In This Issue:
Listening for the Trumpet
“Hold the Fort for I am Coming!”
Fault Finding
The Christian’s Ruby Ring
Volume: 955 April 29, 2024
Theme: Assorted
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Listening for the Trumpet
Bill Brinkworth
“… 14 For if we believe Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord….” I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Hundreds of biblical prophecies have been fulfilled. In I Thessalonians 4, there is one mentioned that will be the next to be fulfilled. In the last two thousand years, millions have awaited that event (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). It is the great catching up of the dead in Christ and the living Christians (I Thessalonians 4:16- 17).
The Greek word for “caught up” (I Thessalonians 4:17) is “harpazō,” and it means “to catch away, to seize, pluck, pull, and take by force” (Noah Webster, 1828). It is very similar to the English word “rapture,” which means “transport, seizing away.” Although “rapture” is not used in the preserved King James text, this futuristic happening is often referred to by that name.
When the Lord shouts, the archangel’s voice is sounded, God’s trumpet will be blown, and the rapture will occur (I Thessalonians 4:16). The first to ascend will be the dead in Christ. Those that have trusted Christ as Saviour and died will be called up. Their souls are already joined with him (II Corinthians. 5:8, Ecclesiastes. 12:7) as a soul never dies, but the body sleeps (I Thessalonians 4:14), awaiting its wake-up call by the rapture’s heavenly summoning.
The second group to meet the Lord in the air will be living Christians. Before the tribulation’s terrible events occur, somewhere after Revelation 4:1, many Christians will be called up without dying. No one knows when this catching away will occur (Matthew. 24:36). It could be today. It could be tomorrow or twenty years from now, but it will happen; God promised!
If the heavenly trumpet were blown to call the living saved from this world, are you sure you would be called home to Heaven? It will be a terrible time when many well-intentioned, good-deeders and many religious-but-lost discover the heavenly call did not summon them. It will be too late for those that have already heard God’s message and have rejected it. What a frightful time it will be when the prophesied wrath of God is finally poured out on Earth to give those that have never heard the Gospel message a chance to turn to Christ for salvation.
If you are not sure you will go up during the catching away, make sure of your transport “ticket” today. Admit your sinnership, and trust Christ’s death on the cross as the only payment for your sins. If you do, then you may be one of many that will hear the heavenly trumpet sound its victory call to Christians one day soon.
“Hold the Fort, for I am Coming!”
D. L. Moody
I am told that when General Sherman went through Atlanta towards the sea, he left a few men in the fort at the Kennesaw Mountains to guard some rations that he brought there. General Hood got into the outer rear and attacked the fort, driving the men in from the outer works into the inner works. For a long time, the battle raged fearfully.
Half of the men were either killed or wounded. The general, who was in command, was wounded seven different times. When they were about ready to run up the white flag and surrender the fort, Sherman got within fifteen miles. Through the signal corps on the mountain, he sent the message, “Hold the fort; I am coming. W. T. Sherman.” That message fired up their hearts, and they held the fort until reinforcements came, and the fort did not go into the hands of their enemies.
Mr. Bliss wrote a hymn entitled “Hold the Fort for I am coming.” We must hold our “fort” and not give up serving the Lord. Our Saviour is in command, and He is coming.
Ho! My comrades, see the signal
Waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing.
Victory is nigh!
Chorus: “Hold the fort, for I am coming,”
Jesus signals still,
Wave the answer back to heaven,
“By Thy grace we will.”
See the mighty hosts advancing,
Satan leading on;
Mighty men around us falling.
Courage almost gone.
Chorus: “Hold the fort, for I am coming,”
Jesus signals still,
Wave the answer back to heaven,
“By Thy grace we will.”
See the glorious banner waving.
Hear the bugle blow.
In our Leader’s name we’ll triumph
Over every foe.
Chours: “Hold the fort, for I am coming,”
Jesus signals still,
Wave the answer back to heaven,
“By Thy grace we will.”
Fierce and long the battle rages,
But our Help is near;
Onward comes our Great Commander,
Cheer, my comrades, cheer!
Chours: “Hold the fort, for I am coming,”
Jesus signals still,
Wave the answer back to heaven,
“By Thy grace we will.”
“Don’t shoot the rescuers if you are on a sinking ship!” — Author Unknown
Napoleon said that the man who never makes a mistake makes war. Those who content themselves with standing aloof from revival and temperance work and devote their energies to pointing out the errors and blunders of those in the struggle are making themselves the greatest blunders. Nothing is easier than fault-finding. No talent, self-denial, brains, or character are required to set up in that grumbling business.
“In judging and criticizing our brethren, we meddle with that which does not belong to us. We have enough work to do at home, and if we must judge, let us exercise our faculty upon our own hearts and ways. — Henry
The Christian’s Ruby Ring
Spurgeon
A king once gave a ring to his favorite subject. He said to him, “I know that tomorrow, a charge of heresy will be brought against you. Answer them if you will when you come in, but you need be in no fear. If you are in trouble, simply show them the ring, and they will go no further. The accusation will be dropped.”
It is even so with us. The Lord has given us the precious blood of Christ to be like a ruby ring upon our finger. When accusations bother our conscience or guilt is laid on us by Satan, we have only to remember that Christ’s sacrifice covers all our sins. Our accusations should then be behind us.
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18
“Trust Christ, and you shall live. The bloody sacrifice of Calvary is the only hope of sinners.” — C. H. Spurgeon