Looking Forward to the End
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. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
That line comes from the fable Chicken Little. An acorn falls, hitting Chicken Little on the head. She concludes that the sky is falling and tells everyone that “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!” She takes one thing, the acorn, and makes the leap that this event signals catastrophe. Panic ensues.
Jesus does give us signals to look for that the end is near. The purpose is not to terrify us, but rather to comfort us. "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6) Yes, we are currently living in the end times, but the sky is not falling. The signs He gives serve as a reminder. Even though the end is not yet, He is coming back.
When He does, the sky will not fall. Rather, that is where we will meet Him. Paul tells the Thessalonians that when Christ does return, the dead in Christ rise first, and then those who are alive shall be caught together with them to be with Jesus. Thus, we shall always be with the Lord. These are comforting words. We do not need to fear catastrophe. Christ’s imminent return is only pure comfort. He has told us, "Let not your heart be troubled; And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1,3) Christ’s return isn’t catastrophic for Christians. It’s the opposite. What could be more comforting than being together, always, with Jesus?
Jesus!–the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears,
'Tis life and health and peace.
Look unto Him, ye nations; own
Your God, ye fallen race,
Look and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.
The Lutheran Hymnal 360:3,5