Firm in the Future

Today is the last week of this series. We have discussed

Week 1 - Standing Firm in the Faith

Week 2 - Standing Firm in Suffering

Week 3 - Standing Firm in Righteousness

And Today we will look at standing firm in the future.

According to a Study done in April of this year by pew research:

Sizable majorities of U.S. adults say that in 2050 – just over 25 years away – the U.S. economy will be weaker, the United States will be less important in the world, political divisions will be wider and there will be a larger gap between the rich and the poor. Far fewer adults predict positive developments in each of these areas

While this seems like a most Americans have a pretty bleak outlook only time will tell if this outlook is warranted.

In reality any nation in any point of in History has always had an uncertain future. Nations historically do not enjoy prominence forever.

So the question we must ask is How do we find certainty and hope in an uncertain world? How do we stand firm in the future when everything seems uncertain?

Listen to this quote and remember this idea.

The future is as bright as the promises of God.

Adoniram Judson; William Carey

So today we are going to take a look at these promises found in I Thes.

Like any of us would, have questions about the future, The first century Christians also had questions about what would take place in the future. They wondered about what would happen to those who have went on into eternity before them. They wondered about those who would happen with those still living at the return of Christ. They wondered about the timing of Christ’s return.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 CSB

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

I. We have a Firm Hope.

A. In the resurrection of the Dead in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 CSB

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 CSB

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

The word “hope” is not used in this verse in the same way a we use this word today. When we say “Hope” we usually mean wishing for uncertain but favorable results. This is not how scripture uses this word. The word “Hope”

Is used as a word to describe.

Hope - An unshakable trust in Yahweh’s power to accomplish all that He has promised.

In other words, a scriptural hope is not a possibility but trusting in a future reality.

This what Paul is saying, when he says we do not morn as those without Hope.

B. In the Redemption of the living.

1 Thessalonians 4:15–17 CSB

For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

When we read these scriptures I think it is important not to super- impose an eschatological view and rather just read plainly what is there. Why do I say this?

because their is a tendency to filter scripture through the lens of our favorite teachers instead of just reading what is there and also noticing what is not there.

So let’s methodically look at this text together.

In order to do that I want to ask a few basic questions to help us logically think through this text.

Q: What is the purpose of the Book of I Thessalonians?

A: To encourage those being persecuted for their faith.

Q: Why is Jesus coming back?

A:To judge the earth and rule and Reign forever

Q: Where is Jesus coming from when he returns?

A: Heaven

So we can agree that Jesus comes from heaven to judge the earth and rule and reign. I think we would all agree on that idea.

Q: Where do we gather with Him?

A: In the clouds/air.

Q: Are the clouds and air in heaven or still part of the earthly plain?

To get this answer I looked up the word “Air” in the original language. Did you know what I found? “Air” means “air” and “clouds” mean “clouds.”

So I think we would have to agree the clouds and air are not in heaven and not separate from our physical reality.

Q: When Jesus returns in this way does scripture indicates He will once again leave and then return again a third time?

No he came to us and now we are forever united with Him.

Q: Is their any indication from the text that the saints at this point will leave the physical plain of earth and enter heaven?

Q: does the logic of the passage indicate we are taken elsewhere or does it indicate He is now forever with us to rule and reign?

Now, I am not expecting that in five minutes. I am going to completely change your eschatological position. In fact. I would hope not, that you would search scriptures and make up your own mind.

So if my point is not to change your mind, why did I take you through this exercise.

For one reason alone. Church family, our hope is not a rapture type event. No matter what side you are on concerning this idea, the greater promise is not that we will or will not escape temporal persecution, it is that we will one day be united with Christ forevermore.

I have seen in my lifetime the focus shifting away from being united with Christ and the hope becoming escaping persecution. This is not the focal point of scripture. In fact The subject of the rapture can be debated using scripture. The rapture is one of many theory’s concerning end time events.

Again, I would tell you that a focus on escaping persecution is a temporal hope and not an eternal one.

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 CSB

For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Our hope is not in escaping persecution or tribulation. The saints at this time where being severely persecuted, so Paul in this passage is not telling them they are going to escape it. In fact the entire book was written to encourage them to stand firm in it. The history of the church is one that endured tribulation after era of tribulation .

Our hope is in the coming of our Lord and his eternal rule and reign. His victory over all. His victory over sin and death and us being forever with him.

Do not make the object of your hope the rapture or escaping physical pain, but Christ Himself and the promise of eternal victory. If the rapture theory is right then great. I hope it is true. Weather it is or it is not , our hope is firm because it is not rooted in temporal events but in Christ Himself and his eternal victory over sin and death.

We have this hope that Both the living and the dead in Christ will be redeemed and forever with Him!

Now I can see already some of you are troubled by this idea and if you are it may reveal in your heart where and what you have placed your hope in.

I want to remind you of the words of Jesus.

John 14:1–4 CSB

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”

Throughout all of scripture we see this idea of us being the Bride of Christ. In this passage we once again see this very same idea. In Jewish culture. There were many wedding traditions that would take place. One of them was that the engagement would take place but then the groom would go back to His father’s house and build a separate apartment on to his father’s house. No doubt this would take some time. The would be bride no doubt became anxious about the timing of his arrival.

But, once the house was completed, He would go and bring back his bride.

Now lets read this passage together again.

John 14:1–4 CSB

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”

Do you see it now? Do you see the love in this passage. What is the Hope of every expectant bride? That her groom will one day come for her, to be married and that he will take her to himself and they will be together forever.

Church family this is our firm hope. We are the Bride of Christ. The loving groom is coming back and we will be forever with him.

No matter what you are experiencing today. Jesus is coming back. No matter what takes place in the future Jesus is coming back. Our Hope is not found in theories of His return but in Him and the promise. He is coming back for His bride.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 CSB

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

So in light of this promise....

III. Be ready for His return.

1 Thessalonians 5:4–6 CSB

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled.

A few minutes ago we read Jesus words about him preparing a place for us, but I think it is important that we finish out that scene found in John 14

John 14:5–6 CSB

“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.