December 7, 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven … and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

According to a certain end-time belief, Jesus will descend from heaven and all believers who are alive at the time will rise to the clouds to meet Him in the air and be taken by Him to heaven. Unfortunately for the rest of the people, which will be the majority, they will be left behind on earth to suffer unspeakable tribulation.

This teaching is foreign to historic, orthodox Christianity. Our blessed hope is the appearing of our Lord and the coming and total establishment of His kingdom on earth. In other words, for us to experience heaven, it will come here; we don't have to go there. Advent reminds us to prepare for that and usher it in. And Jesus tells us we do that by being good stewards of our earthly home and faithfully meeting the needs of our fellow servants with the abundant provisions entrusted to us (Matthew 24:45-47). That's how we conduct His business until He comes.