What to Expect when Jesus Returns?
For those who have died in Christ,
Jesus’ return brings a Bodily Resurrection and Glorification (v.14-16)
For those who are alive in Christ,
Jesus’ return brings a bodily Rapture and Glorification (v. 17)
For Everyone in Christ, Jesus’ return brings us into Reunion with other believers (v. 17)
For Everyone in Christ, Jesus’ return brings us into the Eternal Presence of Jesus Christ (v. 17)
Slide
Intro – Resort invite
Imagine for a moment that you and your family were given an invitation to move to a brand new resort that was being built. You would move to the resort and there would be the work you love, and none of the concerns that you currently face. Everything would be taken care of. You were invited to come, but the resort was still under construction, so you couldn’t come until it was ready. In the meantime, you lived in your current circumstances.
When it was going to open, there was planned a grand opening celebration like the world has never seen. It was going to be amazing and you and your whole family were really looking forward to that.
While you lived in your circumstances, this is all that you talked about. You talked about
when the resort owner would come in his private jet to get you and
how the grand opening was going to be an event like nothing you ever experienced or would experience.
the things you would do and
the freedom from many of the concerns of life you would experience.
Well, while you are waiting in your circumstances, one of your family who was invited dies.
They were going to miss the most unbelievable celebration that would ever be experienced. It caused you great pain that they would never get to see or experience it. You began to wonder if this place would be ready before you died or would you too miss out on the grand opening experience and the fullness of the resort.
Jesus’ return – What can we expect
Those are the feelings being experienced by the Thessalonians in regards to the return of Jesus. Now the facts of that story are not necessarily true, but some of the things talked about were assumptions that were made by the Thessaolnians.
They were fully expecting Jesus’ return at any time, but then they experienced some deaths among some of their believing loved ones and they had some confusion over what to expect when Jesus returned.
Slide
As Paul taught the Thessalonians in the short time that he was there, it is certain that he taught them about Jesus coming back. Christ’s return is alluded to and talked about in each chapter in a way that the recipients would have known what he was talking about.
But as with any teaching, we can sometimes make assumptions that are wrong and not able to be corrected until a circumstance arises that exposes the wrongness of it.
Paul had no doubt taught them, as he told Titus, that Jesus’ return for the church was
that “blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)
Now as the Thessalonian believers began to see some of their own die while they waited for the return of Jesus, which they believed could be at any moment, they began to wonder if those who died were going to miss out on this most amazing of events, the glorious appearing of Jesus.
Because of these deaths and some incorrect views on who would experience Jesus’ return and what to expect from it, the expectation of Jesus’ return was not bringing the hope that it should if they had the proper view of it. Instead, because of some false views, it was now causing anxiety over if they would be there for it or not.
Do you ever wonder if you will be here when Jesus returns?
Will you experience the awesomeness of Him coming back to receive you?
What will happen at that time?
What can we expect when Jesus Returns?
Turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Slide
We are going to see what Paul tells the Thessalonians and see what it is we can expect when Jesus returns for the church.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down 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 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Pray
Don’t be ignorant
Now, as we look at this passage, we see Paul start out by saying he doesn’t want the Thessalonians “to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, of to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.”
When Paul talks about those who have fallen asleep, he is speaking of those who died.
And Paul did not want the Thessalonians grieving like the rest of the pagan society they lived in.
The Thessalonians lived in a culture that had no hope for anything beyond death.
A common grave inscription in the pagan culture during Paul’s time was
I was not, I became, I am not, I care not
(Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 2, P. 178)
Paul did not want them thinking that after death, they had no hope of experiencing the events of Jesus’ return.
Proper to Grieve
Now, for believers, it is still proper to grieve. We grieve because we miss a person that we love. We don’t get to spend time with them, we miss the joy that the Lord blessed us with while they were alive and with us.
But as believers, when a believer dies, we know they are with the Lord. We do not need to be uncertain as to where they are if they were a believer in Jesus Christ.
Why is that?
Look at
1 Thessalonians 4:14
Paul says don’t grieve because “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
We don’t need to grieve as those who have no hope because Jesus Christ died and rose again and He said that all who believe in Him have eternal life.
Jesus told Martha, when he was consoling her over the death of Lazarus, that He is “the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me (Jesus) will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25)
Jesus proved He is God, that He is the giver of life, that He has the authority to offer salvation and can deliver that salvation, because He resurrected from the dead, never to die again.
The resurrection of Jesus is the lynch pin of the Christian faith. And I want to tell you that the resurrection of Jesus Christ has an incredible amount of evidence supporting the fact of it.
There is the evidence of
• The Empty tomb that was sealed and guarded by a Roman guard unit
• The faith of the Disciples who were scared and faithless before the resurrection, and bold and faithful after they saw the resurrected Christ
• The fact of the continuation of Christianity today which lends support to the truth about the claims of the facts of the faith and the effects that they continue to have on those who believe
• There is the eyewitness testimony of many others who saw the resurrected Christ
We do not have to grieve like those who have no hope because of the fact of Jesus resurrection and the promises He made to those who believe in Him to give them eternal life.
But what about those who die before Jesus comes back?
Paul uses the word asleep.
Are those who die now asleep? Unconscious?
No.
When Paul uses “asleep” he means the person has died, but in their death they are not asleep in the sense they don’t know what is happening. When a believer dies, their spirit immediately is with the Lord.
Listen to what Paul says in
2 Corinthians 5:8,
He says he “would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Once a person dies, they leave their old body here and their spirit is immediately with the Lord. It is their body that sleeps, so to speak, in that it has no life in it.
They themselves are with the Lord but without a body. They are, as Paul said, “away from the body.”
We are without a body when we die?
I thought we are supposed to have a glorified body in heaven, a body like Jesus had after He died and rose again?
Well, let’s take a look at
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16
15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down 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.
So When Jesus comes back Paul says the dead in Christ will rise first.
What does Paul mean when he says the dead in Christ will rise first if those who have died in Christ are already with the Lord?
He means that
For those who have died in Christ, Jesus’ return brings
a Bodily Resurrection and Glorification
Slide
This is when those who have died before Christ’s return receive their glorified body.
It is their old body that is raised, that will be resurrected and glorified and given back to those who have died in Christ.
The return of Jesus Christ for the church will not just be a special event for those who are alive in Christ, it will be a special event for those who have died in Christ before He comes back as well. They will be fitted with their glorified bodies.
Maybe you are sitting their thinking, “I don’t want this body back.”
I tell you that your body will not be the same.
Paul tells us about this a little bit in
1 Corinthians 15:42-44
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
While I believe we are going to be able to recognize who each other is, our bodies will no longer carry
the stain of sin,
the pain of disease,
the frailty of old age.
They will be completely restored and glorified to bear the image of God clearly as they were originally designed.
I assure you that you will not be disappointed in your glorified body.
So, when Jesus comes back, those who have died in Christ have their bodies resurrected and glorified and they are reunited with them.
What of the living at that time? What can we who are alive expect?
Look at
1 Thessalonians 4:17a - After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
The word that is translated “caught up” is a Greek word “harpazo”.
This word means to carry off forcefully and speedily, to claim for oneself, to rescue from danger or destruction.
(NT: 726 (from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft))
It is from the Latin translation of this word that we get a word that you may have heard before, the word “Rapture.”
We use the word rapture today to describe what happens to those who are alive.
Now Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians doesn’t really describe what happens to those who are alive other than being caught up or raptured.
That is because he has already taught the Thessalonians about what happens to those who are alive. His point in this passage is for the Thessalonians not to be grieving like those without hope so he focuses in on that aspect of Christ’s return and then simply gives an order of the events, reminding the Thessalonians that they will be “caught up” with the Lord at His return.
But for those of us here, I want to share with you what to expect for those who are alive in Christ,
For those who are alive in Christ, Jesus’ return brings a
Bodily Rapture and Glorification
Slide
What does that mean?
For those who are alive when Jesus returns, you are not just going to be gathered to Him in spirit, leaving your body behind. No, you are going to be caught up, raptured, in your body and you are going to be instantly transformed into your glorified body.
Paul tells a little more about this in his letter to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- 52 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 we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
We who are still alive when Jesus returns are in for an amazing instant transformation the likes of which no extreme makeover show has ever seen.
We are going to be clothed with immortality. There will be no sickness in our bodies, no disease, no hunger, no cancer. Our bodies will not wear out, but be eternal, immortal, glorified bodies.
Oh, I can’t wait!
For those of us who suffer from physical deficiencies, we have much to look forward to.
If you ache getting out of bed in the morning, you will feel refreshed.
If you your bones hurt when it rains, no more will you suffer.
If your eyesight is poor, you will see like you have never seen before
If your hearing is challenged, you will have ears to hear
If your memory is becoming foggy, you will know fully
Oh is this going to be an incredible day. And whether we live to see His return or die before He returns, it is going to be special.
Oh, Come quickly Lord Jesus!
But that is not all. No matter if you have died in Christ or are alive, but
For Everyone in Christ, Jesus’ Return brings us into
Reunion with Other Believers
Slide
1 Thessalonians 4:17
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
We are going to be reunited with our loved ones who have died in the Lord.
We will certainly be able to know and recognize those believing loved ones who died before us, but I think we will also be able to recognize and know those we didn’t even know while alive.
When Peter, James and John were on the mount of transfiguration, they recognized Moses and Elijah, 2 people that they had never seen or met in their lives. (Matthew 17:2-4)
Paul tells the Corinthians in
1 Corinthians 13:12
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
We are going to be known and we are going to know others.
Have you ever gone to a party and not known anyone. It is a bit uncomfortable.
Well, when Jesus returns, you are going to be part of a celebration in which you will know everyone and everyone will know you.
Is that awesome?
Well, that is not all. There is more.
There is still the best part.
The best part is that
For Everyone in Christ, Jesus’ return brings us into
the Eternal Presence of Our Lord
Slide
1 Thessalonians 4:17
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
I don’t think we can fully fathom what that will be like.
Share in His glory
Some of the things we see from Scripture is that we are going to be able to share in His glory during that time.
Romans 8:17 - Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
The suffering that we face now is going to bring about greater glory as we come into the eternal presence of our Lord.
Receive Rewards
We will also receive rewards as we stand before the Judgment seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Now the judgment seat of Christ is only for believers. There is another judgment for unbelievers at the end of Christ’s 1000 year reign on the earth. That is the great white throne judgment. You don’t want to be part of that judgment.
But if you are in Christ, if you believe in and have received Him as your Savior, you won’t be part of that judgment.
Instead you will be sharing in glory and enjoying rewards in the eternal presence of our Lord.
Are you ready?
Are you looking forward to His return?
Conclusion
Paul ends this section with “Therefore encourage each other with these words.”
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you should be encouraged.
You should be hopeful.
You should be looking for and waiting for Jesus’ return because it is going to be incredible.
If you are here today and have not come to a point yet of trusting and receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you are going to miss out on the greatest even of all eternity.
When that Day comes, you will be left dumbfounded, wondering what happened, to so many who have been raptured.
From the standpoint of those who are left, who have not been taken, who have not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, it is not going to be an awesome day. It is going to be frightening and that event will usher in a period of tribulation that the world has never seen.
I want to focus on three things as we close.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, keep your eyes on Christ and be looking for His return. It will help you live fully, even if your current circumstances are less than desirable.
Also for the believer in Jesus Christ, use the time we have to share with those who don’t know Jesus. We don’t want anyone to miss out and Jesus could still return at any moment.
For the person here who has not yet made up their mind about receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, make that your number one priority to think through that, because the time is short and we want you to experience the Lord’s return and share in His glory.
If you have decided to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, then do what the Bible says.
Romans 10:9 – “confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
I am going to lead in a prayer of confession. If you want to receive Jesus as your Savior, just share with the Lord your heart belief in Him and His death and resurrection and confess Him as your Lord.
If that is you today then just confess that belief as I pray.
