End Game-3-The Blessed Hope

Today we finish the EndGame series as Pastor Brad teaches us about The Blessed Hope.

Pastor's Notes:

TEXT    1Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. (15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, everybody!

I’m so glad to be here and bringing you this truth this morning. Today will be the final installment of our “Endgame” series. I’ve enjoyed teaching you the truths about what happens when we die and the soul and spirit leaves the body. Our spirit immediately goes to Heaven or Hell to await our final judgement.

However what happens if we don’t die? What if we are alive at the time that Jesus comes to catch His people away?

This morning, I want to talk to you about a doctrine we refer to as the rapture of the church.

ILLUSTRATION

When I was growing up, I was taught over and over again to live right, because we very well could be living when Jesus comes back to catch us away!

As a teenager, this would scare you pretty bad. It’s one thing for your parents to catch you doing something, but God?

TRANSITION

The truth is, Jesus and the apostles taught us to watch and be ready, because we did not know the day, nor the hour that the Son of Man would come. Luke 12:40 NKJV. Jesus even said His coming would be like a “thief” Revelation 16:15 NKJV.

Why be ready?

BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT.

THERE IS NOT ANOTHER SINGLE PIECE OF BIBLE PROPHECY SINCE 1967 and the reestablishment of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel that needs to happen for the Lord to come.

IT COULD EVEN HAPPEN TODAY!

Because those who are not will be left behind to experience times of hardship like the Earth has never experienced. This is called the “Tribulation Period”.

Basically, the Second coming of Christ is one event that is broken down into two sequences: The Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming. These sequences are separated by 7 years of tribulation, which the last 3 1/2 years are called “Great Tribulation”.

RAPTURE........................SEVEN YEARS..................SECOND COMING

EXPLANATION

• -  The Rapture is a sudden coming for the church. This is not a visible coming of Christ, as He will not come down to Earth. Rather, we will meet Him in the air. The church will be in Heaven, where the Judgement Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will happen.

• -  The Seven Year Tribulation period will happen immediately after this, with a flesh and blood person the Bible calls “Antichrist” rising to power. He may be alive before the rapture, but he will not be revealed before. He will appear peaceful at first, offering world solutions, He will make a peace treaty with Israel which will result in the agreement to allow them to rebuild the Third Temple. (Which by the way, they already have everything they need to do it!) When it is built, on the day of dedication, he will demand worship and set himself there to be worshiped. This starts the last half, which is called “Great Tribulation.” In these 7 years, many Jews are converted, many are killed, and the wrath of the Lamb can’t be escaped. It is called “Jacobs Trouble”.Jeremiah 30:7 NKJV “Alas! For that day is great,So that none is like it;And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble,But he shall be saved out of it.” This period serves a purpose to prepare Israel to receive the Messiah. NOTE: This is why the church is taken, but ISRAEL is left. We already accepted the wrath of God and it was laid on Jesus at the cross! The Jews who rejected Jesus must experience this, though many will be saved out of it.

• -  At the end of this seven year period, there will be a visible appearing of Christ where every eye will behold Him. (Revelation 1:7 NKJV). He will physically set His feet on the Mt. of Olives, coming with His saints to do battle against all the enemies of Israel at the Battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 14:1-6 NKJV)

  BACKGROUND

 

With that being said, I wanted you to see that one is Christ coming for us, and another is Him coming with us. In our passage, Paul is encouraging the church to hold on through difficulty and not to lose hope. Many trials had happened and many had “lost” those they love to death.

His remedy to this situation was to remind them of the catching away of the church, which is why we call it “The Blessed Hope”.


APPLICATION 1. The Rapture

- We get the term “rapture” from the Greek rendering of “caught up”, which is “Harpazo”. That word means to be “snatched up with violent force”, or “to remove from harm’s way”.

- It literally will be a catching away.

- We will be taken to Heaven while the wrath is upon the Earth.

- Many say that us who preach the rapture just want to escape!

- Hebrews 2:3 NKJV "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?"

- Luke 21:29-36 NKJV "Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with[a]carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may [b]be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

2. The Resurrection

- This speaks of the resurrection of the body. The spirit and soul do not stay in the grave. They are released to the Lord at death. This is a resurrection of the body, which shall then be changed into a glorified body, much like Jesus had after His resurrection.

- The spirit of the dead in Christ will meet their body, and we will be caught up together!

- This is dead swallowed up in victory!

3. The Reunion

- Those saints who died and those who are living shall be caught up physically together.

- What a blessed time of reunion this will be!

- Our loved ones we cherished on Earth will see us again if they died in Christ.

4. The Reassurance

- This is the hope we have, that this world is not all there is. - There’s an escape from judgement.
- A hope of resurrection.
- A reuniting with those we love.

- Forever to be with Christ.

CONCLUSION

The question is this: Are you ready to meet Jesus if He were to come right now at this very moment?