WHEN JESUS COMES

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-11

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

(1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, NLT) “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.”

Hope must be built upon truth.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13, GN) “Our brothers and sisters, we want you to know the truth about those who have died, so that you will not be sad, as are those who have no hope.”

THIS WILL HAPPEN

1. The return of Christ: Jesus will come down from heaven.

a. With a commanding shout.

(John 5:25, NLT) “I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.”

(John 11:43, NLT) “Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

b. With the voice of the archangel.

(Daniel 12:1, NLT) “At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise.”

c. With the trumpet call of God.

(1 Corinthians 15:51–52, NLT) “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”

2. After the return there is the resurrection: The dead in Christ will rise.

(Daniel 12:2, NIV) “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”

(Philippians 3:21, NLT) “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.”

3. The Rapture: We who are alive will be caught up with Jesus.

4. The Reunion: We will meet the Lord in the air.

(1 Thessalonians 4:18, NLT) “So encourage each other with these words.”

IT WILL HAPPEN

(1 Thessalonians 5:1–3, NLT) “Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.”

1. At the Right Time = Chronos (definite) and Kairos (indefinite).

(1 Thessalonians 5:1, ESV) “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.”

(Acts 1:7, ESV) “He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”

(Luke 17:26–27, NLT) “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.”

2. Suddenly: Like a thief in the night.

(Matthew 24:43–44, NLT) “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

3. Certainly: Like labor pains for a pregnant woman.

Growthwork

(1 Thessalonians 5:4–11, NLT) “But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

1. I should not be surprised.

2. I should be on guard.

3. I should be alert and clear headed.

a. Put on the armor of faith and love.

b. Wear the confidence of our salvation as a helmet.

4. I should encourage and build others up.

(Hebrews 10:25, NLT) “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”