Maturing in the Faith Pt 3: A Prospective Walk

Take your Bibles this morning, go over to 1 Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 this morning.

1 Thessalonians 4 · chapter mention

As we begin looking and continuing in our look at a maturing faith.

And part of a maturing faith is having the right perspective of what is to come.

Because as we look towards the future of what is to be, it helps us to live and to do what we ought to do now.

And we've looked here in this chapter about what Paul would have for them to encourage those at Thessalonica.

And we know we talked about a pleasing walk that we should have with the Lord.

To please the Lord in our walk.

But also a practical walk where we're growing and maturing in the things of the Lord.

And so this morning we're going to look at a perspective walk.

To walk in light of what is to come.

In light of eternity.

In light of our expectation.

Because these young believers at Thessalonica had been faithful.

And they had stood in the midst of all their trials and their troubles.

And their faith that was there.

The change that followed was spoken about throughout Macedonia.

And you know we know that Paul it tells us was encouraged by what he heard.

But he knew they still needed to mature.

You know no matter where we're at in life we've never arrived.

You know one of the most dangerous things to do is to sit down and say I've arrived.

You know often times we don't sit down and say that but we act that.

We think that we don't have to mature or don't have to develop in our life.

And to have that right perspective helps us keep that in the focus that it ought to be.

Because we still need to mature to possess our own vessel in sanctification and honor.

You know it was to be holiness not uncleanness.

That as a believer we're called we're supposed to be holy.

Yet they still had questions about some things to get in line.

Because we're going to look here this morning.

They had a question about when Jesus comes.

You know that's a perspective thing.

We're looking towards that.

The return of the Lord.

That's one of the key doctrines of the Bible.

That Jesus is coming again.

You cannot avoid that doctrine.

I mean the reality is Jesus is coming again.

He will one day return.

Now what does that look like?

You know that's an essential element of it too.

To understand what it looks like for the Lord to return.

And the believers at Thessalonica had some questions.

Some concerns.

Because their concern was of the things Paul taught them about being ready for the Lord's return.

Their question had to do with what happens to those who aren't alive when it happens.

And today we're going to look here at this prospective thing.

Because even after we die we need to understand it's still a hope that we have.

It's a realization that's there.

So if you found 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 this morning.

1 Thessalonians 4 · chapter mention

Go ahead and take your stand together with me here this morning.

We'll pick up here in verse 13.

And we find here notice what the apostle tells them.

He says,

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord.

That which are alive and remain under the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

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 of Christ shall rise first.

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.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Let's pray.

Heavenly fathers we come before you this morning.

Lord we just thank you for the reality that you are coming again.

Lord and what that means and the reality of even if we are not here.

Lord that we've come gone to be with you before that happens.

Lord that we're still.

It's part of the hope that we have because of the resurrection.

The reality that's tied in.

Lord we pray this would work upon hearts and lives today.

That there be not one here today that doesn't know for sure where they would stand when this day comes.

Lord because they need to know the reality of what it means when you come again.

Lord and what it sets into play.

Lord the reality of it.

Lord help us to as believers just to trust you and to look for that coming.

Lord to be prepared for it to be mature in our walk.

Lord as you are now as you are as cold as you are as cold as you are as cold as you are as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold as cold

Jesus told his disciples many times, I'm coming again.

The Old Testament is filled with prophecies of his coming,

not only for the first, but for the second that have yet to be fulfilled.

And we're going to see those things as we see it mentioned throughout Scripture.

The coming of the Lord is tied, though, directly to the resurrection.

You know, oftentimes we forget.

The coming of the Lord is tied to the resurrection.

The hope, as we see here, Paul tells them,

don't worry about those that are asleep.

Don't worry about those who have died,

because the coming again is tied to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The resurrection is an important, essential understanding of the truth of the gospel.

You know, Paul expounded this a little later on.

You know, remember, 1 Thessalonians is one of the first letters written.

And in 1 Corinthians, when he's writing to the church at Corinth,

years later, he begins to expound on this same point,

this same principle that we find there in chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians.

It tells us this in verse 19.

It says,

In this life only have we hope in Christ.

We are of all men most miserable.

He says,

If there's no resurrection, life isn't worth it.

If there's no resurrection, what does life mean?

But notice verse 20, he says,

But now is Christ risen from the dead,

and become, notice this, the firstfruits of them that slept.

Now, I want you to understand, what is he telling us here?

He's telling us that Jesus, rising again,

ought to comfort us and give us hope,

because one day, if you're a believer,

you're going to rise again and be changed,

be transformed into his image.

There is a reality that we have.

The fact that Christ is alive

is the very fact that gives us hope.

The resurrection of Jesus,

you know, when somebody denies the resurrection of Jesus,

they deny the very hope of the gospel.

To deny the resurrection removes all hope.

You know, 1 Corinthians 15,

that's the theme of that chapter.

You know, it starts out explaining the gospel,

but the theme of the chapter,

he says, the gospel doesn't make sense

without the resurrection.

The resurrection is a key element

that Christ not only died for your sin,

but he had victory over that sin.

That he had victory over the penalty of sin.

Victory over the death.

Now, notice here what Paul tells them.

I want you to see as we look at verse 13,

because this is important.

Notice what Paul says,

But I would not have you to be what?

Ignorant.

You know, one of the things I tell people,

ignorance is a curable condition.

Ignorance is curable.

Now, some people are willfully ignorant.

You know, they think,

if I don't know, it's not going to hurt me.

You know, there are certain things,

if you don't know, you will get hurt.

You know, there are some things you need to know.

In other words, it's dangerous.

Ignorance is a condition that's curable,

for it's simply this,

it's a lack of knowledge.

A lack of accurate knowledge.

Of understanding what God says.

Verse 13 brings to light

that we don't have to be in the dark

about his coming.

You know, there's a lot of people today

who want to argue about Jesus coming again.

And there's a lot of people who want to argue

about even the passage we're reading today.

because it talks about us being caught up

together with him.

Oh, no, it's like,

you can't skip this.

Paul says, don't be ignorant.

Whether willfully or intentionally,

don't be ignorant.

Understand because it's important

of how we view

and have a proper perspective

of what is to come.

Because have you ever noticed

how you think about what's to come

impacts what you do today?

You know, how many of you get up on Monday

to go to work

because you just love

to go see your boss?

You know, the reality is

you might like people you work with,

you might like some other things,

but you know what?

Your perspective of going to work

isn't to hang out with people.

Your perspective of going to work

is because you know

that at the end,

somebody's going to give you a paycheck,

a reward for what took place.

Let's just face it,

that is really our motivation.

We need the money.

That's the perspective.

You work today

because of the perspective

of the future.

You know, we live for Christ today

because of what the prospect

that he promises for the future.

That perspective future

that he promises to us.

And we're going to see here,

this is one of the four times

that Paul talks about

truths that we need to know

that we don't need to be ignorant.

You know, it's interesting

that Paul mentions many times

and tells people,

don't be ignorant.

You know, one of the things

he tells is very important.

This is one for today

that's very important.

Paul tells them

in Romans chapter 11,

Romans 11 · chapter mention

he says,

don't be ignorant

about God's plan for Israel.

You know, he tells them,

don't be ignorant about it.

You know, he tells them

in verse 25 there,

he says,

for I would not, brethren,

that you be ignorant

of this mystery,

lest you should be wise

in your own conceits,

that blindness in part

has happened to Israel

until the fullness

of the Gentiles

is come in.

I want you to understand

we don't have time

to expound on that,

but Paul said,

don't be ignorant

about Israel's place.

There's a lot of people today

that are ignorant of Israel.

They don't have

a right perspective.

Secondly, you find,

he says,

don't be ignorant

about spiritual gifts.

You know,

1 Corinthians chapter 12

1 Corinthians 12 · chapter mention

in verse 1,

he says,

now concerning spiritual gifts,

brethren,

I would not have you

to be ignorant.

You know,

there's some things

that you don't have to question.

Paul says you want to know.

You know,

the third time he did this,

he says,

don't be ignorant

about suffering and trials.

You know,

2 Corinthians 1, 8,

for I would not,

brethren,

have you ignorant

of our trouble

which came unto us in Asia.

You know what?

Paul says,

I don't want you

to be ignorant

of some things.

And he says,

particularly here,

I don't want you

to be ignorant

of Christ's return.

To understand

in context,

don't be ignorant

about the rapture

and the coming Savior.

You know,

that's what we're

looking at today.

He says,

don't be ignorant

about what's going to happen.

Because it's important

to understand

what's going to happen.

You don't have to be ignorant

about the Lord's return

and the resurrection.

You know,

this is a concern

being addressed.

Notice back in our text,

notice how Paul phrases this.

And it tells us

the context

of why they're asking.

It says,

but would you have not

you to be ignorant,

brethren,

concerning them

which are asleep.

You know what?

These believers

had a genuine concern.

Hey,

if those that died

before Christ returned,

what's going on?

Did they miss out

on the promise?

Did they miss out

on those things?

They had a genuine concern.

They had a concern

about what was happening.

It was a concern,

not just curiosity.

You know,

one of the problems

I find today

when it comes to people

studying what's to come,

a lot of people study

what is to come.

They study eschatology,

that's that fancy term,

with curiosity

instead of concern.

Because we ought to be

concerned that others know.

Because what's to come,

they need to know.

The Bible tells us

that you're going to die

and face judgment.

That's something

people need to know.

People need to be aware

of what has happened.

It's directly tied

to the Lord's return.

You know,

the whole book

of 1 Thessalonians,

you find this theme throughout.

Look over into chapter 1

for a moment.

You know,

you already got your Bibles there.

Turn over to chapter 1.

And we find there,

look down at verse 10.

Chapter 1 and verse 10 there,

it says this,

at the end of this chapter,

it says,

and wait for His Son

from heaven.

What's He talking about?

Christ,

what?

Return.

He tells Him

who He raised

from the dead,

resurrection,

tied to it,

even Jesus,

which delivered us

from the wrath to come.

There's a purpose behind it.

He's going to deliver us

from God's wrath.

That was the reason

Jesus came.

Look in chapter 2,

look down at verse 19.

We see this theme throughout.

It says,

for what is our hope,

our joy,

our crown of rejoicing?

Are not even ye

in the presence

of our Lord Jesus Christ

at His coming?

Think about that.

What's He saying?

He says,

hey,

Jesus is coming.

Don't you want

to be with Him

when He comes?

Be in His presence.

Look over chapter 3.

Chapter 3,

verse 13.

Verse 13.

To the end

He may establish

your hearts

unblable in holiness

before God,

even our Father

at what?

The coming of our Lord

Jesus Christ

with all His saints.

So I want you to understand

when we're understanding

chapter 4,

you better understand

chapters 1, 2, and 3

before it.

The theme was there.

He's building

the reality

of the connection

between the saints

of God

and Jesus coming again.

I'll just throw this

in here for your benefit.

There's a phrase

that people use

when it comes

to this passage.

The rapture

of the church.

I want you to understand

the Bible never talks

about the rapture

of the church.

It talks about

the rapture

of the saints.

Terminology

gets us in trouble

because we might

understand what

it's saying

but oftentimes

people hear

the wrong thing

and tie it wrongly

if they have

wrong thinking.

It doesn't say

that the church

is going to be raptured.

He said the saints

are going to be

raptured.

He's talking

about all those

that have called

upon the name

of the Lord.

You say preacher

you're arguing

minor distinctions.

No I'm arguing

something very important

because it changes

our perspective.

I want you to

understand that

you don't have to

be a member

of a church

to go to heaven.

Now if you're

ready for heaven

you ought to be

a member

of a church.

That's two

different things.

One is obedience

the other

is preparedness.

Both of which

we have

both practically

in our walk

as we practice

the things

that Jesus

would have us

do.

That's

sanctification

it's part of

being obedient

to the Lord.

But notice here

he uses another

phrase in here

that's important

as we define

some things here.

He says

concerning them

which are asleep.

Which are asleep.

This was a

common expression

that was used

to express

that someone

had died.

You know

you say

it's important

because

even in Paul's

day this was

an expression

that was used.

You know

secular writers

would write

about life

and death

and what

would happen.

You know

you take a look

here you find

a one here

that says

hopes are among

the living

and the dead

are without

hope.

Another one

of his

in the days

of Paul

wrote this

suns may

set and rise

again

but we

when once

our belief

light goes

down

must sleep

an endless

night.

You know

what even

the secular

writers use

this terminology

of sleep

referring to

death.

You say

why is that

important

because some

people confuse

this.

There's a lot

of confusion

all over

Lincoln about

this.

I'm going

to spend

just a moment

here because

I think it's

important because

you're going

to come into

people who

have some

false doctrines

about what

this is

talking about

because when

he's talking

about sleeping

it's important

to understand

what's he

saying and

how we

reference that

from scripture.

You know

look back over

to John 11

for a moment

because if

you're going

to define

something from

scripture you

need to go

back and look

at scripture.

Jesus if

you remember

John 11

Jesus

had been

called because

Lazarus had

died.

In John 11

in verse 11

you'll notice

there that he

says this

Jesus says

our friend

Lazarus

does what?

Sleepeth.

Which they

were a little

confused because

Jesus is he

just sleeping

or what's

going on

here?

Now look

down at

verse 14.

Jesus says

I don't want

you to be

ignorant about

what I

said.

Lazarus

is what?

Dead.

So now we

have a

biblical

definition

and use

of the

term

that Jesus

used and

Jesus

defined it.

That's

important.

To say

how is it

used and

how is it

defined?

Paul uses

this idiom

referring to

death as

sleep.

It doesn't

in any way

support that

idea of

soul sleep.

There's a lot

of people

today right

here in

Lincoln that

believe in

soul sleep.

The entire

church has

a big

center right

on the

south side

right in

the middle

of town

over here.

They believe

that the

present dead

in Christ

are in a

state of

suspended

animation

waiting for

a resurrection

to consciousness.

You know

what?

They miss

a lot of

things.

Because

Jesus clearly

says sleep

is dead.

Now notice

something because

dead doesn't

mean that

you're separated

from God

because notice

what Jesus

look at

Luke 22

Jesus is

looking at

that thief

on the

cross.

What

happened to

the thief

on the

cross?

He

dead.

Nobody

questioned

whether he

died.

Look what

Jesus said

unto him

in verse

43.

Verily I

say unto

thee you're

going to go

sleep for a

while before I

see you

again.

Is that

what Jesus

said?

Thou shalt be

with me today

in what?

Paradise.

Jesus said

if you're

dead

in Christ

if you

die in

Christ

you move

to the

presence

of the

Lord.

Now your

body is

sleeping and

resting.

Your body's

corruptible.

It's in the

grave.

But you are

fully alive.

I want you

to understand

your body

is not who

you are.

The Bible

makes it clear

this body's

going to go

away.

Matter of

fact the

promise in

1 Corinthians

15 is that

we're going

to be changed

we're going

to put on

incorruptible.

This body's

going to

corrupt.

It breaks

down it

falls apart

and it

finally dies.

That's just

the process

it's

corruptible.

But our

hope isn't

in the

corruptible

our hope

is in the

incorruptible

of the

resurrection

that Christ

promises to

those who

follow him.

Look over

to 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

chapter 5

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

chapter 5

you see here

that Paul

tells them

here in

verse 8

he says

we are

what?

Confident

I say

and willing

rather to be

absent from

the body

and to be

present with

the Lord.

He says

wherefore we

labor that

whether present

or absent

we may be

accepted of

him.

In other words

he says

once you're

in Christ

it doesn't

matter whether

you're drawing

breath here

or you're

in the

presence of

heaven

you're

secure in

Christ.

What a

promise.

What a

perspective to

live by.

What a

focus that

we have

in that

and we

see here

that Paul

tells them

here very

clearly

and he

clears this

up.

Notice what

he says

verse 14

back in our

text in

1 Thessalonians

for if we

believe that

Jesus died

and rose

again even

so them

which sleep

in Jesus

will God

bring with

him.

You know

even he

tells the

Thessalonians

he says

now if

you were

having soul

sleep how

did Jesus

bring them

with him?

Jesus

says I'm

going to

bring the

saints

that have

died

with me.

Now this

is an

important picture

to understand.

You know

he will bring

them because

they're already

there.

They still

have the

hope of

the resurrection

of the body

the corruptible

that puts on

incorruptible.

You know

1 Corinthians

15 51

tells us

this he

says but

behold I

show you

a mystery

that we

shall not

all sleep

but we

shall all

be

changed.

In other

words he

says there's

going to

be some

that are

alive

and there's

some that

are going

to go on

before.

But he

said the

outcome is

going to

be the

same.

There's no

difference.

The outcome

is the

same.

Notice what

he says

here in

a moment

in the

twinkling

of an

eye.

At the

last trump

for the

trump

shall

sound

and the

dead

shall

be

raised

incorruptible

and we

shall be

changed.

You know

what some

of the

saints

being

alive

doesn't

change

anything

regarding

to those

who have

died.

You know

your promise

in Christ

is the

same

in this

life as

the next.

The promise

we have

is real.

Notice how

Paul puts

it here.

Look down

at verse

14 or

verse 15

here.

He says,

For this

we say

unto you

by the

word of

the Lord

that we

which are

alive and

remain under

the coming

of the

Lord shall

not prevent

them which

are asleep.

You know?

Paul uses

the term

we because

you know

why he uses

we here?

He says

Paul's still

alive.

He says

all those

that are

going to be

alive are

the we.

We that

are alive

and remain

aren't going

to hinder

those who

have already

gone before.

He ties

that reality

for us.

It's the

we.

He includes

himself but

along with

all believers

alive at

the coming

the return

of the

Lord.

Will not

prevent.

That's not

to hinder

the Lord's

promise of

resurrection.

When the

Lord's

return he

will keep

his promise

to both

those alive

and to

those who

have died

and we

must

understand

that

perspective

that Christ

will come

again.

think about

what Jesus

told his

disciples in

John chapter

John 14 · chapter mention

14.

John 14

in verse

3 he

says this

and if I

go and

prepare a

place for

you I

will what?

Come

again and

do what?

Receive you

unto myself

that where I

am there ye

may be also.

He also

taught them

earlier John

John 5:25

chapter 5

verse 25

he says

verily verily

I say unto

you the hour

is coming

and now

is when the

dead shall

hear the

voice of

the Son

of God

that they

that hear

shall live.

You know

it's interesting

a little later

he displayed

this at

Lazarus

grave.

It tells

us this

in John

John 11:43

11

verse 43

it says

he cried

with a

loud voice

Lazarus

come forth.

You know

last time I

checked

there's a lot

of similarities

between a

loud voice

and a shout.

We see

that picture.

So when it

says that

Christ will

return with

a shout

notice what

it tells us

here in

verse 16

for the

Lord himself

shall descend

from heaven

with what

a shout

the voice

of the

archangel

and with

the trump

of God.

Now

there's a lot

of people

that speculate

a lot of

this but I

think this

really has

to tie

when you

see the

use of

trumpets

in the

Old

Testament

one of

them was

to call

assembly

and to

call forth.

Numbers

Numbers 10 · chapter mention

chapter 10

makes it

clear that

they made

trumpets

specifically

for that

task.

To assemble

everybody

get everybody

packed up

and say

get ready

to go.

And then

the trumpet

sounds and

everybody

goes.

This picture

here is a

military type

picture of

Christ coming

and gathering

his troops.

The leader

shouts

gives the

command

then the

archangel

you say

why is the

archangel

well the

archangel is

kind of

like the

platoon

sergeant

that turns

around to

everybody else

and repeats

the command

and then the

trumpet sounds

the commander

has spoken

put it in

action

that's the

picture we

see here

is when

Christ shouts

it's a command

to move

forward

a command

to come

and he tells

them this

he says

and the dead

in Christ

shall rise

first

in other words

he says

don't worry

about those

that are

asleep

because he

said when

Christ comes

with his

saints

he's going

to bring

them

who they

are

and their

resurrected

body

now

I want you

to understand

there's a lot

of speculation

about this

but Paul

calls it a

mystery

in other words

we don't have

all the details

how God's

going to do

that

there's a lot

of things

that God

tells us

we have no

idea how

he did it

but we see

the effects

of it

you know

today when

you breathe

air you see

the effects

of what God

did

we have no

idea how

God spoke

creation into

existence

God doesn't

give us a

detailed plan

as well I

did this

and this

and this

and this

and that

over there

God just

says I

did

you know when

it comes to

the resurrection

he tells us

I'm going

to do

this is going

to be the

result

there's going

to be the

bodies that

rise up

and they're

going to meet

themselves and

then we're all

going to go up

together

now what that

looks like I

have no idea

you can

speculate all

you want

and we'll

probably find

out we were

all wrong

but I can

tell you one

thing it's

going to

happen

that's the

most important

part doesn't

matter how we

want it to

happen or what

we think about

it happening

the fact is

it's going to

happen

this is the

truth this is

the reality

that we have

that this is

what we are

and then notice

he says first

they're going to

rise and then

look verse 17

then we which

are alive and

remain shall be

caught up together

with them in the

clouds we're going

to be caught up

together in other

words somehow

they're going to

join the saints

that died with

the bodies that

come forth and

all of us that

remain if we're

alive at that

time we're all

going to go up

back up together

and meet the

Lord we're going

to meet him in

the air we're

going to be

caught up

together now

I'm going to

take a little

rabbit trail here

for a moment

because there's

spot we need to

clarify because

you ever heard

it seems to

be more popular

again today it

runs in cycles

there's a whole

propaganda out

there where

there's no

mention of

rapture in

the Bible

have you heard

anybody say

something like

that you know

there's a lot

of things we

talk about that

are not mentioned

by that specific

term in the

Bible do you

know that

grandparents must

not exist because

grandparents not

used in the

Bible talks about

your father's

father but

doesn't mention

grandparents so

therefore

grandparents must

not exist that's

a similar argument

that they're

using they're

saying if that

particular word

isn't in there

but we all know

that your father's

father is what

your grandfather

that's how we

refer to it today

we don't call it

well how's your

father's father

today you know

my grandkids don't

come over and say

how's my father's

father they just

call me papa

we have other

theological terms

like the

trinity

the concept of

the three in

one

you never find

the term trinity

in the Bible

but the principles

behind it

are clearly there

it's laid out

even though it's

not called that

in other words

their argument

is kind of mute

to say something

doesn't exist

because it doesn't

appear because

let me give you a

little clue

the word rapture

comes from a

Latin word

from the same

word that's

translated from

the Greek here

caught up

in other words

it's just a

different way of

expressing the

same term

so in other

words it's really

kind of a mute

argument that

people make

but it's important

because sometimes

people get oh

yeah I don't see

that in there

it's like it's

an irrelevant

argument because

what it's talking

about is present

no different than

trinity or even

grandfather

it's not an

argument that would

make sense

but we're going

to be caught

up you know

the Bible tells

us not to be

deceived and

understand the

reality that we're

going to be caught

up to meet him

in the air

as the dead in

Christ rise all

those that are

alive

now I want you

to understand all

those that are

alive in Christ

what does it mean

to be alive in

Christ it means

that you've called

upon the Lord

accepted what

Christ has done

for you called

upon him as

your Savior

recognizing you're

a sinner that's

under judgment

under the wrath

of God and

call upon him

the one who

took your

place took the

wrath you

deserved and

put it upon

himself that

there's a moment

in time when you

recognize that and

said I'm going to

call upon you I'm

going to make

reality to say

Lord I trust what

you have done

will cover and

that you're going

to pardon me

because you've

taken care of

it that

pardon that we

have in Christ

this is a mystery

that Paul talks

about in 1

Corinthians 15

I show you a

mystery we shall

not all sleep but

we shall all be

changed the

rapture we're going

to be transformed

this resurrection

was mysterious

because it was a

promise to all

those that believe

on the Lord Jesus

Christ

you know look over

to 1 John for a

moment

1 John tells us

something here very

clear 1 John

1 John 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3 and

verse 2

says this

beloved

now when John's

talking to the

beloved he's

talking to those

that have called

upon the Lord

said beloved

now are we the

sons of God

and it doth not

yet appear what

we shall be

for we know

that when he

shall what

appear

we shall be

like him

for sure we

shall see him

as he is

and every man

that hath this

hope in him

purifies himself

even as he

is pure

you know what

he says when

you understand

you're going to

meet your

savior face to

face one day

he says it

changes the

perspective in

which you live

this life

it changes how

you look at

what's going to

come

I want you

understand what's

happening here

he's not talking

about the Lord

coming as Lord

and King

his first coming

came in two

elements he came

as a babe in

the manger and

it finished with

a on the cross

you know what

his second coming

has two phases

the first is to

take us out

all those that

have called upon

him because he's

going to set back

a timetable that

he declared back

in the book of

Daniel

it's going to be

reinstituted

that he

foresaw and

he prophesied

what was going

to happen

the time that

the Bible

talks about

is a time of

Jacob's trouble

now we don't

have time to

get into all

that this

morning

but I want

you to

understand

we're not

talking about

the time

or the

tribulation

or when

Christ comes

to establish

his kingdom

this is when

Christ says

I'm going to

remove everybody

from the wrath

that's about

to happen

if you read

about the

tribulation

in the Old

Testament

and you read

about the

tribulation

in the book

of Revelation

and you read

about what

Jesus says

about the

tribulation

time

you ought to

say I don't

want to be

there

you know

it's amazing

you have other

people who say

we're going to

prepare for the

tribulation

well I hope

you know the

problem is you're

supposed to be

prepared so you

miss it

if you prepare

to participate

you're in

trouble

there's a lot

of people that

try to prepare

to participate

you know what

you got the

wrong perspective

you've got a

wrong understanding

because you ought

to be prepared

that you miss

it because I

tell you what

it sounds a lot

better being up

there than it

will be down

here when you

read the

scripture trust

me what's

going on up

in heaven

is way better

than what's

going on down

here it ought

to make us

excited about

at the time

of Jacob's

trouble God's

going to deal

with Israel

but the

saints of

this age

will be

with him

forever

the encouragement

that perspective

about his

return will

bring comfort

to those

that believe

you know look

how Paul

concludes this

passage look

down at

verse 18

notice what

he tells us

in verse 18

in our text

what's he tell

us does he

say well

if you think

so or hope

so he says

no wherefore

what comfort

one another

with these

words

I tell you

what there's

nothing comfortable

about going

into the

tribulation

but there's

a lot of

comfort saying

Jesus is

going to

come take

us out of

here before

it really

gets crazy

there's

comfort in

having the

right perspective

of what's

to come

it's something

that ought to

comfort our

hearts

you know this

morning does

the idea

of what we're

talking about

here comfort

your heart

are you

encouraged

because you

know Christ

is going to

come take

the saints

out

that we're

going to

be changed

we're going

to be

conformed

to his

image

this

corruptible

body is

going to

put on

incorruption

going to

experience

the reality

of eternal

life with

him

we're going

to experience

eternity

with an

eternal

God

it encourages

me to

realize that

Paul's

telling us

to remind

one another

that this

life with

all its

pains

all its

sorrows

all its

problems

is just

temporary

he tells

us to

find our

hope and

comfort

and our

encouragement

in the

coming

Savior

all this

will pass

you know

this morning

I want you

to remember