Jesus, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and I will be changed (1 Cor 15:52). I thank You for providing me with this opportunity to be made a part of You, God’s family, and His Kingdom.

For the trumpet will sound: Jesus, teach me that there is going to be the sounding of a trumpet and when that happens, if I am dead I will come out of the grave wearing my old body. If I am dead I will be raised imperishable. If I am dead, I will ascend toward heaven, if I am still living, I will join those who were dead in the air. Whether dead or alive, I will be changed. As I am going up to meet Jesus in the air, my body will change. In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, the change will take place that fast; and, I will get my new body.

Jesus, if I allow You to make me be born again, the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead will be living in me, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to my mortal body through His Spirit, Who lives in me (Rom 8:11). Just like God was able to raise You from the dead and give You a body that was made of heavenly material, God will do the same for me. You, Jesus, are wearing Your new body in heaven right now. You are waiting for me and others to make this most important decision so I can live with You where You are.

Jesus, since the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality (1 Cor 15:53), I want to be born again so I can have that happen to me and my body.

Jesus, my mortal (capable of dying) or perishable body will be changed to an imperishable body. My body that is capable of getting sick, getting old, and dying, will become a body that will always be healthy, never deteriorate, and will last forever. It will be kind of like taking off some old, worn out, filthy, smelly clothes and putting on new, beautiful, expensive clothes.

Help me realize that these new experiences won’t be strange events for me; God will help me get used to the idea of getting an immortal body to go along with my immortal spirit. Teach me that no one ever ceases to exist; they are just deciding where they are going to spend eternity.

Jesus, when my perishable [body] has been clothed with my imperishable [body], and my mortal [life] with my immortality [eternal life], then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:54-55). You will have empowered me to defeat all the effects of death.

Jesus, when this change takes place for me, I will experience the completion of the victories that You have provided for me. Help me understand that many victories will take place while I live on earth as a human. But, when I get taken into eternity, that will be one of the greatest victories of all. I will be empowered by God to defeat death.

But, Jesus, teach me the truth about the word “death.” When I see someone die, they stop breathing, their heart stops beating, and their brain and body stop working. It looks to me like they have stopped being a person. Teach me that it is true they have stopped being a human; but they haven’t stopped being a person. Show me that we go from a temporary existence into an existence that is outside time. The issue You are solving is, where I will go once I move into eternity.

Jesus, teach me that once I am given the gift of life as a human, it is never taken away from me. I will continue to exist forever somewhere; I will either exist in the Spirit realm forever or outside of it forever. There are only two places where I can exist after death; one is called heaven and the other is called hell. Help me not misunderstand hell; help me not decide to refuse to become a Christian because I think hell is God’s creation. Show me that it is true God will allow me to go there; but, He has to, if He is going to honor my God-given free will.

Jesus, teach me that the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with me, NOT WANTING me to perish, but to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9). Teach me that this is what God REALLY wants and it is why He has done everything possible to help me make the right decision. Teach me that heaven is the place where God shows His presence and hell is where He doesn’t. Make it clear to me that the absence of God’s presence is much more painful than fire or any other experience. I am choosing whether I want God or I don’t; but, I may not realize what that all means. Teach me that God is why heaven is so wonderful and the absence of His presence is why hell is so horrible; IT’S NOT THE FIRE! This fire is to help me see how horrible it is to be outside of God and His presence.