"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." (1 Th 4:13)
This is a very interesting verse of scripture. I have heard that some old maids have used this verse of scripture as a reason for remaining single. They have said, "It is not that I haven't had opportunities. But I Thessalonians 4:13 gives my reason for not marrying: I would not have you ignorant brethren."
But the verse actually says, "...I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren..." The Bible places no premium on ignorance. All of us should attempt to get the best education we can possibly get and prepare ourselves to do the best job for the Lord a person could possibly do. We should give the world no cause to call us ignorant.
The Christians at Thessalonica believed in the Second Coming of Christ. They believed He could come at any moment. While they waited for Him to come some of the believers died. Those who were left thought that those who had died had missed the return of Christ.
So Paul writes here to dispel their ignorance, to give assurance to their hearts, and to make this wonderful and inseparable connection between the death of believers and the Second Coming of Christ.
So Paul says, "I would not have you to be ignorant" and then he starts talking about the coming of Jesus for His own. It is terrible to be ignorant about great things. You can be educated and still be ignorant about the most important things of life and eternity.
Paul says, "I would not have you to be ignorant" as he starts talking about the return of Christ. So, let's not be ignorant about...
I. THE REALITY OF HIS RETURN
A. Clearly, definitely, unmistakable, is the Second Coming of Christ taught in the Word of God.
1. Only the doctrine of the ATONEMENT is a more prominent Bible truth than the truth of the RETURN OF JESUS.
2. In the New Testament the Second Coming is mentioned over 300 TIMES.
3. Whole chapters are given to this subject such as in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13.
4. Not only that, but whole books of the Bible are given up to the discussion, such as I and II Thessalonians, II Peter, and the book of Revelation.
B. Many today consider this doctrine to be INCIDENTAL, but the churches of the first century considered it FUNDAMENTAL.
1. The people out in the world know about the birth of Jesus, His death, and His resurrection from the dead.
2. We have special days to celebrate these great events.
3. There should be a day set aside for the world to stop and contemplate the great truth that Jesus is coming again.
4. Philippians 3:20 talks about the Second Coming when it says, "We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."
5. I Thessalonians 4:16 says "The Lord Himself shall come."
C. There are several things that we can discount as NOT BEING the Second Coming of Christ.
1. The Second Coming of Christ is NOT THE SPIRITUAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST WITH US.
a. The presence of Jesus in our lives today is a very precious and very real truth.
b. Jesus should be more real to us than anything that we can see, or touch, or smell.
He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
c. But His presence in our lives today is not the Second Coming.
d. The Bible says, "Every eye shall see Him"
e. The Bible says, "This same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
f. The same Jesus who took little children in His arms and blessed them, the same Jesus who walked the shores of Galilee, and the same Jesus who said to Thomas: Come and feel the nailprints in my hands - that same Jesus is coming again.
"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:" (1 Th 4:16)
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Phil 3:20)
2. The Second Coming of Christ is NOT DEATH.
a. It is true that when the Christian dies his soul goes to be with the Lord, but the Second Coming is Jesus coming back to the earth.
b. When the Christian dies it is a glorious reunion, but Christ does not descend from heaven with a shout, and bodies to not rise from the graveyard.
3. The Second Coming of Christ is NOT CONVERSION.
a. It is glorious when sinners are saved - when drunkards become sober, when infidels become believers, when liars become truthful, when people born once are born again.
b. But the salvation of a sinner is not the Second Coming.
4. The great truth that God, the Holy Spirit has come and now lives in all believers is a glorious doctrine, but it is not the Second Coming.
5. The Lord HIMSELF is coming bodily, visibly, actually, gloriously, and personally.
II. THE RESURRECTION
"The dead in Christ shall rise first" "The dead shall be raised incorruptible"
A. The resurrection of the bodies of believers is an integral part of the Second Coming of Christ.
1. The bodies of Christians are in many different places on the earth.
2. Many are buried in man made graves.
3. But some are buried at sea, some have been burned up, some have been torn to pieces by explosions, some have been eaten by wild animals.
4. But none of this matters to Jesus.
5. His unlimited power is sufficient for the task.
B. When Jesus comes He will gather all the bodies out of their places and will make them new.
1. Not a one of them will be beyond His power; not a one of them will be lost.
2. According to Revelation 20:5-6 the resurrection of the unsaved does not take place for 1,000 years, but the first thing on the agenda when Jesus comes for His own, according to I Thessalonians 4:16 is the resurrection of believers who have died.
3. "The dead in Christ shall rise first."
III. THE RAPTURE
A. All believers will not be in their graves; some believers will be living upon the earth when Jesus returns.
1. Although the first thing that happens is that those dead believers will be raised from their graves, the living believers will not be left out.
2. "The dead in Christ shall rise first" - "THEN" verse 17 (here is the rapture) "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."
B. The rapture means the snatching up of believers from off the earth when Jesus comes for His own.
1. Living believers will be taken up with those who will be raised from their graves.
2. But there is a problem. We cannot meet the Lord in these bodies - that would never do.
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Phil 3:20)
"Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Phil 3:21)
3. This scripture tells us something about what our resurrection bodies are to be like.
a. They will be like His glorified body, His resurrection body.
b. You remember it was not limited like our bodies are.
c. It was a real body -- the disciples recognized Him and touched Him.
d. He ATE.
e. It was a real body, but an unlimited body.
f. Our resurrection bodies will be like that.
4. The Bible says we will be changed.
"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." (1 Cor 15:53)
It will be a day just like today. Suddenly, without warning, Jesus will return. Those who are ready will go with Him, but those who are not will be left behind.
The great question every one of us here this morning must answer is simply this: ARE WE READY? If Jesus comes today will we be ready to meet Him. There will be no time to GET READY. We must BE READY when He comes. Paul said, "I would not have you to be ignorant brethren..."
Jesus is coming are we ready? If you have never accepted Christ, you aren't ready! If you are not living for Him, you aren't ready! If you are thinking 'I've got plenty of time', then you are not ready! Come to Jesus now!