The Coming Of Christ

I Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11 [New Living Translation]

13 ¶ And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. 15 I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. 18 So comfort and encourage each other with these words.

1 ¶ I really don’t need to write to you about how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, "All is well; everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman’s birth pains begin when her child is about to be born. And there will be no escape. 4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

6 ¶ So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober. 7 Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armour of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 He died for us so that we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his return.

11 ¶ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

THE COMING OF CHRIST

Acts 1:11 This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into Heaven will come in just the same way as you have seen Him going into Heaven." [Weymouth]

"Why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly as he left." [Message]

I THE COMING OF CHRIST IS PROMISED

A THE APOSTLES PROMISED HE WOULD COME

Hebrews 10:37 in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. [NIV]

B THE ANGELS PROMISED HE WOULD COME

Acts 1:11 Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go." [CEV]

C THE CHRIST PROMISED HE WOULD COME

John 14:1-3 DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed or agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. 2 In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 And when I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. [AMP]

II THE COMING OF CHRIST IS PROCLAIMED

A THE APOSTLE JOHN PROCLAIMED IT

I John 3:2 My dear friends, we are already God’s children, though what we will be hasn’t yet been seen. But we do know that when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is. [CEV]

B THE APOSTLE PETER PROCLAIMED IT

ACTS 3:20 he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again. [NLT]

C THE APOSTLE JAMES PROCLAIMED IT

James 5:8 Be patient. Establish your hearts [strengthen and confirm them in the final certainty], for the coming of the Lord is very near. {AMP]

III THE COMING OF CHRIST IS PLANNED

A IT IS PLANNED TO BE A BLESSED HOPE