Snatched Away! Series

“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.”