Encouraging Words for Troubled Times
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Intro: To the average person you might meet downtown or on the street, the idea that Jesus is coming back for all who believe in Him is a crazy one! In fact, some would put you in the same category as the followers of David Koresh or Jim Jones. A little over 15 years ago, 39 people belonging to a cult called Heaven’s Gate committed suicide, believing they needed to leave this planet before it was recycled or wiped clean. They actually believed that a UFO was trailing the comet Hale-Bopp and would take their souls to another level of existence after they ended their lives. Some would be quick to label Evangelical Christians who talk about Jesus coming to get them as an out-of-touch-with-reality group like this.
-The Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted that Jesus would return in 1914, but when it came and went, they needed to reinterpret their prediction by claiming there had been an “invisible [rather than literal] return.” Twenty some years ago, we saw the booklet, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988. Most recently, Harold Camping predicted that Jesus Christ would return to Earth on May 21, 2011, whereupon the righteous would fly up to heaven, and that there would follow five months of fire, brimstone and plagues on Earth, with millions of people dying each day, culminating on October 21, 2011, with the final destruction of the world.
-These kinds of things do not do much for the credibility of Christianity. But then, credibility is found in how authentic you are to those around you as you live a life that is connected with Christ. Genuine friendships provide the context for you to share your faith and the hope that you have in Jesus and His “any day now” return. And lest we be too hard on some of the modern day date-setters, perhaps we should know that John Wesley, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Augustine all set dates on Christ’s return that didn’t pan out either. What part of “no man knows” do we not understand?
-Unfortunately, many Christians have kind of tuned out the reality of Christ’s return. Do we really believe that He could come any day now? And more importantly, does that belief affect the way we live and love those around us?
-Well, Paul wrote these verses in 1 Thess. 4:13-18 to a group of believers who had a few problems of their own. The writers of the NT revealed their belief that Jesus would return in their lifetime. They, along with all who had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, lived in anticipation of Jesus coming back any day now! It was the next event on the eschatological calendar! But the Thessalonian believers were worried about their family members and friends who had died as believers. Were they going to miss out on the blessings of the return of Jesus? They weren’t supposed to die yet because Jesus hadn’t come back yet! These Christians believed in the resurrection, but may have thought that it was coming later on and that they might not get to see their departed loved ones for another thousand years or so.
-Now, let me just say that I believe that this passage describes what we call the rapture or catching away of the church to heaven. For the sake of time and focus, I will not be able to go into all the theological and linguistic reasons why I believe that the rapture and the 2nd coming of Jesus are 2 separate events. I’ll just say that the rapture is Jesus coming for His saints, and the 2nd coming is Jesus coming with His saints to establish His kingdom on this earth where He will reign for 1,000 years. If I am wrong then I will continue to trust the Lord and follow Him with all that is in me! The important thing for all of us is that we are ready, that our lives are in alignment with Him, and that we’re helping others get ready for His coming!
-So Paul writes to encourage these new believers that Jesus was coming back for those who were trusting in Him, and for those who had died trusting in Him. They did not need to have hopeless sorrow over their departed loved ones who died knowing Jesus. Let’s look at 4 takeaways from this passage. (outline not original with me, adapted from Brian Bill, sermoncentral.com)
1. The Promise of His Coming Is Sure
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 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.
-We can know that the promise of the rapture is sure because it is built on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in verse 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.” This is a concise summary of biblical Christianity. Jesus died as full payment for our sins. By rising from the dead, He conquered death. The Resurrection proved that God the Father accepted the sacrifice of His Son and guaranteed that we too will be raised to new life.
-The first part of verse 15 gives us another reason to be confident of His coming: “According to the Lord’s own word…” Commentators suggest that this may refer to something that Jesus said when He was alive that was not recorded in the Gospels or it may be something that Jesus revealed directly to Paul. In any case, what is to follow is “the Lord’s own word.” As such, it carries with it tremendous authority. The Lord’s return is not a made-up doctrine. It’s not theological speculation. It’s sure because it’s built on three pillars ¬ the redemption provided by Christ, the resurrection of Christ, and the revelation of Christ.
2. The Participants of His Coming Are Certain
1 Thessalonians 4:15 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.
-There are two groups of people who will participate in the Rapture: Believers who are alive and Believers who have died.
-Paul uses the pronoun “we” to indicate that he thought he’d be alive when Jesus returned. Like all early Christians who believed that Jesus would return in their lifetime, Paul was ready to be caught up. Look back to 1 Thessalonians 1:10: “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
-When Paul refers to those who have “fallen asleep” he directly addresses one of their concerns. The Thessalonians also believed that Jesus would come before they died. That’s why they were so worried about those who had passed away. Paul tells them that believers who have died will not only not be forgotten; they will take precedence over Christians who are still alive. Actually, they are experiencing the benefits of being in the presence of Christ now. And, when the Rapture occurs, they will be taken care of first. This answers their questions. The living have no advantage over the dead. There will be no lesser saints. They will not miss the Rapture. No believer will be left out.
3. The Plan of His Coming Is Set
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 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.
-The problem of their sorrow is now solved because the promise is sure and the participants are certain. The plan of the Rapture is shown in these verses. Paul lists eight key elements to the Lord’s plan.
1. A Sudden Descent. Notice that the Lord Himself will come down from heaven. This is not an angel or a messenger. This is not a substitute or a stand-in. It is not symbolic or some kind of literary device. This is the literal Lord, coming down from heaven just like Acts 1:11 declared that He would: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
2. A loud command. This is a military term that was issued when the troops were “at ease” and it was time for them to “fall in.” It can also mean to stand up. Jesus is shouting for all believers to get on their feet, and to fall in line. This word was used for a command that always came with authority and had a note of urgency to it. I love what Jesus said in John 5:25: “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” This is the time when the dead and the devoted will hear the thunderous command of the Commander in Chief of the armies of heaven.
3. The voice of the archangel. In Daniel 12 and Jude 9 the archangel is identified as Michael. As Jesus comes down with his booming command, Michael’s voice is echoing behind Him.
4. The trumpet call of God. The Bible is filled with references to trumpets and they have a number of different meanings. In Exodus 19 a very loud trumpet was used to call the people out to meet with God. In Zechariah 9:14, a trumpet was used as a signal that the Lord was about to rescue His people. The trumpet sounds forth at the Rapture because God’s people are called out in order to be rescued.
5. A great resurrection. The dead in Christ will rise first. This is a statement of priority that would have calmed the concerns of the Thessalonians. Notice that it is the dead “in Christ” who are raised. This is only a resurrection of believers. The unsaved dead are left in their graves to be raised at the Great White Throne judgment 1,000 years later as spelled out in Revelation 20:5: “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.”
-All believers in Christ will be raised. That includes people who died 2000 years ago and those who died in Christ this week. It includes Martin Luther, John Calvin, Corrie Ten Boom, Neva Walker, Myrtle Moodenbaugh, and others who have gone before us. They will be raised indestructible with brand-new bodies, clothed with immortality, healed, restored, put in their right minds, and raised to live forever, to die no more.
6. A glorious rapture. Rapture is a word that implies a change of location. In this case it means that living believers will be literally lifted off the earth. How will it happen? 1 Corinthians 15:52 describes the scene as taking place “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.” How fast is that? It’s faster than it takes to blink your eyes. It’s how fast it takes to see light flash on the pupil of our eyes. A “flash” is the Greek word that represents the smallest interval of time imaginable.
-Warren Wiersbe defines the various meanings of the Greek word “caught up” with these phrases: “to catch away speedily,” “to seize by force,” to claim for one’s own self,” “to move to a new place,” and “to rescue from danger” (“The Bible Exposition Commentary,” page 180-181). And, when we’re snatched, we’re instantly transformed and given a brand new body according to Philippians 3:20-21: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
7. A grand reunion. Notice what Paul says in verse 17, “We will be caught up together with them.” Then he says, “We will be with the Lord forever.” This is the ultimate family reunion. All Christians from all centuries from every land and nation will be together at last with Jesus. Your loved ones who loved Jesus will join you for an unending family reunion. Jesus will come either with us or for us.
8. A joyful meeting. Notice three key words. We will meet the Lord. We will be with the Lord. We will be with the Lord forever. Do you remember what Jesus said to the dying thief? “Today you will be with me in paradise?” Where is paradise? It’s wherever Jesus is. The word “meet” is a beautiful word that was often used to describe the meeting of a dignitary or a king as people rushed to get close to him. We will not only meet Him, we will be with Him. And we will be with Him always, never to be separated from the Savior again.
The problem of sorrow is solved because the promise of the rapture is sure, the participants are certain, and the plan is set. We come now to the final point: the purpose of the rapture is to strengthen us.
4. The Purpose is to encourage and strengthen
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
-As we come to the end of this chapter, Paul reveals that the purpose of all that he has written is to bring comfort. Jesus is coming for His own. Don’t worry about the believers who have died and don’t be concerned about yourself if you know Christ. We’ll all be there when He sounds the trumpet. As believers we should be talking more about His return than we do because knowing what is coming ought to influence what we are doing right now.
-In 1 Corinthians 15 after establishing the truth of His return, and what will happen to our bodies, Paul concludes with a very practical admonition: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (15:58). While we wait, we must work. And while we exert our energy, let’s encourage one another by talking about what’s to come.
-The purpose of prophecy is to give us hope, comfort and encouragement. Jesus is coming again. It’s a promise for us to believe. At the same time, it’s a frightening prospect for those who have not yet put their faith in Christ. If you don’t know Jesus as you personal Savior, if you have not been born again, you will be left behind.
-The good news is that it’s not too late for you. In fact, you can have a new beginning if you want it. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or how many times you’ve gone to church. Turn to Jesus right now…before it is too late.
-If Jesus were to return this afternoon would you be snatched away or would you be left behind? Maybe you feel like you’re running in circles through the maze of life and you don’t know which way to go. There is a path and it’s clearly marked. But, it’s narrow and it may restrict you a bit.
-In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus said that more people take the wide road but unfortunately that path leads to ruin: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
-If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus Christ and find salvation, I’m going to ask you to come to the front in a few minutes. Some of you are ready to make that decision and I pray that you will before it’s too late.
-1 John 2:28 challenges us to live like we should be living because Christ can come back at any time. When He returns, what do you want to be doing? When He comes to rapture the redeemed, will He have to pull your hands off of something that you’re clinging to? Listen to these words and allow them to penetrate your life: “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” I don’t want to be ashamed when Jesus returns.
-So, wherever you may be in your spiritual journey, what will you do with what you’ve heard today? This is God’s word to you. Jesus is coming back for those who love and follow Him! My prayer is that you will be open and receptive to who God is and what He is speaking to your heart right now.
-Are you ready for the return of Jesus to catch us away to be with Him? If not, or if you’re not sure, then what would stop you from making sure today? He says that if we call on Him, He will answer. If we seek Him we will find Him. If we ask we will receive. He will give us a new beginning, a new nature, and a new future! If you need to make things right with God, would you come to the front and allow me to pray for you? This is the most important decision you will ever make. Don’t do it lightly or without getting counsel, but please do it!
(Portions of the body of this message adapted from Brian Bill, sermoncentral.com)
