Text: I Thessalonians 4: 13- 5:11
Title: The rapture of the church.
Introduction
The next two great events in the history of the church are;
1.The end-time revival
2.The rapture of the church.
The word “rapture” is not found in the bible. The word rapture is a translation of the Latin word “rapio” which means, “to be caught up, to snatch up” as in verse 15 where Paul writes “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up (rapture) together to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
The Apostle Paul brings up the rapture of the church for the following two reasons.
1.For the education and encouragement of those who are in Christ.
“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.” (V13)
There were brothers and sisters in the Lord who had died and many in the church did not know if those who had died were going to make the rapture.
Education always brings encouragement.
“Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (V18)
2.For the evangelization of those who are not in Christ.
This morning we want to address the following questions concerning the rapture.
1.What will happen at the rapture?
2.What proof do we have that there will even be rapture?
3.Who will be raptured?
4.When will the rapture happen?
5.How should we live in light of the rapture?
What will happen at the rapture?
“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. 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. 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.” (V15-17)
1.Jesus will come down from heaven announced by trumpet and the voice of the archangel.
2.Those who are dead in Christ and those who are alive in Christ will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
3.And so we will be with the Lord forever.
The rapture is limited to those who are dead in Christ and to those who are alive in Christ.
What proof do we have that there even will be a rapture?
The proof is the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
“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.” (V14)
If we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead then we believe it is just as easy for God to raise anyone else from the dead.
If we believe that by God’s power Jesus was taken up into heaven then we believe that it is just as easy for God to raise anyone else up into heaven.
So when is the rapture going to happen?
Is there a date and time so we can know in advance?
“Now, brothers, about times and dates, we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety”, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)
We do not know when the rapture will happen but we can be sure it will be sudden and a surprise to those who are left behind.
How sudden will the rapture happen?
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
How sudden will the rapture happen? In the twinkling or blink of an eye!
In less than one second it will be all over. Those who are left behind are not going to have time to go up in the rapture.
Not only will the rapture happen suddenly but also it will also completely surprise those who are left behind.
“While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (V3)
When might a person say, “peace and safety” but not recognize the destruction that is about to come on them?
a.A person might say, “peace and safety” when they have confidence in themselves or in others.
The rapture is going to happen at a time when there is a false sense of confidence.
b.A person might say, “peace and safety” when they are comfortable with their surroundings.
The rapture is going to happen at a time when there is a false sense of comfort.
Since the rapture of the church may happen at any time should it affect in any way how we should we live?
“But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-11)
Living in the knowledge that the rapture of the church may happen at any moment should positively affect our character, our conduct and our conversations.
When we speak of character we are talking about “who we are.”
“You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
The goal for every believer is to live up to what we are. We are all sons of the light and sons of the day.
Reputation and Character
Reputation is what you are supposed to be; character is what you are.
Reputation is the photograph; character is the face.
Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone; character is what the angels say about you before the throne of God.
William Hersey Davis
In light of the fact that the rapture could happen at any moment we have to change our conduct.
“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breast-plate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. (V6-8)
Our conduct is to be characterized by two things. Being alert and self-controlled.
Since 9-11 we have seen a major emphasis on being alert and self-controlled. But do we see this carry over into people’s spiritual lives?
The Apostle Paul sees the world as being asleep and lacking self control or as the Apostle Paul puts it they are spiritually drunk.
How does the Apostle Paul encourage us to be alert spiritually?
By putting on the armor of God. Put on faith and love as a breast-plate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
Our conduct should be characterized by faith, hope and love.
What are faith and love? Are they not a breastplate? And what is hope? Is it not a helmet?
If they are a breastplate and helmet, what do they protect? They protect our heart and our minds.The two areas of our lives we most need to see alert and self-controlled?
Where do we receive this faith, hope and love?
“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ”(V9)
Might it be ok to substitute the words faith, hope and love for the word “ salvation?”
“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive faith, hope and love through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Why study the life of Christ? So we can receive and grow in faith, hope and love.
There is another place that we receive faith, hope and love. It is through the encouragement of other believers.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing?
Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul. If you want to build someone up encourage him or her.
But notice that the encouragement that builds others up must be on going.If you only encourage someone once every couple of years that is not going to build them up. We need to do it on a continuous basis.
If you and I are blessed by the worship we need to tell.If the nursery or children’s program blesses our kids we need to tell those who do the work.
In conclusion
We already said that no one knows the time or date for the rapture. We only know it will be sudden and a surprise to many. There is one more observation I would like us to see from our text. It will not only be sudden and a surprise but it will also be sad.
It will be sad because those who are left behind to suffer did not have to be left behind.
“ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation though our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him” (V9-10)
God has made for everyone a way of escape through Jesus Christ. But the sad thing is that most people for whatever reason reject that way of escape. When they could be experiencing all the benefits of salvation they will receive the wrath of God.
Invitation.
If the rapture happened this morning would you go to be with the Lord? You can if you receive God’s salvation.
Just as importantly might there be someone here who has fallen away and is no longer alert and self-controlled. You are asleep and drunk. You are living not as one living in the day but as one living in the night. You have lost your faith, hope and love for God. But this morning you want to get right with God. You want to experience a change in your character, in your conduct and in your conversation.
If that is you let me say that that change can begin today if we will only let God have control.
You and may not believe God can change us but if God can raise us from the dead is there anything too hard for the Lord.
Amen.
