April 10, 2016
Morning Service

I Thess. 4;

            Once we choose to accept salvation from Almighty God, knowing that it is a much better life than what the world has to offer, we find that there are a lot of things concerning God that we don’t know, but want to know.  There are a lot of different interpretations on the things of Eschatology, or, the last things.  We find that we must understand some things from Daniel, and Revelations in order to grasp some of it.  I say some of it, because some of it is very difficult to grasp.  Many have made an attempt to explain it, but they are not all the same, so that leads me to believe that someone is possibly right, and someone is wrong, and it is up to us to find the truth.  Just remember two things, one, the Ecc. Writer said that to the making of books there was no end, and study becomes a weariness to the flesh. The second, Paul said “1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  Even Paul didn’t know it all, but knew enough to give us confidence in our salvation. 

            This morning we want to look at what is revealed to us concerning the Lord’s return to earth for His church, or the second coming of Christ.  Let’s begin with what John said concerning this:

 

Joh 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

·         Here we see one of the earliest revealing’s of the idea that Jesus is going away, and will return for His church.

·         This area of Scripture that John gives us is very informative, and very faith building. 

The disciples never truly understood concerning the Lord’s D.B.R. until He revealed Himself to them after the resurrection.  So, this idea of Him coming back for them would be another mystery they hadn’t understood.

            In order to receive the things of God, you must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  Paul said it like this to the Corinthians;

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 2:14-15  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  (15)  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

·         We have received.  You willingly, desired, and long for the things of God, and He gave them to you through the Holy Spirit that you received.  The Spirit of God helps us to know the things of God that are freely given to us of God.  The things that God gives us, or allows us to understand.

·         The natural man, or unconverted man, receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.  He does not seek them, nor desire them, therefore he cannot receive them for they are spiritually discerned.  Which means they are spiritual.

            The next time we become concerned with the Lord’s return is when He was received up into heaven, and what the Angles said;

Act 1:9-11  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  (10)  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  (11)  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

            This again would have caused great thought for the disciples wondering what this would mean.  There are some parables that Jesus gave that would indicate life after death.  Most of which deals with judgment, and punishment.

            Now we turn to the writings of the New Testament.  God chose the Apostle Paul to give us two of the most easily understood passages on the second coming.  The first being found in I Thess. 4.

1Th 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  (15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (16)  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 in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  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.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

·         Now first of all, our song writers have made it very easy to believe that when someone dies they go immediately to heaven.  This has never been the case.  As a matter of fact in the O.T. there was a difference of opinion of even if there would be life after death.

·         Jesus came and made it clear that there would be, but at a particular time.

            In the explanation of Psalms 16, Peter said this;  Act 2:29  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.  Act 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

            So many deserving Christians have not yet been taken to Heaven.  Listen to the Hebrew writer.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  Heb 11:39-40  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

·         Ye might receive the promise - The promised inheritance or reward - in heaven. It is implied here that this promise will not be received unless we are patient in our trials, and the prospect of this reward should encourage us to endure them.

·         All these saints were worthy to have been resurrected to Heaven, if that was God’s plan, but it wasn’t.  NOTICE.

God having provided some better thing for us /// think of that.  Some better thing for us.  We haven’t gone through near what these saints went through, but only by the grace of God. We will all go to heaven at the first resurrection.  As Paul said, the dead in Christ shall rise first, and that encludes these dear departed saints, along with all the rest of the saved dead.  Our Catholic friends would tell us that Mary has already gone to Heaven, I assure you by this Holy Word that she has not.  She is blessed above women for the part she had in God’s divine plan for mankind, but she will be resurrected, and go to heaven, at the same time, with everyone else.

 

Our loved ones that have passed, are like all the other saints, they are sleeping, this is the first death, and will one day be resurrected to be with the Lord forever, or have their part in the lake of fire, which is the second death.  So since man is not immortal, only Christians have immortality, those who have not chosen to become followers of Jesus Christ, will suffer total destruction in the lake of fire, where satan, and his followers will suffer eternally.

            Peter said, 2Pe 3:11-14  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  (12)  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  (13)  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  (14)  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, QUICKEN TO OUR HEARTS THE SERIOUSNESS OF THESE TEACHINGS, AND HELP US TO BE WHAT YOU WANT US TO BE.  STEADFAST, UNMOVABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD.   AMEN.