The last and only flight to leave earth.

The Conflict of the ages is described in

Genesis 3:15

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

This describes the deadly encounter between Christ and Satan which led to the cross. Satan had bruised Christ’s heal, representing his death, but at his death Christ crushed satan’s head, guaranteeing us an end to sin and satan.

This conflict continues till the end of time, and as followers of Christ, we must suffer as he did.

John 15:20

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

We will not escape the trials and tribulations, the closer we get to Christ’s second coming, the more intense it will be.

Daniel 12:1,2

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Revelation 7:13, 14

“ And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Revelation 22:11, 12

“ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

The Bible is clear on how we are to be rewarded, or granted eternal life with Jesus our Lord, there is no shortcut to be taken, no backdoor pass. So, how does one get to heaven? This an interesting question, that we must understand, it is important to know what the scripture says.

1 Corinthians 15:50–54

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

So, when is this trump sounded, when shall it be heard?

1 Thessalonians 4:15–18

“ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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 which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

These passages of scripture paint a picture that is worth more than a thousand words

The only way we can get to heaven is when Christ comes to take us to heaven. Not even those who die, go to heaven immediately.

Hebrews 9:27, 28

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Even the dead must stand in the judgment to receive their reward, whether to eternal life or eternal death.”

Here’s an example

Acts 2:32–36

“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

David did not go to heaven when he died, “The Lord — The Father, said unto my Lord — Christ, sit thou on my right hand”

Jesus himself shows us the principle of death and resurrection, he did not go to heaven upon death but at the call of God, he came forth.

Many believe that when Christ told the thief on the cross today you shall be with me in paradise ( Luke 23:43 ), they both went to heaven upon death. But Jesus himself told Mary that she couldn’t touch him because he had not gone to his Father as yet ( John 20:17).

The dead will only go to heaven when God calls them forth.

Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 13:24–30. The wheat and the tears must grow together until they are mature enough to tell the difference between them. Both the wicked and the righteous must grow together until the harvest, which is the second coming of Christ, and then the separation will take place.

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. — Matthew 24:30

We must live with the blessed hope, looking for the glorious appearance of Jesus Christ our Lord ( Titus 2:13 ). This world is not our home we must prepare now. We must be ready, for Jesus is coming soon, he is even at the door.

We must live every day for him and encourage others to do the same.

Hebrew 10:35–37

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

I pray we shall kneel before our God one day in reverence and awe. Let us look forward with eager excitement for the coming of our Lord.