Secrets from Beyond The Grave

Chapter 9 The Greatest Homecoming Ever Known

Many years ago the mother and father of a U.S. soldier received a visit that no military parent ever wants to receive. They were informed that their son had been killed in the line of duty. The shock and feeling of grief were unbearable. They waited for more information and for the set time that the remains of their son would be returned home for his final rest and his military burial. That is when a most bizarre twist of fate occurred. A second visit brought the shocking and unexpected news that the military had made a mistake. It was not their son but a young man with the same name who had been killed. Because of the grief the mistake had brought them, the military was sending their son home on a special flight to rejoin his mother and father. The plans were finalized, and the date was set. That morning the crowds gathered at the airport, along with a military band, civic leaders, and the mother and dad waiting in high anticipation. Suddenly, the giant iron beast of a plane landed on the runway, and the plane door was opened. There were other important people on the plane, but the soldier exited first. There he stood at the top of the stairs, overlooking a cheering crowd, while the band played to a fevered pitch. The mom and dad stood there, crying tears of joy. Suddenly the mom could take it no more. She threw down the flowers in her hand and began running down the red carpet. The son ran down the steps, and suddenly the dad was running behind the mom. She grabbed her son, kissed him all over his face, and rubbed his hair as the crowed cheered and the parents cried tears of joy. This was a homecoming unlike most--but nothing to compare to the homecoming we will experience one day!1 The greatest homecoming ever known will occur on a set day that is known to no one except to God Himself (Matt. 24:36). At an appointed time, those dwelling in paradise will return with the Lord, as their bodies will be resurrected and joined with their spirits to form an immortal body. Those of us living will be changed in a moment of time, and we will be caught up to meet the departed saints in the air. Forever we will be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16-17). 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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. --1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 The departed souls of men and women who have died in Christ are now in heaven in paradise. These individuals will receive the first notification that Christ is returning to Earth to catch the living up to be with Him, and they will return with Christ in the air. At that moment there will be a mysterious resurrection of the "dead in Christ." This raising of the dead is not raising the soul and spirit from the ground, but raising from the ashes of the dead a new body that joins with the spirit and soul. How can God bring the dead with Christ at the moment He returns for the church? Just as He brought the Old Testament saints out of their resting place under the earth at His resurrection, so He will bring the dead in Christ out of their heavenly resting place to be given a resurrected body and meet the living saints. The Bible says we will be "caught up together with them in the clouds" (1 Thess. 4:17). The departed righteous return from heaven with Christ, but we are then caught up together with them. Is this a contradiction? They come out of heaven, and then we read that "together" we meet Him in the air. So are they in heaven or Earth?