The Rapture
Paul's Epistles - I
Thessalonians - Part 5
Pastor Bruce A.
Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
We began looking at the basics of
Christianity and the foundation of the church. How it was constructed, how it
is to operate, and the instructions we as followers of Christ are given.
We looked at the Book of Acts, which shows
the ups and downs of the Apostles and the early church. Many of the issues they
had then, we still deal with today. So it is good for us to read these books
and keep an eye on ourselves.
After Acts, we looked at the first few
chapters of Revelation to read what the letters Jesus sent to the churches
consisted of. We learned where the church were doing good, where they were
messing up, and in all cases, how they were “supposed” to be.
We took those letters, compiled them and
read them as if it were Christ’s instructions to us, as individuals, and as a
church.
From the letter’s of Christ, we turned
then to Paul’s letters, or epistles.
First looking at the Book of Romans, then
to I and II Corinthians, from there to Galatians, and now we are looking at his
letter to the Thessalonians.
This letter is believed to be Paul’s first
letter.
We will now look at Paul’s ministry in
Thessalonica.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you
to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not
grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For
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.
15 According to the
Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the
coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen
asleep. 16 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. 17 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.
18 Therefore
encourage one another with these words.
I.
BROTHERS AND
SISTERS (Instructions to the saved)
a.
We do not want you to be uninformed (ignorant) about
those who sleep in death
i. Sleep simply
refers to those who have already died.
ii. So that
you do not grieve like the rest of mankind
b.
They (the unsaved) have no hope
i. This is
specifically referring to those who do not know the Lord
ii. They
will have no part in the first Resurrection of Life
iii. Therefore,
no hope of Heaven
c.
However, we do
i. Why? Because we
believe Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with
Jesus those who have fallen died in Him.
ii. This is
proof of life after death, when Jesus returned in a Resurrected and Glorified
body.
iii. This is
the future of all Saints, a Glorified body and a new life that will never end
d.
This IS the Rapture of the Church!
i. Or the Resurrection
of Believer’s
1.
Both meaning the SAME THING
2.
Both are SCRIPTURAL
ii. Paul
describes in I Corinthians 15
1.
At death, the Soul and Spirit of a child
of God instantly go to be with Jesus (Philippians 1:23)
a.
Soul is who we are
b.
Spirit is the completion of God and us
c.
Without God’s Spirit, our soul would not
go to Heaven
2.
While our physical body returns to dust.
a.
We are 3 parts, created in God’s image.
b.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
i.
Body, Soul and
Spirit
3.
At the Rapture, God will replace what was
the physical body
a.
With the Glorified Body
b.
United with the Soul and Spirit
II.
ACCORDING TO THE
LORD’S WORD (presents Doctrine of Rapture as Word of the Lord)
a.
We who are still alive, who are left until the coming
of the Lord
i. Meaning those who
are alive during the time of the Rapture
ii. Will
certainly NOT precede those who have already fallen asleep in Him
1.
Thos who have already died will receive
their Glorified bodies first.
b.
For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven
i. With a loud command
(Acts
1:11)
ii. With
the voice of an Archangel (Jude 9)
iii. And
with the trump call of God
c.
And the dead in Christ will rise first
i. To be ready for the
Rapture, one must be “in Christ” which means that you are truly Born-Again.
III.
AFTER THAT
a.
We who are still alive and left
i. Will be caught up
(Raptured) together
b.
With them (those
who already died in Christ) in the
Clouds (Heaven)
c.
To meet with the Lord in the air
i. The Greek word used
here refers to the lower atmosphere
1.
The Lord will NOT come all the way to Earth
at this point, but stay in the atmosphere.
2.
7 years later the Lord will come all the
way to Earth, which will be the Second Coming.
ii. And so
we (those already asleep in Christ, and those Raptured up) will be with the
Lord forever
CONCLUSION – Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Encouraging
because the IS the future of every child of God!
There is no
death, but New Life!
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