X: Last Things

1st Thessalonians 4 beginning verse 13 Brothers and sisters we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind you have no hope for we believe that Jesus died and rose again. And so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who falling asleep in him. According to the Lord's word. We tell you that we were still alive who were left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not foresee. Those who falling asleep for the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command the voice of the Archangel in with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first after that we who are still alive or left be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will be with the Lord forever therefore encourage one another with these words. Now brothers and sisters about times and dates. We do not need to write to you for you know, very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night while people are saying peace and safety destruction will come on them suddenly as labor pains on a pregnant woman and they will not Escape but you brothers and sisters are not in darkness that the state should surprise you like a thief in the night. You were all children of the light and Children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then let us not be like others who are asleep. But let us be awake and sober for those who sleep sleep at night those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober running on faith and love is a breastplate in the hope of Salvation is a helmet for God did not appoint this to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, he died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him, therefore encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you were doing The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be unto God. You may be seated.

Here's a question for you. How do you measure spiritual maturity?

How would you measure spiritual maturity either in your own life or is somebody else's life? I get back to judge in terms of who's the holiest of who's not not not not since we just as a basic generic question. How do you evaluate who is spiritually mature? Some questions that you might use as Diagnostics could include what's their appetite like for God's word. Do they desire the word of God to read it to hear it to meditate on it? How Faithfully do they desire and how Faithfully are they involved in a local church, I could remember Christianity is not just about what you and Jesus do in your closet at home. It's about what you do with God's people what's their involvement like with a local church? How well-informed is a worldview do they view the world through a Christian lens? Do they have used social issues through the lens of God's word? Another question, how do they pursue wisdom? What's their game plan for pursuing wisdom? And how do they employ wisdom? What's their game? Play game plan for doing that? Another diagnostic question that you could ask but you ought to ask really is a following. Do you want Jesus to come back? Do you want Jesus to come back? If you really think about it in your own life or in the life of somebody, you know, who is Godly who is mature in Christ? Whoever you might think of who comes to mind. I guarantee you one of the defining characteristics of who that Christian is is that they have a strong desire for Jesus to come back. And that's multifaceted. What's the reasoning behind that will think about it just a few categories of people those who are Faithfully in God's word routinely they most likely have a stronger desire for Jesus to come back because their minds are set on things above not on Earthly things for those who are older than just to be frank those who have some of their body is wasting away, right? Everybody's do it on that trajectory. Some of us are farther along than others for those who are older they typically desire Jesus to come back sooner more so than a younger person. Another group of people be those who are sick. I mean you could be young or old any or any agent between those who are going through a debilitating illness or struggle physically speaking. They most likely desire for Jesus to come back because the Comforts and the things of this world are not sufficing anymore. They realize this world is not my home and that's part of the what will jump into this when you go through James but part of them the benefit of going through trials because it stores as it gets us uncomfortable with this world and remind our hearts that you were made for something greater your longing for a king who is to come So what about that today? We're going to be looking at a brief overview of the entire times about Jesus in particular Jesus coming back. Now, as you know, the end times is known as the doctrine of eschatology or the doctrine of the last things Baptist faith and message puts it in their headline there. There's an immense amount of material to cover concerned and times and there's even a greater amount of mystery concerning the end times for example of the tribulation the Rapture of the Millennium Antichrist signs of the end so on and so forth, but for the sake of time, we have to narrow our Focus done this with every doctor has gone through the sake of time. We're nearing our focus is what we see in this passage in 1st, Thessalonian. Say differently what I want to stress this morning. It's quite simple the simple basic. Hope that's going to sustain us through the turbulence. That's to come. When life gets hard in the present day and as life continually deteriorates is I believe God's word is clear is going to happen. But Martha is there will be terrible times in the last days people will be lovers of themselves lovers of money most feel proud of you. So disobedient to their parents ungrateful Unholy Without Love unforgiving slanderous Without self-control brutal not lovers of the good treacherous rash considered lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness, but denying its power at 2nd Timothy 3 verses 1 to 5 head doesn't sound like a Rosy picture of where things are headed as things progressed. But as things progressed that way and even in your own life today when things get hard, The key question that you will wrestle with and that you need to ask is not what's your view on the Millennium? What's your view on the timetable of the Rapture the key question that will sustain you through it. All is quite simple. Do you turn to for Solace? Where do you turn to for help? Who do you turn to four strength that you're quite simple answer brothers and sisters. What is the answer? Jesus Christ Our great king that we long for it to come we long for this Jesus to come. So as we looking for Thessalonians chapter 4 and a little bit of chapter 5 use the take-home truth. I want you to remember when you walk away your take away. Its 4:17 the last freeze there so we will be with the Lord forever. So we will be with the Lord Forever This is the hope of the Christian. It's not mansion and Heaven. It's not seeing the Pearly Gates. It's not walking on streets of gold is not enjoying the Glorious spread Buffet. That's awaiting us. It's not even seeing loved ones as wonderful as that's going to be the central. Hope of the Church of Christians is right there at the end of her 17. We will be with the Lord forever. That's what I want you to remember. Let's walk to the text to see what we see them packet beginning of verse thirteen brothers and sisters. We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope the zoom out a great way to figure out what does the text say a great way to do that is by looking at the surrounding contacts if you were to zoom out in 1st Thessalonians, you may observe and I I think it's quite true the verse 13 starts a completely new section. A lot of times in a letter. There's a flow of thought logical flow of thought at a particular in Ephesians and Romans. That's easy traceable flow thought that you can follow 1st Thessalonians 4:13. This is a quite a shift in the topic of what Paul's address in here. There was a flow of thought beforehand Paul just talked about living sexually pure lies and then he talked about loving one another in terms of loving God loving the church and we're thirteen brothers and sisters. We don't want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death. So Paul may have been addressing questions that this church was asking maybe there was a correspondence that they sent a letter to him or maybe just verbally conversating with him at some point. They're like a part, you know, one thing we would love to learn at the church is what's going to happen at the end particularly. What's going to happen to Christians who died? What's going to happen? Let me see like a plainly obvious answer for you here today, especially if you're you're growing up in the church, but keep in mind if you he's writing to Paul is writing to the Thessalonians Believers in the city of thessalonica. Where is that at northern part of Greece some 1,500 Mi away from Jerusalem from Israel from the nation of Judah. So these people they did not grow up going to the church that did not grow up reading the Bible that did not grow up hearing sermons. They did not grow up going to Christian funerals. These are Godless pagans would have had no involvement with Jewish people are Christianity and it's a very legitimate question. Just imagine if you had no background of Christianity. What's going to happen to Christians who died? They were uninformed. They were unaware about this Doctrine. So what does fall do I'm going to write to you and I don't want you and basically saying I'm going to inform you about certain things that will give you. Hope they will encourage you. What is a key for us today? Is is Paul right? So we don't want you to be uninformed about those who sleep and deaths that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope what's the central reason that he mentions here while he's riding. I don't want you to grieve without hope. I want a loved one dies when I love Christian dies. I do not want you to grieve and be in total despondency and despair. Okay. I want you to be able to grieve with in order to do that. You must be informed about certain things about the end. You must have an awareness and knowledge of what is the come to the in times are very relevant for you not easy to have that attitude of I don't really care about the end times. Just tell me how to live today. That's all I care about. That's not at all a Biblical attitude at all. You have to know the end in order to live in the present that is clear in Scripture. What are the other thing if Paul is wanting them to have to be informed about this topic sufficiently, but here's a key question for you. When can any of you say I have sufficient knowledge about the end times?

You can't if you do your very arrogant very prideful. It's the same truth with Jesus in general. I say this every week to the kids when they just missed grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ at what point. Can you say I've grown enough in the grace and knowledge of Jesus never there was always more to learn that you with every Doctrine and when you really think about it, the doctrine of eschatology isn't about charts and timetables and all that. The doctrine of eschatology at its core is about Jesus Jesus the king coming back. It's all about him yesterday their other details and rabbit holes that you can go through when it comes to the end but it's all about Jesus coming back. That's what the eschatology that's what the in time is all about. So it's proper in good for you and I to always always always grow and our knowledge of what's to come. 413 West 14th that Jesus died and rose again and still we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. What are the first phrase We believe that Jesus died and rose again that sound familiar to you. It's a cardinal confession of any biblical Church of any true church. We believe that Jesus died and that he rose again. You have to stress both you have to emphasize but it's not just the crucifixion. It's not just Jesus died for your sins to cover over your sins. It's not just the resurrection because that makes no sense apart from his death. It's both in you must Faithfully preach both and believe both his death and his resurrection. Both in real time and space. Misiki. There's some pockets of Skeptics and even some liberal Christians do not talk about politically I'm talking about the way they approach the Bible literally don't believe this is God's word. So on so forth, but they believe that Jesus did not die physically that it was just an illusion. It was a mirage that it just look like you. But he was just hurting really bad and that when they put him in the grey that he wasn't physically dad. He was just very weak and then some people believe that and then conversely regarding the resurrection some people believe it was just a ghost or Spirit or a vision that the apostles had it wasn't a physical literal body. That's not Christianity. We believe that Jesus literally died that he literally rose from the dead. So then also in verses 13 and 14 you notice a phrase. That's kind of repeated. All talks about those who sleep in death verse 13 and in verse 14 those who have fallen asleep in him in Jesus for Christians physical death is not the end physical death is not permanent. It is temporary. To State it in in a Bible leeway. Physical death is Sanctified sleep. It is a holy nap is a momentary rest is very temporary because in God's economy for the Christian they are innocent sleeping and they will be woken up at the end of time. That's not to say that they're at the store sleep. Okay, because it's Paul talks about in Corinthians when this hope when you die physically your soul goes immediately to be with the father. Okay, and then the Soul has been reunited with the body. And in that sense. The body is going to wake up at the end of time the physical body is sleeping for all intents and purposes for the Christian. Impala tinting out what he's going to spell out more clearly in verse 16, but that is this Jesus died. He rose again. And so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him when Jesus comes back he's going to bring with him those who have died in him beforehand. More than verse 16 verse 15 according to the Lord's word. We tell you that we who are still alive who are left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. That freeze right there at the beginning is crucial according to the Lord's word. This is not some wishful thinking this is not some random hypothesis. This is according to God's word. And what do we know of God's word? Do you remember that phrase from 1st Peter and it's from the Psalms the grass withers the flowers fall, but

the word of the Lord indoors forever or stands forever. If God speaks it it will happen God speaks this through the Holy Spirit through Paul and it is going to happen. Literally what's right in front of us, but also everything in this book everything is going to happen. According to the Lord's word. So specifically Paul States those who've already died. They will be resurrected and rewarded with glorified bodies first. That mean that means Moses and Noah and Samson and David and perhaps any Christian ancestors that you have gone on before us or or family members. They will be resurrected first and they will receive their renewed glorified bodies first. Why does Paul stressed at why does he emphasized that the text isn't explicitly clear? Perhaps the Thessalonians thought okay, I got it. Jesus is going to come back. But when Jesus comes back those who were going to enjoy his return are those who are going to be living because the living or literally going to see him come back so we have it better than those who are dad because we're going to be able to see him with our own eyes and maybe Paul is addressing maybe a little bit of Pride. They're not entirely sure but nonetheless, it's quite clear from scripture the dead in Christ will rise first and then after that, What it would look a 15. We tell you that we who were still alive for us today everybody in this room. We who are still alive who are left until the coming of the lord. We will not proceed those who fall asleep. number 16 the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command the voice of the Archangel on the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Jesus is going to come back but loud command voice of the Archangel trumpet call of God. I was unclear in scripture if this is one massive noise or if it's three sequential sounds on sure it doesn't specify here. But either way this is what I want to stress from the first Jesus is coming back it up very loud powerful public way. Okay coming back publicly personally and powerfully he's not sending some personal assistant in his place. Jesus is not going to come modestly and secrets and kind of announcing self amongst just a handful of people is coming back in the whole world is going to know it. You won't need it. I don't think you'll need to turn into the news somehow someway. Everybody's going to know he is returned because it's going to be this Divine announcement from Heaven that he his that he has returned. 10 / 17

After that, we who are still alive. There left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to be with the Lord the year to meet the Lord in the air and so we will be with the Lord forever. So Jesus is going to wake up the dead and then after that he's going to gather the living to himself. The scripture says somehow some way. We're going to meet the Lord meet the Saints in the air by the question is what does that mean? Where does that mean? That is so if your 1 ft off the ground, I mean technically you're in the air right your could be ten feet. So it doesn't specify doesn't necessarily mean we're going to be could be I'm not sure all it says is we're going to meet the Lord in the clouds and be with him meet meet everyone together. So we will be with the Lord forever again take note. There's no specific time table mentioned here. It says the dead in Christ will rise first and then the the living will be added together. It could happen hours apart days apart. It could happen within seconds. They but nonetheless the dead will rise first and then maybe a couple seconds later. Then the living will be gathered together. We don't know the specifics of the timing here heigh. That's why there has to be charity among the Scots people concerning this issue. Look at the phrase. Together we will meet them in the clouds to meet with the Lord in the air. What is the in the clouds talking about? Like what one commentator pointed out the clouds will accompany the Lord as his return that's mentioned in Matthew chapter 24 and chapter 26 and Mark chapter 13 chapter 14, Luke 21 Revelation 1:7 in Revelation chapter 14, each of those passages emphasize that Jesus is going to come back and descend amongst the clouds are with the clouds. And this really find its root and Daniel think back to Daniel chapter 7. That's when Daniel saw that one like a son of man coming with the Clouds Of Heaven. What does all that mean the commentator says the clouds are the place of meeting between humans and the divine? significant kind of interesting to think about but the golden phrase that your eyes must be fixated on his right there at the end of her 17. So we will be with the Lord forever.

Anybody know that good old him. What's the him? I'm thinking of about that phrase what a day that will be when my Jesus I will see when I look upon his face the one who saved me by his grace when he takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land what a day glorious day. That will be Will be no more Sorrows no more burdens to bear no more sickness and no more pain no more partying over there, but forever I will be with the one who died for me. What a day a glorious day. That will be

that's the hope of Christians to be with God. think about Psalm 27 verse 4 you've undoubtedly heard this worse before. Psalm 27 verse 4 one thing I ask from the Lord this only do I seek. And I may have a lot of money in life. of course not One thing I ask from the Lord this only do I see that I might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to Gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his Temple. That is the reward of the Christian to be with God to worship God to see him to fellowship with him face-to-face. That is what we look forward to and that is the hope that really will sustain us through the end and when you think about it, that is a sign of maturity. Because when you're in the SLI a Christian or if you're exploring Christianity you haven't yet. I've been converted. Maybe you thought of this sentiment as well we'll have is going to be boring. I'm just going to be sitting up there strong in my heart. That's kind of boring, right, you know, that's kind of fun to think about it initially. But the more mature you become as a Christian you realize that's not at all what we're going to be doing one. We're going to be here on it at it on Earth. But to the more you spend time and God's word the more your heart is refined and that you don't desire the things of the world anymore. But you just desire to be with God. Something that takes time it takes Community to build but it is the heart of the Christian. I want to be with God to be with Jesus. And I promise we will be with the Lord forever. What's 18? therefore encourage one another with these words literally speaking all the same you church youth us alone. Ian's encourage one another with these words. This isn't he's not saying pastor you encourage the congregation with these words. He sang congregation you encourage one another with these words. That's one of the cool things about Christianity. Is the past present and future aspect of it. I've already mentioned in the past Christianity is not a religion based on moral principles and good ideas. And yeah, it's Christianity is based on history. It's based on real people the real Savior and real time and a real place. Search based on history in the past. We look to the past. We believe Jesus died and rose again. That's the past there. We take great comfort in that it's also about the present. It's not just about what happened back then. What is God's word tell us the spirit is present with us every single day. He walks with us. He Comforts us he teaches us he is inside of us. The spirit is presently with us, but the ultimate hope for the Christian isn't necessarily the pastor present. It's the future. It's what's to come the God who promised is faithful to see it to completion. We look forward to us to come in the future. Practically speaking for all of you today. It says encourage one another with these words. Encourage each of you memorize the 6 vs here 1st Thessalonians 4:13 to 18. This is a great passage to store up in your heart and your mind and your soul. Yes for your own personal walk with God, but the share it with others. Just so that you can expound the theology can share the truth here. You can share what is the come so that you can bless others.

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looking to spend a lot of time here, but just want to mention it brothers and sisters about times and dates. We do not need to write to you for you know, very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Call he he's a great writer in the sense that I think he accurately predicts. What's the question that you're thinking of talking about the talking about Jesus coming back the Resurrection being with God forever being rescued by him. What's a big question that you immediately think of when is it going to happen? So you immediately dresses it wasn't about the time of the dates. We don't need to write to about that. Why because the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Listen to component there are signs that must be fulfilled. But the same time it's going to happen like a thief in the night. Nobody's going to be expecting it for say you can't predict that you can't plan for it at a precise manner as if you know, Jesus is coming back next week from today. I'll be quite something right Resurrection Sunday be quite the entrance into the world. But we don't know that we're not intended to know that either cuz he's just plainly says it's going to come like a thief in the night but the key from versus three and following two verse 11. This is another showing for another time. The main point here is how to live in light of that day. At the day is coming that glorious day is coming. How do you live in a way that eagerly expects that day? How do you live in a way that prepares for that day? Well, that's what that passage is about a really when you think about that's what the Bible is about. You may have heard it said before the Bible acronym basic instructions before leaving Earth. There's some truth to that. It's not just about how to live your life but there's truth to that we spend time and God's word week after week bible study Sunday school Sherman time all of it so that we can low how to live in light of that day to come so that was from her for another time. But nonetheless all of you here today. I'm sure you have more specific questions about the end times such as the tribulation the Rapture the Millennium Antichrist etcetera. How can you begin to wrap your head around that? I want to share with you five suggestions for you to wrap the begin to wrap your head around the really the complex component when it comes to eschatology. There's a whole lot of questions, but here's a good kind of foundation that I encourage you to follow if you really want to think through this and dive deeper into it. If you haven't yet and your Christian walk number one, I found this from from one guy online number one understand the four views of the millennium. Okay, I understand the four views of the Millennium. You're not where what I'm talking about Revelation. I believe it's 19 somebody might know that won't stop their head. Revelation Chapter 20 The Passage there. That's the only place in the Bible that missed mentions a thousand years. So basically you have to wrestle with is that a literal time? Has it already happened? Is it already happening or is it going to happen in the future there for the use of the Millennium its historic premillennialism. If you need these afterwards talk to me. I can give you them after just having them for you now restored premillennialism dispensational premillennialism amillennialism or beforehand then postmillennialism. You have to understand it. You know it a good way to settle on any argument. If you're going to believe in one of those the right way to do it you need to understand what your opponents believe it's not the opponents in the sense of their my enemy, but just for the differing viewpoints if you can't basically decently articulate the other views that means you read Don't understand your own do very well. Do understand the forbid the use of the Millennium number to read and study the key passages in the Bible about the end times. What are they few of the Daniel chapter 9 1st Thessalonians 4 and 5. Like we just looked at 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 2nd Peter chapter 3 Matthew chapter 24 Luke chapter 21, Mark 13, and then of course the big Behemoth Revelation the entire book read and study those passages number three. What's your view on Israel? Hey isn't that the end of Israel the future of Israel ties into the end times quite a lot. She really need to wrestle with what's your view on Israel is too big views their dispensational or covenant theology. And you have to understand which which lends you view Israel. Which one do you think is more biblical? number for Know the four different interpretive positions on Revelation. I know it's getting complex, isn't it? But this is this is a good way to begin the right. There's a lot of different questions. This is I think the most helpful way to begin to it. What are the four different interpretations of Revelation what I mean by that basically is it literal did it wasn't for field in the first century with the fall of Jerusalem. Some people believe that is it kind of both and is it all about the future wants to come you need to wrestle through that for the user preterist futurist Progressive dispensational in classical dispensational and then swiftly and finally, then you can look into the specifics who is the Antichrist what about your pre-tribulation post-tribulation mid tribulation those kind of things. That's when you can get more specific about your questions. But after you done the homework beforehand to give you a good grid to understand this. Brothers and sisters wrapping it all up eschatology is a daunting Doctrine is very big very complex the church. The Christian church has not agreed on the end times. I don't know about ever in the history of the church. There's always been different viewpoints on it. But at the end of the day, we as Christians must hold on to what is absolutely true across all of the few points and I think the Baptist faith and message sums it up. Well of what what is he seneschal what must we all believe and confess in order to be considered faithful accurate Christians who believe God's word. So if you will read this with me repeated with me and this is again, I believe all the viewpoints believe and will acknowledge that this is true through this with me about the last things God in his own time and in his own way, we'll bring the world to its appropriate and according to his promise Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the Earth. The dead will be raised and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell the place of everlasting punishment the righteous and the resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward. It was twelve forever in heaven with the Lord.

Don't forget anything that I said today, please don't forget 1st Thessalonians 4:17. So we will be with the Lord forever. So we will be with the Lord forever. That's what we look forward to that is the hope that's going to sustain us through the end through our own daily lives today whether or not we see the actual, you know that the end if you will, but that is the hope of the Christian we will be with the Lord forever. He's coming back for us. He came once he's coming again and it's all according to the Lord's word. brothers and sisters that concludes our time the Baptist faith and message Two weeks or will it be after Easter will begin our time in the Book of James. So read that and prep for our time together there. Probably be in there for 2 to 3 months or so. It's not at all as long as Luke. So don't so I could get free your Endeavor there. But I'm looking forward to that. I hope this has been helpful time for you. I've enjoyed it at the same time. I've missed going through the books of the Bible passage by Pastor Jets. I think that's should be that the normal diet of any healthy church, but it is the same time. It's important to at times take a little Excursion thing or a basic doctrines. We believe in Toronto for it. So thank you for walking through that Journey with me. Let's pray then we will close with the doxology.

Jesus the word tells us in Revelation that blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it? Because the time is near These words are trustworthy and true blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this world.

Will you please help us all to have a heart that is eager? To learn more about being times. A heart that is humble as we pursue deeper knowledge and deeper insight into what's to come.

And through all of our studies all of our time and scripture together when it comes to eschatology. But none of us lose sight of what it is truly bind us together. That is the reality that we will one day be with you face-to-face. You're coming to rescue us. You're coming to save us you were coming to establish your kingdom in full and then finality here on Earth. We look forward to that day. That's the author Revelation says as it says in your word. We asked come Lord Jesus. Will you please come? But until that day comes please help us to be faithful to be found living in you walking by your spirit. In Jesus name we pray amen.