There is soon to be a great open air meeting, far greater than any meeting which has ever taken place. It will be entirely different from anything ever witnessed in this world. Let us look at some of its most striking features.
The Place of Meeting--This is not on earth, nor in heaven but "in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Who Will Be Present?--Every redeemed, blood-bought soul of every nation and race, including those who sleep in their graves as well as those alive on the earth at the time--not one will be missing. All will be clothed with raised or changed bodies suited for heaven. All denominational differences will then be gone and done with forever.
Who Will Be Absent?--Every unsaved, unredeemed person. The legalist, the formalist, the man who depended on "dead works" instead of on Christ, as well as the unbeliever, the scoffer, the sinner--these, and all who are without Christ will be absent.
The Center of Attraction--Amidst the many wonderful circumstances of the meeting, one will far transcend all the others, namely this--it will be a meeting specially appointed "to meet the Lord." Myriads of His redeemed ones will circle around the glorious Person of the Saviour, who will be crowned with His many crowns. What joy to the Redeemer to be surrounded with the great throng of those who are the fruit of the "travail of His soul" when He "poured out His soul unto death" (Isaiah 53:11,12). As they gaze upon that face, radiant with glory, but once so marred more than any man's, what joy will fill every heart, and how perfect will be their place of acceptance with God!
The Time of Meeting--Another very singular feature about this great reunion is this: not even one among the congregation knows when it is to take place. It may be in the morning, the afternoon, the evening, or during the silent hours of the night. It may be this year, this week, or today. Every attendee is understood to be constantly in the "waiting" and "watching" attitude, listening for the assembling call. No bell will be rung to gather the assembly. They will be summoned by the "shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God." So effective and powerful will be the voice of Him who calls, that "in the twinkling of an eye" every member will be found in His presence at the great meeting in the air.
The After-Meeting--But, Ah! there is a solemn sadness about the after-meeting. Listen to the words of the assembly outside the closed door, "Lord, Lord, open to us" (Matthew 25:11,12). These Christless professors take upon their lips the word "Lord," but was He their Lord? Perhaps they had been baptized and confirmed, were church members, but all the time they had never been "born again." And what does the Lord say in answer to their call? "Verily I say unto you, I know you not." There was no link of faith between the soul and Christ, and now they are shut out forever!
Time Passes--How quickly time passes! Listen to the clock as it hangs on your wall; how fast it ticks out the seconds! Every tick tells of the rapid flight of time and the near approach of eternity. "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:8). But, thank God, the Master of the house has not yet risen up and shut the door. Christ is the only Saviour and the all-sufficient Saviour. His precious blood, shed upon the Cross, cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7). The redemption price has been paid, the work has been done, and Christ is risen from the dead. His cleansing power is all yours the moment you repent of your sins and really believe on Him as your personal Saviour.
Reader, are you ready if Christ were to come today? If not, now is the time for decision; now is the time to believe--not tomorrow, not next week, but now (2 Corinthians 6:2). --Selected
"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: 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" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17).
"Prepare to meet thy God. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (Amos 4:12; John 14:6).
