Caught Up Together

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

I hear some folks talk a lot about what God is going to do on earth and I wonder how much of what God has done, through Jesus Christ, really is effectual to those that say that.

I thought about it a lot this week......It seems we are so looking from some earthly deliverance/experience that we miss the true earthly deliverance.

We talked a few Sunday nights ago about the Thessalonian church.......They were so overwhelmed by the depth of the coming of Christ that.......(I am paraphrasing), they got in their pajamas, got on their rooftops and did nothing but wait on Jesus’ return.

Paul told them to go about their daily lives and live the Christian life; quietly, minding your own business, working with your hands........Living this life in faith, that God’s promise of deliverance through Christ has not missed us and is coming to pass.

You see, these Thessalonians were concerned that the ones that had died before them had missed the return of Christ and would not have any part in Christ’s return.....basically that was it for them.

They got that from folks teaching wrong doctrine and trying to scare these away from faith in Christ alone!

We talked about that the return of Christ was eminent to them, the way Paul talked it seemed he felt that way too, as well as Peter and others. They were mainly “looking” for or desiring the return of their Lord!

Paul wrote this to Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

Also in Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

There was an earnest desire to be with the Lord Jesus.

As for Peter and the rest of the original 11 disciples, they walked with Jesus, spent day and night with Jesus.......they wanted to be back with Him!

Their passion was for that fellowship again!

Yet, they walked and talked boldly about Jesus, after He departed!

Confident in the Holy Spirit that was left and confident to be with Jesus their Christ again!

Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and was taught by Him.....

This is how he put it and I believe it would of been the rest of the apostles heart as well....

Philippians 1:23 “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

To depart and to be with Christ which is far better.............Far better is a long way from the best we would see down here!

This body of Christ in Thessalonica, so believed this and desired this, they were ready to be with Christ.......yet, there was some that died and Jesus hadn’t returned and there was some telling them that those that had died had missed Jesus!

These that taught this, wore the disguise of a Christian, this is why I despise false teaching!

It is designed to cause folks to be discouraged enough to not believe.

Paul had already been with them and taught them this, but was going to reassure them in HOPE!

The Thessalonians loved ones that had died were, as Paul described it “asleep in Jesus”.....

The greatest sleep you can get........

However, Paul is not talking about “soul sleep”........This is where the bodies sleep or are buried and the soul is with the Lord.....a few Scriptures give us this detail....

Hold your place and turn with me to 2 Corinthians 5:1-9........

Out of that, when you read verse 8 it is a confidence that we have......

This describes the dead body not the soul.......Philippians 1:23, which we quoted earlier has the same thought, that when we depart from this life we will be with the Lord.

Back to our text......one of the greatest references that can be made about anyone, Paul to the dead Christians, is his reference to them as “dead in Christ”

Paul is taking a more pastoral role hear than actual teacher, he is teaching them truths but to comfort and reassure them in their life of faith!

Everything he was saying was taught to him by Jesus Himself!

Galatians 1:11-12 “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Now, to get more detailed about this............Verse 16......Jesus will descend....verse 17 tells us we will meet Him in the air......so it seems Jesus will not at this point set foot on earth....that will come 7 years later.

This will fulfill what Jesus said in John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 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.”

A shout from the archangel (possibly Michael)....very little is known about the organization or rank of the angels, but Michael only is named as an archangel....Jude 1:9 “Yet Michael the archangel,..........”

Then a trumpet blast from God.........This is not a judgement trump, but rather speaks to Exodus 19:16-19.....in which called the people of Israel out of the camp to meet God.....

One writer wrote that it will be the trumpet of deliverance....

The dead in Christ will rise first......The dead bodies will be resurrected bodies at this point (prepared) for Heaven, those bodies will go to Heaven and join with their souls/spirits which are already there.

After those resurrected bodies leave earth, the living Christians will follow....

Caught up together......this is where they get the word rapture. Calling this the Rapture of the church.

The body of Christ will be caught up together.......all bringing about the Day of The Lord which is the Tribulation period of 7 years and to also finalize the destruction of the world and satan in battle of Armageddon, when Jesus will come to earth.....that will be His second coming!

All of Scripture, in my view and many others, that the Rapture of the church is before the Tribulation begins because the tribulation period.....most especially the last 3 1/2 years of it will be judgement from God.

In fact, the removal of the church is what will bring about the antichrist

In 2 Thessalonians 2....we read about the man of sin in that day and in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”

It seems that the Holy Spirit that dwells in the believers is the only power that is holding the man of sin back…until it is taken out of the way then he will be revealed!

There is a lot of great details, that we can get into, but let’s get back to the primary purpose for Paul telling them these things....it is for comfort......to provide comfort for those Christians whose loved ones that have died........

The dead bodies of those will be resurrected and be a participant in the Lord’s coming for his own.

The living Christians will also be caught up {resurrected} (I like to think redone for Heaven) and reunited with their loved ones.

They will all be with the Lord eternally!

Summing this up.........