1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
Get hold of this blessed fact – Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. Just as he came in humiliation to redeem his people, he shall come a second time in power and great glory to resurrect his people from the grave and to reign upon the earth. The promise was given when our Lord ascended up to heaven in glory – "This same Jesus, which is taken from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." We are "Looking for," anticipating, "that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." The title of my message tonight is When Jesus Comes…
I want to show you, from the Word of God what is going to happen when the Lord Jesus comes again.
1. Our Lord could come at any moment (Rev. 1:7).
Revelation 1:7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
There is nothing necessary to prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The time is at hand. "Lift up your heads, your redemption draweth nigh." Indeed, the sense of scripture is that our glorious Redeemer is presently coming; he is on his way now. We should live, moment by moment, in anticipation of his glorious appearance.
2. Our Lord is coming in power and great glory (2 Thess. 1:7-10).
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (9) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day."
The Bible nowhere speaks of our Lord coming in secret to rapture the church and then coming again in judgment seven years later. The second advent of Christ will be a climatic thing. Suddenly, he shall appear in glory.
3. Our Lord will come in a real body (Rev. 1:7).
I will not attempt to say what the glory of his body will be; but two things are sure: Christ will come in a physical body, the same body in which he hung upon the cross. And his body will be so glorious, so bright, so dazzling, that every living creature shall see him, and the earth shall melt before him.
4. When Christ comes a mighty resurrection shall take place (John 5:28-29).
John 5:28-29 "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST – The people of God shall be raised to immortality, life, and eternal glory. The body of flesh shall be gathered from the dust, and in those bodies we shall see the Lord, our Redeemer (Job 19:25-27).
Job 19:25-27 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: (26) And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: (27) Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."
THE RESURRECTION OF THE WICKED – The ungodly, the unbelieving, shall also be raised, their bodies shall become immortal and untied to their souls, so that they may endure everlasting damnation in hell.
5. At the second coming of Christ, this world shall be destroyed and He will create new heavens and a new earth (2 Pet. 3:10-14; Rom. 8:18-23).
2 Peter 3:10-14 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
Romans 8:18-23 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (21) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (23) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
The people of God will not spend eternity floating around like ghosts in the air. In these very bodies, we shall live for ever upon the new earth. Heaven shall be brought to the earth. Righteousness shall reign here. And the Paradise of God, the Heavenly City, shall be with men.
Before we look into the text, let me give you a little BACKGROUND INFORMATION. Thessalonica was a large and prosperous city of commerce. Paul came to this city after leaving Philipi, and stayed for about three weeks, preaching every sabbath day. His ministry there was greatly blessed of God. Some Jews, a large number of Gentiles, and many women were converted. This group of new converts was the beginning of a gospel church in Thessalonica. These are the people to whom Paul addressed this his first inspired letter.
The unbelieving Jews of the city were so upset by Paul's success that they raised an angry mob and assaulted the house of Jason, where Paul was staying, Paul and Silas escaped by night and went to Berea, and from there they came to Athens. But, being concerned about the welfare of this young church, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to confirm, establish, and comfort God's saints. He wrote this letter and sent it to the church there, hoping to encourage them in their afflictions and sufferings, and the exhort them to stand fast in the faith of Christ and the ordinances of the gospel.
Proposition: In this epistle, Paul gives the people of God clear instructions concerning the resurrection of the dead and the second coming of our Lord, for the comfort of our hearts and the encouragement of our faith.
Divisions: In these verses, the Holy Spirit gives us five words of comfort about the second coming of our Lord. He gives us a word of comfort about…
1. Our Departed Friends (vv. 13-15).
2. Our Lord's Return (v. 16).
3. The Living Saints (v. 17).
4. Our Glorious Reunion (v. 17).
5. Our Final Position (v. 17).
I. First, Paul gives us A WORD OF COMFORT ABOUT OUR DEPARTED FRIENDS (vv. 13-15).
1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (GO BEFORE, or PRECEDE) them which are asleep."
We have all been to the funeral home. We have taken many to the cemetery. We all have many friends and loved ones who died in the faith. Here Paul admonishes us not to be in sorrow for those who are taken from us, as though we had no hope.
NOTE: There is sorrow when a loved one is taken from us. But if that one who is taken from us is a believer, if he dies in Christ, there is no reason for us to be despair, or to sorrow and mourn as those who have no hope. Don't be ignorant about those who are taken from us.
A. When the believer dies, he simply falls asleep in the arms of Christ. What could be more comforting than that?
It is truly a blessed thing, a thing to be desired, to fall to sleep in the arms of Christ. It is the believer entering into his long awaited sabbath, his rest with the Lord. The body falls to sleep, and the soul awakes (Rev. 14:13).
NOTE: It is only the body which sleeps in the grave. The soul never sleeps. At death the soul enters into a state of activity, such as cannot be known in this world. There is no such thing as soul sleep.
1. Immediately upon death, the soul enters into a temporary state, an intermediate body, in which it lives between death and the resurrection (2 Cor. 5:1-10; Lk. 16:19-31).
2. The children of God go immediately into the bliss of heaven (Lk. 23:43; Phil. 1:21-23; Rev. 7:15-17).
3. The unbelieving go immediately into hell (The Rich Man).B. None of God's elect die until it pleases the Lord to bring them home.
Our departed friends are with the Lord. They are beholding his glory, feeding upon the Tree of Life, and drinking from the Fountain that flows from the throne of God. Why should we weep for them?
C. When our Lord comes, their bodies shall be raised from the graves.
Those who have died in the faith will lose nothing by having fallen to sleep in Christ. They shall be raised first. We who are alive when Christ comes will have to wait for a moment (Really, just a split second!), until the dead in Christ arise. It will be glorious waiting, but we will have to wait (vv. 15-16).
NOTE: Beloved, we must learn to confidently rest in hope of the resurrection. The resurrection of Christ secured the resurrection of his people.
1. Christ is called the firstfruits of the resurrection, the firstborn from the dead. If he is the first, there must be at least a second.
2. The resurrection of the body is that for which we hope (1 Cor. 15:17-23; 52-54).1 Corinthians 15:17-23 "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (21) For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (23) But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."
1 Corinthians 15:52-54 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
3. Though this hope of the resurrection was not so bright in the Old Testament church as it is today, yet, it was clearly revealed even to the saints of that age (Psa. 16:9-11; 17:15; 73:24).
The wise man said, "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death" (Pro. 14:32).This is what I am saying, Christ arose as our Surety, and as surely as he arose all who are in him must also rise from the dead (Col. 3:1-4).
II. Secondly, Paul gives us A WORD OF COMFORT ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD (v. 16).
1 Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"
This is the blessed hope which we anticipate. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven. He came once and was despised and rejected of men. He came once in humiliation and sorrow to suffer and die. But he is coming again in power and great glory to reign. In this earth, in the place where the battle was fought and the victory won, King Jesus must reign gloriously.
A. Our great King shall return with a shout of triumph and victory; The voice of the archangel and the trump of God shall sound.
1. The trumpet-blast shall announce the coming of the great King.
2. The trumpet-blast shall sound the glorious year of jubilee for God's elect – Then we shall be free!
3. The trumpet-blast shall announce the mighty conquest of our King.
4. The Lord's coming will be public, visible, and audible. The reverberating sound will go through the universe.
B. Children of God, lift up your heads, lift up your hearts with hope and joy in anticipation of this great day – OUR LORD, OUR REDEEMER, IS COMING AGAIN!
1. He is coming for his bride.
III. Here is A WORD OF COMFORT REGARDING THE LIVING SAINTS (v. 17).
1 Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
"We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed" (1 Cor. 15:51). There will be a remnant of God's elect living upon the earth. But at the last day, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall all be caught up and changed. A glorious transfiguration shall take place. Like Elijah, we shall be swept up into glory in a full array. It could happen today. No; it could happen before my next word is spoken!
IV. Fourthly, HERE IS A WORD OF COMFORT CONCERNING OUR GLORIOUS REUNION (v. 17). "Caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
The air is spoken of in Scripture as the sphere of Satan's power. He is called "the prince of the power of the air."
This is what Paul is saying, the transfiguration and reunion of Christ's redeemed ones will take place right in the heart of Satan's territory! The Lamb that was slain, and all the hosts of his elect shall be victorious and Satan shall be shamed, mocked, and defeated.
Today, it appears that he is loosed for a little season; but his days are numbered. Soon, King Jesus will throw the old serpent into the lake of fire. And, at that moment, a glorious reunion shall take place.
A. All the saints of God shall be united.
NOTE: This word "meet" is only used four times in the New Testament (Matt. 25:1, 6; Acts 28:15). It always implies a friendly encounter.
Chrysostom said, "When a king enters the city the loyal go forth to meet him; the criminals, in confinement, await their judge."
Revelation 21:1-5 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."
B. In that blessed hour, Christ shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.
All who were given to him in the everlasting covenant, redeemed by him at Calvary, called by his spirit, and all for whom he has made intercession these two thousand years, shall be with him; they shall see his face; there shall be one fold and one Shepherd; and they shall be one (John 10:16).
C. Would you be a part of this glorious reunion?
Come to Christ today (Rev. 22:17). If you refuse to come, there will be no mercy for you in that day.
V. Then, Paul gives us this fifth WORD OF COMFORT REGARDING OUR FINAL POSITION (v. 17). "So shall we ever be with the Lord" (Rev. 22:3-5).
Revelation 22:3-5 "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (4) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (5) And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."
He has gone to prepare a place for us, and when his intercessory work is done and all his elect are saved, he shall come again and receive us unto himself, that where he is, there we may be also. Then, his great prayer shall be answered (John 17:24).
Application:
John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
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