April 25, 2021
Dear Cathedral Family,
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NLT)
I’m loving our current series about the END TIMES! Last Sunday, Pastor Dave Ammons delivered a masterful message, explaining 1) why Israel is such a key player in history past and history to come, and 2) the promise God made to Abraham (a.k.a. the Abrahamic Covenant). Abraham’s descendants became the nation of Israel, and he is considered the father of our faith. If you missed it, go ahead and take a few minutes to get caught up either on our website or our app.
This Sunday, we’re jumping into a fascinating part of the END TIMES – the Rapture! If you’re new to this concept, you’re in the right place. You may remember, back in the beginning, we talked about Jesus making a promise that He was going to prepare a place for those who believe in Him (John 14:2-3). The Rapture will be when Jesus comes back to take true believers to be with Him to the place He’s been preparing. I can’t wait to tell you more about it!
What comes to mind when you think about the Rapture? Remember, this isn’t about confusion, fear, or anxiety; it’s about COMFORT, HOPE, EXCITEMENT and JOY. One of the songs I heard a lot growing up is “Ain’t No Grave”. You may be familiar with the version that Molly Skaggs and Bethel released in 2019, but the song’s a good bit older (think 1940s). After this Sunday’s message, I think you’ll understand more clearly the power of these lyrics:
When I hear that trumpet sound
I’m gonna rise up outta the ground
There ain’t no grave
Gonna hold my body down
Here’s the verse that follows the ones you read at the top of this note: “So encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18) Our prayer and goal for this END TIMES series is to encourage you to…
- dive into the Bible like never before,
- grow closer to God,
- and be activated in your faith.
So, BE ENCOURAGED and BE BOLD like Dave charged us at the end of last Sunday’s message (Proverbs 28:1). I’m confident that someone in your world needs to hear what we’re talking about in this series. Pray and ask God who you need to send the message links to or who you could invite to join you in-person! I trust that God will direct you and equip you. Remember, you’re only responsible for being obedient; He’ll handle the outcome!
I’m looking forward to worshipping God with you and learning together this Sunday, in-person at 9 & 11am OR online at 11am via Facebook, YouTube, or our streaming service.
Come expectant!
Mike Lewis
Cathedral