1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – I Believe That – Bible study

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 I Believe That I find myself tonight preaching again on the topic of the rapture. I suppose that the longer a Christian lives in this world, the more he should think of the rapture. Why? Because he sees the world getting more wicked and because he has more friends on the other side. However, there is another reason I believe we should think on the rapture. Because there is so much disagreement about it. Some argue whether there will even be a rapture or not, but most debate when the rapture will be. In tonights message, I hope to share with you four things that I believe about the rapture. Two of them I will only mention, but all four of them are Biblical and all four of them are important.. I. I believe that – The Rapture is Real. A. \#13\ The reason for the text – Jesus had promised to return. Christians had died. What will become of them? 1. It should not surprise us that these Christians were concerned. 2. Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God was at hand. Although He did change that message somewhat, the believers were still rightfully expecting a kingdom. 3. \#Acts 1:1-6\ The disciples were greatly surprised when Jesus departed. They expected a kingdom immediately. 4. Every believer since that time has been expecting Jesus to return and set up a kingdom. 5. That generation of people wanted to know what was to happen to those who died before Jesus returned. B. Paul gave a detailed answer where he laid outin ordera series of events that would happen some day and could happen any day. 1. \#16\ Jesus Himself would return. 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. He will not be alone. b. Those who have died in Jesus will be with Him. 1Thess 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 2. There would be a shoutprobably from a archangel. 3. There would be a trumpet. 4. The dead in Christ shall rise first. a. The word "first" implies that there is an order. b. They have died first. They will rise first. c. As I often say, they need at least a few feet head start. 5. \#17\ Then we which are alive will be "caught up." 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. The Greek word for "caught up" is used 14 times in the New Testament. (1) It always has the idea of being caught or removed, usually suddenly and with power. (2) It is the Latin form of this word from which we get our word RAPTURE, meaning to be suddenly caught up by the Lord. (3) The fact that we use a word that is not strictly found in the Bible does not make this a man-made doctrine, just a man-made term. b. If it offends someone, we can use the term "caught up" or the "catching away" for it all means the same thing. 6. At the same time, we will be changed as Paul described in \#1Cor 15:51-54\. (I am calling this a separate event, but it happens at the same time of the catching up.) 7. We meet the Lord in the air and are joined with Him forever. C. This is what many in our religious circle call the rapture. 1. The only way to deny the rapture is to deny the Bible. 2. Some people do. That is up to them., but I believe that. 3. I believe that the rapture is real. II. Based on what the Bible says about this event, there are three more things I believe about the rapture. A. I believe that the rapture is literal. 1. Those who dismiss the rapture often try to allegorize it, to make the rapture as if it is a heavenly meaning. 2. There is not much that I can say to people like that. a. They live in their own world. b. The only thing I would say is that if you are going to that to this Scripturegiven with order, purpose, and to meet a clear needthen there is nothing in the Bible that you can trust. c. Creation might be an allegory. The cross might be an allegory. Sin might be an allegory. Salvation might be an allegory. 2. If that is what you want to do, it is up to you, but I repeat, I believe that. a. I believe that the rapture is real. b. I believe that it is literal and that God meant what He said. B. I believe that the rapture is personal. I believe it is for me and by Jesus. 1. God is not sending another. He is coming Himself. 2. God is not just coming after others. He is coming for me. 3. That is what makes the rapture personal. It is an event that will take place between me and my Lord! C. I believe that the rapture is imminent, that means that it could happen at any time. 1. There are some good people who believe the Bible and believe in the rapture but they do not believe it will be imminent. 2. That opens up the question, "When could it be?" a. Lets consider the major events that lie ahead. (1) Tribulation (Revelation 6:1-19:21) (2) Millennial (Revelation 20:1-10) (3) Eternity (Rev 21.) b. I am a pre-tribulation, pre-millennialist. That means that I believe the rapture will happen before the tribulation and before the millennial. c. Why? 3. This becomes a deep discuss, but I will give some of simpler reasons first. III. Why do we believe in the imminent rapture? A. Because this was Pauls answer to the Thessalonians. 1. \#1Thess 4:13\ It was THEIR loved ones who had died. 2. It was THEIR question Paul was answering. 3. \#1Thess 4:17\ It was THEM that Paul said would be living when this happened. 4. \#1Thess 4:18\ It was THEIR comfort Paul was giving. 5. It was THEIR challenge Paul was giving. 1Thess 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 6. It was THEIR promise that Paul was making. 1Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 7. Why would all of this be centered around them if they could not possibly be the people that would be alive when Jesus returned? a. Why use the pronoun "we" in \#1Thess 4:17\? b. Why use the rapture as a reason to challenge THEM to live faithful lives? c. Why tell them that they would not go through the wrath of God? 8. That may not be conclusive, but it sure is compelling. B. The Bible speaks of an imminent return of Jesus. Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 1 John 2:28 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. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. C. None of the end time events can begin until the Restrainer is removed. 2Thess 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 1. Paul said something is hold back the anti-Christ. 2. That something must be removed before he can be revealed. 3. There arent that many possibilities of what is holding the anti-Christ back. I can only think of two that are realistic. a. The Holy Ghost b. The church (believers) 4. However, if one of these is taken off the earth, so will be other for the Holy Ghost dwells in the church. D. The more complicated answers center around the Old Testament. 1. The tribulation is the last week of the Jewish calendar. The church is needed for that. 2. \#Dan 9:24-27, Jer 30:7-11, Daniel 12:1\