0954. The Raptured–their Blessedness

The Raptured–their Blessedness

"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" (1Th_4:17)

For a little while let us examine into the condition of the saints who are caught up to be with the Lord. If one shall be taken and another left, what is the lot of the taken ones? What will those have who are taken away?

1. A new body. "For our citizenship is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body" (Php_3:20-21).

It will be a real joy to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven. This body is so full of frailty, so weak, so circumscribed, that it will be gladly exchanged for a body fashioned like unto the resurrection body of our Lord.

2. A new service. The ones who are taken to meet the Lord in the air will enter into a service of wider sweep, of nobler proportions, and of higher aims than any service which we can render down here in this, our present body. His servants shall see His face and they shall serve Him.

3. A new vision. Just now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face. Now we know in part but then shall we know even as we also are known. Many crooked things shall be made straight; many dark things shall be made plain. The horizon of our present vision is greatly limited, but when we awake in His likeness, we shall have a horizon that shall sweep out past worlds and universes, and universes of worlds. We shall know as we are known.

4. A new inheritance. There are few among saints who possess an abundance of this world's goods. Most of us have but little, yet we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. When He comes again we shall not only behold His glory, but we will possess it. We shall share with Him in all the riches, the unmeasurable and innumerable riches of our Lord.

5. A new deliverance. The raptured will be delivered from satan's wiles; delivered from sin and from all of the effects of sin. They shall know nothing of the awful harvest, which marks the wages of unrighteousness. The redeemed, as long as they are in the flesh, are straitened because of man's guiltiness, but when we meet our Lord we will rejoice in a great deliverance.

6. A new fellowship with saints. The fellowship with the saints is sweet down here, but, when we enter into the rapture, saints will come from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, and sit down together with Abraham and with Isaac and with Jacob in the Kingdom of God. The schisms which divide saints on earth will be healed; the prayer of Christ "that they might be one" will be fully realized.

7. A new union with Christ. During our earth life, the Holy Spirit takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto us. Even now we enjoy most blessed fellowship with our Lord, as He takes up His abode with us and sups with us. When, however, the rapture occurs then we shall see Him face to face. We shall look upon Him Whom we love.

"Face to face with Christ my Saviour,

Face to face–what will it be?

When in rapture I behold Him,

Jesus Christ Who died for me."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR