Triumph of Christ’s Kingdom (Daniel and Revelation)-3b

The Rapture of the Church

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 (Started August 30, 2023)

Study Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Open:

On Sunday I reminded us that on Friday at sundown the Jews will celebrate Rosh Hashanah (the Civil New Year for the Jews, etc.).

Israel is 7 hours ahead of us, so sundown at 6:47 pm there will be 11:47 am here.

Are you ready for what the Apostle Paul told us in?:

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (LSB) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of 3 Fall Feasts that come pretty close together.

Following Rosh Hashanah in 9 days, at sundown on September 24 is Yom Kippur (Multiple ways to pronounce!)

Yom Kippur commemorates a national repentance of sin with the High Priest going into the Holy of Holies to atone for sins. Before going into the Holy of Holies, the High Priest would select 2 two goats.

Leviticus 16:7–10 (LSB) “And he shall take the two goats and present them before Yahweh at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 8 “And Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for Yahweh and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 “Then Aaron shall bring near the goat on which the lot for Yahweh fell, and he shall offer it as a sin offering. 10 “But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement upon it, to send it out into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

One goat was “for the Lord” and would be sacrificed

The other was the scape-goat too be sent into the wilderness

And finally, the Feast of Tabernacles happens 5 days later at Sundown on September 29

It reminds us of Vs. 17 we just read: “so we shall always be with the Lord.”

Yes, this is what the Apostle Paul called The Blessed Hope in:

Titus 2:11–14 (LSB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.

These scriptures that we have studied and will study tonight about The Rapture are Encouragers of Hope even more than a detailed road map for the future.

Do you remember what Biblical hope is?

A confident expectation based on solid certainty.

How can we have solid certainty — faith birthed and bolstered by God.

The world has no hope and the future is a vast, terror-filled unknown.

Focus:

In previous weeks we have looked at a prophesy in Daniel 9 concerning 70 weeks.

Again, we believe that 69 of those 70 weeks have been fulfilled.

That we are living in a “pause” between the 69th and 70th weeks.

So, we are looking at a significant event that will jump-start that 70th

The Rapture

Before we look at Daniel’s 70th week, which is the Tribulation/Great Tribulation, let’s look at what we believe is the next event on the prophetic calendar — the rapture of the Church.

The word rapture does not appear in the Bible but references to Christians being "caught away" are plentiful. We looked at a few last week.

I want to emphasize:

One of the pastors, Tuesday, seemed to indicate the church he pastors is so focused on the Rapture, they don’t want to work for Jesus.

The Rapture of the Church DOES NOT give the church an excuse sit by and idly do nothing until the Lord’s return.

We looked at Luke 19, where Jesus said to, Occupy till I come.

We are not idle — if anything we are energized and motivated to see the Lost and Prodigals saved— time is short!

Week of Fasting & Prayer

The majority of prophetic references concerning the Rapture occur outside of the Book of Revelation. We will now turn our attention to those passages.

WILL THE DEAD BE RAPTURED?

Last week we saw how those who are “In Christ,” whether dead or alive will rise in a glorified body to go be with Jesus

It will happen QUICKLY.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (LSB) Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

It will happen for millions

Emphasis should be put on the word together. We shall be gathered suddenly in one body.

We discussed how 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that we will be CHANGED:

Paul compared what will happen to us with what happens to a wheat seed that is buried in the ground and grows up to become a mature wheat plant.

The wheat plant shares the same identity as the seed that was buried, though vastly different.

Our new bodies will be the same bodies that were buried, yet changed in the resurrection.

They will be as different from our present bodies as a mature wheat plant is from a seed of grain.

Our present bodies deteriorate, decay and perish, but will be raised in incorruption, not subject to decay or death.

Our present bodies are buried in humiliation and weakness, but will be raised in glory and power.

Our present bodies are natural bodies, suited for earthly, natural life, but will be raised as spiritual bodies.

We read: 1 John 3:1–2 (LSB) See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we would be called children of God; and we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

We talked about how anticipation of such and event SHOULD promote self-examination?

Are we ready?

Are we doing everything we can to make sure others are ready?

The Rapture will be an exciting time for believers. The apostle Paul clearly outlined the events which will propel the Church to its eternal reward.

7. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, who will initiate the Rapture?

8. What 3 specific events will immediately precede the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16)?

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (LSB) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, …

9. What is the significance of the trumpet being sounded at the Rapture?

Warning

Announcement of royalty

Announcement of JOY

13. Paul includes himself in the group who will be alive at the time of the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17). What does this fact reveal concerning Paul's view of the immediacy of Jesus' return?

He thought it could come in his lifetime.

14. Considering Paul's view of the immediacy of Christ's return, how should we, who live many years later, prepare for the return of Jesus?

We need to be as ready as Paul.

15. What was the primary purpose of Paul's communication about end-time events (1 Thessalonians 4:18)?

To comfort and encourage one another.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

In addition to their concern over what would happen to those who died before the Rapture, the Thessalonians were concerned about the dates and the nature of the times and signs connected with the Second Coming. Paul told them they did not need him to write more about that.

16. Jesus had provided all the information necessary regarding the date and time of His return in Acts 1:7,8. What did He tell His hearers in that passage?

Acts 1:7–8 (LSB) But He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to THE END OF THE EARTH.”

READ 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 (LSB) Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore, comfort one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

17. What analogy (metaphor) does Paul use to illustrate the manner in which Christ's return would occur (1 Thessalonians 5:2)?

A thief in the night.

Echoing Jesus: Luke 12:39–40 (LSB) “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 “You too, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

18. Paul also identifies the Day of the Lord with the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:2,4).

The Old Testament prophets attached many meanings to the phrase "the Day of the Lord."

Read the following passages and record the various meanings associated with the phrase. Isaiah 22:5; Joel 3:11-15; Zephaniah 1:14-16; Malachi 4:1; Isaiah 54:2,3; 55:3-5; Ezekiel 47:22,23 Amos 5:18.20

Let’s look at one such passage (you can look the others up for yourself - on the handout)

Joel 3:11–14 (LSB) Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, And gather yourselves. There, bring down, O Yahweh, Your mighty ones. 12 Let the nations be roused up And come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations. 13 Send in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full; The vats overflow, for their evil is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near in the valley of decision.

Fire Bible: 5:2 The day of the Lord. The “day of the Lord” normally does not refer to a 24-hour day, but rather to an extended period of time when God’s enemies are overthrown (Isa 2:12–21; 13:9–16; 34:1–4; Jer 46:10; Joel 1:15–2:11, 28; 3:9, 12–17; Am 5:18–20; Zec 14:1–3), followed by Christ’s earthly reign (Zep 3:14–17; Rev 20:4–7).

(1) This “day” begins following the rapture of the church, when Christ’s followers will be taken suddenly from the earth to escape the end-time judgments to come on the world (v. 3). The period of those judgments—referred to as the “great tribulation”—is included within the day of the Lord (Rev 6–19; see 6:1, note; see article on The Great Tribulation).

This time of widespread distress and judgment ends with Christ’s literal return to earth to defeat the forces of the antichrist and destroy all of God’s enemies (see Joel 1:14, note; 2:30–31, note; Zep 1:7, note; Rev 16:16, note; 19:11–21).

(2) The day of the Lord will occur at a time when people are hoping for peace and safety (v. 3).

(3) The “day” will not come as a surprise to faithful believers—“like a thief in the night”—because they have accepted Christ’s salvation (i.e., his forgiveness, new life and a personal relationship with him) and will be spared from God’s wrath.

The faithful will be ready for the Lord’s return because they are alert and self-controlled, living in faith, love and purity (vv. 4–9).

(4) Faithful believers will be rescued from this “coming wrath” (1:10, note) through the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 9) when he comes to take the faithful people (his church) back to heaven with him (cf. 4:17; see Jn 14:3, note; Rev 3:10, note; see article on The Rapture).

(5) The day of the Lord will end with Christ’s millennial (thousand-year) reign of peace on earth and will bring time as we know it to a close (see Rev 20).

The “day” will actually end following Christ’s millennial kingdom (Rev 20:4–10) and the final judgment of the wicked (Rev 20:11–15).

Then the new heaven and new earth will be established (cf. 2Pe 3:13; Rev 21:1ff).

(6) For God’s enemies, “the day of the Lord” means terrible destruction and judgment; but for God’s faithful people, it means rescue and reward. (For more details and Biblical background on “the day of the Lord,” see the introduction to Zephaniah.)

Adams, J. W., & Stamps, D. C. (2011). Fire Bible (1 Th 5:2). Life Publishers International.

19. Are the Rapture and the second coming of Jesus the same event?

NO!

Fire Bible:

(9) Following the rapture is “the day of the Lord,” referring to a time that brings distress and judgment on the ungodly (1Th 5:2–10; see 5:2, note). That will be followed by the second stage of Christ’s coming, when he literally returns to earth at the end of the tribulation to defeat the forces of the antichrist, destroy the ungodly and reign on earth for a thousand years at the end of time as we know it (see Mt 24:42, 44 notes; see Rev 19–20).

20. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:3, some will not be prepared for the Rapture OR the (Day of the Lord). What will be the consequence of being unprepared for this important event?

Once the trumpet blows, there will be no way for those unprepared to stop it. The individual's previous relationship with Christ will determine the rewards and judgments which await.

To emphasize the impossibility of escape on the Day of the Lord, Paul compared the arrival of that day to the birth of a child (1 Thessalonians 5:3). There was no way to stop the birth process once a woman went into labor. She simply had to go through with it. God's enactment of judgment will be just as inevitable.

Paul's warnings were not meant to scare believers. His purpose was to encourage. The Day of the Lord will not overtake believers as a thief if they are truly living for Jesus. This does not mean the Lord will let believers know the time of His coming in advance. It simply means believers looking forward to Jesus' return will be ready whenever He comes.

We are to live in the light of God's presence, the light of God's Word, the light of the Holy Spirit, and the light of Christ (Ephesians 5:14).

21. Jesus explains the importance of preparation through a parable found in Matthew 25:1-13. Summarize the parable in the space below.

Matthew 25:1–13 (LSB) “Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 “Now five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 “And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 “And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 “But he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

22. What did Paul say we should do to prepare (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8)? What other things should we do to be ready?

Attend church

Hebrews 10:25 “ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

2.Observe the Lord’s Supper with the Rapture in mind

1 Corinthians 11:26 “26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.”

3. Love believers and all people

1 Thessalonians 3:12–13 “12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you, 13 so that He may strengthen your hearts blameless in holiness, before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

4.Be patient

James 5:8 “8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

We need to be patient with one another.

Human relationships in this fallen world are difficult.

Let’s remember that JoHari Window — we all have blind spots.

So let’s be patient with one another

5. Live a sanctified (separate) life

1 John 3:2–3 “2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Titus 2:12–13 “12 instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,”

1 John 2:28 “28 And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He is manifested, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

God's wrath against sin must come. The Bible repeatedly states the Kingdom will come in through judgment, yet Christians are not appointed to wrath. Jesus will preserve ready believers from the wrath that is coming upon the world.

23. Read the following verses and summarize what they say about God's wrath awaiting those who do not know Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Revelation 6:15.17

Revelation 11:18

Revelation 15:1,7

Revelation 16:1,19

Revelation 19:15

Followers of Jesus are not appointed to the wrath that will fall on a sinful, Christ-rejecting world. We are appointed to salvation. Salvation means more than conversion. The word "salvation" in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 refers primarily to the inheritance that will be ours in its fullness when Jesus comes again. Faithful remembrance of these promises will give us the strength necessary to face trials.

24. Why not believe in a mid or post tribulation Rapture?

Some may wonder if they have to be perfect to be prepared for the Rapture. We do not have to live in fear that we will somehow miss our eternal reward because of a sinful thought that happened to travel through our mind at the moment of Jesus' return. The Holy Spirit's convicting and guiding power is able to preserve any Christian (John 16:8-14). But the person is terribly mistaken who feels he can continue his sinful lifestyle, then somehow anticipate the Rapture and

get right with God at the last moment. Jesus is coming to receive a prepared Bride.

SUMMARY

Old Testament foreshadowing:

A. Enoch

B. Lot

3. New Testament foreshadowing:

Jerusalem (Acts 8:1)

Paul recognized that we obtain salvation not by what we are or by what we have done, but by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have received cleansing, forgiveness, and freedom from the guilt of all our sins. We stand before God as "not guilty," and nothing can stand between us and Him or between us and the inheritance He has promised. Our hope is in Jesus. He has purchased us by His blood and will preserve us in that day.

Paul's intent in providing information about the rapture of the Church was to provide comfort and encouragement. Comfort for those who worry about the state of loved ones who have already died. Encouragement for those who were discouraged because Jesus seemed to delay His coming.

Effect on those “left behind.”

A. Enoch

B. Elijah

The rapture of the Church is closer today than it has ever been. We can be prepared by faithfully obeying the Word of God.

If you have not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, you can do so today. Don't get caught waiting until it's too late.

LET'S REVIEW

1. What were the two concerns circulating in the Thessalonian church which motivated Paul to write his prophetic message regarding the Rapture?

2. What does the word rapture mean?

3. What will happen to Christians who have already died when the Rapture occurs?

4. How can a person be sure he or she is prepared for the Rapture?

5. Upon whom will the wrath of God fall?