As a pastor, I have had the unfortunate experience at times to share in the mortal definition of a parishioner or fellow traveler to the grave. It’s part of what we do as ministers, to bear with one another, their burdens in life, and also when their definition of death comes. When the doctor says that you have stage four cancer or an inoperable tumor. When your body betrays you and begins to collapse to a point where you become a prisoner within it. When you are given a specific diagnosis with a terminal date of expiration, like a library book or food that’s gone bad in your refrigerator. It’s as sad as it seems and just as depressing, especially for those who love life and have lived (are living) well. Mortal definitions hurt even more when the people they define are younger or have the responsibility of raising a family.
Anytime our mortality is defined, it’s a defining moment in our faith that challenges what we really believe. I remember several years ago when I went to pray for a brother in Christ who was dying in a hospital. I was confident that he was about to meet Jesus because I knew his faith was strong. This man, on the other hand, was a bit fearful. I will never forget the look in his eyes, the fear, the anxiety, the questions; Is God real? Am I going to heaven? Will I be cast into hell? Am I really saved? Is what we believe about what the Bible says about life and death really true? When you’re the person in the bed, breathing their last, these questions are very potent and just as real. Some with a greater faith may not ask as many questions, others may.
I remember my own father’s terminal moment. He passed on January 1st, 2015 at 81. He was ready to die; he wanted to die. He had lived a full life and became ill due to an infection associated with a recent surgery. His final words to me were, ‘Robert, let me die. It’s going to be a rough couple of days.’ He knew where he was going and in a few days, he was there; with Jesus. My grandfather, my dad’s father, had a similar experience. Both of these men loved Jesus and were ready to go when God called them home. I was taught a strong work ethic, family values, and given a rich spiritual heritage from these men. Their idea of retirement was to work until you die; because working is part of our purpose. My grampa took time to fish, travel locally, and even visit family; but he was always minding the store, Lee’s Hardware. He held his own schedule, and he took naps when necessary, but he was always working. His retirement was mixed with a pension and some steady income that was derived in the day to day grind. My dad had a similar story and as it turns out, I am trending in the same way. I am 61 and still going strong. The school bus I drive is only part of my overall working portfolio.
If what we are sensing right now in the prophetic, at this next Feast of Trumpets, we will be joining millions of fellow believers in a glorious reception into our eternal reward. We will finally be reunited with the younger and eternal versions of ourselves; created in God’s image, and finally home with all those who have gone before; including my dad and grandpa. If you’re a believer, this truth is just as relevant for you too.
What I felt compelled to share in this blog has more to do with the joy and hope associated with a believer in Jesus having our mortality defined. As believers in Jesus, we have a hope that one day, when we die or are Raptured, we will be with the Lord in our eternal home in heaven, forever.
Paul reminds us, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Three times in this famous Rapture passage Paul uses the words asleep or sleep to convey the idea of death. For the believer, death is as temporary as a good night’s sleep. If we are taken in the Rapture, it’s even faster.
Because of Christ’ atonement for our sin, we have this hope that our pending death will be a temporary one; brief in comparison to eternity. The joy that awaits us all in heaven will no longer be a desire, but something to be permanently experienced and embraced. This is Christ’ promise to all those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus.
Believers in Jesus have an assurance, a confidence that when we die, we will rise again. This promise has been made very clear to us in scripture, both in the OT and NT. Because Jesus has risen, we too shall rise in our future and glorious resurrection. This truth is our promise found only in Jesus who is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin, (1 John 1:9) cleanse us from our unrighteousness, and raise us up in the last day. (John 6:39ff)
It’s that ‘last day’ that I wish to address. Those of us who are watching for the Lord’s return are also coming to terms with our own mortality. We realize that when someone like brother Joshua (Mhlakela) from South Africa speaks a prophetic word revealing the season of the Lord’s return, those of us who believe it might be true must also come to terms with our own physical ending. This is why so many believers love Jesus, but they are not watchers. They’re saved and going to heaven by God’s grace, like all of us, but they are not in the ‘crown of righteousness’ line as it were. Watchers are a different breed of believer. We carry a special anointing that can be a bit uncomfortable for other believers who have yet to come to terms with their own mortality.
When I was on the job, we used to say of some of the younger, more cocky officers, ‘they haven’t tasted their own blood yet.’ When you’re in the business of law enforcement, it’s only a matter of time before you bleed. That being said, for the believer who is genuinely watching for the Lord’s return, it’s only a matter of time before your faith and focus will offend another believer who isn’t quite where you are at in the faith; which is why some of them mock and scoff the watchers. We are seeing a lot of this right now on social media and it’s sad. These divisions are not of the Lord. They express an immaturity and fatigue on the part of the offender that can only be redeemed by the Lord Himself. I challenge you to not be critical of your brothers and sisters in the Lord. We’re all a little different, but we all love Jesus. Be patient, God’s still working on me (and them too).
Recently I was hit with a spiritual attack where I was questioning my own faith and salvation. The devil was making me feel that I was going to miss the Rapture, and worse, when I died, I would go to hell forever. You would think that a guy like me would never struggle with this kind of warfare, but alas, I was hit pretty hard with it. The fear and anxiety associated with this kind of ‘below the belt’ attack was grueling and I must say, short lived. I prayed on it, I read the scripture, I confessed God’s Word, I called the devil a liar, I spoke in tongues and prophesied truth regarding my spiritual condition based on what God has done for me, not what I had done for Him. Remember, it’s not by our works that we are saved, it’s only by God’s grace; it’s His free gift to us and it’s an amazing and eternal gift. Some of my recent blogs are birthed from these battles.
I called a brother in Christ and we prayed together. He said something in his prayer that really encouraged me in my battle. He prayed, ‘God, I pray that you would help Pastor Rob see who You are in him and who he is in You.’ Sometimes we need to be reminded of who God is in us and who we are in Him. It was a moving prayer and a defining moment in my struggle.
If Jesus really is coming for us at this next Feast of Trumpets, then basically we are leaving this world then too. In essence, our mortality has been defined. Here’s the rub, are we really ready to go? Are we ready to fully embrace our own mortality and step across the veil and into eternity? I know that I am, especially after my recent barrage form the enemy.
Too many believers may not be as confident in their own mortality. They may still struggle with their own spiritual security. The thought of being Raptured during this coming Feast of Trumpets can be unsettling for them. They love Jesus, they’re saved by God’s grace through their faith, but their just not as refined or educated in their personal eschatology. When I do my prophecy talks at various churches and Christian education venues, I find that the people who are gathered are older; mainly because they are closer to their own mortal definition. It’s understandable and even logical, but when it comes to a prophesied season of 9/23,24/25 as a potential Rapture date, the definition of our mortality becomes more relevant. One man said it this way, ‘the moment when the Rapture happens, in essence, we all die. We cease to live in our mortal bodies. We are transformed.’
Jesus said it this way, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.”
– John 5:24,25
If we have heard God’s Word and believed upon Jesus, than we have eternal life. We will not be judged with the population of sinners, but we have passed from death to life. This is a literal truth for those of us who will be Raptured. We won’t see an actual death perse, but we will be translated from this life into everlasting life.
Jesus challenged Martha at Lazarus’ grave, (and the rest of us also) – “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25,26
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. If we believe in Him, even if we do die, we will live again. For those of us who believe in Jesus and are living at the moment of the Rapture, we will never actually die, but be transformed into our glorified body when we are caught up into heaven. Here’s the question, do we actually believe this? My answer is an absolute YES!
Death is coming, but if the Rapture gets here first, for us who are snatched away, death will be bypassed to life.
One man said it this way, I am leaving the land of the dying to go to the land of the living, eternal living. I want to encourage you today that you will not be shaken by your own mortal definition, but embrace it all the more as we see the Lord approaching. He coming for us to take us to be with Him in heaven. If that happens this Feast of Trumpets or at some future time remains to be seen.
Until then, we must be faithful to His call on our lives to be His instrument of hope by sharing our faith with all who would receive it. I just don’t want any of my brothers or sisters in the Lord to be freaked out at their soon coming mortal definition. It’s part of the ride if you want to live in heaven; mainly because flesh and blood cannot enter into our eternal abode. (1 Corinthians 15:50) When we hear the trumpet, we’re out of here, but in a transformed body that will be as perfect as it is eternal.
Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, who resides in Northern Missouri. He lives with his wife of 37-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a Lead Pastor (30+ years), police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 