Pastor Tom Hughes of Hope for Our Times is offering a powerful message of encouragement for believers navigating fear, grief and uncertainty. In a recent episode of The Tom Hughes Report, Hughes reminds us that death is not the end—and that something far greater lies ahead for those who trust in Jesus.
“Heaven is as real as Earth,” Hughes said. “Believers in Jesus that have gone before us are there as surely as they once were here. To die now is to go into the presence of Jesus.”
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Hughes admitted he doesn’t look forward to dying. “I look forward to being in the presence of the Lord in heaven, but I don’t look forward to the process of getting there,” he said. “Truth be told, I’d rather skip death altogether.”
He pointed to 1 Corinthians 15:51, which says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed,” explaining that some believers may go straight into glorified bodies at the rapture. “We will not all die, but we will all be changed,” he said.
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Stephen’s Peaceful Exit
To illustrate hope beyond the grave, Hughes shared the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Though Stephen was brutally stoned to death, Hughes emphasized that “Stephen did not call for vengeance on his murderers, but he called for mercy.”
The Bible describes Stephen’s death as “falling asleep.” Hughes explained, “The Bible doesn’t give all the physical details—it simply says he fell asleep, implying a peaceful death despite all the rage Satan’s angels could muster against him.”
Even bodies lost or destroyed, Hughes said, will be restored. “God created our DNA and He’s going to get you back together for all of those who are in Christ Jesus. There will be a new body, a resurrected body.”
5 Promises of the Rapture
Hughes highlighted five reasons the rapture is the believer’s “blessed hope,” quoting author Steve Miller:
- A home in heaven — “I go to prepare a place for you,” Jesus said in John 14.
- Reunion with loved ones — “We do not sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4).
- Escape from God’s wrath — “We are not appointed to wrath,” Hughes said, referencing 1 Thessalonians 5.
- A glorified body — “We get new glorified bodies that will never ever die” (Phil. 3:21).
- Eternal life with Christ — “What a great and incredible future,” he said.
Hughes also suggested the rapture may leave behind visible signs. “The graves of Christians all over the world will be split open. They will see the empty graves. It will stand as a powerful testimony that Jesus is Lord.”
A Reason to Hope
Despite growing darkness in the world, Hughes urged believers not to lose hope.
“The trials we face are real, but they are not final,” he said. “God is using even the difficult days to prepare us for eternity.”
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Quoting Revelation 21:4, he said, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.”
“Don’t lose heart,” Hughes added. “Keep your eyes fixed upward. The King is coming, and His timing is perfect.”
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
