When will Jesus Return - Exodus chapters 13-19 foreshadow 1Thessalonians 4:15-17

The people were born on the wings of eagles -  Exodus 19:4 “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.”

The Lord comes in a cloud - Exodus 19:9 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come to you in a thick cloud…”

The people had two days to sanctify themselves and wash their clothes before the Lord descended. A day is like a thousand years to God. The two days in Exodus chapter 19 represent two thousand years for the human race to sanctify themselves and be baptized before the Lord returns in the clouds. Exodus 19:10 “And the LORD said to Moses, Go to the people, and sanctify them to day and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.”

The Lord descended in a cloud onto the mountain with the sound of a loud trumpet – Exodus 19:16 “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightning, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceedingly loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.”

The cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night represent that those who are children of the day (see 1thess 5:4-8) will go up in the cloud to meet him and those who are of darkness will experience a pillar of fire. Strengthen your heart for the Lord is not far off as the third day approaches and we will meet him in the clouds since we are children of the day and not of darkness.

1Thessalonians 4:15 “For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, cannot precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

J. Clontz – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament