One day, the Holy Spirit said to me, "In the air."
I recalled that is in a scripture. When I looked it up I found it in the following:
I Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
15 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 (precede) them which are asleep.
16 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:
17 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.
It is not that Jesus brings the dead in Christ to this present earth. But rather Jesus raises the dead in Christ and gathers them to Himself "in the air."
Some will still be alive on this earth at that time. After the dead in Christ are raised, then Jesus will cause those who are alive on this earth to leave these physical bodies and be gathered to HIM "in the air."
For there is a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. (II Peter 3)
All who belong to God will be taken to this new heaven and new earth. (Rev. 21), And this current heaven and earth will be destroyed by God in the fire. (II Peter 3)
*****
Is it your goal to make this current earth righteous?
II Peter 3
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
***
This present earth will never be righteous. The wrath of God comes to judge this world and God will destroy this present heaven and earth with fire. There is a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. We, who belong to God, will be taken to that new heaven and new earth, new Jerusalem.
Revelation 21
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
***
When Jesus walked on this earth in the form of a man, HIS disciples through HE would establish this present earth as HIS kingdom.
But Jesus said:
John 18:36 My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
***
The children of God are taken into the air to meet Jesus and they are transported in a new body to the new heaven and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
I Corinthians 15
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Because of our physical bodies, we suffer fleshly pain. In the incorruptible body, the new body given by God, there will be no pain, no death, no sorrow.
Blink you eyes. That shows how fast we will be changed into our new bodies!
*****