WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:09.160 You've got the Red Church Bible, it's on page 1156, that's page 1156, 1 Corinthians 15, 00:00:09.460 --> 00:00:16.879 and the second reading is 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 13-18, that's on page 1188. 00:00:18.260 --> 00:00:19.780 So 1 Corinthians 15 first. 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:22.100 Thanks Sarah. 00:00:22.100 --> 00:00:23.980 Close to the mic now. 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:24.820 Okay. 00:00:24.820 --> 00:00:33.980 I declare to you brothers that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, 00:00:34.219 --> 00:00:37.380 nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:44.060 Listen, I tell you a mystery, we will not all sleep, but will all be changed in a flash, 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:46.679 in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 00:00:47.299 --> 00:00:52.519 For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 00:00:52.520 --> 00:00:58.640 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 00:00:59.340 --> 00:01:03.520 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, 00:01:04.659 --> 00:01:09.159 then the saying that is written will come true, death has been swallowed up in victory. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:11.400 Where, O death, is your victory? 00:01:11.600 --> 00:01:13.320 Where, O death, is your sting? 00:01:14.060 --> 00:01:17.640 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:22.540 But thanks be to God, he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:25.900 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. 00:01:26.460 --> 00:01:27.780 Let nothing move you. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:31.079 Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, 00:01:31.460 --> 00:01:34.960 because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 00:01:38.460 --> 00:01:44.599 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 13 to 18, page 1188. 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:49.659 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, 00:01:49.819 --> 00:01:52.640 or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 00:01:53.019 --> 00:01:55.439 We believe that Jesus died and rose again, 00:01:55.939 --> 00:02:00.359 and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 00:02:01.039 --> 00:02:02.679 According to the Lord's own word, 00:02:03.019 --> 00:02:05.780 we will tell you that we who are still alive, 00:02:06.139 --> 00:02:07.780 who are left till the coming of the Lord, 00:02:08.019 --> 00:02:10.639 will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:13.479 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, 00:02:13.959 --> 00:02:15.000 and with a loud command, 00:02:15.239 --> 00:02:16.639 with the voice of the archangel, 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:18.679 and with the trumpet call of God, 00:02:19.279 --> 00:02:21.199 and the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:24.779 After that, we who are still alive and are left 00:02:24.779 --> 00:02:27.159 will be caught up together with them in the clouds 00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:28.539 to meet the Lord in the air. 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:31.319 And so we will be with the Lord forever. 00:02:32.099 --> 00:02:34.560 Therefore, encourage each other with these words. 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:41.800 Okay, thanks Sarah and Kate. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:43.620 I'll just ask Ryan to come up, 00:02:43.939 --> 00:02:47.819 and you'll be able to tell from Ryan's accent that he's not a local. 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:50.960 Ryan has been here the last couple of years, 00:02:51.020 --> 00:02:51.960 part of our church family. 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:53.500 Work brought him here, 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:57.480 and his wife and two boys and a little girl. 00:02:58.180 --> 00:02:59.860 And we look forward to it. 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:02.039 Ryan will be sharing with us now. 00:03:02.140 --> 00:03:04.259 Just before Ryan speaks, we'd just like to pray. 00:03:05.300 --> 00:03:05.819 Let's pray. 00:03:07.659 --> 00:03:09.620 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:11.500 We thank you that you teach us from it. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:13.680 Lord, we pray that you would help Ryan 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:17.360 as he teaches us from your word this morning. 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:19.979 Show us the things that you want us to learn, Lord, 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.159 and help us not just to listen, 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:24.500 but to act on the things that we hear this morning. 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:27.240 We pray for an outpouring of your Holy Spirit, 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:31.900 that you would, through him, teach us what you want us to know. 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:33.939 We ask these things, Lord Jesus, in your name. 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:34.520 Amen. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:34.680 Amen. 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:36.939 Thanks, Ryan. 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:41.759 Thank you, Ian. 00:03:42.340 --> 00:03:43.439 Good morning, friends. 00:03:43.580 --> 00:03:44.280 It's good to be here. 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:50.759 I say that particularly because there is a distinct possibility 00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:52.659 that we might not be here at all today, 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:55.520 that we wouldn't see each other. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:59.000 I actually debated about even preparing a sermon for today, 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:04.419 reason being that as we continue our session on 1 Thessalonians 4, 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:06.439 today we're going to talk about the rapture. 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:10.180 So it's possible that we could have all just been raptured up this morning, 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:13.139 and actually at about 10 until 11 this morning when there were six of us here, 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:15.219 I was growing concerned that it had, in fact, happened. 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:24.620 But we are here, and as we'll see, the rapture is this big event that's going to happen. 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:32.120 It's an event that sees Christ catch up his whole church, all the remaining believers, in one big motion. 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:35.720 We'll also see that this could happen at any moment, 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:39.579 which brings me back to my point that I even really need to prepare. 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:43.639 Being that I'm still here, clearly I did, 00:04:44.019 --> 00:04:48.240 but I will say that always the optimist, I did wait until the very last minute to prepare. 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:52.120 If you would, turn with me to 1 Thessalonians. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:54.840 You're probably there from what we just read. 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:57.560 I do want to go through that again real quickly. 00:04:57.679 --> 00:05:00.599 That's the primary verse that we'll be working through today. 00:05:01.799 --> 00:05:05.619 So 1 Thessalonians 4, verses 13 to 18. 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:10.799 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:13.839 or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope. 00:05:14.299 --> 00:05:16.719 We believe that Jesus died and rose again, 00:05:17.539 --> 00:05:21.699 and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:25.959 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:28.019 who are left till the coming of the Lord, 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:30.819 will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep, 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:34.399 for the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:37.120 with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:40.079 and the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:44.319 After that, we who are still alive and are left 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:48.019 will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, 00:05:48.459 --> 00:05:50.500 and so we will be with the Lord forever. 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:54.019 Therefore, encourage each other with these words. 00:05:55.399 --> 00:06:00.639 I think occasionally we lose a bit of perspective when we read Scripture, 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:05.560 because at times it's easy to look at it and we'll read Leviticus, 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:11.420 the same way that we read Romans or Revelation or any of the books of the Bible, 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:15.579 and we look at them because they have chapter numbers and verse numbers 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:17.100 and these handy little headings, 00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:18.720 and so we kind of look at them all the same. 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:20.700 But they're not all the same. 00:06:20.940 --> 00:06:24.940 They're not the same style of writing, despite the formatting similarities. 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:29.120 This book, 1 Thessalonians, is a letter to friends. 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:33.360 It's not a historical account or a broadly prophetic word, 00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:36.780 but rather a practical, loving note from a dear friend. 00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:40.320 So today I'd like to talk about the return of the king. 00:06:40.760 --> 00:06:41.700 Oh, not that one. 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:44.659 Okay, we'll talk about the return of the real king. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:47.899 So if you have something to write with, 00:06:48.420 --> 00:06:53.439 we're going to go through five points today through this passage. 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:59.639 Revelation, return, resurrection, rapture, and reunion. 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:03.819 So Revelation. 00:07:04.919 --> 00:07:07.719 Well, how many of you have been watching the Olympics the past few weeks? 00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:09.839 Okay, at least one. 00:07:10.039 --> 00:07:10.620 Thank you, Sarah. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:13.120 I'm a huge fan of the Olympics. 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:16.579 Actually, today my wife's favorite event is coming up. 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:19.180 The closing ceremonies will be here, 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:22.339 which means I won't be firmly planted in front of the TV anymore. 00:07:22.339 --> 00:07:25.399 Throughout the course of the Olympics, 00:07:25.599 --> 00:07:28.839 has anybody watched any events that weren't already familiar to them? 00:07:29.479 --> 00:07:31.719 Did you see weird sports that you hadn't seen before? 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:32.439 Yeah? 00:07:32.599 --> 00:07:34.439 Shane, what did you see that was new to you? 00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:38.099 Yeah, judo. 00:07:38.819 --> 00:07:40.000 There were some strange ones. 00:07:40.359 --> 00:07:42.139 Fencing was one to me. 00:07:42.219 --> 00:07:45.639 It's not that I was unfamiliar with the general sport of fencing, 00:07:45.779 --> 00:07:48.500 but to watch it, I really had no idea what was going on. 00:07:48.559 --> 00:07:50.579 It seemed like every time somebody scored, 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:53.120 I always thought it was the other guy who had gotten the point. 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:55.659 I just couldn't follow what was going on. 00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:57.519 Or taekwondo. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:00.560 You know, this is one that seems pretty straightforward, 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:02.500 but it's pretty hard to keep track of. 00:08:03.219 --> 00:08:04.899 And of course, when I turn one of these on, 00:08:05.139 --> 00:08:06.259 the kids run into the room, 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:08.699 and they immediately want to know everything that's happening. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:10.459 They want to know who's winning and how they're winning 00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:11.439 and how the sport goes, 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:13.379 and I have no idea on some of these. 00:08:14.219 --> 00:08:16.779 And this is a little bit like what Paul's dealing with 00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:18.519 as he's talking to the Thessalonians. 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:22.620 There's a new group of believers here in Thessalonica, 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:28.019 and they've heard and they've seen what's going on, 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:30.060 but they don't fully understand everything. 00:08:30.899 --> 00:08:31.959 Like me with taekwondo, 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:34.600 I get that they should kick each other in the head, 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:37.279 but beyond that, most of it's lost on me. 00:08:38.179 --> 00:08:42.139 And so Paul begins his part of explanation in verse 13 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:43.299 with this sentence. 00:08:43.419 --> 00:08:43.679 He says, 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:46.340 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant. 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:49.139 Now, I really like things like this in Scripture 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:51.060 where you get a little bit of a vision 00:08:51.060 --> 00:08:53.000 into the personality of each of the writers. 00:08:53.540 --> 00:08:56.660 Only a really good friend could begin an explanation of something 00:08:56.660 --> 00:08:57.879 by saying, 00:08:58.000 --> 00:08:59.200 You're so ignorant about this 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:00.899 that I'm going to explain it to you very simply. 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:04.259 Now, if you drop down to verse 15, 00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:06.399 it says, 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:09.639 According to the Lord's own word. 00:09:10.280 --> 00:09:12.660 Now, here clearly we are in the New Testament, 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:14.839 but this really starts to sound a lot like 00:09:14.839 --> 00:09:16.860 what we would hear from Old Testament prophets. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:21.439 If you would, turn back with me to the book of Jeremiah. 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:25.100 We're going to look at chapter 1, 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:29.299 and almost right at the beginning, 00:09:29.459 --> 00:09:30.500 right in verse 2. 00:09:31.299 --> 00:09:32.939 My wife's going to help me with the page numbers 00:09:32.939 --> 00:09:34.199 for everybody in the Red Bibles. 00:09:34.200 --> 00:09:39.300 7.55 if you have one of the Red Church Bibles. 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:43.740 So, Jeremiah chapter 1 in verse 2. 00:09:44.560 --> 00:09:45.259 And here it says, 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:48.120 The word of the Lord came to him 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:51.080 in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Josiah. 00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:54.040 Now, if you just drop down to verse 4 quickly, 00:09:54.520 --> 00:09:56.700 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 00:09:57.920 --> 00:09:58.960 In verse 12, 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:01.120 The Lord said to me, 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:02.799 Verse 14, the same thing, 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:04.299 The Lord said to me. 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:06.620 Okay, now just real quickly, 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.580 chapter 2, 00:10:09.580 --> 00:10:12.259 verses 4 and 5. 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:14.120 He says, 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:15.419 Hear the word of the Lord, 00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:16.519 O house of Jacob, 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:19.100 all you clans of the house of Israel. 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:21.419 This is what the Lord says. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:24.259 So what you'll see as you go through Scripture, 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:27.180 as you look at the prophetic words 00:10:27.180 --> 00:10:29.799 that God had spoken to the prophets, 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:31.779 as he spoke them back to people, 00:10:32.219 --> 00:10:33.059 this is a pattern. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:35.240 You know, when they come back 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:36.299 and they deliver the message 00:10:36.299 --> 00:10:37.439 that the Lord had given them, 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:38.479 they say something like, 00:10:38.719 --> 00:10:40.139 This is what the Lord says. 00:10:40.439 --> 00:10:42.299 Or, as we see in Thessalonians, 00:10:42.439 --> 00:10:44.439 According to the Lord's own word. 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:46.459 So we can see that this is not just 00:10:46.459 --> 00:10:48.199 Paul's interpretation of what's going on, 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:49.339 but this is a specific revelation 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:51.279 that God has given him 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.159 as part of the progressive revelation 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:54.500 of God's truth to the people. 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.599 Now, as a side note, 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:58.040 this is what makes 00:10:58.040 --> 00:11:00.259 some of Jesus' teachings so interesting. 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:02.139 If you think back to the Sermon on the Mount, 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:04.000 when Jesus was speaking to people, 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.820 he kept saying to them 00:11:05.820 --> 00:11:07.120 throughout that whole message, 00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:09.139 You have heard that it was said that, 00:11:09.920 --> 00:11:10.960 but I tell you that. 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:12.840 He was taking all this stuff 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:13.960 that they had been told 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:15.860 and that they had believed was truth, 00:11:15.920 --> 00:11:16.899 and he was taking it. 00:11:17.420 --> 00:11:18.220 And, you know, 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:19.940 and it was so complicated 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:22.720 and so challenging for them 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:23.940 because it really meant 00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:24.800 a couple things. 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:25.740 It meant that the teaching 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:27.060 that they had received 00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:29.360 was possibly wrong or incomplete 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:31.519 and that what Jesus was saying 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:32.440 was now true, 00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:33.860 and he was setting himself up 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:35.700 in a position of authority, 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.820 of the authority of God, 00:11:37.940 --> 00:11:39.080 and it's no wonder 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:40.540 that he upset the establishment 00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:41.300 in doing this. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:44.379 So to the point of revelation, 00:11:44.680 --> 00:11:45.460 it's important to see 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:46.420 that in this passage, 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:48.139 it's clear that this is 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:49.000 a prophetic word 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.620 that God has given to Paul 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:53.000 for the purpose of delivering 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:53.659 to the people. 00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:59.580 Point two, the return. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:01.740 So I'm going to make you 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:02.720 a promise right now. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:04.840 What I'm going to say next 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:06.659 is the best news 00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:08.299 you are going to get today. 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:10.200 In fact, it will be the best news 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:11.080 that you ever get. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.919 Christ is coming again. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.019 If I stood here and said nothing else 00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:19.740 for the rest of the morning, 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:22.120 that alone should encourage you 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:23.180 more than anything 00:12:23.180 --> 00:12:24.120 you will ever hear. 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:25.860 And ultimately, we'll see 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:27.440 that this is one of the main points 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:28.180 that Paul's making. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.120 Now, for those of you 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:30.779 that don't know, 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:32.659 my wife and I have three children, 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:34.940 all of whom are fairly inquisitive. 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:36.879 It's not uncommon for us 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:38.200 to have a discussion 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:38.860 about something, 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:40.700 and then hours or days 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:41.879 or even weeks later, 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:44.120 they'll come back with a question. 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:46.019 And you can tell that they really 00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:47.620 thought about what we discussed. 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:48.919 And once they've kind of 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:49.980 wrapped their minds around 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:51.019 the basic idea, 00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:52.639 it raises a whole bunch 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.440 of other questions. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.320 Well, this is exactly 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:57.340 what we see from the Thessalonians. 00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:59.060 They have some very practical questions 00:12:59.060 --> 00:13:01.179 surrounding the return of Christ. 00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:02.720 Things like, 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:05.000 what exactly is going to happen 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:05.720 when he comes back? 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.019 What's it going to look like? 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.720 When is it going to happen? 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:09.500 Which would be 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:10.860 a really handy thing to know. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:12.539 What happens to the people 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.379 who have already died? 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:15.340 How is all of this going to occur? 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:15.460 However, 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:16.899 if you're like me, 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:18.019 you've probably wondered 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:19.120 things like this 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.080 a time or two yourself. 00:13:20.660 --> 00:13:21.220 In fact, 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:22.500 this is one of the areas 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:24.580 of generally what I'll call religion 00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:26.200 that gets quite a bit of press. 00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:27.460 You'll see this show up 00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:28.019 in the news. 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:30.139 Anybody remember these people? 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.580 This was a group 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:33.840 that drove around the U.S. 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:34.660 in all these buses. 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:35.620 They left their jobs 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:37.259 and drove around 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:37.940 to tell everybody 00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:38.940 that the end of the world 00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:40.759 was coming on May 21, 2012. 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:44.100 I guess they missed it. 00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:45.559 Although they did put out 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:47.259 a press release on May 22, 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.580 saying that they had 00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:49.759 incorrectly interpreted 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.240 scripture 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.580 and that they had 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:52.639 a new date for everybody. 00:13:52.819 --> 00:13:53.840 So stay tuned for that one. 00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:55.539 Or how about this one? 00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:58.720 The Mayans. 00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:00.840 The Mayans have told us 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:02.580 that the end of the world 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:05.120 is coming in December 21, 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.200 so I guess we have 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:06.899 a few more months 00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:07.519 to find out 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:08.919 if the Mayans 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:09.980 are on track with that one. 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:11.379 Although they use 00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:12.659 the stars as their guide 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:13.300 and not scripture. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:15.100 Well, we could spend 00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:16.659 a lot of time 00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:18.180 debating these dates and times 00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:19.480 and a lot of groups have 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:20.220 talked about 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:21.420 when it's going to happen. 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:22.820 And in fact, 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:24.279 we could spend 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:26.000 a great deal of time 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:26.680 going through 00:14:26.680 --> 00:14:27.460 and talking about 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.120 the timeline 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:28.960 of when all of this 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.659 is going to happen. 00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:30.659 And if you want to have 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:31.259 a fun exercise, 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:32.379 we can spend some time 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.399 digging into all of this. 00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:34.180 You could spend 00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:35.600 an entire sermon series 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.399 talking about 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.519 the dates and times 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.220 of all of these. 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:40.279 But the reality is 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:42.600 there's a very simple answer 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:44.480 to when this is going 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:44.879 to happen. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:46.560 We have no idea. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.960 We are not told 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.980 when this is going 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:50.480 to happen. 00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:51.980 Now, 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:54.779 we do have some idea 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:55.680 based on scripture 00:14:55.680 --> 00:14:56.720 of when in the series 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:57.279 of events 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:58.340 it's going to happen. 00:14:58.340 --> 00:15:01.940 If we look back 00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:02.639 real quickly 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.259 at our passage 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.480 in 1 Corinthians, 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:10.960 that's chapter 15, 00:15:11.540 --> 00:15:15.259 verse 52, 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:27.860 we are told 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.860 that this will happen 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:30.080 in a flash, 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:31.720 in the twinkling 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.220 of an eye. 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:33.659 It's going to be 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:34.399 just that quick. 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.740 It will be like a thief 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.220 in the night 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:36.819 that he comes. 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.639 So this is all going 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.500 to happen very quickly, 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.379 but we don't have 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.100 any idea 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.039 when it's going to happen. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.959 I won't steal 00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:44.839 Jonathan's thunder 00:15:44.839 --> 00:15:45.339 because I know 00:15:45.339 --> 00:15:46.000 he's going to probably 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.179 dig into this next week. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.779 But from all of this 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.699 that we get in scripture, 00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:52.599 first, 00:15:52.699 --> 00:15:53.279 I have no idea 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:53.779 how the people 00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:54.219 on the bus 00:15:54.219 --> 00:15:55.199 got May 21st 00:15:55.199 --> 00:15:56.120 or any other date 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:56.839 from those passages. 00:15:57.899 --> 00:15:58.099 But, 00:15:58.500 --> 00:15:59.679 interestingly, 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:00.759 our passage 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.779 in Thessalonians 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:02.959 shows Paul 00:16:02.959 --> 00:16:04.459 speaking expectantly 00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:05.879 about Christ's return. 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.579 He says, 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.240 we, 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.679 he's talking about 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:11.059 in our lifetimes. 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:12.579 if you look at the we 00:16:12.579 --> 00:16:13.179 in that way, 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:13.919 and this is known 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:15.019 as theologically 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:15.719 the doctrine 00:16:15.719 --> 00:16:16.819 of the imminent return 00:16:16.819 --> 00:16:17.359 of Christ. 00:16:17.739 --> 00:16:18.000 He says, 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.619 we who are still alive 00:16:19.619 --> 00:16:20.759 and are left 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.899 will be caught up together. 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:22.899 Now, 00:16:22.939 --> 00:16:24.219 you could take that 00:16:24.219 --> 00:16:25.179 to mean that he is 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:26.059 expecting Christ 00:16:26.059 --> 00:16:27.359 to return in his lifetime, 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.759 or you could take it 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.759 to mean that he's speaking 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:31.399 of the universal church, 00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:32.219 that he's speaking 00:16:32.219 --> 00:16:32.919 of the church, 00:16:33.359 --> 00:16:34.599 Christ's church, 00:16:35.339 --> 00:16:36.919 when he's saying we. 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:37.439 Now, 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.519 clearly we know now 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:40.079 that Jesus didn't come back 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.000 in Paul's lifetime. 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:42.740 But what I do want 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:43.300 to come back to 00:16:43.300 --> 00:16:43.820 in a little bit 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:45.720 is Paul's mindset here, 00:16:45.800 --> 00:16:47.759 that he is living expectantly. 00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:49.900 He is living every day 00:16:49.900 --> 00:16:51.980 for the return of Christ. 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:55.820 Well, 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.460 let's just take 00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.420 a quick second 00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:59.000 to see where 00:16:59.000 --> 00:16:59.520 in the course 00:16:59.520 --> 00:17:01.360 of the end time events 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.800 the rapture will happen. 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.400 And this is one 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.500 that's much more difficult 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.980 to answer conclusively. 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:08.660 We have some insight, 00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:10.579 but I believe 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.220 it's impossible 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.180 to know for sure. 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:13.279 Now, 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:13.660 there are varying 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.500 schools of thought 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.339 on the topic. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.000 Some believe 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.480 that the rapture 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.079 will happen 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.720 before the Great Tribulation. 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.559 Some believe 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.220 that it will happen 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.839 in the middle 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.799 of the Great Tribulation. 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:23.519 Some believe 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.099 that it will happen 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:24.680 at the end. 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.740 And while it's interesting 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:28.200 to discuss and consider, 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.200 ultimately, 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.700 it doesn't really matter. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:31.759 In fact, 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.059 the general belief 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:33.900 is that this letter 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.700 to the Thessalonians 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.279 would have been written 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:36.579 before John even had 00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:38.660 his vision 00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:39.779 on the island of Patmos 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.940 and the book of Revelation 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.559 was even written. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.660 So for the believers 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:43.920 in Thessalonica, 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.859 they didn't even know 00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.920 that the Great Tribulation 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.500 was coming. 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:47.799 They were simply 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.460 looking forward 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.160 to the return 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.259 of the king. 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:53.339 Regardless of the timing, 00:17:53.639 --> 00:17:54.700 this is a powerful 00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:56.119 and life-changing truth 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:56.680 to consider, 00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:57.819 that the God 00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.539 who made us 00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:00.119 sent his son 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:01.079 so that we could 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:02.339 be reconciled to him 00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.559 and he is coming 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.359 back for us. 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:08.039 Third, 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:08.899 the resurrection. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.819 If we look back 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.440 at our passage 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:13.339 in Thessalonians, 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:13.759 he says, 00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:14.099 Brothers, 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:15.119 we do not want you 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.859 to be ignorant 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.599 about those 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.700 who fall asleep. 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:18.660 Well, 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.759 Paul isn't talking here 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:21.000 about people 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.119 who are literally sleeping. 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.279 This would have been 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:23.940 a common way 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:24.899 to talk about people 00:18:24.899 --> 00:18:25.599 who had died. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.619 In this culture, 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.379 at this time, 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.480 the prevailing belief 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.619 was that once you died, 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.660 there was nothing else. 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:33.859 There was no common belief 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.879 that there was a life 00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:35.519 after death. 00:18:36.959 --> 00:18:37.079 Now, 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:37.779 once this became 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.559 a central teaching 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.719 of the Christian faith, 00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.639 it naturally came 00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:41.579 with a lot of questions. 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.659 And when it comes 00:18:43.659 --> 00:18:45.059 to those chaotic moments 00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:46.779 that will be happening 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:48.879 when the rapture happens, 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.579 the Thessalonians 00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:51.319 are thinking about 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.459 what might be going on 00:18:52.459 --> 00:18:53.699 and one of the pressing questions 00:18:53.699 --> 00:18:54.699 expresses this sentiment. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:55.579 They say, 00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:55.879 Okay, 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:57.679 I get that the living believers 00:18:57.679 --> 00:18:58.359 will be taken, 00:18:58.859 --> 00:18:59.839 but what about the people 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.659 that already died? 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.740 Well, 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.320 as we just read, 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.620 Paul confirms for us 00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:05.180 that they will rise first, 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:06.820 followed by believers. 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:08.420 Now, 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:08.960 if you thought, 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.360 when I mentioned 00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:11.600 the dead coming back to life, 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.259 your first thought 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.300 was zombie movies. 00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:14.580 I need you to put down 00:19:14.580 --> 00:19:14.980 the remote 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.860 and step away 00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:16.620 from the TV. 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.200 But you're not 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:22.800 the first one 00:19:22.800 --> 00:19:23.360 that might have 00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:24.519 this ghastly image 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.259 of the dead 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:26.779 returning to life. 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.800 In that same passage 00:19:28.800 --> 00:19:29.500 in Corinthians, 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:32.700 you might just 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.319 keep your finger there. 00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:33.839 We'll go back 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.500 and forth a bit. 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.240 If we look 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:43.119 in chapter 15 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:44.680 in verse 35, 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:50.680 it says, 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.900 But some may ask, 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:53.579 How are the dead raised? 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.420 What kind of body 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.339 will they come? 00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.559 And now you go down 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.559 to verse 42. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.559 It says, 00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:01.299 So it will be 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.139 with the resurrection 00:20:02.139 --> 00:20:02.779 of the dead. 00:20:03.159 --> 00:20:04.139 The body that is 00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:05.159 sown perishable 00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:07.299 is raised imperishable. 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:09.519 It is sown in dishonor. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.759 It is raised in glory. 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.839 It is sown in weakness. 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.440 It is raised in power. 00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:15.519 It is sown a natural body. 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:16.480 It is raised 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.899 a spiritual body. 00:20:18.659 --> 00:20:19.319 So clearly, 00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:20.259 no matter the physical 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:21.179 state of the body, 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.200 it is raised anew. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.619 As God once formed us 00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:25.359 from the dust 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:25.899 of the earth, 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.639 he shall form us 00:20:27.639 --> 00:20:28.399 again, 00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:29.199 new, 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:30.299 imperishable, 00:20:30.459 --> 00:20:30.879 glorious, 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:31.559 powerful, 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.879 spiritual bodies. 00:20:34.679 --> 00:20:35.159 Obviously, 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:35.759 the resurrection 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.259 of the dead 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.019 holds a powerful 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:38.059 and prominent place 00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:39.039 in our Christian lives. 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.479 It was Jesus' 00:20:40.479 --> 00:20:41.679 claims of his own 00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:42.779 divinity and resurrection 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.359 that brought him 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:44.240 into such conflict 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.179 with the Sadducees 00:20:45.179 --> 00:20:46.419 who did not believe 00:20:46.419 --> 00:20:47.019 in the resurrection 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.699 of the dead. 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:49.019 The resurrection 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.559 of the dead 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.659 demonstrates death 00:20:50.659 --> 00:20:51.339 over victory 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.059 and sin, 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.619 which are the 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:53.459 dominion of Satan. 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:55.019 This amazing truth 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.700 reminds me of one 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.640 of my favorite passages 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.180 of scripture, 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:58.740 which we see in Ephesians. 00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.240 It says, 00:20:59.559 --> 00:20:59.779 Wake up, 00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:00.360 O sleeper, 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.720 rise from the dead, 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.660 and Christ will shine on you. 00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:08.539 The rapture. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:11.059 Back to Thessalonians. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:17.460 If we look at verse 16, 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.460 it says, 00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.500 For the Lord himself 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.620 will come down from heaven 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.719 with a loud command, 00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:25.399 with the voice of the archangel, 00:21:25.479 --> 00:21:26.859 and with a trumpet call of God, 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:27.939 which is to say 00:21:27.939 --> 00:21:29.059 you won't be able to miss it, 00:21:29.719 --> 00:21:30.879 and the dead in Christ 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.899 will rise first. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.259 After that, 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:34.459 we who are still alive 00:21:34.459 --> 00:21:35.059 and are left 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:36.079 will be caught up together 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:37.079 with them in the clouds 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:38.399 to meet the Lord in the air. 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.519 So this is what's known 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.299 as the rapture. 00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:43.019 Now, you may have noticed 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.879 that the word rapture 00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:45.000 doesn't actually appear 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.000 in this passage anywhere. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.519 Just so you know, 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.699 this isn't a Christianism 00:21:48.699 --> 00:21:49.859 that's been made up 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:50.659 somewhere along the way. 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:52.040 The Latin word for caught up 00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:53.340 is rapturo, 00:21:53.560 --> 00:21:54.160 which is where we get 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.120 the word for rapture. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.340 Now, I like made up words 00:21:57.340 --> 00:21:58.300 as much as the next guy, 00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:58.940 but not so much 00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.600 in my theology. 00:22:01.300 --> 00:22:02.040 As we can see, 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:03.360 Jesus is going to come 00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:04.120 with a loud call 00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:04.759 and gather up 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.779 all the believers, 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.000 past and present to him 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.140 in one giant motion. 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.620 We'll be caught up. 00:22:09.840 --> 00:22:10.700 We'll be raptured. 00:22:11.800 --> 00:22:12.680 As I read this week, 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.480 I came across 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.700 a Greek scholar 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.240 that outlined 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.300 the various meanings 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:16.980 of the word 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:19.119 for the Greek word 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.799 for caught up 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:21.980 and how each of those 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:23.480 speaks to part of the act 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.839 of Jesus claiming his church. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.879 The first was 00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:27.419 to catch away speedily. 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.619 So as we saw, 00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.539 this is going to happen 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.159 in a flash. 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:30.899 It's going to happen 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:32.259 in the twinkling of an eye 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.379 like a thief in the night. 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:36.619 The second was that he will, 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:37.899 it means to claim 00:22:37.899 --> 00:22:39.220 for one's own self. 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.119 And we know 00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:41.039 that the bridegroom 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.200 is coming back 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:42.940 for his bride 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:44.460 to claim her as his own. 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:46.400 It means to move 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.420 to a new place 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:48.920 because the earth 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.779 is not our home. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.259 There is a place 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.420 reserved for believers 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.240 in heaven. 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.039 It means to rescue 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.680 from danger 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.579 because we know 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.700 that the devil, 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.420 our enemy, 00:22:58.779 --> 00:23:00.039 is like a roaring lion 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:01.140 prowling around 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:02.500 waiting to devour us. 00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:04.660 And we will be rescued 00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:06.640 from that very real danger 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.539 in this one act of love. 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:12.039 And finally, 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:12.740 the reunion. 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:15.339 I don't know about you, 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.420 but I long for this day. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.700 I pray for his return. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.980 It's true at the very core 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.740 of my being 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:24.900 that I am not at home, 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.180 that I'm not whole, 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.799 that my eternal destiny 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.259 is forever in him. 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.440 And I can't wait 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.720 to see him face to face. 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:36.140 I can see a few important points 00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:37.339 in these final two verses 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.319 of chapter 4. 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.160 First, 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:42.460 this will be a glorious reunion. 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.940 As we've already discussed, 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:47.359 we'll all have glorified bodies 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.759 and we are going to meet 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:50.039 the King in glory. 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:52.259 As one theologian put it, 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:54.319 the suffering that we endure today 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:56.420 will be transformed to glory 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.579 when he returns. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.200 Second, 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:02.279 this is going to be a long meeting, 00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.460 like forever. 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:06.279 The end of verse 17 tells us 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:08.700 that we will be with the Lord forever. 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:10.720 He has assured us 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:12.779 that this is an everlasting union. 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:14.259 We will never be separated 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.100 from him again. 00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:16.819 We will live in his presence 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.539 forevermore. 00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:19.460 And third, 00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:20.600 Paul gives us a command. 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:21.660 He says, 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.660 use this teaching 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:24.080 to encourage one another. 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:25.559 Friends, 00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.740 if we can't be encouraged 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.900 that the author of life 00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:28.759 is coming back 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.480 for his treasure, 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:30.779 then our priorities 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.860 are in the wrong place. 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:33.680 And this is what I see 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.440 in Paul's mindset. 00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:36.360 that he's living expectantly 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.500 for Christ's return. 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:40.000 The first part of his message 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.019 to them is academic. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.519 He's talking about 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:44.120 the last moments on earth 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:45.799 and the process and protocol 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.759 of what will happen. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.380 But much more importantly, 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.360 he doesn't leave 00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:50.980 the Thessalonians in academia. 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.900 He takes them to application. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.039 Paul lives as though 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.940 he understands 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:57.960 it could come at any moment. 00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:01.160 I don't know if everybody here 00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:03.420 knows Christ as their Savior or not. 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:05.120 If you don't, 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.660 please hear this. 00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:08.640 Jesus is not 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.580 a deathbed decision. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.279 He's not simply 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.500 a character in history. 00:25:13.320 --> 00:25:14.420 This isn't religion 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.420 and it's not about 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.160 a church building. 00:25:16.820 --> 00:25:17.420 This is about 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:18.680 the one relationship 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.440 that has 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.600 eternal ramifications. 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.680 Death is coming 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.320 to us all. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.660 It's an appointment 00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.779 that we will all 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:27.100 have to keep. 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.740 There's no guarantee 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.539 when it will come. 00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.500 We're not assured 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:32.960 tomorrow 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.220 when the day comes 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:35.380 or the Lord comes, 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.460 we will be called 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:36.960 to account 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.180 on one basis alone. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.120 We will be found 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:40.140 innocent or guilty 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:41.480 based solely upon 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.120 whether or not 00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:42.720 we have entered 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.579 into a personal 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.180 relationship 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.720 with Jesus Christ. 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.920 Jesus is the only one 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:49.120 who lived a perfect life 00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:50.440 and died for the sins 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:50.940 of mankind. 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.100 He paid the debt 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:53.039 that we can never pay. 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:54.160 He rose from the dead 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.340 conquering the grave. 00:25:55.339 --> 00:26:00.119 He ascended into heaven 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:01.559 where he reigns 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.919 until he comes again. 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:04.399 We are told in Ephesians 00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.159 that we are saved 00:26:05.159 --> 00:26:06.299 by grace through faith 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.139 and this, 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.959 not of ourselves. 00:26:08.199 --> 00:26:09.500 It's the gift of God 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.579 and not by works 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:11.859 so that no one 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:12.379 can boast. 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:13.519 There's absolutely 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.740 nothing that you can do 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.179 on your own 00:26:15.179 --> 00:26:15.959 to save yourselves 00:26:15.959 --> 00:26:17.000 from the judgment of God. 00:26:17.659 --> 00:26:18.339 It is only through 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:19.220 the mercy he showed 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.939 upon the cross 00:26:19.939 --> 00:26:20.519 and the power 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.279 of the resurrection 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:23.000 that we can come 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.799 before a loving 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:25.139 and just God 00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:25.940 and know that 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.619 he will call us 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:27.059 his own. 00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:29.019 Whether Jesus comes 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.980 to collect his bride 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.720 or death comes, 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:32.399 the decision to accept Christ 00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:33.279 is one that cannot 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.079 afford delay. 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.779 If you've not made 00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.339 that decision, 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.680 I pray that you would. 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.879 Simply tell God 00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:40.420 that you know 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.440 you've sinned against him, 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.279 that you want 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.859 to be forgiven 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:44.079 and that you know 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:45.259 Christ is the only way 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.039 to his forgiveness. 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.099 Accept Christ 00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:48.720 as your Savior 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.359 and turn from 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.180 a lost life 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.340 to one 00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:52.580 filled with 00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.440 the glory of God. 00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:55.680 The words that you use 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:56.200 are unimportant 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:56.900 as God knows 00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:57.940 the desires of your heart 00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.480 and is waiting 00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.360 for you to come home. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.420 If you want to talk 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.360 with anybody about it, 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.460 feel free to chat to me 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:05.080 or find one of the other men 00:27:05.080 --> 00:27:05.620 in the church 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.980 because, brothers, 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.700 we do not want you 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.320 to be ignorant 00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:11.080 for the Lord himself 00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:11.799 will come down 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.279 from heaven 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.259 and we will be 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:13.980 caught up together 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.539 with them 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.900 in the clouds 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.720 to meet the Lord 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.180 in the air 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.900 and so we will be 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.940 with the Lord forever. 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.580 Friends, I hope 00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:22.519 you live expectantly 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:24.180 knowing that the return 00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.860 of the King 00:27:24.860 --> 00:27:25.700 is imminent. 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:26.980 Let's pray. 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.519 Father God, 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.620 for generation 00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:33.519 upon generation, 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.120 people lived 00:27:35.120 --> 00:27:35.820 in expectation 00:27:35.820 --> 00:27:36.600 of the coming 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.279 of the Messiah. 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.440 And Father, 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.320 we live in a time 00:27:40.320 --> 00:27:41.539 where we can look back 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:43.420 upon that Messiah 00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:44.720 and have life in him. 00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:46.900 But Father, 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.299 we can also look forward 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.159 to his return. 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.019 We can look forward 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.639 to that day 00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:53.039 where you come back 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.759 for your church, 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.339 where you come 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.359 to call your own 00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:57.099 to yourself, 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.319 when we can finally 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.539 see you face to face. 00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:02.579 Father, 00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.079 we thank you 00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:03.700 for the truth 00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:04.279 of your word, 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.180 the power 00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:06.119 of your Holy Spirit, 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.659 the love 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:08.059 and mercy 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.680 of your Son. 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:09.460 And we pray 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.240 all of these things 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.799 in his name. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.559 Amen. 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:11.659 Amen.