As Christians we should live with a sense of excitement and anticipation .

There is another life for the Christians after this life is over. Jesus promised, "I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (I John 14:2, 3). This is commonly referred to as the " second coming of Christ " (the first being when Jesus was born of the virgin Mary).

This is a major teaching of the Bible. About one-third of all prophecy deals with the second coming of Christ to the earth. One out of every 30 verses in the Bible makes reference to the return of Jesus.

We now see the difference between saints and sinners as being a spiritual one only. In the future there will be a visible and physical separation. Jesus explained the separation by citing how Noah and his family were spared while all others (unbelievers) drowned in the flood. (Matthew 24:37-39). Jesus further emphasized this truth:

The great event to bring about this visible separation is when the Christians will suddenly vanish from the earth and will go to be with the Lord. This event is commonly referred to as the

rapture of the church. It is described in I Thessalonians 4:16-18:

The saints of all ages will be gathered into God’s presence for a great celebration known as the marriage supper of the Lamb (remember the church is called the bride of Christ).

Notice in these verses that the bride qualified herself to wear a garment of righteousness by "making herself ready." Sinners will be left on the earth to go through seven years of tribulation when the antichrist is revealed. Major cataclysmic events will signal God’s wrath upon evil men (See Matthew 24). Jesus told of what happened to five virgins to warn us that an outward identification with the church is not sufficient to enter the marriage supper:

The seven year period of the celebration in heaven and the tribulation on earth will culminate with the saints returning to the earth with Christ to fight against God’s enemies . The Bible gives a thrilling account of how Jesus and His followers will defeat Satan (the dragon), the antichrist (the beast), the false prophet and the kings of the earth and their armies. (Revelation 19:22-20:3) A thousand years of peace on earth will follow, often referred to as the

millennial reign of Christ. Most of Revelation 20 and many references from the Old Testament prophets describe how our Lord will restore the earth. The saints will reign with Christ in a rule of righteousness and peace. (Revelation 20:6)

The final state of God’s people given in the Bible pictures them dwelling with the Lord in the Holy City, the new Jerusalem . (Revelation 21) The glory of the Lamb and of this great city is beyond human imagination.

We must be fully convinced of what the Bible teaches concerning both heaven and hell. The horrors and suffering of hell are equally as real as the joys and bliss of heaven. Jesus told of the rich man who cried out from hell, "Have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire" (Luke 16:24).

It is of vital importance that we be ready to meet the Lord "...because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Matthew 24:44).