Osceola Sermon Bible I & II Thessalonians Oct. 13, 2013

Transcription

1 Osceola Sermon Bible I & II Thessalonians Oct. 13, 2013 In I Thessalonians & II Thessalonians: October 13 th, 2013 Book Theme: He is your hope / He is your patience and discipline. Sermon Title: Who are the dead in Christ that will go first? Sermon Topic: The 2 nd coming of Christ Sermon Text: I Thessalonians 4:14-17 Speaker: Pastor Bob Vale Biblical Focus: I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. Scripture Lesson: I Thessalonians 4: 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. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 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. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Hymn of Praise: # 701 When we all get to Heaven. Recite the Apostles Creed. Prayer Hymn: # 471 Move Me Hymn of Response: # 706 Soon & Very Soon Show Rapture video called, Ordinary Day: Then the scripture reading.

2 The City of Thessalonica. 1. Capital of the Roman province of Macedonia. 2. A prominent seaport city. 3. Situated on the great northern military highway from Rome to the east. 4. Located 100 miles west of Philippi. I Thessalonians: Author: Paul Date Written: A.D. 51 (Written from the city of Corinth) 4 chapters. Paul started the church in Thessalonica on his 2 nd missionary journey, and this was the first letter of two written to the Thessalonians. (Actually it was his first and second letter / epistle ever written.) Paul encourages the Thessalonica Christians: To pray, to rejoice, to give thanks always, and to increase in brotherly love. Much of these two books talk about the 2 nd return of Jesus Christ.

3 II Thessalonians: Author: Paul Date Written: A.D. 51 a few months after the first letter to the Thessalonians: (Written from the city of Corinth) only 3 chapters. False Teachings: II Thessalonians was written in large part to educate the congregation about a false teaching concerning the tribulations surrounding the 2 nd coming of Christ. Many in the church thought that they were indeed experiencing the sufferings from the great tribulation and thought they had missed the rapture of Christ. (Parousa.) The church in Thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the Day of the Lord. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work. They were being persecuted badly. Paul wrote to clear up misconceptions and to comfort them. Paul encourages the Thessalonica Christians: To pray, to rejoice, to give thanks always, and to increase in brotherly love. Show Video called Ordinary Day: Then the read the morning scripture. Scripture Lesson: I Thessalonians 4: 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. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 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. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

4 The First Century Church: I want to try my best to paint a picture of what life was like for the first century Christian. On the one hand, the Christian community within was wonderful. Acts chapter two tells us that the first century church was a family unit who cared and loved for each other, in many ways like a commune approach to living. Acts 2:42-47 AC 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Sounds pretty good? Here is the other side of the first century church: A church in FEAR 1. They were heavily persecuted by both the Jews and the Romans and more than likely the Greeks as well. a. Paul, before being converted to Christ was a Jewish Pharisee who hunted down and either jailed or possibly killed Christians. (Stephen) Acts 9:1-2 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

5 b. The Romans used Christians for gruesome entertainment: fighting the professional gladiators, tossing them in with the lions in the coliseum, and even impaling their bodies on long 8 ft. pointed wooden shafts and lining them on a road into a city. 2. The church in many ways was an underground church meeting in homes, caves, or hidden places, to hide from such persecution. 3. The sign of the fish was a secret way to identify if a person was a believer or not during the first century. (They would draw a fish symbol in the sand and hopefully get a returned fish drawn. This comes from Jesus words, I will make you fishers of men. In Matt. 4:19) 4. Although God may have been adding to their number daily those who were being saved, they were also losing a lot of folks due to persecutions and killings. Remember we are talking about only 50 years after the death of Christ. The Roman Empire did not accept Christianity for another 250 years. 5. How many of you would like to sign up to come to church on Sunday morning, knowing that later in the week you could be persecuted, arrested, beaten, or even killed for your belief system? Illustration: How many folks would fill our church pews be if I gave the announcement; Please come to church, but come late at night. Also know this, if you do come, may be followed by those who want to hurt you, you may lose your job, lose a family member, be arrested, beaten, thrown in jail and possibly lose your life. How full would our church pews be?

6 The first century church was a group in great fear: Remembering the words of Jesus that he would return & hearing Paul say the Lord is coming back to take them to heaven without dying; sounded pretty good. The word, Maranatha is a word the first century church used, which meant, The Lord Comes. They did not say hello or goodbye to each other. They simply said, Maranatha!; The Lord Comes. Let s take a deeper look into Paul s words about the 2 nd coming of Jesus Christ. A. Fallen Asleep in Him: I Thess. 4:14 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. 1. Paul is talking about those Christian brothers and sisters who have died. When the Rapture occurs, they will come out of their graves and from the oceans to be with Jesus at the rapture. B. According to the Lord s own words: I Thess. 4:15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 1. Jesus said in Mark 13:26-27 "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. 2. This same wording is also given by Jesus in Matthew 24 and also in Luke 25.) Three times in the gospels we hear Jesus describe the second coming of his return.

7 Jesus explains the human events of the rapture in pretty good detail in the gospels. Matthew 24:40-41) 1. Vs. 40. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 2. Vs.41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. C. Elements of the Rapture according to the scriptures: 1. Vs. 16 Jesus will come down from heaven. a. Nearly all the Biblical references of heaven talk about it being a place above us in the sky. b. This will be a second time Jesus physically came down to heaven to be with humanity. (His birth) c. In the artist picture above you see many people taken up in the rapture but some left behind. There is a biblical reference to two men being in a field and one being left behind. d. This picture reminds me of the door that was shut on the Ark that Noah built. Do you remember who shut the door? (In Genesis 6:16 God told Noah to lay the door to the ark on its side. Then all the animals and his family entered the ark. Then in Genesis 7:16 God shut the door, closing it from

8 everyone who decided not to listen, but rather mocked and laughed at Noah and his crazy prediction. Could you imagine those who finally say rain and the water rose to their ankles; I think they probably came running to the ark asking to be let in. Before the Days of Noah and the flood; the Bible never records that it had rained. People had never seen a rain storm. Before the rapture, people will have never seen people fly up in the air going to heaven. e. So will it be when the rapture occurs. 2. Vs. 16 With a Loud command Everyone will see & Hear him. a. I don t know how God is going to do it, but everyone on the planet will see the Lord and hear his voice. These events will occur instantaneously around the world. b. The picture above shows people from all over the world coming up to see Jesus.

9 3. Vs. 16 Voice of an archangel & Trumpet call of God. a. What is an Archangel: Archangels are the highest-ranking angels in heaven. God gives them the most important responsibilities, and they do their work both in the heavenly dimension and in the earthly one. The word "archangel" is from the Greek words "arche" (ruler) and "angelos" (messenger), signifying archangels' dual duties. Archangels rule over the universe's daily operation on missions from God, while also delivering messages from God to human beings. b. The two Archangels recorded in the Bible are: Michael and Gabriel. Today s passage is where we get the famous song; Gabriel Blow Your Horn. c. Jobs for Angels: Throughout time we have had a fascination with Angels. We have pictures, figurines, and statues of them around our house. Here is what the Bible says Angels do for God and us: 1. First let s remember that of all the angels God created, two thirds of them are faithful and serving God and one third of them are disobedient, following the fallen Angel, Lucifer, better known as the devil. (These disobedient angels are now known as demons and move about us.) 2. The bad angels or demons try to trip us up and get us to sin, while the good angels of God do the following for us. a. Angels are Messengers to us from God: In Luke 2 we have the angels appearing and visiting the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus to the world.

10 b. Protect us as guardian angels. According to both Psalm 91:11 and Luke 4:10, God has placed angels in charge over each of to protect us. Small children, according to Jesus, have guardian angels, and we can assume that we all do also. c. They minister to us: Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? d. They can cook a meal: In 1 Kings 19 an angel cooked Elijah a meal, and fed him, twice. e. Angels are Rescuers: An angel rescued the apostles after they had been put in jail [Acts 5]. 4. Vs. 16 The Dead in Christ Will Rise First. a. This means that those who have died and are in the grave will be caught to go up with Christ in the rapture. I Corinthians 15:50-54 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal

11 with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." b. The sea will also give up it s dead: Question: If God can create the heavens and the earth, can He rejoin our bodies of dust back together to join Christ in the air. (Yes He Can!) 5. Vs. 17 Those who remain will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. a. Those who remain will not feel the sting of death. b. We will simply go to be with the Lord.

12 6. Vs. 17 Be with the Lord forever. Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. 1. We are become citizens of Heaven. a. We will receive all the rights and privileges of heaven. b. Our neighbors will be the saints of old and Biblical characters. c. Your new address will be 100 Pure Golden Street, just across from the crystal sea. 2. Have you always wanted a new body? Millions upon billions of dollars are spent each year on advertizing and medical medicines and operations to change our physical presence. Everything to diet pills, weight lost operations, plastic surgery of all kinds. Yet in the rapture the Bible says our bodies will be like Christ glorified body. 3. Perfect Bodies: Some people have translated this passage to say that those with physical deformities will be made whole at this time. The blind will have new bodies that are able to see, the deaf will have bodies that hear, those without arms and legs will have new limbs.

13 Final Illustration: While on a ship to the South Pole expedition in 1901, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. His men would surely die of starvation if he could not get them soon. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, an avenue opened in the icebergs and Sir Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard the ship. No sooner had the ship cleared the island than the ice crashed together behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, "It was fortunate you were all packed and ready to go!" They replied, "We never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and reminded each other, 'The boss may come today.'" I hope as Christians we never give up Hope that Christ will come back to take us home. The point is to simply be ready. There is a wonderful poem about the rapture by a man named, Herbert Lockyer, Eerdmans There's a man in yonder glory I have loved for many years, He has cleared my guilty conscience and has banished all my fears. He is coming in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, And no time will be allotted for you to utter one good-bye. No time to kiss the husband or embrace the loving wife, If they are but united in the bonds of holy life. Are you ready, Christian, ready, for shout and trump and voice? Will His coming make you tremble or cause you to rejoice? Are you walking, talking with Him daily, taking Him your care, Do you live so close to heaven that a breath would send you there?

14 Let s pray, Heavenly Father, we say this morning, Maranatha, The Lord Comes. I would ask that we would be ready spiritually for your return, whenever and however that may happen. May our sins be forgiven, our hearts in tuned towards you, may we not be fearful of your return, but live the abundant Christian life daily; and when it happens, let it happen. Maranatha Lord, Maranatha. Amen. Words of Wisdom: Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart. Mahatma Gandhi Benediction: A Blessing for Joy: He is the God of peace. He is the God of joy. May Emmanuel, who came to be with us, be with you in every step of this week s journey. May you feel his presence throughout this day. And may you reflect his joy in all you do. Go with God until we meet again. Amen.