Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Thess

Introduction

I have a question to ask this morning?

There is no wrong or right answer — it’s just for fun.

What is your favorite place to hang out with friends and family or just by yourself?

I have a question to ask this morning?

There is no wrong or right answer — it’s just for fun.

What is your favorite place to hang out with friends and family or just by yourself?

Hospital didn’t make the cut!

Neither did cemetery.

And for good reason: cemeteries are sad places because they represent people we have lost — grieving never really goes away.

On the other hand, going to a cemetery should be a good reminder of how short this life is.

George O. Wood video “The Second Coming” (00.37 — 1:58) https://ag.org/Beliefs/Our-Core-Doctrines/Second-Coming

The world can be discouraging - abuse, brokenness, addiction and all that comes with it, moral depravity, sickness, loneliness, pressure from many sources — hard to deal with, but these are loud reminders that people need Jesus desperately.

When we are made new in Christ we gain hope that we could never have without Him.

In addition to being adopted into the family of God, we gain another hope — the Blessed Hope of Christ’s return.

Here’s today’s question — Is Jesus’ Return Near?

I have a very clear answer for you: “Yes!” or “maybe” “I don’t know” or how about “It depends!” or “Let me get a prophecy expert to explain it.”

Who’s opinion or interpretation is correct?

What about blood moons?

What about Israel?

Who is the anti-christ?

Those are legitimate questions...

But here’s what we know right now, for sure, without question: Jesus is coming for His church - it’s just a matter of which flight we get on — the one that comes through physical death or the one that snatches us up to meet the Lord in the air.

Prayer

Since Jesus could come at any time - how should we live each day?

Transition: One obvious question pops up immediately when we ask the question, “Is Jesus’ return near?” “What about the signs of the times…prophecy?”

SURROUNDED BY SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Signs serve as reminders and warnings

And warnings

:

We see all these things, in varying degrees, taking place in the world

Signs are reminders, but not specific time-tables

Famine

False Christs and false prophets — many have come…many are in the world today

Wars

Persecution (tribulation)

The Gospel preached everywhere

The Gospel preached everywhere

Signs are reminders, but not specific time-tables

I grew up hearing about signs of the times — the rapture — the judgement seat Christ.

One popular song on the radio was about signs of the times — we sang He’s coming soon —

I also grew up hearing a lot of messages or lessons on end-times events, and prophecy.

Many over the history of the church tried to predict the time of the coming of the Lord

Many books have been written on the end-times - some great books, some a little out there and unbiblical

Signs are reminders, but not specific time-tables

Many books have been written on the end-times - some great books, some a little out there and unbiblical

Novels, movies, etc.

Throughout history, many people have predicted the time of the coming of the Lord

1

A map of the future would be more destructive than helpful —

Signs give hope

Signs give hope

Practical Advice

Practical Advice

Many people have written and taught on the subject of end times.

Some of them are really good.

But there various opinions on the how, when, where, of the last days.

The best thing we can do, in the long run?

Always focus on clear statements of scripture regarding end-time events

Leave the speculative aspects of prophecy to those who propose ideas and opinions that cannot be CLEARLY gathered from God’s Word

Leave the speculative aspects of prophecy to those who propose ideas and opinions that cannot be CLEARLY gathered from God’s Word

Transitional: Regardless of when Jesus will return…let us all lift up our heads in joyful expectations because, it will happen

Transitional: Regardless of when Jesus will return…let us all lift up our heads in joyful expectations because, it will happen

EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE…IN A FLASH!

1 Thessalonians 5

Exposition: Put the context in context here DON’T FORGET

Exposition

In the beginning of chapter 4, Paul reminded the people how important it is to live a live that is pleasing to the Lord - to search their hearts and get rid of moral impurity — to treat one another with the love of the Lord — to lead good, productive lives for the Lord

Why did Paul tell them these things?

Was it more than just a pastor badgering his folks to straighten up and fly right?

Yes…it was a clear sense of urgency

3:

Titus 2:13

Paul often answered questions in his letters — some of them were obviously confused about what would happen to the believers that had already died —

1 Thess 4:

1 thess 4:13-15

Paul often answered questions in his letters — some of them were obviously confused about what would happen to the believers that had already died —

reveal 4 elements of Jesus’ return:

Verses 16 and 17 reveal 4 elements of Jesus’ return:

The return

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,

This is a worldwide event — God is not limited by time and space — the trumpet blast heard round the world!

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,

The Resurrection

and the dead in Christ will rise first

Those “who sleep in death” — sleep means you will wake up in the morning!

“I will meet you in the morning!”

The Rapture

The Rapture

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up...

The return

Harpazo — to seize — catch away, pluck,, take by force — specifically: by a swift, resistless, divine energy

A TWINK (twinkle) is a reflected particle of light seen in the eye.

Most of us have noticed a twinkle in someone’s eye . . .

that reflected light we observed traveled at 186,000 miles per second (speed of light).

That little ray of light entering the eye and then being reflected occurs in about a billionth of a second.

(www.discoveryworld.us)

The Reunion

The Reunion

together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And so we will be with the Lord forever

We will enjoy fellowship that is beyond our ability to understand —