Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Rapture Of The Redeemed
Introduction:
A. The term, “rapture,” is derived from the Latin word raptus, which means, “caught away” or “caught up.” The Lord word is equivalent to the Greek harpazo, translated as “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The rapture event, described here and in 1 Corinthians 15, refers to the catching up of the church from the earth to meet the Lord in the air. It will involve only the faithful of Christ’s Church.
B. When Paul wrote this passage he did not want the new Christians to be ignorant (literary, “uninformed”) concerning the rapture of the redeemed. Paul did not want those new Christians to sorrow as others which have no hope at the time they loose loved ones by death.
C. Paul explained the rapture of the redeemed for
two reasons:
a. To clarify to the new believers God’s
prophetic plan for His righteous children
b. To comfort…
i. Those who were grieving over the death
of a loved one
ii. Those who were brokenhearted
iii. Those who were discouraged
D. Tonight I want to discuss three events we can
look forward to as we consider, “The Rapture Of
The Redeemed.”
The first event we can look forward to is…
A. The Return Of The Savior (v. 16 a-c)
a. Verse 16 describes what will happen
before the rapture…
i. The Lord will descend with a shout
ii. The Trumpet Will Sound
b. 1 Corinthians15:52 describes how quickly
the rapture will occur…
i. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye.”
ii. We must be watching for His return
iii. We must be ready for His return
The second event we can look forward to is…
B. The Resurrection Of The Dead (v. 16 d)
a. The bodies of dead believers will rise
first
b. The spirits of believers will already be
in Heaven with the Lord
c. 2 Corinthians 5:8, “To be absent from the
body is to be present with The Lord”
The third event we can look forward to is…
C. The Rapture Of The Saints (vv. 15, 17)
a. The believers on earth will be caught up
to meet the Lord in the air
b. The believers will be changed and become
like the Lord
i. The corruptible will put on
incorruption
ii. The mortal will put on immortality
iii. Death will be swallowed up in victory
iv. Read 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
