Welcome home ∙∙
But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” – Acts 7:55-56
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
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 Christians 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.
The inception of the Regata Storica dates back to 1489 when the enchanting Caterina Cornato, the Queen of Cyprus, voluntarily renounced her throne in favor of Venice. Venetians hosted a grand parade of elaborately adorned gondolas to celebrate her arrival along their world-famous canals. This tradition has been celebrated since 1489, with the Regata Storica taking place on the first day of September. The event features a vibrant water procession featuring a kaleidoscope of charming, multicolored boats.
Regata Storica is one of the most spectacular, picturesque, and moving events of Venetian life. It encapsulates the spirit of Venice.
The first Regata Storica was nothing short of a royal reception.
A splendid reception lies ahead of each child of the King. When the time comes, we will be granted a majestic homecoming to the Father’s house.
John 14:1-3
1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I will prepare a place for you?
3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
REFLECT & PRAY
A grand welcome is in store for all of the children of the King. We will finally be home with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father thank you. You have prepared and laid out the welcome mat to receive Your children in front of the entrance to our home in heaven. Thank You for making us part of Your Forever Family.
INSIGHT
The Scriptures make it explicitly clear that when the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of God, the place of highest honor. The Lord Jesus Christ had accomplished all He had come to earth to do. He reconciled the human race to the Father and made redemption possible. Being in the right hand of the Father is now His rightful place for all eternity.
Hebrews 1:13 And God never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”
Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Why does Stephen see the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, standing rather than sitting?
Acts 7:55-56
55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Very soon, stones will be hurled at him. Stephen is about to become this first Christian martyr. The Lord Jesus Christ stood to honor and welcome him. He was coming home. Stephen received the most royal welcome from the King of Kings and Lord of lords. What an honor and privilege!
One of the most significant promises of the Lord Jesus Christ is that one day, He would return from heaven alive and gather all who have believed in Him to Himself. All of the children of the King would be united for all time. We will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
However, this prompts a logical question. The promise was given nearly 2000 years ago. Innumerable multitudes of the Father’s children have believed, lived their lives, and passed away. Concurrently, many of His children will be present when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Does death place those who have passed at any disadvantage compared to those who remain alive? How will the departed and living children of the King unite?
Paul answers this question for us.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
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 Christians 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.
The Thessalonians were puzzled about the fate of believers who had already died. It seems they all anticipated being alive when Christ returned. So, the burning issue concerned those who have already died, been buried, and possibly disintegrated in the earth or seas. Would they be left behind? The gathering together of all children of the King, those who have died and those who remain alive, will occur all at once. They will all be collectively welcomed home. Those who have passed away will be miraculously reassembled, atom by atom, from wherever they rest. They, too, will receive the most royal of all welcomes from the King of Kings and Lord of lords.
In this world, the children of the King are not exactly welcome. This world is not our permanent abode. We are merely passing through. This world is not our home. A delightful and wonderful welcome awaits us when we go to our eternal home.
We are to encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
The picture Paul paints is an attempt to describe the indescribable. Upon the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, the voice of an archangel and God’s trumpet will rouse the dead. Then, both the dead and the living will be caught up in the clouds to meet Christ, and after that, they will be forever with their Lord (Barclay).
This astonishing event will be fantastic, incredible, and beyond words. It will be more impressive than any of the biblical epics that Hollywood has ever produced. The setting, lighting, and sound effects will be literally out of this world.
One day, all children of the King will hear delightful, loving words of welcome. They undoubtedly will be similar to “well done, good, and faithful servant.” You have been faithful . . . Enter into the joy of Your Master. Let’s celebrate together! – (Matthew 25:23)
This begins in eternal celebration with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, awesome!
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-09-1
© Dr. H 2024
∙∙
But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” – Acts 7:55-56
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
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 Christians 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.
The inception of the Regata Storica dates back to 1489 when the enchanting Caterina Cornato, the Queen of Cyprus, voluntarily renounced her throne in favor of Venice. Venetians hosted a grand parade of elaborately adorned gondolas to celebrate her arrival along their world-famous canals. This tradition has been celebrated since 1489, with the Regata Storica taking place on the first day of September. The event features a vibrant water procession featuring a kaleidoscope of charming, multicolored boats.
Regata Storica is one of the most spectacular, picturesque, and moving events of Venetian life. It encapsulates the spirit of Venice.
The first Regata Storica was nothing short of a royal reception.
A splendid reception lies ahead of each child of the King. When the time comes, we will be granted a majestic homecoming to the Father’s house.
John 14:1-3
1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I will prepare a place for you?
3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
REFLECT & PRAY
A grand welcome is in store for all of the children of the King. We will finally be home with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father thank you. You have prepared and laid out the welcome mat to receive Your children in front of the entrance to our home in heaven. Thank You for making us part of Your Forever Family.
INSIGHT
The Scriptures make it explicitly clear that when the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of God, the place of highest honor. The Lord Jesus Christ had accomplished all He had come to earth to do. He reconciled the human race to the Father and made redemption possible. Being in the right hand of the Father is now His rightful place for all eternity.
Hebrews 1:13 And God never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”
Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Why does Stephen see the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, standing rather than sitting?
Acts 7:55-56
55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Very soon, stones will be hurled at him. Stephen is about to become this first Christian martyr. The Lord Jesus Christ stood to honor and welcome him. He was coming home. Stephen received the most royal welcome from the King of Kings and Lord of lords. What an honor and privilege!
One of the most significant promises of the Lord Jesus Christ is that one day, He would return from heaven alive and gather all who have believed in Him to Himself. All of the children of the King would be united for all time. We will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
However, this prompts a logical question. The promise was given nearly 2000 years ago. Innumerable multitudes of the Father’s children have believed, lived their lives, and passed away. Concurrently, many of His children will be present when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Does death place those who have passed at any disadvantage compared to those who remain alive? How will the departed and living children of the King unite?
Paul answers this question for us.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
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 Christians 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.
The Thessalonians were puzzled about the fate of believers who had already died. It seems they all anticipated being alive when Christ returned. So, the burning issue concerned those who have already died, been buried, and possibly disintegrated in the earth or seas. Would they be left behind? The gathering together of all children of the King, those who have died and those who remain alive, will occur all at once. They will all be collectively welcomed home. Those who have passed away will be miraculously reassembled, atom by atom, from wherever they rest. They, too, will receive the most royal of all welcomes from the King of Kings and Lord of lords.
In this world, the children of the King are not exactly welcome. This world is not our home. We are merely passing through. A delightful and wonderful welcome awaits us when we go to our eternal home.
We are to encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
The picture Paul paints is an attempt to describe the indescribable. Upon the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, the voice of an archangel and God’s trumpet will rouse the dead. Then, both the dead and the living will be caught up in the clouds to meet Christ, and after that, they will be forever with their Lord (Barclay).
This astonishing event will be fantastic, incredible, and beyond words. It will be more impressive than any of the biblical epics that Hollywood has ever produced. The setting, lighting, and sound effects will be literally out of this world.
One day, all children of the King will hear delightful, loving words of welcome. They undoubtedly will be similar to “well done, good, and faithful servant.” You have been faithful . . . Enter into the joy of Your Master. Let’s celebrate together! – (Matthew 25:23)
This begins in eternal celebration with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, awesome!
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-09-1
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 