“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:50-53).
Ever since Christ disappeared in the clouds as He ascended into heaven, the children of God have waited and longed for His return. Those who have read from Scripture the signs that will precede Jesus’ coming watch closely the events happening right now, trying to discern just how close we may be to His appearing. But let’s look beyond that twinkling of an eye moment.
In the twinkling of an eye, we shall all be changed. Over the years, I have ministered to my Christian family in numerous ways. I was a pastor for a good number of years; I have taught Sunday School to all ages ever since I was born again. I have preached, taught, counseled, and comforted my brethren from the Scriptures. There has always been, in my words, whatever the circumstances, that sure hope we have in Jesus: He is coming, and we are going to be changed.
The moment Jesus appears, the change will take place; not before—we’ll all be changed at the same time. We know our new bodies will be immortal, incorruptible, and glorious, but will we know each other, and what will we look like?
Before I answer those questions, I would point you to the most glorious thing that will first take place beyond the rapture: the moment you’re changed, in the twinkling of an eye, you will see Jesus for the first time. Seeing Jesus for the first time will not be like seeing anything else for the first time. When we see Jesus, we are going to know Him more intimately than anyone else ever!
The most intimate relationship on Earth is that of a husband and wife. God so designed that relationship that the man and woman become one, and it is beautiful. And, if the husband and wife are careful to guard and protect that relationship, it only grows more precious over the years. But the relationship between Jesus and His bride will far exceed that and will last forever. John put it this way:
“Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.”
There you have the perfect intimacy, the perfect oneness between Christ and His bride—in the twinkling of an eye! And then, John goes on to say, “…Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).
Will we know each other? We will be like Jesus. After Jesus had risen from the dead, He was on the earth for 40 days. Without putting them necessarily in order, Jesus revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene, the two on the road to Emmaus, the apostles when Thomas wasn’t present, and the apostles when Thomas was present. Jesus fixed breakfast for seven of the apostles on the beach one morning. Paul said that, on one occasion, Jesus appeared “to more than five hundred brethren at once…”
The point of all those instances of Jesus meeting them is simply this: when Jesus was ready, they all recognized Him. This brings us to the second question: What will we look like?
The ten apostles told Thomas they had seen Jesus, but he didn’t believe them. Thomas said the only way he would believe it was to be able to stick his fingers in the wounds in Jesus’ hands, and put his hand in His side where the spear entered. A few days later, the apostles were gathered, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came to them and invited Thomas to place his fingers in the nail prints, and his hand in His side. All Thomas could say was: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-28).
Here we see that Jesus is risen and is bodily seen and recognized by those close to Him. But there is another instance of Jesus’ appearance that is important. The apostles and the two on the road to Emmaus were gathered, and Jesus suddenly appeared, and they were startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost.
“He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence” (Luke 24:38-43).
Will we know each other, and what will we look like? Jesus had a body of flesh and bones, and everybody knew Him: that much we know.
“Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). In the twinkling of an eye!
Just before Jesus was crucified, He left two promises to His church: He was going to prepare a place for His bride, and He would come back for His bride. Moving beyond the millennium, we read about what Jesus has prepared for His bride: John said,
“…I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:1-2).
There are two wonderful things prepared here for the bride of Christ. First, John saw a new country, a new heaven and a new earth. The Scriptures tell us that the Old Testament saints were, “…Seeking a country of their own…they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:14-16).
Beyond the rapture, there awaits the bride of Christ a new country and a new city. I have visited some of the beautiful mountain ranges in the United States. I have watched videos of many of the beautiful places around the world. I always stand in awe of God’s creation. The beauty and grandeur of God’s new heaven and earth is awaiting the arrival of the bride and Groom, for them to enjoy forever.
Revelation describes new Jerusalem. Now, Bible scholars used to debate about the city; some would say it is the bride, some would say it’s an actual city; I say it’s both, and is the permanent home of the bride. It is the capitol of our new country. Again, it’s beauty remains for the bride’s new eyes to behold.
One final thing awaits Christ and His bride:
“…The sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27).
Let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Let us fix our gaze at what lies beyond the rapture.
Brother Bill Oldham
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