Ancient Words For Today - 42
The following 1st Kings' account, where Elijah was taken up to Heaven alive in a flaming chariot, is very interesting:
This story of Elijah brought to mind the account in the Book of Genesis about the man named Enoch who also was taken up to heaven alive, just before God brought the universal flood that destroyed all living things on the earth, with the exception of righteous Noah and his family and the animals on the ark that God preserved through the flood.
Both Enoch and Elijah were prophets of God who warned of God's impending judgments that would come because of the unrepented sins of the people. They pleaded with the people to repent, turn to the true and living God, and worship Him. Most people didn't listen to their warnings. Just as in their days, many people today dismiss Biblical prophecy as a folk lore and disregard the warnings of preachers calling men to repent and turn to God as nonsense. They don't believe that God will judge the world as He said He would, and in fact many don't believe that God exists at all. But those who turn to God will find mercy, forgiveness and safety from the judgment to come.
Just as Enoch and Elijah were caught up into Heaven before the judgments of God came to pass, so God has promised that in the last days the true Church of God will be taken up into Heaven and delivered from God's final judgments that will fall upon an unbelieving, godless population. The Church of God includes all believers everywhere that have believed in and received Jesus Christ as their savior. The catching away of the Church into Heaven is described by Paul the Apostle in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (see the scripture card verse above) and in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, especially verses 51-57, and elsewhere in the Bible.
Paul closed his revelation to the church at Thessalonica, concerning the rapture of the Church, with the words, "Therefore comfort one another with these words." So then, as believers in Jesus Christ, whether we are alive and remain until the rapture of the Church takes place, or have died and gone to be in the presence of the Lord beforehand, we should be comforted in that we will all be together with the Lord in Heaven and will spend eternity with Him! Amen!!
It is good to understand that the Lord will catch away His Church to be with Him in Heaven, before His final judgment falls. However, it is only a comfort if you know of a certainty that you and your loved ones are members of His Church and will be among those that are saved and will inherit eternal life. So, make it a priority to share God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ with your loved ones and others that may not know about or understand it. And be ye ready, for the coming of the Lord is near, even at the door!
Dear Heavenly Father, we realize that our days on earth are numbered and that You have a special plan for us for each day that we have breath. Use us, Lord, to reach the lost with your message of love, forgiveness and hope in Jesus and help us to make each day count for eternity!
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more... 1 Kings 2:9-12