The Comfort of His Coming

Nathan Ritchie

Living in Light of Eternity • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11

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The question is what happens to believers who died before Christ’s return?

Find your encouragement in Christ’s resurrection and return!

The Resurrection is Our Foundation (vv. 13-14)

At the heart of the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 1 Cor. 15:3-5 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

It is upon the fact of the resurrection that our whole faith is built!

Our sorrow at the loss of a loved one is only temporary for the believer. Our hope is based on the living Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ’s Return is Our Focus (vv. 15-

The worry was that those who died would miss Christ return. Instead, we are told that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Yet, there is still the waiting for Christ’s return.

The certainty of His return is sure! - A word from the Lord! John 14:1-3 ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

The expectation of His return is sanctifying! 1 John 3:1-3 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

The Rapture is Our Future

He will come with a shout.

O Blessed Hope! Perhaps today—A moment more, and then—away! Caught up in clouds to be with Him, Beyond the reach of conflicts grim, Of disappointments, pain and tears. O Blessed Hope! The rapture nears!—ANNIE LIND-WOODWORTH

He will snatch up His bride!

The word (harpazo) was translated into the Latin word for rapture! It means to be snatched up!

The delight of His coming! Death is defeated! 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 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.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

When He shall come with Trumpet sound! Oh, may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone. Faultless to stand before the throne! On Christ the Solid Rock I stand!

Next week on the Day of the Lord