Handling the future
What do we believe and do about Jesus’ Return?
The Holy Spirit takes great care to guide Paul to prepare the Church in Thessalonica to deal with the topic of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. What good is the right belief if it doesn’t lead to the right behaviour? More than three chapters have been written to prepare the Church to deal correctly with the teaching of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ before details of His return are discussed. These details, if dealt with correctly, help the Church to stay encouraged and focused on the works of faith and labours of love which lead to our holiness, without which nobody will see the Lord.
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. [15] For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Bible Study Questions
What we do with what we believe
Romans 3:7-8 and Jude 1:4 show that the right teaching can be perverted and misapplied by us because of our sinful nature. In the same way we must be careful to handle the revelation of the return of Jesus correctly. What three things are we constantly reminded to give our attention to daily as we wait for Jesus?
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 ESV We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our hope is anchored in fact, but built on faith
Hope keeps us going through tough times, loss of hope leads to all sorts of debilitating conditions. What historical fact anchors our hope? What can we have faith in, as a consequence of this fact, and how does that give us hope?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
The Hope of the Resurrection
When we meditate on Jesus’ Resurrection it builds our faith and strengthens our hope. What kind of resurrection bodies can we look forward to if we will be raised from the dead just as Jesus was?
Luke 24:36-49 ESV As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
The fetching of those who are in Christ
The Thessalonian believers were worried about the return of Jesus and that those whom they loved and lost would miss it. What did Paul share with them to assure and encourage them?
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 ESV For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
The Mystery of the Resurrection
What will happen to the bodies of those believers who are alive at the coming of Christ?
1 Corinthians 15:51 ESV Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Eternal Encouragement
Focusing on the return of Christ to come and fetch those who belong to Him is a powerful source of hope. What are we told to do with this information?
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 ESV Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
God is with us, and we are His
When we get caught in the vicious cycle of fear and dismay, we can trust that God is with us to set us free. How does God free us us as we trust in Him and await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Isaiah 41:10 ESV fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Prayer
Dear Father God in Heaven, Thank You that You never change, that Your Word is unbreakable, Your power unsearchable, and that Your character is utterly perfect. Thank You that You are able to strengthen us, lift us and keep us up, and that You desire to do so because Your are our God and we are Your children. Please forgive us our lack of faith, and help us to stand firm in our belief and to walk consistently in the way You call us to. Thank You for our Lord Jesus and for the immense victory that He secured with His own life on the cross. We pray that You will make us holy and keep us holy until You return to fetch us to be with You forever. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Worship
To God be the glory, great things He hath done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory great things He hath done.
Service
One of the many ways that we can serve each other in the Church of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ is to always try to be encouraging. We are instructed to encourage one another with the teaching of the rapture. Let’s ask God to show us who needs that encouragement from us this week.