Anticipate His Coming
ANTICIPATE HIS COMING
I Thessalonians 4:1-8
The study of bible prophecy is a source of encouragement for us as Christians. It’s kind of like going to see a scary movie. The first time you see it you’re on the edge of your seat for the entire show. But the next time you see it with a friend, you’re relaxed while they’re sweating bullets. If you know the end of the story, then you’re not overly concerned with the development of the plot. There are so many dangers and frightening experiences in our world. People are biting their nails and wondering of they’re going to survive. But a knowledge of God’s program for the future helps to eliminate anxiety and create a sense of assurance in the life of a Christians.
So let’s examine today the promise of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as it’s related to us here in I Thessalonians 4. The text for today informs us, it readies us, and it encourages us.
I. IT INFORMS US
Paul begins in verse 13, “We don’t want you to be ignorant brothers, about those who have fallen asleep.” The purpose of Paul’s writing was to inform the Thessalonian Christians about what happened to their loved ones who had died. Some of them were grieving over the Christians who had passed away. They had the misconception that Jesus was going to return in their lifetime. When loved ones died before Christ's return, they wondered what was going to happen to the dead? Where were they? Were they going to miss out on eternal life? Paul said, “I don’t want you to be burdened with an unhealthy grief about those who are asleep.”
The bible frequently uses the term sleep to describe those who have died. Jesus stood outside the tomb of Lazarus, his friend who had been dead for four days, and he said, “He’s just sleeping.” That did not mean that the spirit of Lazarus was in an unconscious state in the afterlife. Luke 16 tells us that the rich man and the beggar both died and they were very much conscious in the next world. You see, it’s not the spirit of man that sleeps, it’s the body of man that sleeps. Second Corinthians 5:8 says, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” So Paul wrote this section to inform the Thessalonians about the details of the last days so that they would no longer be in the dark about such matters.
He said, “I don’t want you to be ignorant about those who have fallen asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.” There are those in our world who believe that history just kind of repeats itself, life is just a continual cycle and they have no hope; one generation dies and another is born, one nation rises and another one falls. So for those that believe that philosophy life is like a merry-go-round with people getting on and off at intervals. I’m not sure what it says about my graduating high school class and our collective vision of the future, but when selecting a theme song for our class I remember one of the choices was a song by the rock group Kansas entitled, “All We Are is Dust in the Wind.” No hope.
There are those who believe that man is eventually going to self-destruct, and they have no hope. The environmentalists are warning that if we don’t take better care of our natural resources we are going to be destroyed. The anti-nuclear demonstrators warn that if we don’t dismantle our nuclear weapons, we are going to destroy this world with radioactivity. But Paul says, history is not going in cycles, and man is not going to self-destruct. Verse 14, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” The world is headed toward a destiny. Over the dome in the capital building in Washington, D.C. there is this inscription: “One God, One Law, One element, and one far off divine event towards which the whole creation moves.”
Christians have believed for centuries that one day Jesus Christ is going to return to his earth. Just before he died Jesus told his disciples, “I will come again.” When he ascended into heaven, and angel said to his awestruck followers, “This same Jesus who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you have seen him go into heaven.” Over 300 times the New Testament predicts that Jesus Christ is going to return. In fact that’s a major theme of this letter from Paul. Now when Paul wrote this letter in the first century, you realize that he didn’t write it in chapters and verses as we have it before us today. Chapter and verse divisions were added to the bible at a much later time. But it is interesting that I Thessalonians is the only book in the N.T. in which every chapter ends with a reference to the Second Coming of Christ.
¨ Chapter one ends with “and you are waiting for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
¨ Chapter two ends like this, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of the Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and joy.”
¨ The end of chapter three reads, “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”
¨ Verse 17 of chapter 4 says, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will 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 each other with these words.”
¨ And the last chapter of I Thessalonians closes with these words in verse 23, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”
The Second Coming of Christ has been the hope of the church from the first century until today. But can we really believe that? Can a thinking person honestly believe that after 2,000 years Jesus Christ is going to interrupt history? Paul sates, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again.” The return of Christ is not any more difficult to believe than the resurrection of Christ. In fact, I heard one preacher say, “If you can believe the first verse of the bible, you shouldn’t have any trouble with the rest.” Do you really believe Genesis 1:1? “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” If God is so awesome that he could create this universe out of nothing, then every other miracle in the bible is a piece of cake for him. “Nothing is impossible with God,” the angel told Mary. You see, the reason people are skeptical is not because they are too intelligent to believe, but because they are too belligerent to believe.
Listen to 2 Peter 3 beginning with verse 3, “Understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” Some people say, “Oh the world has always continued on.” They deliberately forget that long ago God destroyed this world with a flood, and he’s going to destroy it again, only this time with fire.
Well, how will Jesus come? Paul says in verse 14, “God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” When Jesus Christ returns he’s going to have accompanying him millions of people who have died to go be with him. The bible says he’s going to come in the clouds. The spirits of the dead are going to return in triumph with Christ. Verse 16 says there are going to be three audible, attention-getting sounds to announce his arrival.
¨ First there will be a loud command, “For he Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command.” Remember when Jesus stood at the foot of the tomb of Lazarus? The Bible says that he called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” and Lazarus came out of the grave. When he returns, he’s going to give another loud command for the bodies of all those who belong to him to come forth from the grave and they will obey him. John 5:28 reads, “Do not be amazed at this for a time is coming when all who are in the gave will hear his voice and come out. Those who have done good will rise to live. Those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
¨ A second sound will be the voice of the archangel. When a person who is really important appears, there is almost always somebody who introduces him. “Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America.” I wonder if when Jesus returns the archangel is going to call out, “Ladies and gentlemen of the world, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus.”
¨ Then, there will be a trumpet call of God. When the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness, the blast of a trumpet was a signal for them to assemble together. And one day the angel will sound the trumpet, and it will be a summons for all the people who belong to Jesus Christ to gather together.
What’s he going to do when he arrives? The first thing he’s going to do is raise the dead. “The dead in Christ will rise first.” Now look at that. Paul just said that when Jesus Christ returns he’s going to bring with him all those who have fallen asleep in him. Now he says the dead are going to rise first. Doesn’t that sound a little contradictory? I take this to mean that when we die our spirit departs the body and go to be with Jesus Christ. But we are not in our perfect eternal state until Jesus Christ returns. Then our bodies will be resurrected in a miraculous, glorified state and there will be a reunion of the spirit with the glorified body. I Corinthians 15 Paul says, “When you plant a seed in the ground the seed decomposes and it dies. But in a few days a glorious sprout comes forth from the ground, much more significant than the seed that was planted. So it is,” he says, “when you plant your body in the ground it decomposes, but God’s going to perform a miracle and a new, glorified body will come out of that grave at the return of Christ.” We’re going to have new, glorified bodies. Aren’t you glad?
¨ Some of you are going to be a little thinner!
¨ Some of us are going to have more hair.
¨ Fewer wrinkles.
That’s good news, isn’t it?
Now, I love this next part. Look at verse 17, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Now, we know that a tornado is capable of lifting people hundreds of feet of the ground. But the Second Coming of Christ will be a supernatural event that will levitate Christians not just a few hundred feet, but all the way up to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
II. IT READIES US
Now, another instruction from this letter concerning the Second Coming is first to be ready. Look over at chapter 5 verse 1, “Now, brothers, about time 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.” In other words, nobody knows when the Lord is going to return. I happen to be of the opinion that the Lord is going to return in our generation. It seems to me that all the bible prophecies have been fulfilled:
¨ The Jews have returned to Palestine
¨ The Gospel is being preached throughout all the world through mass media
¨ The world events in Russia and Europe over the last 5-7 years are in my mind setting the stage for the coming of the Anti-Christ.
¨ The rapid decline of morality
¨ The increase in the number and intensity of natural disasters that are occurring around the world.
It seems to me that God must be picking up the keys and saying, “It’s just about closing time.”
But I don’t know that for sure. Christians have been saying that His return was imminent since the beginning of Christianity. This passage says he’s going to come like a thief in the night. A thief never telephones ahead and says, “I’d like to steal you car on Friday night, would you please be gone?” A thief comes suddenly, unexpectedly. This passage says his coming is going to be like birth pains of a mother. Now a mother knows the season of the birth of a child, but those birth pains come unexpectedly and sometimes at inopportune times.
This passage also says that his coming will occur at a time when we least expect it. Chapter 5:3, “When people are saying, ‘Peace and safety’, destruction will come on them suddenly.” In other words, the world will start bragging that we’ve got things under control.
¨ We don’t have to worry about Russia anymore. We can disarm
¨ And the Berlin wall is down
¨ Arabs and the Jews are even cooperating.
¨ We’re going to establish a New World order, we’re going to handle things on our own.
When men begin to say, “Peace and safety”, Christ will come. The point of this is, you be ready at any moment. Look at verse 4, “But you brothers, are not in darkness so that day should surprise you like a thief.”
I heard a story about a man who lived in the hills of Kentucky and he was always hunting and fishing illegally. It made the local game warden angry because it was widely known that this man was breaking the law, but he was never caught in the act. So one night the Game warden decided to camp out on a hill just below the cabin of the hunter. He was going to follow him early in the morning and then arrest him when he caught him hunting or fishing illegally. The game warden nearly froze that night. Early the next morning he heard the hunter moving around in his cabin. He began to smell the coffee brewing, and the aroma of biscuits baking in the oven, and the game warden’s stomach began growling. And then the hunter came out on the front porch and called out, “You might as well come on out and get some breakfast. I know you’re out there! Come on in and eat with me.”
The game warden couldn’t believe it. He came up to the cabin and went inside. He asked, “How’d you know I was out there?”
And the hunter said, “I didn’t know you were out there. I just do that every morning just in case you are.”
To be honest, we don’t know when Christ is going to return. That’s the purpose of this admonition; you be ready every day. Today could be the day. Since the Lord’s coming is so near, you stay alert.
III. IT ENCOURAGES US
Now the final for us in this passage is to be encouraged. Twice in these verses we’re told to “encourage each other with these promises.” To be honest there are many people who aren’t encouraged by the thought of a Second Coming.
¨ Some Christians aren’t encouraged because they are fearful. And I guess some fear is natural. The fear of the unknown. Some people are fearful because they want to experience more of life. Young people say, “Well, I’d like to get married and have children, or have a career before the Lord comes again.”
¨ Some people are afraid of the Second Coming and they ought to be because they are not followers of Jesus Christ. Joel 2:11 says, “The Day of the Lord is great and it is dreadful who can endure it?” If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and he hasn’t forgiven you of your sins, the bible says that is going to be a terrible day. In fact, the Bible says that some people will cry out for the rocks and the mountains to fall on them so they can escape the great and terrible day of the Lord.
But the Christians should be encouraged by the coming of the Lord because we are saved. Our sins have been forgiven. Christians are encouraged by the Second Coming of the Lord because we are looking forward to a reunion with our loved ones. Don’t you love to watch friends and loved ones greet each other at the airport after a long absence? Just this past week members of the Indiana National Guard returned home after serving 8 months helping keep the peace in Bosnia. When they landed at the Indianapolis airport, their families could hardly be restrained from running out from behind the barricades.
¨ Husbands and wives embraced.
¨ Little children ran up and grabbed their father's neck and would not let go.
¨ Parents were patting them on the back and wiping away tears.
Think of how it’s going to be at the Second Coming of Christ when friends and relatives get together after years of separation. People always ask me, “Do you think we’ll recognize each other when we get to heaven?” Listen, if you don’t know who I am when you get there. If I’ve changed so much that you don’t recognize me, I’m going to let you know. I’ll say, “Hi! I’m Andy Mason. Remember me?” I want to let you know that I made it, okay? The Bible says, “We shall know even as we are known.”
A preacher tried to comfort a Christian father following the death of his daughter. The preacher said, “You know the Lord’s going to return someday and he’s going to make all things right, and you’re going to be together with your daughter again.” And the father just groaned and said, “Oh, I wish it were today.” You know, the longer you live the Christian life, the more that others proceed you in death, the more the promise of the Second Coming becomes a word of encouragement to you.
There’s a difference between being ignorant and being stupid. Ignorance is not having the facts. Stupidity is not acting on the facts that you know. Paul said, “I don’t want you to be ignorant, bothers.” And you are no longer ignorant about what’s going to happen.
¨ History is headed towards a divine event.
¨ Christ is going to return with the saints.
¨ The dead in Christ will rise first and we who are still alive will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air and we shall be with the Lord forever.
Imagine you’re on a cruise ship in the Caribbean when a frightening announcement is made: Terrorists have taken then ship’s captain hostage. They vow the ship will be blown up in two days. “In the meantime,” the terrorists sneer, “go ahead and enjoy yourself. Swim, eat and play games.” No one would enjoy the next few hours, for they would focus on the imminent danger. But the situation would be different if after 24 terror-filled hours the reassuring voice of the captain announced, “Folks, we’re delighted to inform you that we have once again taken control of the ship. We will be anchoring in Miami in three days. In the meantime, everything is free. Enjoy yourself!” There would be joy and celebration on the cruise ship because now there was a safe end in view.
There can be no joy in your present situation if there is no hope in your future. Only Jesus Christ can grant hope for life beyond the grave. The gospel is much more than the assurance of eternal life to come; it’s a source of meaning and joy for our lives today. As someone has said, “Life without God is a hopeless end, but with him it’s an endless hope.”
This morning if you have never publicly declared your faith in Jesus Christ and submitted your life to him, we invite you to do so as we stand and sing our invitation hymn. If you are already an immersed believer and you are looking for a church home, we invite you to make your decision public as well. As we stand and sing . . .