The Great Open Air Meeting

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thess. 4:16-17).

There is soon to be a great open-air meeting far greater than any which has ever taken place. It will have many striking features and will be entirely different from anything ever witnessed in this world. Let us look at some of these wonderful features.

This is not on earth, nor in heaven, but "in the air" (1 Thess. 4:17).

Every redeemed, blood-bought soul of every clime and race, including those who sleep in their graves as well as those alive on earth at the time – not one will be missing. All will be clothed with raised or changed and glorified bodies suited for heaven. All denominational differences will then be gone and done forever.

Every unbeliever, unredeemed person. The legalist, the formalist, the men who depended on works instead of on Christ; the scoffer, the profligate – these, all who are "without Christ," will be absent.

Amidst the many wonderful circumstances of the meeting, one will far transcend all the others, namely this – it will be a meeting specially appointed "to meet the Lord." Around the glorious person of the Savior, crown with His many crowns, will circle myriads of His redeemed ones. What joy to the Redeemed to be surrounded with the great throng of those who are fruit of the "travail of His soul" when He "poured out His soul unto death" (Isa. 53:11, 12). And as they, too, gaze upon that face once so "marred more than any man’s" (Isa. 52:15), but then radiant with glory, what joy will fill their hearts, and how perfect is their place of acceptance with God!

Another very singular feature about this great reunion is this, not even one among the congregation knows when it is to take place! It may be in the morning, the afternoon, the evening, or during the silent hours of the night. It may be this year, this week, or today. All understand that they are to be constantly in the waiting and watching attitude, just as if listening for the assembling call. No bell will be rung to gather the church; they will be summoned by a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God. So effective and powerful will be the voice of Him who calls, that in the "twinkling of an eye" every member will be found in his place at the great meeting in the air (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; 1 Cor. 15:52)

But ah! There is a solemn sadness about the after-meeting. Listen to the words of the people outside the closed door, "Lord, Lord, open to us" (Matt 25:11). These Christless professors take into their lips the word, "Lord," but was He their Lord? Perhaps they had been baptized and confirmed, were church members, sat on the benches of a meeting room; but all the time they had never been "born again." And what does the Lord say in answer to their call? "Verily I say unto you, I know you not" (Matt. 25:12). There was no link of faith between the soul and Christ, and now they are shut out forever.

And how quickly time passes! Listen to the clock as it hangs upon your wall; how quickly it ticks out the seconds! Every tick tells of the rapid flight of time and the near approach of eternity. "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:8). But, thank God, the Master of the house has not yet risen up and "shut the door" (Luke 13:25). Christ is the only Savior, and the all-sufficient Savior. His precious blood, shed upon the cross, cleanses from all sin. The redemption price has been paid, the work has been done. Its cleansing power and efficacy are all yours the moment you really believe on Him as your personal Savior. The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Reader, are you ready if Christ were to come tonight? If not, now is the time of decision, not next month, nor next week, but NOW!

-F.G. B.