The Great Meeting in the clouds

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died. [15] We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died. [16] For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. [17] Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the Earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. [18] So encourage each other with these words.

When flying somewhere above the clouds, I've often thought about this scripture and imagine stepping out on those fluffy white clouds to meet Jesus.

This passage sounds like something from a science fiction movie, doesn't it?

Actually it is more vivid and fantastical than any movie has ever been!

Yet it is EXPLICITLY stated as directly from the Lord (v15). We are told exactly what is going to happen at Jesus' Appearing.

Those who have ever watched Star Trek will recall the transporter which dematerialised people and then transported them either from or to the space ship and planet - incredible!

How will we get from the ground to meet Jesus in the clouds? That's not for us to know, but only to experience when the time comes.

How will cremated remains be resurrected? Well, it's not a problem to the Lord who formed Adam from the dust:

Genesis 2:7 NLT

Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person.

It's all a bit of a divine mystery.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NLT

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! [52] It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. [53] For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

This great meeting place in the clouds will take place before the Tribulation time of God's Judgement on the Earth.

So, it is vital to ensure that each one of us secures a place at Jesus' side.

For only the believers in Christ will be resurrected and rise at that point.

So, scoff and mock now, regret and suffer later.

Please don't do that...

Selah