1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – Falling into Heaven – Bible study

1Thess 4:13-18 Falling into Heaven Click here for the first part of the message. I. The Connection This morning \See 2015Notes on "Matt 24:3"\, I spoke on the topic "What In This World Is Going to Happen?". I mentioned two of the four things that this world is on track to do: 1. More of the same \#Matt 24:3-12\ – More wars, more earth- quakes, more famines, more coldness of heart, more false Christs, and so forth. 2. The continued falling away of the church. 2Thess 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Tonight, I want to finish the thought on the church falling away. Question: How long will it fall away? Answer: Until it falls into heaven. That is, the church will continue its falling away until Jesus comes to get it. a. No one knows when that will be. Mt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Lu 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. b. I do not know that the churchs condition will trigger the rapture. Many things have happened which have not. c. I do not know if the church will be revived any between now and the rapture. It could happen. I hope it happens, but I do not know. Even so, Paul associated the churchs falling away with the return of Jesus so I believe the condition of the church will be falling away until it falls into Gods lap. Lets consider the text. II. \#13\ The Question 1Thess 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep" A. Paul is attempting to teach the Thessalonians on what happens to those who have died in Christ. 1. Jesus had promised a kingdom in which the saints would rule. 2. In fact, He mentions the kingdom 9 times in the first three chapters of His ministry as recorded by Matthew. \#Matthew 3:2; 4:17,23; 5:3,10,19,20; 6:10,33\ 3. \#Acts 1:1-6\ It would seem that the disciples were surprised that Jesus was leaving. 4. No doubt, everyone was still expecting that kingdom. (They expected a kingdom before Jesus death, and they were still expecting it after Jesus resurrection.) 5. But now, Jesus had left and some of the believers had died and Jesus had not returned. What happened to our loved ones? a. 1 and 2 Thessalonians are believed to be the first New Testament books written. b. 51 to 52 AD c. Jesus would have been crucified around 33-37 AD, so the believers were wondering where they are! B. This section of the epistle was written to answer that question. III. \#14-17\ The Answer A. To answer that question, Paul taught them about the rapture. 1. The word "rapture" is Latin I believe. 2. It is not used in the Bible, but it means "snatching away." 3. While the word "rapture" might not be in the Bible, the description of the event is. B. Paul taught the order of events within the rapture. There are six events mentioned. 1. The saved death are WITH the Lord. 1Thess 4:14 even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (a) Although not specifically stated in this text, that would imply the saved dead are WITH Jesus. (b) There are plenty of Scriptures that do plainly state this truth. 2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 2. \#1Thess 4:14\ The Lord returns bringing the saved dead with Him. (a) I know that is the same statement; however, it not only means the saved dead are with Jesus, it also means that when He returns, He is bringing them back too. (b) This is as the Scripture says. Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 3. \#1Thess 4:16\ The Lord himself shall descend (into the earths atmosphere) with a shout and a sounding trumpet. 1Thess 4:16 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: (a) There is the Lord. (1) He is not sending another. (2) This strongly argues for a literal interpretation. (b) There is a shout. (1) Who shouts? (2) Either Jesus or an angel, but we cannot tell from the verse which. (c) There is a trumpet. 4. \#1Thess 4:16\ The bodies of the dead in Christ shall rise before anything else happens. (a) It is said to happen "FIRST," giving us the order. (1) Not only are the dead in Christ not to be left out, they will be empowered before anything else happens. (2) \#1Thess 4:15\ This is further stated by saying the living will not "prevent" or precede those who are sleeping in Jesus. (b) Notice also, it is the dead "in Christ." (1) The unsaved will not be raised at this time. (2) I do not think the saved Old Testament saints will be raised at this time either. (3) I read in the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, that we fundamental Christians are supposed to believe that all the saints, both those who died before the incarnation of Christ and those who died after the incarnation of Christ, will rise at the rapture. (4) At the present, that is not what I believe. 5. \#1Thess 4:17\ Then the living go. 1Thess 4:17 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. a. After the dead are raised, then the resurrection power of God works on those who are alive. b. We are taken away, caught up. (1) The Greek word is used some 14 times in the New Testament. (2) It always has the idea of being caught or removed, usually suddenly and with power. (3) It is the Latin form of this word from which we get our word RAPTURE, meaning to be suddenly caught up by the Lord. 6. \#1Thess 4:17\ Once "caught up," we will be with the Lord forever. C. \#1Thess 4:17\ Once this "catching away" takes place, all of the "then-present Christians" will be removed from this planet. D. Many have a problem believing in the rapture. 1. In visiting with Evelyn Burt a few years ago, she told me that she had reminded her children of the Lords coming not too long before. Their reply was, "Aw, Mom. People have been saying that for years!" 2. Thats not completely true. People have been saying that for thousands of years, but it is still true. 3. But what I find interesting is that the worlds reaction to the return of Jesus fulfills prophecy. 2Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. IV. The Effects A. It should comfort us. 1Thess 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. B. It should challenge us. We do not want Him to return and find us fallen away! May the Lord help us to be watching when He comes.