“SNATCHED AWAY!” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
FBCF – 3/15/26
Jon Daniels
INTRO – (VIDEO) – “There’s only ever been one empty tomb!” – Close to end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. After resurrection, appeared to many other people:
- Mary Magdalene (Mk. 16:9)
- 2 men on road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35)
- 10 disciples (John 20:19ff) – Thomas not there
- All the disciples – Thomas present (John 20:26ff)
- 500 disciples at some point (1 Cor. 15:6)
- His half-brother James at some point (1 Cor. 15:5-7)
- 7 disciples on the beach of Sea of Galilee (John 21)
- Mountain beside the Sea of Galilee (Mt. Arbel possibly) to give Great Commission – Matthew 28:18-20
- Ascended back to the Father – Acts 1:9
Jesus came. Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus rose again. Jesus left. And Jesus is coming again!
EXPLANATION – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
I know some of you are students of eschatology – the study of what the Bible says about the end times. I know that many of you love & follow Dr. David Jeremiah. Definitely one of the leading preachers & teachers of prophecy in our time. Great resources! Ladies’ Bible study recently went through one of his studies. Obviously, we cannot cover all the intricate details of end time events in a single sermon & a single passage of Scripture. But this passage is a very important one for us on the teaching of the Rapture. In fact, the Rapture is a major theme in both Thess letters.
First – define word “RAPTURE” – The actual word does not appear in the Bible. Comes from a Latin word that means, “a carrying off or a snatching away.” Even though the word itself is not in the Bible, the concept of this “snatching away” is clearly taught in Scripture.
There are different views about end-time prophecy & the order of the events that will take place. Let me talk about those for just a moment & clarify where I stand on this.
Most Christians believe the Bible teaches that there will be an important 7-year period of history before the Battle of Armageddon & triumphant 2nd coming of Jesus. These 7 yrs are known as the Great Tribulation. Jesus talked about this in Matthew 24:21 – “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” (NASB) The debate about the Rapture centers on where it fits in with the Great Tribulation. 3 main ideas/positions that are taught:
- The pre-tribulation rapture position believes believers are caught up before the tribulation.
- The mid-tribulation rapture position believes believers are caught up around the middle of trib.
- The post-tribulation rapture position believes believers are caught up at the end of trib.
There are great Godly strong Christian preachers/teachers who hold to each of these views. I’m a firm believer in the pre-trib position. Other pastors/teachers who hold to this view are David Jeremiah, John MacArthur, Adrian Rogers, Don Wilton, & Billy Graham. I, along w/ these preachers & many others, believe that, if the Bible is interpreted literally & consistently, the pre-trib position is the most biblically-based interpretation.
I would also say that this should not be a fellowship-breaking issue among believers. No matter which view you believe, bottom line is that you need to know Jesus as your Lord & Savior & be ready for His return, no matter when it happens! The invitation for the greatest party of all time has been sent out, & once the party starts, it will be too late for you to come if you didn’t accept His invitation. If the Rapture happens today, as I firmly believe it could, you need to be ready – which leads to application:
APPLICATION – NOW is the time to get ready to meet Jesus!
THE COMFORT & ASSURANCE – v. 13-15 – There was a lot of hopelessness surrounding death in the ancient world - & there still it today! Listen to some of the ancient writers/philosophers’ gloomy, pessimistic ideas:
- “Once a man dies, there is no resurrection.” (Aeschylus)
- “There is hope for those who are alive, but those who have died have no hope.” (Theocritus)
- “I was not; I became; I am not; I care not” (ancient tombstone)
- Or this one from today: “Life is hard. Then you die. They throw dirt in your face. Then the worms eat you.” (Science fiction screenwriter, David Gerrold)
P wanted the Thessalonians to be comforted about those who had already died. He wanted to assure them that those believers who had already died – “asleep” (v. 13) – would not miss out on any of the blessings & excitement of Jesus coming again. Like us when a loved one dies, they were grieving but he did not want them to grieve as those “who have no hope.”
Christ-followers grieve but not as whose “who have no hope” b/c our hope is found in Jesus & all of His promises to us! Word “hope” means “confident expectation.” It’s not wishful thinking, but the firm, rock-solid belief in the promises of God.
- The promise of John 3:16 that “whosoever…”
- The promise of John 14:2-3 that “In my Father’s house…”
- The promise of John 11:26 that “whoever lives & believes in me will never die.”
Hope is the excited anticipation of the future blessings that will come to EVERY Christ-follower – those who have already died & those who are still alive. We BELIEVE that Jesus died; that Jesus rose again victorious over Satan, death, & hell; & when He comes again, He is coming for ALL of us who belong to Him.
So, we REJOICE when a Christ-follower dies b/c Jesus will RETURN to get us all & bring a great REUNION for the family of God! Christ-follower: Be comforted & assured of all that awaits you when He comes again!
THE COMING DOWN OF JESUS – v. 16 – Love what P said here: “The Lord HIMSELF” – not some angel or some other heavenly being or even the Holy Spirit, but “the Lord HIMSELF” – “This same Jesus…” (Acts 1:11) – This Jesus who is “the same yesterday, today, & forever” (Heb. 13:8) – It’s going to be a PERSONAL coming – the same glorious Savior who was so loving & compassionate when He was here on the earth, who died on the cruel cross for us, rose again, & ascended back to the Father – HE HIMSELF will descend from the right hand of His Father. It’s going to be personal.
And it’s going to be POWERFUL! This coming down will be sudden, instantaneous, & dramatic:
- “with a cry of command” – “shout” – a loud, commanding, arousing outcry – a commander speaking to his soldiers w/ authority
- “voice of an archangel” – Michael is only archangel identified in Bible. May be that he is going to be shouting (I know I would!), or that Jesus’ voice is going to sound like the voice of an archangel. Either way – it’s going to be powerful & amazing!
- “sound of the trumpet of God” – Trumpets were used as signals to gather people, to set armies on the move, & as part of the worship of God – all describing what will be happening in that moment!
And when Jesus comes down, we, the Church, will go up!
THE CATCHING UP OF THE CHURCH – v. 17 – This is next event on God’s calendar. Every living Christ-follower will be “caught up together” along w/ those who have died to MEET JESUS IN THE AIR! Did you hear that? WE WILL MEET JESUS! Did you catch that? WE WILL MEET JESUS!
Do you understand that? WE WILL MEET JESUS! Do you believe that? WE WILL MEET JESUS!
1 Cor. 15:52 says this will happen “in a moment [in a flash], in the twinkling of an eye” – the fastest possible speed of an event, so fast it is undetectable.
Included in this incredibly joyous moment will be the glorious reunion w/ all of our saved loved ones that we are looking forward to seeing again. We’ll be “caught up TOGETHER!” Love the way The Message version says it: “And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master!” Who are YOU looking forward to seeing again? Say their names out loud!
And it’s going to last forever – “we will ALWAYS be w/ the Lord”
- Ps. 23:6 – “Surely goodness & mercy…”
- John 17:24 - “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am…” (CSB) - & we will be w/ Him where He is FOREVER!
THE CONTINUAL ENCOURAGEMENT UNTIL IT HAPPENS – v. 18 – “Therefore…” – “What’s the ‘therefore’ there for?” B/c of all of these promises & this awesome hope that we have, encourage – come alongside one another & comfort one another. It’s going to get good! So hang on, brother! Hang on, sister!
CONCLUSION – WE WILL MEET JESUS! The only way you’re going to meet Jesus THEN is if you’ve met Jesus NOW.
Dr Pollard: “I was walking down a road & met a man named Jesus & He changed my life & I’ve never been the same since. Would you like to know my Jesus?”
Meeting Jesus means more than just knowing facts about Him or acknowledging that He was a great teacher or a great prophet. It means that you believe that HE alone is the Savior of the world & you want to live for Him for the rest of your life. If you will meet Him now, you will meet Him then!
