1Thessalonians 4:13-18
Paul’s Message to the Thessalonians
The Rapture
I. \\#1Thess 1:1-2\\ Introduction
II. \\#1Thess 1:3-10\\ Paul’s Knowledge of the Thessalonians
III. \\#1Thess 2:1-16\\ Paul’s Plan for the Thessalonians
IV. \\#1Thess 2:17-4:12\\ Paul’s Heart for the Thessalonians
A. \\#1Thess 2:17-20\\ The Planter’s Desire
B. \\#1Thess 3:1-5\\ The Planter’s Anxiety
C. \\#1Thess 3:6-10\\ The Planter’s Joy
D. \\#1Thess 3:11-13\\ The Planter’s Prayer
E. \\#1Thess 4:1-12\\ The Planter’s Hope
1. \\#4:1-2\\ Paul speaks from his heart and the Word.
2. \\#4:3-4\\ Paul gives reasons to follow these instructions.
3. \\#4:3-12\\ Paul gives instructions.
a. \\#4:3-8\\ Instructions for sexual purity
(1) \\#4:3\\ That they abstain from fornication.
(2) \\#4:4\\ That they know how to possess their vessel.
(3) \\#4:5\\ Do not allow the lust of concupiscence.
(4) \\#4:6\\ That they do not defraud a brother in any matter.
(5) \\#4:7\\ Remember, God has called us to holiness.
(6) \\#4:8\\ If you have a problem with these
instructions, your problem is with God!
b. \\#4:9-10\\ That they love one another.
c. \\#4:11\\ That they be not busybodies.
d. \\#4:11\\ That they work.
e. \\#4:12\\ That they walk honestly, even toward the lost."
f. \\#4:12\\ And that they lack nothing. (probably
speaking of spiritual
V. \\#1Thess 4:13-5:10\\ Paul’s Message for the Thessalonians—As noted
several times already, this book is not a deeply doctrinal book. It is
largely a book from Paul’s heart to this young church. But beginning at
this point, Paul does teach doctrine and the message that he shares is
centered on the returns of Jesus Christ to the earth.
A. \\#1Thess 4:13-18\\ The Rapture
B. \\#1Thess 5:1-10\\ The Day of the Lord
I. \\#4:13-18\\ WHAT the rapture consists of.
A. Some background.
1. \\#4:13\\ "But I would not have you to be ignorant… concerning them
which are asleep" - Paul is attempting to teach the Thessalonians
about what happens to those who have died in Christ.
2. Jesus had promised a kingdom in which the saints would rule.
3. He mentions the kingdom 9 times in the first three chapters of His
ministry as recorded by Matthew.
\\#Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 4:23, 5:3, 5:10, 5:19, 5:20, 6:10, 6:33\\
4. \\#Acts 1:1-6\\ It would seem that the disciples were surprised that
Jesus was leaving.
5. No doubt, everyone was still expecting a kingdom. (They expected a
kingdom before Jesus’ death, and they were still expecting it after
Jesus’ resurrection.
6. But now, Jesus had left and some of the believers had died.
7. The question arises, "What happens to them?"
B. \\#4:14-17\\ To answer that question, Paul explains the rapture.
1. Paul teaches the order of events within the rapture. (6 thoughts)
a. The saved death are WITH the Lord.
(1) \\#1Thess 4:14\\ Paul says that the Lord will return bringing
those who have died in Him.
(2) Although not specifically stated in this text, that would
imply the saved dead are WITH Jesus.
(3) 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:
b. \\#1Thess 4:14\\ The Lord returns bringing the saved dead with Him.
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
c. \\#1Thess 4:16\\ The Lord himself shall descend (into the earth’s
atmosphere) with a shout and a sounding trumpet.
(1) Notice it is the Lord himself.
(a) He is not sending another.
(b) This strongly argues for a literal interpretation.
(2) As Jesus descends, there will be the shout of a strong voice
like that of an archangel.
(a) Who shouts?
(b) Either Jesus or an angel, but we cannot tell from the
verse which.
(3) A trumpet will also sound at the same time.
d. \\#1Thess 4:16\\ The bodies of the dead in Christ shall rise
before anything else happens.
(1) It is said to happen "FIRST," giving us the order.
(a) Not only are the dead in Christ not to be left out, they
will be empowered before anything else happens.
(b) \\#1Thess 4:15\\ This is further stated by saying the
living will not "prevent" or precede those who are
sleeping in Jesus.
(2) Notice also, it is the dead in Christ.
(a) The unsaved will not be raised at this time.
(b) I do not think the saved Old Testament saints will be
raised at this time either.
(c) 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.
(d) At the present, that is not what I believe.
e. \\#1Thess 4:17\\ The living shall be "caught up" with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord.
(1) After the dead are raised, then the resurrection power of God
works on those who are alive.
(2) We are taken away, caught up.
(3) The Greek word is used some 14 times in the New Testament.
(4) It always has the idea of being caught or removed, usually
suddenly and with power.
(5) 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) 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.
(7) If it offends you to use a term not found in the Bible, call
it the "catching away," for it all means the same thing.
f. \\#1Thess 4:17\\ Once "caught up," we will be with the Lord
forever.
2. \\#1Thess 4:17\\ Once this "catching away" takes place, all then-
present Christians will be removed from this planet.
C. Whether you like the term RAPTURE or not, whether you agree with me
on the timing of the rapture or not, if you are going to believe the
Bible, you are going to have to take this passage as a literal
promise and accept three major truths:
1. Jesus is coming back!
2. When He comes, all the saved in Christ are going to be changed
and removed.
3. What is going to take place on this world afterward isn’t going
to be pleasant!
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 Lord’s coming not too long before. Their
reply was, "Aw, Mom. People have been saying that for years!"
2. Even though people have been saying it for hundreds of years, it
is still true.
3. But what I find interesting is that the world’s 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.
4. The Bible is either true or not.
a. If it is not, those who believed it have nothing to lose.
b. If it is, those who do not believe it have nothing to gain.
E. \\#1Cor 15:35-58\\ gives more details on the physical change the
return of the Lord will have on the bodies of those raptured.
II. \\#5:1-5\\ WHEN the rapture will occur.
A. I can only give you a partial answer as to when the rapture will occur.
1. \\#1Thess 5:1-2\\ The Bible does not tell the day or time the
rapture will occur.
a. It gives us some CONDITIONS of WHEN the Lord will return, but not
a TIME of WHEN the Lord will return.
b. To be absolutely honest, in this text, Paul gives us some
conditions of what will be going on just after the rapture.
c. No human being knows when Jesus will return.
(1) Presently, Harold Camping of Family Radio is saying the
rapture will occur on May 21, 2011.
(2) He has made predictions before. All have failed.
(3) If anyone hits the date, they just guessed.
2. I have erred even when I have said that Jesus will come soon,
because the Bible doesn’t say He will.
3. What I should say is that I BELIEVE He will come soon, because that
is what I believe.
4. The Bible does say that Jesus will come quickly \\#Rev 3:11\\.
a. That does not means He will come immediately.
b. It means that when He comes, it will happen suddenly, fast,
instantly.
B. Concerning the timing of Jesus’ coming, the Bible does say:
1. \\#1Thess 5:2\\ He will come like a thief in the night—with no
advance warning.
2. \\#1Thess 5:3\\ People in general, will think times are safe and
peaceful.
a. That doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be any problems or wars.
b. It could just mean people are more hopeful.
c. Jesus’ return might actually be after a great catastrophe,
either a natural event or a man-made one, like a war.
d. Mankind tends to be hopeful after an extremely bad experience.
3. \\#1Thess 5:3\\ The Bible indicates that those who are left will
have sudden destruction.
a. This text does not say the tribulation will start, but I
believe it will.
b. It does say destruction will come.
III. \\#5:6-10\\ HOW the rapture effects us.
A. \\#1Thess 4:18\\ It should comfort us concerning death.
Whether we are speaking of our death or the death of a loved one,
we know that God has a good plan and there is no need to fear.
B. \\#1Thess 5:4-8\\ It should stir us to stay alert.
1. It is implied that to be asleep, not watching, unaware, when Jesus
comes is a bad thing.
a. The Bible does not say that if you are not watching, you will
not be taken.
b. It does seem to say that if you are not watching, you will not
be doing the commanded work and thus will not get the expected
reward.
c. Read all of Matthew 25.
2. What would be the work a watching Christian should render?
a. He would be right with God. Knowing the Lord will comes
encourages us to stay right.
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as
he is pure.
b. He would be witnessing to and warning others.
May the Lord help us to be watching when He comes.
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