisy. They work very quietly and quickly, so there is no commotion. Thieves, usually do not announce when they are coming to rob you. They show up unannounced or without warning. Jesus will return much the same way, with no one having prior knowledge of the timing, because no man knows the day or the hour that Jesus will return, (Mt.24:36.) Jesus return will be different from that of a thief, because He will announce that He has arrived by making a great noise, (2 Pet.3:10.) The great noise is the voice of the archangel and the trump of God (1 Thess.4:16-17.) This is an announcement to the world that Jesus has returned. Jesus will not slip in and slip out without being detected, because every eye will see Him, (Rev.1:7.) People will see him coming in the clouds and they will stop whatever it is that they are doing to observe His return. His return in the sky will appear to be an unidentified flying object. Drivers of cars and boats will stop their vehicles to get a better view. Planes will be grounded by the air traffic controllers. For the most part, everything will come to a screeching halt because everybody will stop what they are doing to observe the sky as they see Christ coming in the clouds
Here is a different viewpoint concerning Christ’s return that does not entail confusion. Just imagine for a moment, that Jesus is returning in the clouds the exact same way as He left earth when He was returning to heaven, (Acts 1:9-11.) The earth’s inhabitants will hear a noise or the sound of a trumpet coming from the heavens, (Mt.24:29-31.) Immediately, everybody looks up at the sky and they see something unusual, traveling slowly across the horizon, (Rev.1:7.) Curiosity gets the best of them, so they stop what they are doing and fasten their eyes in the sky to better understand what it is that is travelling in the heavens. As Christ slowly passes over their respective global lines of longitude, the saints will be instantaneously changed into their new bodies, (1 Cor.15:51-52.) Those that are not found worthy to receive new bodies will witness the saints slowly rise to meet the Lord in the air, (1 Thess.4:15-17.)
This scenario presents a situation where there is no mass confusion and no chaos. It is a time of joy as ecstasy if you are one of the saints and a time of profound regret if you are an unbeliever. This series of events parallels with scripture because it can be likened to a two-edged sword. It supports the return of Christ for His saints on one side and it eliminates pandemonium on the other side. This is a direct reflection of the will of God, where all things are done decently and in order, (1 Cor.4:40.)
Speak Your Mind