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Text: Jn. 14:1-3; 1
Cor. 15: 51.57; 1 Thess. 4:13-18
Title: The Coming of Christ for His Own
Subject: The catching away or rapture
Intro: The Bible
says, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" Titus 2:13
Frankly, I'm disappointed that I am still here!! No, I am not disappointed
that I am still here in this church, but I am disappointed that I am here in
this world!! I thought it would be a fitting end to the last century, and a
perfect beginning to this one, if you and I would have been caught away to
be with the Lord! I personally don't subscribe to the "leave me here just
one more day, Lord," approach! I subscribe to the "I want to go home today"
approach! Of course that would interfere with many of our plans and
dreams. But God rules in the affairs of men, and certainly the time of
our transport to glory is completely in His hands!
But the Bible still says, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"
The appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ is the next event on the prophetic
time-table. There is no unfulfilled prophecy of scripture that stands in
the way of the return of Jesus Christ for His own. When I was saved in
1976, this was a main topic of preaching and conversation, but it has been
put on the back burner for the last decade or so. There has been somewhat
of a renewed interest lately, because of a series of best selling books on
the Tribulation period, but it is still not a main topic in our Baptist
churches. I am often reminded about the subject as I walk the streets on
those dark, cloudless mornings when the heavens declare the glory of God,
and countless stars sparkle above me. In looking up at the immensity of the
universe, I can't help but ask, "Is it possible that I will be transported
beyond the stars, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye?" How beyond my
human comprehension!
But the Bible still says, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"
This Biblical event is called by the Bible "being caught up," but more
popularly, "the Rapture," which is from the Latin, "to seize," "to snatch."
This imminent "catching away" is important to Christians for many reasons.
First, it removes us from the outpouring of God's wrath during the
seven years of Tribulation when over 1/2 of the world's humanity will die.
Second, it completes the blessed hope of our original salvation.
Third, it brings to pass the Bema (reward) Seat of Christ. Fourth,
it brings to pass the marriage of Christ to His New Testament churches.
Fifth, it is our entrance into eternity.
Text: Jn. 14:1-3 --
"Christ's Catching Away" -- Prayer
Note: The three main
passages on the catching away reveal things we can learn about Christ, and
things we can learn about ourselves.
I. WHAT WE CAN
LEARN ABOUT OURSELVES FROM JN. 14:1-3
A. In General, We Have Troubled Hearts (inner turmoil
about many things. But here is something we need not be troubled about)
(v1)
B. A
Place in the Father's House ("mansion" = abiding place) is Being
Prepared For Us (v2)
C. That
We Will Be Received By Christ, and Be With Christ (v3)
II. WHAT WE
CAN LEARN ABOUT CHRIST FROM JN. 14:1-3
A. That He Is The Central Figure in the Catching Away (Jn.
14:1-3). It is Christ coming for His Own, not His Own going to be with
Christ.
1. That Christ is the One to be believed (v1)
a. "Believe" = trust, place your confidence in
1) Salvation
In Acts 16, Peter said to the jailer, "...Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" Acts 16:31
2) Life
Jesus said, "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly" John 10:10. Overflowing life is ours for
today.
Note: Our relationship to Christ is a
one-time salvation, and a continuing dependence and trust.
2. That what Christ has
revealed to us is true (v2)
a. And the complete revelation of what Christ has
revealed is found only in His Word
3. That Christ has promised to come again, and receive us
unto Himself (v3)
4. That where Christ is, we shall be (v3)
Note: Based on the
words of Christ, we have One Who we can believe in, Who has told us the
truth, and Who is preparing for us, Who will come for us, and Who will
receive us into His presence.
III. WHAT WE CAN
LEARN ABOUT OURSELVES FROM 1 COR. 15:51-58
A. We Shall Not All Die ("sleep") (v51)
B. But
[even if we do die] We Shall All Be Changed ("to change one thing
for another, to transform") (v51)
1. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye ("shortest
period of time, which cannot be divided")
2. We shall all be raised ("aroused, caused to rise")
incorruptible ("not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable, immortal")
C. Our Death Will Be Swallowed Up ("devoured,
destroyed") In Victory (to have victory is to "utterly vanquish" your
enemy). Victory will replace what appears to the natural man as defeat.
IV. WHAT WE
CAN LEARN ABOUT CHRIST FROM 1 COR. 15:51-58
A. That The Victory of Life Over Death Comes Because of
Christ (It does not come because of anything in us, but everything in
Him.) So we see...
1. God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) is Gracious, and Deserves
Our Thanks ("grace": reward, recompense. Eternal gratitude) (v57)
2. God Gives Us The Victory (the victory is not ours, but
God's!!)
3. Through ("the ground or reason by which something is
done") our Lord Jesus Christ (the full name/title of Messiah)
a. "Lord" = master & owner of all. N.T. description for
O.T. Jehovah
b. "Jesus" = God is salvation
c. "Christ" = anointed/chosen One of God
Note: Our victory
over death is because of the grace of God, the mercy of God, and the D.B.R.
of Jesus Christ.
V. WHAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT OURSELVES FROM 1 Thess. 4:13-18
A. That We Are Ignorant ("not to know, not to understand, to make
a mistake") About Christian Death (v13). To know something is not the same
as to allow that knowledge to influence the way you live.
1. Death for the Christian is gain, while death for the lost
is utter ruin. How should that influence our response to a Christian's
death, our daily activities, our prayers, our attitudes, etc.?
B. That We Often Sorrow ("to be affected by sadness") As Those
Which Have No Hope ("expectations") (v13)
C. That Our
Trust in Christ Is The Basis of Our Hope For Ourselves & For Those Which
Have Died in Christ (v14)
D. That Our
Hope Is Based On The Word of the Lord (v15)
E. That
Some Will Be Alive At The Coming of The Lord (v15)
F. That
Those Alive Will Not Prevent ("precede, go before") Those That Have Died in
Christ (v15)
G. That
Those Who Have Died in Christ Shall Rise First (v16)
H. Then
Those Alive Shall Be Caught Up ("seized, carried off by force, to claim for
One's self, to snatch") Together With Them In The Clouds (v17)
I. That
We Shall Ever Be With The Lord (v17)
J. That
We Alive Should Comfort ("go to one's side to meet a need") One Another With
These Words (v18). No extenuating circumstance of life can overcome the
promise of eternity for the Christian.
V. WHAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT CHRIST FROM 1 THESS. 4:13-18
A. That Jesus Christ Died, Was Buried & Rose Again (v14). This
is the bedrock of our faith. This is the foundation of our faith. This is
the cornerstone of our faith.
"Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with Him" 1 Thes. 5:10
B. That
God, In Christ, Will Bring Those That Died In Christ To Himself (v14). No
Christian's death is in vain, and no Christian's resurrection is in doubt!
C. That
Jesus Christ, According To His Word, Is Coming Again (v15) "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" 2
Peter 3:4
D. That
Jesus Christ Will Come From Where He Is To Take Us From Where We Are (v16).
We are either on this sin-cursed earth or in this sin-cursed earth!
E. That
Jesus Christ Will Descend
1. With a "shout" = word of command, military term
2. With the voice of the archangel (ruler of angels)
a. Seraphs, cherubs, archangels, angels
(principalities, powers, thrones, dominions)
3. With the trumpet of God
a. Used both for a call to worship and a call to
battle
F. That
Jesus Christ Will Raise the Dead and the Living (v16-17), to meet Him in the
air.
Note: The
Picture: The resurrected Christ in His glorified body, followed by
the innumerable souls of every dead believer since His resurrection, leaves
the confines of heaven and descends into the firmament above the earth (the
clouds). As Christ leaves the boundary of heaven, He shouts a command.
This "command" announces His coming, and gives the orders concerning the
catching away. Immediately the archangel's voice calls the angelic host,
both elect and fallen, to attention and to stand in military rank so we can
pass through unhindered (Dan. 10:13). Then the trumpet of God sounds,
calling the sleeping saints to rise out of their graves, whether earth or
sea. And as they ascend to ground level, those which are alive and remain
are snatched together with them, passing through rank after rank of demons
and angels, into the clouds, and on to Heaven. There we gather to praise
and worship Christ.
G.
That Jesus Christ Will Fulfill His Promise, "That Where I Am, There Ye May
Be Also" (v17)
Conclusion: "If ye
then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not
on things on the earth. For ye are dead [to sin], and your life is hid with
Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye
also appear with Him in glory" Col. 3:1-4
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast
("firm"), unmovable ("unmoved, persistent"), always abounding
("overflowing") in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your
labour is not in vain in the Lord" 1 Cor. 15:58 |
