The Hope

The New King James version of the Bible uses the word "appointed" in Hebrews 9:27 to describe the last day that each individual has on earth, no matter how short or long the duration. The verse reads - "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,".

God has many record-keeping books in Heaven according to Revelation 20:12. In addition, this Hebrews 9:27 verse alludes to an Appointment Book that has documented everyone's detailed information of death - who, what (cause), when, where, why and how of their expiration. 

However, there is an exception to this appointment with physical death and this is called The Rapture.

The Rapture, described beautifully in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, is the snatching away of the dead in Christ and living believers by Jesus, who has descended from Heaven to mid-air, to bring them all back to live with Him forever via a glorified body.

This "mid-air" coming is FOR His saints. The word "for" is meant to picture acquisition of something betrothed. Christ's believers, church or bride was paid with the very highest price - the life of Jesus (Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:14; and Isaiah 53:5-6). Belief in eternal life secured by the life, death, resurrection and return of Christ is the believer's hope.

After this retrieval there is another return of Christ. After seven years in Heaven, Christ Jesus travels to earth from Heaven WITH His saints/believers/church behind Him according to Revelation 19:14-16 to establish His Millennial Reign on Earth.

Interestingly enough, one does not have to wait until the New Testament to witness someone with Godly, prophetic inspiration about this Hope. David stated in Psalm 27:13-14 - "I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Then in the New Testament, long before humanity had to concern itself with environmental issues, Paul writes there is a future glory with Christ that will far surpass all sufferings believers endure in the here and now. To witness to this, creation has been "groaning" in different ways throughout history, waiting "in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed." (Romans 8:19) 

In fact, creation itself - "was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:20-21)

Here is where The Hope is birthed and fostered. "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:22-25)

Humanity was saved into The Hope, the great expectation that will manifest one day of a tremendously better, eternal tomorrow. This is not a fantasy or wishful thinking on the believer's part. Every three hundred plus prophecy of Christ that concerned His first visitation was perfectly fulfilled. And every believer can take as fact not manifested yet, the prophecies made of Christ's Return. 

Paul speaks about The Day that The Hope is manifested. He leads in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 by stating the order of a few key players and their actions. First, the Lord will descend with a shout. Second, the archangel will declare "amen" probably. Lastly, the trumpet will signal the transformation.

Now observe how 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 marries nicely with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, especially after The Trumpet blast.

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

This is The Hope.