For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump (trumpet) of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the cloud, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord-1st Thessalonians 4:16-17.

The Rapture is the first phase of Christ’s return, involving every Christian alive at that time.  These Christians will be caught up to meet Him in the clouds, instantaneously receiving glorified bodies.

The word rapture is not in the English Bible, but in Latin, it’s rapio, meaning a carrying away. All those who have died in Christ will be resurrected; those who are alive and saved at the time of the Rapture will be caught up with Christ before the start of the “Seventieth Week of Daniel,” that is, the Great Tribulation.

Accompanying the descent of Christ from heaven will be the voice of an archangel, perhaps Michael, who is portrayed as the leader of the army of God.  The archangel’s voice will be one triumph because of the great victory at the coming of Christ, culminating in thousands of years of spiritual conflict with Satan. The final signal will be the trumpet of God.

The three elements consisting of the shout of the Lord Himself, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God will perhaps be separate events occurring in rapid succession.  The resurrected bodies of Christians will be like that of Christ, incorruptible and immortal, and yet they will be bodies of flesh and bone.

Many do not believe there will be a day of judgment and those who rejected the salvation of the Lord will be in torment, yet the Bible speaks of this occurrence. The Bible is our GPS to get us to the point where we can be “Christians”; many profess to be Christians, but their lifestyle is different than what the Bible gives as a definition of a “Christian.”

Christianity does not define one as being rich, famous, educated, or nationality. Jesus came to save the world, not one specific group.  Although the Jews were God’s chosen people, every nationality has been engrafted into the family of God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead when they received Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Lordship indicates ownership; if one has not submitted their spirit, soul, and body to Christ for Him to create them in the image of God, they haven’t truly accepted salvation.

Salvation is accompanied by sanctification if the person has really submitted themselves to the Lord. Sanctification is not a denomination, but it is a surrendered life to the Word of God.  The Holy Spirit and God are also active in the sanctification of Christians (That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering that gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost-Romans 15:16). (Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied-Peter 1:2). God has a standard, and He has given us His written Word to be our guide.

If our lifestyle isn’t what the Bible has instructed us to be as Christians, people of God, we will not enter into the kingdom of God. Many believe because they haven’t committed some of the worst things one can think of, they are candidates for the Kingdom, but not according to the Word of God.

A murderer will enter heaven if he or she has confessed their sins and asked God for forgiveness from their heart. If one attends Church on a regular basis and still lives, listens, attends, and digests substance, we shouldn’t, as Christians will, have a slim chance of entering heaven. This is why it is important for professing Christians to not only read the Bible but study the Bible and ask for divine revelation.

We are responsible for knowing what is required of us as professing Christians, chosen people of God. The day is coming when Christ will return for His church, and it’s not the building, but the spiritual house we have been building (For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now, if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. Every man’s works shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath build thereupon, he shall receive a reward-1st Corinthians 3:11-14).

This does not mean working in the different positions in the church; it does not mean gifting monetarily, but building yourself on the Word of God and living it out.  Jesus will be returning for His people. Do a self-examination through the Word of God and see if you will be a candidate.

If you know your life can’t be compared with the instructions of the Bible, all you have to do is confess to God that you have sinned against Him (If we can confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our signs, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness – 1st John 1:9).  Ask Him to help you to live a life that will be pleasing to Him.

Although you’re asking for His help, you also have a part to play. Stop looking, listening, going places, and actions you know you would not do if Jesus was standing in front of you. If you’re doing something you know you wouldn’t do if He were there, that’s a sign you’re not living as a Christian.

Christians’ lifestyle is something should not be ashamed for the Lord to see. Although you can’t physically see Him, He sees your every move; there is nothing hidden from Him. The darkest of dark, He will see through as though it was light (For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth [observes] all his goings – Proverbs 5:21).

Although He sees you, He’s not going to tell you that you’re sinning. He’s waiting for you to confess what you have done or are doing. You can’t receive forgiveness of sin if you’re not confessing it and willing to depart from it.

Don’t attend church and go to hell because of your lifestyle; judgment is going to begin at the church (For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God – 1st Peter 4:17). Attending church does not make you saved, but you can get saved by attending church, faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

No one knows the hour, day, or year the Lord will return, but He will be returning for His church, and the church, which is the body of Christ, is to be prepared for His coming (And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ – 1st Thessalonians 5:23).

Don’t just attend church and not apply the teaching to your lifestyle on a daily basis. As a Christian, you must pray, and it should be on a consistent basis, not just when you need something or going through a difficult period.

Prayer builds your relationship with the Father. Prayer builds your faith. Prayer will empower you to live a lifestyle that will be pleasing to God. God does not want us to continue to come to Him repenting over the same thing. It’s time to serve God in the beauty of holiness.

Jesus is returning; will you be ready?