1Thess 4:13-18
The Return of Jesus for His People
The doctrine which we call the rapture of the church is one of the cornerstone
doctrines of my Christian faith, yet, it is one of the most doubted and attacked,
not just from Bible skeptics or antagonists, but even by fellow believers.
I understand some of the debate. The idea of a pre-millennial \\#Rev 20:1-7\\,
pre-tribulational \\#Rev 4-19\\ return of Jesus, has not always been taught.
One writer I was reading laid the blame on Dr. C.I. Scofield and his Bible
notes as found in the Scofield Bible (published in 1909 and 1917).
(Gary McDade, http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/
PeopleLoveToHaveItSo.htm)
Mr. McDade seems to argue that the notion of a pre-millennial return of Jesus
was virtually unheard of before the 1900.
Of a truth, I would not argue that point. I have mentioned before that most of
Bible prophecy was allegorized prior to the mid-1900’s, in large part, because
there was no nation of Israel until 1948 and Bible prophecy could not be
fulfilled literally without an Israel.
However, with the founding of Israel, many Christians understood their sin of
doubting God’s Word and of miniaturizing God’s power. They re-read the Bible,
accepting that God meant just what He said and supposing God to be powerful
enough to do what He promised, and then the idea of a pre-millennial, pre-
tribulational return of Jesus for His people took hold.
Tonight, I will not even try to argue all the points, but let’s look at what the
Bible does promise concerning the return of Jesus for His church.
I. The Problem
A. \\#1Thess 4:13\\ - Paul was writing to help the church at Thessalonica
understand what would happen to the Christians who had died.
B. Jesus had promised a kingdom in which the saints would rule.
Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and
all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven:
but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into
the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you.
C. Everyone was expecting an almost immediate return of Jesus to set up
His kingdom.
D. \\#Acts 1:1-6\\ In fact, even the disciples were surprised that
Jesus left at all.
E. But now, some of the believers had died. "What happens to them?"
II. \\#1Thess 4:14-17\\ Paul teaches that when Jesus returns, He will bring
the dead with Him.
A. Paul goes so far as to outline an order of events:
1. \\#1Thess 4:14\\ The Lord will return bringing those who have
died in Him.
2. \\#1Thess 4:16\\ The Lord himself shall descend (into the earth’s
atmosphere) with a shout and a sounding trumpet.
a. Notice it is the Lord himself. He is not sending another.
This strongly argues for a literal interpretation.
b. As Jesus descends, there will be the shout of a strong voice
like that of an archangel.
c. A trumpet will also sound at the same time.
3. \\#1Thess 4:16\\ Then the bodies of the dead in Christ shall rise
before anything else happens.
a. It is said to happen FIRST, giving us the order.
(1) Not only are the dead in Christ not to be left out, they
will be empowered before anything else happens.
(2) \\#1Thess 4:15\\ This is further stated by saying the
living will not "prevent" or precede those who are
sleeping in Jesus.
b. Notice also, it is the dead in Christ.
(1) The unsaved will not be raised at this time.
(2) I do not think the saved Old Testament saints will be
raised at this time.
(3) I read in the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, that we
fundamental Christians are supposed to believe that all
the saints, both those who died before the incarnation
of Christ and those who died after the incarnation of
Christ, will rise at the rapture.
(4) At the present, that is not what I believe.
4. \\#1Thess 4:17\\ Then the living shall be "caught up" with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord.
a. After the dead are raised, then the resurrection power of God
works on those who are alive.
b. We are taken away, caught up.
c. The Greek word is used some 14 times in the New Testament.
d. It always has the idea of being caught or removed, usually
suddenly and with power.
e. It is the Latin form of this word from which we get our word
RAPTURE, meaning to be suddenly caught up by the Lord.
f. The fact that we use a word that is not strictly found in the
Bible does not make this a man-made doctrine, just a man-
made term.
g. If it offends you to use a term not found in the Bible, call
it the "catching away," for it all means the same thing.
B. \\#1Thess 4:17\\ Once this "catching away" takes place, all
Christians will be removed from this planet and will forever stay
with the Lord.
C. Whether you like the term RAPTURE or not, whether you agree with me
on the timing of the rapture or not, if you are going to believe the
Bible, you are going to have to take this passage as a literal
promise and accept three major truths:
1. Jesus is coming back!
2. When He comes, all the saved in Christ are going to be changed
and removed.
3. What is going to take place on this world afterward isn’t going
to be pleasant!
D. In visiting with Evelyn Burt this week, she told me that she had
reminded her children of the Lord’s coming not too long ago. Their
reply was, "Aw, Mom. People have been saying that for years!"
1. Even though people have been saying it for hundreds of years, it
is still true.
2. But what I find interesting is that the world’s reaction to the
return of Jesus fulfills prophecy.
2Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers,
walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell
asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
E. The Bible is either true or not.
1. If it is not, those who believed it have nothing to lose.
2. If it is, those who do not believe it have nothing to gain.
F. \\#1Cor 15:35-58\\ gives more details on the physical change the
return of the Lord will have on the bodies of those raptured.
III. \\#1Thess 5:1-2\\ We have no idea WHEN the Lord will return.
A. Unless I have erred, I have never told you Jesus will come soon,
because the Bible doesn’t say He will.
1. I have said that I BELIEVE He will come soon.
2. The Bible does say that Jesus will come quickly \\#Rev 3:11\\.
a. That does not means He will come immediately.
b. It means that when He comes, it will happen suddenly, fast,
instantly.
B. Concerning the timing of Jesus’ coming, the Bible does say:
1. \\#1Thess 5:2\\ He will come like a thief in the night—with no
advance warning.
2. \\#1Thess 5:3\\ That people in general, will think times are safe
and peaceful.
a. That doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be any problems or
wars.
b. It could just mean people are more hopeful.
c. Jesus’ return might actually be after a great catastrophe,
either a natural event or a man-made one, like a war.
d. Mankind tends to be hopeful after an extremely bad
experience.
3. \\#1Thess 5:3\\ The Bible indicates that those who are left will
have sudden destruction.
a. This text does not say the tribulation will start, but I
believe it will.
b. It does say destruction will come.
IV. The Bible does give the believers of this hour a challenge.
A. \\#1Thess 5:4-8\\ Stay awake and watch.
B. It is implied that to be asleep, not watching, unaware, when Jesus
comes is a bad thing.
1. The Bible does not say that if you are not watching, you will not
be taken.
2. It does seem to say that if you are not watching, you will not be
doing the commanded work and thus will not get the expected
reward.
3. Read all of Matthew 25.
C. What would be the work a watching Christian should render?
1. He would be right with God. Knowing the Lord will comes
encourages us to stay right.
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as
he is pure.
2. He would be witnessing to and warning others.
May the Lord help us to be watching when He comes.
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