I was laying awake, trying to sleep, and thinking about how someone is always awake in the world. And someone is always sleeping. And we’re all talking to each other. When something happens in the world, it’s instantly shared throughout the globe, and internet commenters go to work.

 

I was super tired and desperately wanted to sleep. I didn’t want to be a part of the conversation anymore. I wanted to retreat into oblivion and not have to think.

But I was also afraid of falling asleep and losing control. What if Jesus came back while I was asleep? How would I be alerted? The news would spread across the internet almost instantly. I’m imagining the tweets “Did you hear? Jesus came back! #Paradise!”

 

What if I am asleep? Someone else will get to post “First!” I’d hate to sleep through the second coming of Christ. I’m alone in my house, no one will wake me up. There are millions (billions?) of people asleep right now. They’d all miss it.

 

Except, how could I possibly miss it? The Bible says the Lord will return with a shout, the call of the archangel, and the trumpet of God.

I’m pretty sure everyone will be woken up by that trumpet blast. It will be heard all over the world. There’s no sleeping through that alarm. I also believe everyone will instantly know what it signals. There’ll be no “wtf was that? An asteroid?” You will know in your heart what is happening. And what a day that will be.

 

It will either be the greatest day in the world or the worst, depending on your allegiance. No one will be indifferent. No one will be meh. You will know in your heart where you stand. No will have to tell you. There will be no arguing, no discussion, no opposing viewpoints. No one will ask “What does this mean for my life? How does this affect me?” You will know.

 

Even someone in a coma, who may not physically wake from it, will know in his soul the end has come. Oftentimes I’ve heard a trumpet like sound far off in the distance and wondered excitedly “Is Jesus here?” only to be disappointed by the refrigerator gurgling. Oh well, someday. He is coming.

 

“…and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”