PASTOR IAN WILSON

THE RAPTURE

I THES. 4V13-18

On Blue Peter the other morning [a BBC TV programme] they were thinking about what children would wear to school in 2040 some strange outfits were suggested. They also looked at travel and one method suggested was that men and woman could be transported instantaneously rather like "Star Trek" which I am sure many of you are familiar with.

It comes from the Latin rapere "to transport from one place to another"

I just simply want to look at it this evening just teaching some elementary facts about it.

On that occasion Christ will come as a judge, he will set up his millennial kingdom. For this to happen Israel has to be in their land we could look at Israel. What a miracle nation they are.

From 1548 BC- when Pharaoh decreed that all-newborn males should die, up through the ages they have known severe persecution.

Take for instance some of the following who have persecuted the Jews - 722 BC Assyria – 586bc – Babylon- 473BC Haman- 169 BC – Antiochus Epiphanies.

Perhaps one of the most recent and best known was Adolph Hitler

Rudolph Hess showed no sense of guilt as he told how as many as 2.5 million Jews could have perished in Auschwitz at his hands. He is reported to have said, "the killing was easy the disposal of the corpses was the problem"

Heinrich Himmler ordered the killings saying, "the Fuhrer has ordered the Endlosung. [Final solution to the Jewish problem].

We could point to the great apostacy that is around us -

We could point to the European sign as the revived Roman Empire takes shape there is much to point to the return of the Lord to the earth. But that occurs at least seven years after the rapture of the church that moment when Jesus Christ comes to the air and all who are saved will rise to meet him.

Let me say something about-

• Christ will return suddenly.

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.

• Christ's return is to be waited for

1 Thes. 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

The word for "wait" means to wait expectantly the word is in the present tense it is a day by day constant expectation.

• Christ's return is something we look for [not signs]

Philip. 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Cant you see that the early Christians where told that Jesus would come suddenly, they where told to wait expecting him, they where told to look for him.

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

James bluntly puts it like this

James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Don't be fooled don't be a scoffer Yes look at the signs of you must but remember that the Lord Jesus Christ could return before this day is out and every Christian will be gone in a second.

Look at the verses we have read in 1 Thes.

Paul doesn’t want these believers to be uninformed sad that so many Christians today never mind the unsaved are uninformed about the return of the Lord

Paul speaking to Christians says, "ye sorrow not even as others".

These Christians were concerned because some of their loved ones had died and they wondered would they miss out on the rapture, that blessed hope?

As we will see in a moment that they would not. Look at what Paul says about those who die without Christ just two words "no hope!" No one likes to be called a "no hoper" but tonight if you are in this meeting without Christ as your saviour you are a hopeless case.

• But I have my church – Paul says you have no hope.

• But I am a protestant – you have no hope.

• But I have a saved mum and dad- Paul says – you have no hope.

• But some say you can pray for the dead- but Paul says Gods word says you have no hope if you die without Christ as your saviour.

How sad it must be when the doctor looks shakes his head and says "no hope".

I just want to mention what Paul says in verse seventeen.

1 Thes. 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.

Did Paul include himself in that "we" surely he did, he too expected the imminent return of Christ.

I must be faithful to the word of God Christ could come at any moment

Rev. 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief.

Christ will come suddenly and I believe he is coming soon.

Do you realise tonight that if this truth doesn’t affect you then you are simply scoffing at it. If you truly believed that Jesus Christ was coming soon you would bow right now and seek his salvation.

What a blessed hope a happy hope it is for those of us who are saved.

When Christian dies his body is laid in the grave but his soul goes immediately to be with the Lord.

For those of you who have seen loved ones buried who have known the Lord. You can rest assured that they are with Christ tonight.

"Them which sleep" [That’s how Paul described the death of a believer]

"Will God bring with him" the Lord Jesus Christ is going to bring our loved ones with him when he returns.

1 Thes. 4:15 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.

Paul confirms that he didn’t make this up it was "by the word of the Lord" he goes on to say - that "we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."

"Shall not prevent" or precede or go before. What Paul is saying is that loved ones that have died will not loose out at the rapture their resurrected bodies will be reunited with their souls. Paul continues to explain this great event in verse sixteen.

1 Thes. 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:

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Notice he is coming with a shout, three times we read of Jesus shouting.

John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

• and out of the grave came Lazarus

Matthew 27:50-53 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. What happened?

[51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; [52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Every time the Lord shouted resurrection took place.

What a resurrection that will be, on that day, the "dead in Christ shall rise first"

I can remember as a young boy being fascinated by magnets. A magnet will not lift copper, brass or lead only iron because iron has the same nature. Likewise when Jesus comes to the air those who have his nature will rise to meet him, they will be drawn like a magnet.

That's why Jesus said-"ye must be born again"

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

What a triumph, the dead in Christ shall arise, what a shout of hallelujah will sound as Gods people are resurrected.

The voice of the archangel Michael will summon his angels perhaps to take on the devil and his demons. Remember Satan is the prince of the power of the air.

Ephes. 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:

1 Thes. 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:

We also read of the "trump of God"

Trumpets called Israel to war and to worship,Gods attention will once again focus on Israel also this is the last trump for the church.

1 Thes. 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.

Here we have the rapture -

Look at the blessed hope we have.

"Together with them "

Paul was writing to sorrowing saints he said, listen when Jesus comes back if you are still alive you will be united with the loved ones who have gone home to be with the Lord.

I am sure many of you can recall some great men and woman of God who sat in these pews, some even in this last year have went home to be with the Lord .

We will meet again, we do know where, and we do know when.

The same Lord who could make a body in the womb will be able to bring the body out of the tomb oh what a saviour we have tonight.

Are you not thrilled dear child of God? What a triumph this will be.

Let me speak for a second to the unsaved. Listen to the words of the Lord to Moses when they crossed the Red Sea if I may take them out of context.

Let those words burn in your heart, do you have saved loved ones here or in the glory? If you die without Christ or if he returns listen:-

"Ye shall see them again no more for ever"

Oh will the circle be unbroken bye and bye Lord bye and bye

Will the circle be unbroken in the sky lord in the sky?

Oh sinner- will you not trust the Lord tonight?

1 Thes. 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.

"And so shall We ever be with the Lord"

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see

We cannot fully take it in

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.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Paul experienced something of it and said

Philip. 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Oh what a triumph to rise to meet the Lord

Rapture – reunion- revelation-

1 Cor. 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

A mystery in biblical terms is this something hidden that is now revealed. You will not find teaching about the rapture in the Old Testament.

1 Cor. 15:52-54 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.

In a split second this old body will be changed into a new body

Philip. 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

No more pain no more anguish no more death no more tears or sorrow

Hallelujah what a saviour!

No wonder Paul finished by saying this

Listen dear grieving saint of God here is comfort that no scientist, doctor OR specialist can give. Your loved one if saved will be united with you again some fine day.

On the sweet bye and bye- we shall meet on that beautiful shore

The timing of it ,the triumph in it.

1 Thes. 5:1-2 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. [2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Paul tells the believers that he doesn’t have to let them know about the day of the Lord. What is the day of the Lord?

Joel 2:1-2 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; [2] A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

1 Thes. 5:9-10 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

What a tragedy dear unsaved friend look what you are going to miss out on

• Rapture
• Reunion
• Revelation
• Remarkable

Look at the mess you will be in. What a tragedy left behind to face the great tribulation and hell for all eternity.

We have some examples of God’s people being delivered before judgement fell.

• Lot was rescued before Sodom and Gomorrah were judged

• Enoch went to be with God before the flood came

• One day millions of Christians will disappear then the judgement of God will fall

Will it be trump or tragedy for you sinner friend?

Oh the timing of it, the triumph in it, the tragedy of it.

The imminent return of the Lord is a great incentive for God’s people here are some areas of our lives it should impact.

• Fellowshipping with the Lord’s people.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

• Remembering the Lord.

1 Cor. 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

• Faithful stewardship.

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.

• Godly living

1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. [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.

What is the teaching from the Rapture for those who are still outside of Christ?

Luke 3:7 "Flee from the wrath to come."

Praise God you don’t flee to a vacuum but to a victorious Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of that finished work on Calvary The rapture can be a triumph and not a tragedy.

Will you flee from the wrath to come?

MARANATHA