THE LORD IS COMING!
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THE LORD IS COMING!
THE LORD IS COMING!
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
The Sermon Notebook: New Testament He’s Coming, Are You Going? (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)
Once in a machine shop there was a fellow named George. His job was to sweep and clean out the shavings underneath the huge lathes and machines we were running. George was born again, and he loved the teaching of Scripture on prophecy. He loved to sing hymns as he worked. Many of them had to do with the coming of Christ, such as “In the Sweet By and By” and “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder.”
Late one Friday afternoon about ten minutes to quitting time when everyone was weary, someone looked at George and said, “George, are you ready?” He said, “Uh—huh.” But he was all dirty. He was just obviously not ready. In fact, he looked like he was ready to keep on working. The others said, “Aren’t you ready to go home?” He said, “Yeah, I’m ready.” the others said, “Look at you! Man, you’re not ready. You’ve gotta go clean up.” “No,” he said, “let me show you something.” So he unzipped his coveralls and underneath were the neatest, cleanest clothes you can imagine. He had them all ready. All he did when the whistle blew was just unzip and step out of that coverall, walk up, and punch his clock and he was gone. He said, “You see, I stay ready to keep from gettin’ ready—just like I’m ready for Jesus!”
Some Bible experts claim that there are approximately 2500 prophecies in the Bible. About 2000 of those have already been fulfilled.
The probability of that taking place is a number that is bigger than we could ever imagine.
PROPH´ECY, n. [Gr. προφητεια, from προφημι, to foretell; προ, before, and φημι, to tell. This ought to be written prophesy.]
1. A foretelling; prediction; a declaration of something to come. As God only knows future events with certainty, no being but God or some person informed by him, can utter a real prophecy. The prophecies recorded in Scripture, when fulfilled, afford most convincing evidence of the divine original of the Scriptures, as those who uttered the prophecies could not have foreknown the events αpredicted without supernatural instruction. 2 Pet. 1.
The 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ is the next prophetic event that will happen!!!
All the promises have been fulfilled in order for this to happen.
Over 300 prophecies were fulfilled when Jesus came to this Earth the first time.
Over 30 prophecies were fulfilled on the day of Christ’s crucifixion and death.
Jesus fulfilling just 8 prophecies has the probability of 1 followed by 17 zeros!!!
1,000,000,000,000,000,00
2 Phases to the 2nd Coming of Jesus:
Rapture and Revelation
The Rapture is when Jesus comes FOR His Saints and The Revelation is when Jesus Comes WITH His saints. These events are separated by the 7 years of Tribulation on earth.
Rapture-quickly, quietly; Revelation-Triumphantly, every eye shall see Him.
Rapture-indicates Grace; Revelation indicates judgment.
What is the next great prophetic event?
THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS OF GOD!
What will happen when Christ Returns?
The dead in Christ will be raised
13 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. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 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. 16 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:
The Living believers will be caught away
17 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.
The imminent probability of the Return of Jesus raises 3 questions that we must answer.
The imminent probability of the Return of Jesus raises 3 questions that we must answer.
I. HOW SHOULD I LIVE IN KNOWING THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS?
I. HOW SHOULD I LIVE IN KNOWING THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS?
Each day brings us closer to the return of Jesus.
The countdown of life keeps reminding us of the shortness of our time.
Hopes and dreams that are either realized or not fulfilled remind us of the importance of “seizing the moment.”
Have you ever thought: “My life would be different if I would have done...”?
The absence of those in Heaven remind us that life is short.
1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
The signs around us provide evidence of Christ’s soon return.
Wars and rumors of wars
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
New disease and natural disasters.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Increased wealth and idle time.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
A unimaginable increase in violence.
II. HOW SHOULD I LIVE KNOWING THE RAPTURE IS SOON?
II. HOW SHOULD I LIVE KNOWING THE RAPTURE IS SOON?
The believers are to be caught away soon.
16 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: 17 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.
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
The One Who died and rose again WILL come again!
“For the Lord Himself”-vs . 16
The believers that are dead(asleep/resting) will be caught up first.
Those believers that are alive will escape death.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Our plans ought to go beyond our brief time here in this life.
Living for that which we were created-eternity!
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Laying up treasures in Heaven should take priority.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Longing everyday for the Return of Jesus Christ.
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
III. HOW SHOULD I LIVE NOW KNOWING I WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR MY LIFE?
III. HOW SHOULD I LIVE NOW KNOWING I WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR MY LIFE?
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The Judgment Seat follows the Rapture.
We must ALL appear.
We must ALL give an accounting.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Exam day is on it’s way.
Rewards await those that have served Christ faithfully.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Everything we see now will perish.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
How will Jesus Christ judge my service for Him?
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Does my Future hold Rewards or Regrets?
Do I need to take advantage of the time that I have and fully surrender my life to Christ?
Do I need to begin to lay up rewards today?
Don’t Delay! You May Soon Be Caught Away!
Don’t Delay! You May Soon Be Caught Away!