Comforting Words

COMFORTING WORDS

I THESSALONIANS 4:13-18

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them, which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others, which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we, which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them, which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

          There is much food for thought in these verses, closing with this exhortation: “Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.” There is comfort here concerning-

I.                   HIS SECOND APPEARING

A.   OUR LORD DOES NOT PROMISE TO SEND DEATH

B.   OUR LORD DOES NOT PROMISE TO SEND ANOTHER MESSENGER

C.   OUR LORD DOES PROMISE TO COME HIMSELF

D.   THE FULFILLMENT OF ACTS 1:11 “Which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

E.    THE FULFILLMENT OF MATTHEW 24:30 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

II.                OUR DEPARTED FRIENDS

A.   WE DO NOT SORROW AS THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOPE

B.   WE ARE NOT TO BE IGNORANT CONCERNING THEM

C.   HE SHALL BRING THEM WITH HIM

D.   THEIR SPIRITS SHALL BE UNITED WITH THEIR INCORRUPTIBLE BODIES

E.    THEY SHALL LOSE NOTHING BY BEING PUT TO SLEEP BEFORE HIS SECOND COMING

F.    THEY SHALL BE THE FIRST TO RISE

III.             THE LIVING SAINTS

A.   WE ARE ASSURED THAT ALL SHALL NOT DIE BEFORE HE COMES AGAIN

B.   WE ARE ASSURED THAT WE ALL SHALL BE CHANGED

C.   WE ARE ASSURED THAT WE ALL SHALL BE WITH HIM FOREVER

IV.            THE PLACE OF REUNION

A.   THE AIR IS SPOKEN OF AS THE SPHERE OF SATAN’S STRONG HOLD, EPHESIANS 2:2 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

B.   COULD THIS MEAN THAT THE TRANSFIGURATION AND REUNION WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE HEART OF THE ENEMIES TERRITORY!

C.   WHAT A TRIUMPH FOR THE PRINCE OF GLORY OVER THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS

V.               OUR FINAL POSITION

A.   SAVED BY HIM

B.   MADE LIKE HIM

C.   FOREVER WITH HIM

D.   THE ANSWER TO THE BRIDEGROOM’S PRAYER, JOHN 17:24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

E.    EARTH’S GREATEST BLESSING IS TO FIND HIM

F.    HEAVEN’S GREATEST HONOR IS TO BE FOREVER WITH HIM

This honor is for all the saints. “Comfort one another with these words.