QT 24 Sep 19, 1 Thess 4:16-17, God is in control of the events unfolding on this planet

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (ESV) — 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

NOTE: This event is what is commonly referred to as the rapture. It also agrees with the earlier verse where Jesus's coming with his holy ones (angels) is mentioned. We see at least one angel here, the archangel, and use of the trumpet of God suggests a multitude of angels ready to accomplish their mission upon the signal. This event is not the second coming. Jesus does not return to earth. The passage makes it very clear that he meets the 'dead and alive in Christ' in the  clouds in the air. And then we transverse to heaven to await traveling to the earth again in the second coming and the marriage supper of the lamb which will occur approximately seven years later. Nowhere does it suggest that this event triggers the tribulation, although it may be very coincidental with the signing of the peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel -- the treaty being the real trigger which starts the seven year tribulation period. The point is that we have a hope. We are not appointed to wrath, although we will suffer and be persecuted to our faith. We will not face God's judgment, but we will face human judgment for our faith. But we have a hope and a glorious future.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the truth of this passage and the reassurance it gives. Things will get worse in the world, but you are in control and at some point you will come and rapture us from the wrath to come. We wait in hope upon you.