For those of us who believe that we are indeed the final generation which will be ushered home by the Rapture, we all the more embrace our Blessed Hope! Our exquisite expectation and hidden hope is that we will be alive when the sounding of the Trumpet takes place. The fact remains that many will wing their way towards home prior to the trumpet blast. Even though we are taught that those that have gone on before us shall be called to His side and be Raptured first, we all still desire to have the breath of God in our bodies when we are transformed! This is what I refer to as the "exquisite expectation". And when we speak of the nearness of the Rapture, this unspoken element is ever present and weighs heavily within our spirits! I know this to be ever present in my spirit, especially as I enter my twilight years! I'm sure this also holds true for those who are afflicted in body especially those who daily attempt to stave off death's angel! It just seemed to me that we verbalize and acknowledge this with the Lord, as well as with others. Indeed if only to acknowledge the desperation of some of the members of the Church. In this regard, we are all hospice participants. Or so it seems to me. TR “exquisite expectation” is a wonderful expression! I've heard people say "Everyone wants to go to Heaven but no one wants to die" but the truth is, we were never created to die. Death is not natural. It is the result of sin. So it stands to reason that we want to be, as you so aptly put it, "have the breath of God in our bodies". Absolutely!!! Indeed we have all been taught for many years that death is a direct result of sin. And truly it is the mechanism He has employed. But in God's economy and glorious plans as well as the planning of the future, I wouldn't discredit God's inbuilt obselesence in His design. His plans includes so much more than a "limited" existence of flesh and blood. Given that God is spirit alone it stands to reason that God would want our beings to only be spirit as well. Truly spirits with form. Also given that when we are born again all our sins past, present and future are cleansed and we are made white as snow rather than just covered. Having then all of our sins permanently dealt with once for all, wouldn't and shouldn't that eliminate death?! It does so however only spiritually. The flesh continues to die. The fact that it doesn't eliminate death altogether speaks to not only His greater purposes and planning, but to the notion that death is a temporary physical condition. Whereas the spirit never dies! I'm no theologian but just trying to make all the pieces fit. TR TR - you have stated truth and as scripture tells us in Hebrews 9:27 “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,” in my professional career, I have seen many people, of all ages, die from various disease states or tragic events. I say this only to say, even though the body dies, it is always amazing and a privilege to watch the death of a saint and feel the peace, calm, and love that surrounds them at the moment they leave this earthly abode and meet their beloved. I know in my heart, we are the terminal generation and “we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed....” so for me, my heart is content, whether thru the grave or through the sky, I will see my beloved Savior and in a very short season. :prayer-hands: Indeed it has been observed by many that "saints" die a softer and quicker death than do those who fight death and God! Again, the greater goal is to die to self, and let the body live or die on it's own! But for the sake of this thread, I can only be honest and pray that the Rapture happen before I die. In any event, I'll still be in the Rapture. TR
