Good morning. We have turned our attention recently to the joys of heaven in our preaching and teaching here at NLCC. What awaits all who are saved through the blood of Jesus is an amazing, albeit incomprehensible promise. 1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us that the glory of heaven is too wonderful for any human mind to comprehend: But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
One of the pressing questions that Christians have regarding heaven is the disposition of their loved ones who have passed from the pains of this physical life. While I maintain that it is impossible to understand heaven, a spiritual place of spiritual events, by applying a timeline, the timing of these matters continues to be a question. Consider 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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 one another with these words.
Please take special note of these words: 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…
What will that great command be? “Hey everyone, follow Me!”? “The door is open so LET’S GO!”? What words will end the sorrows of a broken earth and invoke the complete blessings of the Joy of Heaven?
Perhaps Jesus will reiterate what has been given to us throughout scripture, that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
At that moment Jesus could remind us that He is the beginning of absolute joy and the end of suffering and pain. He is the beginning of life eternal and the end of death. He is the initiator of purity and perfection and the end of sin and shame. He is the beginning of shouts of joy and the end of all tears and sorrow.
Whatever the words that express His great command, a command that will bring about both an end and a glorious new beginning, we will hear and obey. With great joy, and longing, and satisfaction, we will hear our Savior’s great command and give praise as we obey it.
Vern