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Lesson Thirteen

I Thessalonians 4:13-15

I Thessalonians 4:13-1513 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.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.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18

I Thessalonians 4:16-1816 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: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.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Titus 2:11-13

Titus 2:11-1311 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Focus Verses

Romans 8:24-25

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for

it.

Focus Thought

The Rapture is the hope of the saints, a hope that gives the strongest incentive to live for God. We look forward to the

future glory with Jesus Christ.

IntroductionIntroduction

The only consolation that Jesus gave to His disciples when He ascended after His resurrection was the promise that He would return for them. (See John 14:3.) This has been the great hope of Christians from that day until now.

IntroductionIn addition to referring to “Christ’s raising up of His true church” (Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged), the word rapture means “an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passionate feeling.” This describes perfectly the anticipation that the people of God have when they think about the return of the Lord for His church. It will be a time of unspeakable joy and delight when the trumpet sounds and the Lord descends for His church in the clouds of glory. 

IntroductionThe reason God’s people look forward to the Rapture with such excitement is that it represents• transformation from mortality to immortality,• no more sorrow and death,• the entrance into the very presence of Christ, who gave His life that we might be delivered from this sinful world.

I. The Hope of the Church AThe Hope

of the ChurchA. The Blessed Hope

One of the great mysteries of mankind concerns the condition of a soul after death. The question continually arises as to whether or not one who dies is alive in another world; is such a person aware of what is happening on the earth? Further, is that person in the presence of others who have gone on whom they knew on earth?

I. The Hope of the Church AWe do not know explicitly the answer to these and other similar questions, but the apostle Paul did write to the church at Thessalonica some things that we can know for certain. He clearly told them that they did not have to be ignorant concerning those who are asleep, that is, deceased; they will live again in the hereafter. (See I Thessalonians 4:13-18.)

I. The Hope of the Church AWhether those who have died are in a conscious state now in another world is not known, but we do know that they will be alive and well when the trumpet sounds to announce the coming of the Lord for His church. There is no need for us to be ignorant of this, and we have no excuse for not being ready when death overtakes us or when the Lord returns for His church.

I. The Hope of the Church AMankind’s hope of a resurrection is contingent on believing that Jesus Christ died and rose again.

I Corinthians 15:14II Timothy 2:2

“If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (I Corinthians 15:14).

I. The Hope of the Church AThe Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. This brought sorrow and hopelessness to their followers. Paul sought to alleviate this hopelessness by telling us that if we believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there should be no problem in believing that there will be a great resurrection of the dead in Christ. Just as certainly as the disciples saw Jesus personally after the Resurrection, so will the people of God see Jesus Christ again as well as those who have gone on before.

I. The Hope of the Church AWhat rapture the day of resurrection will bring to all believers! One cannot exaggerate the ecstasy of that occasion, for it will be beyond all description for those who are prepared for it. 

I. The Hope of the Church BB. A Purifying Hope

“Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,

even as he is pure” (I John 3:3).

I. The Hope of the Church BEvery person who aspires to follow a certain vocation in life spends much time in preparation. Doctors, lawyers, professors, and teachers spend many years in training for their particular profession. Scientists, engineers, and mechanics also give themselves to much study and preparation in order to become proficient in their fields.

I. The Hope of the Church BNo one wants to be mediocre, for we live in a specialized world that refuses to tolerate mediocrity and inefficiency. Motivated by an ambition or hope of becoming an authority in their field, people desire to excel so that others will seek out their services. Dedicated to a certain task, they do not stop until they have achieved their goal. Many times after achieving these goals they continue to study and research new methods and ideas to keep themselves abreast of changes.

I. The Hope of the Church BIf those in secular pursuits give so much time and effort adapting to a particular profession or calling, how much more should we give ourselves to preparation for the coming of the Lord?

I. The Hope of the Church BPurifying is something that does not happen automatically. It requires much effort and concentration. Hearts must be purified; minds must be cleansed; motives must be brought into harmony with the divine purpose of God in order for mankind to prepare for the Rapture. 

I. The Hope of the Church BAn athlete can spend long hours and days conditioning his body—careful to eat properly and get sufficient rest in order to be at his best. It should not be difficult, therefore, for us to spend hours and days consecrating, praying, fasting, and worshiping in order to condition our hearts and minds for the greatest event yet to take place—the coming of Christ.

I. The Hope of the Church BThe hope of the Rapture calls for purifying, cleansing, sacrificing, and conditioning before one can be prepared. Just as those who feel that the years of preparation for their vocations in life are worth it all, so will the Christian say, “It was worth it all” when he sees Jesus.

I. The Hope of the Church CC. A Comforting Hope

Paul ended his defense of the resurrection of the dead with words of encouragement: “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:18). The hope that is resident within the heart of the believer is a hope that contains great comfort.

I. The Hope of the Church CWe have something positive and wonderful to look forward to—something to strive and work for, knowing that we will not be disappointed or deceived. There will be no disappointment in heaven. The glories of heaven are far beyond the imaginations of individuals, for Jesus will be there and we will see Him in all His glory.

II. The Despair of the Lost AThe Despair of the LostA. The Sudden Coming

of Christ

There is a great difference between those who die in Christ and those who die in sin without Jesus Christ in their hearts. The Scriptures describe the person who is dead in Christ as one who is merely asleep and waiting for the trumpet’s sound to awake him to a new life. 

II. The Despair of the Lost AThe Christian lives and dies with the hope of Christ’s coming, but the sinner lives and dies without hope. The sinner experiences despair because of his lack of hope.

II. The Despair of the Lost AThe words of the apostle Paul have brought comfort and solace to countless numbers of people who stood by the graveside of a departed friend, loved one, or saint of God. The death of a saint is only temporary like sleep is temporary. There will be a great resurrection and this is a blessed hope for every believer! Having hope means joy and expectancy. For one to have no hope, however, is for that one to experience despair and constant anguish of heart.

II. The Despair of the Lost AChrist’s return for the church will be so sudden that not even the most alert individual will have the opportunity to go if he is not already prepared. It is described in the Bible as the coming of “a thief in the night” (I Thessalonians 5:2; II Peter 3:10). A thief comes unexpectedly, uninvited, and unannounced.

II. The Despair of the Lost AThere will be no prior announcement of the Lord’s return. There will be no opportunity for people to repent and get right with God. It will be a very unhappy event for those who are unprepared and will leave behind a trail of sorrow, regrets, and remorse. The saddest people on earth will be those who had opportunity to prepare for His coming but failed to do so. Eternity will be a long time to remember lost opportunities and wasted time that could have been spent living for God and preparing for His return.

Matthew 24:44II Timothy 2:2

“Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man

cometh” (Matthew 24:44).

II. The Despair of the Lost BB. The Judgment

of the Unsaved

The signals that God will use to announce His coming (the shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God) will only affect those who are prepared for His return. All others will be left in the graves and on the earth to await the day of God’s great judgment. Therefore, it is important for every individual to prepare for His coming.

II. The Despair of the Lost B

It will not be a pleasant experience to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for the evil deeds done while on earth. Christ’s return will cause a great separation between those who are in Christ and those outside of Christ. To be ready for the Rapture should be the concern of every individual, and to look for the Rapture should be the daily desire of all Christians.  

III. The Glory of the Saints AThe Glory of the SaintsA. Christ Glorified

in the Saints

The purpose of the gospel of Christ is that an individual might take on the spiritual image of Christ and that the beauty of Christ would be manifest in him. He transforms and changes lives so that they become as different as light is from darkness. Jesus takes up His abode in a person’s heart, and he becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. Christ is glorified in that He so completely changes one’s life and concepts that the changed individual pursues an entirely new pathway of life.

III. The Glory of the Saints AChrist will also be glorified in mankind at His appearing when the church is translated from this earth and every believer is changed to become like Jesus Christ.

III. The Glory of the Saints AWhen Jesus Christ returns, it will be a literal return of the Lord and He will receive His saints unto Himself. When a person receives salvation, he receives a profound and unforgettable experience. Likewise, when Jesus Christ receives His people unto Himself, it will be a real and profound experience that no one should want to miss. It is a privilege to have Jesus Christ glorified in us!

III. The Glory of the Saints BB. The Resurrection and

Translation of the Saints

It is a fallacy to believe that death is the end of everything and that there is nothing to look forward to after death. The death of a saint does not rob a person of anything in the future. The Scriptures plainly teach us that there is a great reward for the Christian—whether dead or alive—at His coming. Acceptance at the time of the Rapture of the church will be determined by the condition of individuals’ hearts and lives. No one wants to die, but it is not necessary to escape death in order to be in the great resurrection of the church.

III. The Glory of the Saints BFurther proof that there will be a resurrection of the dead is found in the Scriptures: “We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep” (I Thessalonians 4:15). To be living at His coming will present no hindrance to those who are asleep in Christ. The living will have no advantage over the dead in Christ, for all these will hear the signal of His coming. Resurrection power will enter into those who are asleep as well as those who remain on earth. There will be a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the sound of the trumpet, and the dead in Christ will hear it.

III. The Glory of the Saints BThe shout that will be heard by the believers will be a shout of excitement coming from the angelic beings over the final triumph and great victory that is being realized. The shout will not be from the redeemed who are about to be raptured. It portrays excitement in heaven for the victorious entrance of God’s people.

III. The Glory of the Saints BIf such excitement will prevail in heaven among angelic beings, it is difficult to imagine the excitement that will exist among the redeemed of the Lord who have looked for Him, served Him, and longed patiently for His return.

III. The Glory of the Saints BThere is only one archangel spoken of in the Scriptures; his name is Michael. There are many angelic beings, but there is only one archangel. He is mentioned in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation, and he is referred to as the origin of the voice from heaven. The archangel appeared in the Bible to herald important events such as described in Daniel 12:1-2. Michael also will herald the coming of the Lord for His church.

III. The Glory of the Saints BThe trumpet often was used in the Bible to call people to attention. It was used when God gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai, and it will be used to signal the end of the dispensation of God’s grace and the final catching away of the church. 

III. The Glory of the Saints CC. The Rewards of the Faithful

Other than the church, the most enjoyable place for every person on earth should be home. Home is where we can relax from the strains of the day and forget the problems with which we have struggled. There we greet members of the family and enjoy good fellowship with them. Home is where happy mothers, fathers, and children can laugh and talk together without any inhibitions or restraint.

III. The Glory of the Saints CHeaven will be like going home—only on a much greater scale. It is where we will be delivered finally and totally from all the limitations and restraints experienced on earth. Bodies that have grown old, tired, or sick will be changed into bodies like unto Christ’s glorious body. Minds that became frustrated, distraught, and depressed will be relieved and changed into a state of tranquility. Heaven will be a place that will satisfy all who go there regardless of their different dispositions, likes, and dislikes. There will be no discontentment or unrest in heaven.

III. The Glory of the Saints CIn addition, mankind’s journey to heaven will not be for a temporary visit; it will be forever. “So shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:17). It will be a place of no return where we will never grow old or tired or sick. What a great event for which God’s people can anticipate and plan! Every individual should want to go to such a place as heaven with all of its blessings and benefits.

Reflections

It is worthy of special note that God is coming back for the redeemed—the one God who made the universe, who created all that is in the earth, who provided the perfect sacrifice on the cross, and who brought salvation from sin to the human race. Jesus Christ is coming again to redeem His people to Himself! With the Rapture, He will take us from the earth into the glorious place that He is preparing for His special people.

Reflections

With anticipation, all redeemed individuals look forward to that blessed day and live expectantly as they prepare to meet the Lord in the air. What hope they enjoy as they contemplate the coming rapture of the church! It will be a realization of hope for the prepared and a time of despair for the unprepared.

Reflections

Every person should strive to be ready for the Rapture. We must be ready to make that blessed day great in our lives.