It is my goal to stay with the Word of God and help it make sense to you. And it's my purpose for you to make sense out of your life, to understand that God does love and care about you, and to know that He has an answer to life's questions.

THE TRILL OF THE TRUMPET

My wife and three-year-old daughter read and pray about Jesus' second coming. During the day, Hannah stares out the window watching for Jesus to drive up. Finally, she questions, "Mommy, does Jesus have a car?"

My daughter, confused about how Jesus will return, thinks He will drive into our driveway. Others are also confused about His coming.

In the background, there is a helpful principle to use when studying the Bible: read every text on the topic before deciding what the Bible teaches on that topic. For example, there are three texts that address whether Jesus baptizes.

"After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized." John 3:22 NKJV

"Therefore, when the Lord Knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. . . " John 4:1

You could now believe that Jesus baptizes. But, before deciding that that is the Bible teaching, read the last verse.

". . . (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples). . . John 4:2 NKJV

Two texts lead me to believe that Jesus baptizes but the last states that Jesus' disciples baptize in His name. Pastors also baptize in Jesus' name. The conclusion after reading all the verses: Jesus did not baptize.

By lining the Bible texts in a straight fence row, you line up with what the Bible verses teach. For example, line up the phrase, "one is taken and the other left." Often repeated in the Bible, it is unclear WHERE one is taken, HOW the other is left, and WHAT surrounds the one left behind.

"`But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.'" Matthew 24:36-40 NKJV

When Noah boarded the ark, life was typical--eating, drinking, and marrying. The flood came unexpectedly to the people who were unprepared. Jesus will come--suddenly! When He comes, one is taken and another left.

A flood destroyed the unprepared in Noah's day and a fire in Lot's day. In both cases, the events were unexpected and the unprepared were destroyed.

"`And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

"`In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.'" Luke 17:26-36 NKJV

The disciples rightly assume WHERE one is taken--Heaven. Then they wonder HOW the other is left and WHAT the surroundings will be.

"And they answered and said to Him, `Where, Lord?'

"So He said to them, `Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.'" Luke 17:37-38 NKJV

Jesus answers that the one who is left stays right WHERE he was standing. Conclusion: at Jesus second coming, those who are ready will be taken to Heaven and the unprepared will stay where they stood.

Jesus repeats the theme that the eagles gather at His second coming.

"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. . .

"Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, `Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great'. . . And the birds were filled with their flesh." Revelation 19:11-14, 17-18, and 21b NKJV

HOW are the unprepared left? Dead. They will not be buried because there is no one to do it. WHAT are their surroundings? The birds gather to eat the carcasses. The straight fence row of Bible verses expresses that when Jesus comes suddenly, one is taken to heaven and the one who is left will die on the spot and be devoured by the birds.

People conclude that one is secretly snatched away and the other left alive. To Paul, a thief who comes unannounced illustrates the suddenness of Jesus' second coming.

"For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night." 1 Thessalonians 5:2 NKJV

To Peter, when the thief comes in the night, the world is destroyed at Jesus' second coming.

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat: both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:9-10 NKJV

Back at Jesus' resurrection, when one angel comes from Heaven, one-hundred hefty Roman soldiers collapse as dead. When Jesus comes the second time, there will be much more intense brightness: more than 100,000 angels; Jesus, brighter than 1000 noonday suns; and, God in His celestial glory. The "thief in the night," visible and audible, comes suddenly and wakes the dead.

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NKJV

When Jesus comes unexpectedly, every eye will see Him.

"Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen." Revelation 1:7 NKJV

When Jesus comes suddenly, He will have a reward for those who are taken to heaven. Those who have fallen in love with Him through redemption and demonstrate that love through obedience receive the reward of eternal life.

"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." Matthew 16:27 NKJV

Neither the Bible, nor the lives of the Bible characters depict the concept that God will take away His people before a time of trouble. The Bible teaching is that God will be with His people during their trials.

Three men--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego--are citizens of the Babylonian Empire. Together on the plain of Dura with all the kingdom to worship a golden statue built by King Nebuchadnezzar, they face a test with God. Having a choice (it's nice to be given choices), they can bow to the idol when the music commences or be thrown into the hot furnace that had been used to melt the gold. Neither pretending to tie their sandals nor examine desert rocks, they stand and are thrown into the furnace.

You know the story--Nebuchadnezzar sees Jesus walking in the furnace with them. The three men think it is so wonderful to go through affliction at the side of Jesus that they have to be called back out. The Bible teaches that God knows all your tears, sorrows, choices, and pains. He will be with you in all your trials.

Brothers and sisters, I don't know what God's plan is for you: if He calls you to stay faithful during great trials and opposition, and you consider it an honor to suffer for Him, you, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, will be known throughout eternity as one who stands for Christ.

Lining up the verses like a straight fence row, you line up with what the verses teach about "one is taken and the other left" and "a thief in the night." You hear the trill of the trumpet. You neither misconstrue the return of Jesus nor are confused about it like Hannah.

"Father in Heaven, Thank You that You will not take us out of trouble but be with us in every difficulty. When You come in Your bright glory, with the trill of the trumpet, the dead will be called, and we will meet You in the air to spend eternity with You. In Jesus' name, Amen."