There are two passages assigned for today!

SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. [1 Thessalonians 4:17]
No doubt you have heard people talk about “the rapture”?
And either you, or someone you know, have read the “Left Behind” series?
Well, this is the verse that sparked that whole point of view (Latin ‘rapio’ = ‘caught up’).
The idea is the when Jesus comes back, His return will be in two stages: first He will gather His true followers and they will float with Him somewhere “in the air” while the tribulation will occur on earth for 7 years; then He will come down and begin His 1000 year on earth.
Of course, none of these details are mentioned in this verse, but by inserting other verses like puzzle pieces that seem to fit, the whole idea emerges.
For example, when Jesus talks about some being taken away and others being left [Matthew 24:37-41], this is where the ‘left behind’ idea comes from.

And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world —from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. [Matthew 24:30-31]
Do I believe in the rapture? As usual, my answer is YES and NO.
I do believe that what Paul says here is true, I’m just not convinced he is saying what people say he is.
Jesus talks about believers being gathered together by His angels; I think these are the same.
The idea of floating “in the air” for seven years, escaping the tribulation, seems a stretch biblically.
It requires a “cut’n paste” approach to bible passages that is not convincing to me.
I prefer to keep my perspective on the Lord’s return simple: He is coming back, and His return will be awesome.
Until then, I need to live in a way that respects and reflects Him as Lord of my life, and Lord of the Universe; I need to strive to be holy, loving and quietly about His business [1 Thessalonians 4:1-12].

At one time I tried to figure out HOW the Lord would come back; I studied all the perspectives and theologies, and tried to piece together a blueprint of His return from the book of Revelation.
I’ve thought it through, I’ve worked it out, and if people want to know they can ask me.
But as my seminary professor once said: “if Jesus’ return does not fit with my theology, I’m not going to argue with Him!”
What matters to me is not whether my view on the rapture is right, but whether I am living the kind of life that honours Him when He does return.
Paul is not writing about the end to clarify his eschatology (view of the end), but to encourage believers to stay true to their calling, knowing that one day He will come back!
What matters is our escha-tegrity (how we are living at the end – I made this word up, based on integrity), not our eschatology (how we view the end).
So encourage (not debate) each other with these words. [1 Thessalonians 4:18]

PRAYER:
Lord, You will come back and set things right; until then help me to do my part in setting things right – for myself and for others, through integrity, love and servanthood.