Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, came to earth to live a sinless life and die bearing the sins of every man, woman, and child throughout time, thus redeeming the fallen race from the plague of death and offering eternal life to anyone who is willing to accept it. But how, exactly, will this solution come about? Christ lived nearly two millennia ago, and we are still living in a world with death and sin.
Clearly, the controversy is not over yet … but it will be soon. Jesus Christ promised to return and told us about many signs in the world that act as indicators that His return is drawing near. Every single one of those signs is being fulfilled in today’s world.
But what do we have to look forward to when Jesus comes back?
We find an amazing Bible promise in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”
When Jesus returns, everyone will know it. It will not be a secret. God’s voice is so loud that even the dead hear it (John 5:28). Just as God’s voice created the earth and all that is in it in the first place, His voice recreates life for the dead throughout time who hoped for a better life in heaven someday. The “dead in Christ” will come out of their graves into eternal life without end.
The promise continues in verse 17, saying, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
God’s people who remain alive until the moment Christ returns are not left out of this amazing event. They will join the risen dead to meet Jesus in the air and will enjoy eternal life without ever experiencing death. We hope to be part of that group. We hope you are too.
But what will this new life be like? Will we exist as spirit beings, playing harps on clouds for eternity? Or does God have something else in store?
First Corinthians 15:51, 52, describes the great resurrection day by saying,
“We shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
The new body we will receive at Christ’s return will not be the same as the one we have now. The author continues his description in verse 53: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
The new body will not be subject to corruption. It will never die. It will not grow old, diseased, or decrepit. We will live forever in the presence of God in bodies that reflect His goodness and glory. Never again will our bodies be separated from the breath of life. Never again will our souls die.
Much more can be said about the resurrection body and a life without death, but that is a topic for another time.
We know from the Bible that death is an abnormality. It was never part of God’s plan; it exists due to rebellion against God; death is the cessation of life, and it holds nothing but silence and unconsciousness; God paid the ultimate price for sin and death in the person of Jesus Christ; and one day … soon … all who accept God’s free gift of eternal life will be changed and will never experience death again.
Jesus paid the price for you to receive eternal life without death, but you have the power to accept or reject that gift. It is our sincere hope that you accept that gift today and set your heart on the life to come, when death, disease, and all misery will be things of the past. We hope to see you in heaven someday. Won’t you join us? Won’t you make a decision for God today?
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