The Coming of the Lord! 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Good morning everyone,
Yesterday I heard a sermon titled 'The Rapture' and it was moving to say the least.  The text that we studied was 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  'But we do not want you to be uniformed brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  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.  Then we 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.  Therefore encourage one another with these words.'  Folks, these verses are intended to give others hope when their love ones pass on before they do!  We as Believers have hope because to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  Philippians 1:21 says, 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'  Whether He takes you or a loved one home today or in the distant future, we should all be ready for a time such as this!  Jesus is coming back and until He comes, don't become tired of working for Him while there is still time.  There is going to be a day when we meet Him face to face and my prayer for each of us is that He will say, 'Well done good and faithful servant!'
Your brother in Christ,
p