The Rapture

 A sermon by Keith D. Wallace

1 Thess 4:13-18

I. How do we know He will return?

            A. He said He would

                        1. Matt 16:27     Matt 24:30, 36-37     Matt 25:31-32

                        John 14:2-3     John 21:22

            B. Others said He would

                        1. Angels

                                    a. Acts 1:11

                        2. John

                                    a. 1 John 2:28     1 John 3:2     Rev 1:7

                        3. OT Prophets such as Zechariah, Micah and Isaiah

                        4. Paul

                                    a. 1 Thess 4:16-17     Phil 3:21     1 Cor 15:51, 53

                        5. James

                                    a James 5:7

II. When will He return?

A. Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

1. Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

            B. Many try to fix a date or season based upon scripture: prophecy and/or typology:

                        -All contradict each other

                        1. nobody has guess it right – many cults attempt to guess

                        2. even if someone guessed it; God would change it

                        3. it will be a surprise

a. not that we don’t know it’s coming but that we don’t know exactly when

b. Christians know it’s coming and look forward to it – our blessed hope

i. Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

III. What’s going to happen when he returns?

            A. 1 Thess 4:16-17

                        1. Lord descends from Heaven with a shout

                        2. the voice of the archangel

                                    a. possibly singing praises or announcing the coming of the King

                        3. the trump of God sounds

                                    a. like in battle the bugle call rallies the troops

                                    b. more than one trumpet sound

                        4. the dead in Christ rise from their graves

                                    a. hope for those who have lost loved ones that were saved

                        5. those still living in Christ are called up just after the dead

                        6. we all meet the Lord in the air and remain with the Lord for evermore

IV. Who’s going and who’s not?

A. 1 Thess 4:16-17 tells us that those who are dead and alive IN CHRIST will go up when He returns for us

            1. Who’s in Christ?

a. John 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

b. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

V. What happens to those left behind?

            A. Matt 25:1-13

                        1. Three kinds of people at rapture

                                    a. Saved

                                    b. lost who heard gospel and rejected Christ

c. lost who never heard gospel and never had opportunity to accept Christ

                        2. saved will be taken

                        3. lost who heard and rejected will be shut out

                                    a. Matt 25:12-13

4. lost who never heard will have chance to be saved but plan of salvation is not as easy as it is now

                                    a. now it’s faith plus nothing

                                    b. trib it’s faith plus works

                                                i. Rev 12:11

                                                ii. Rev 6:9

                                                iii. Rev 14:12

                                                iv. Rev 22:14

                                                v. Rev 7:14

vi. these folks have to have faith in Christ as well as live a good life according to the 10 commandments.  They also must not take the mark of the beast and will most likely die a martyr’s death.  Rev 20:4

                        5. doesn’t apply to anyone in this room now though

VI. How can I make sure I will be caught up in the clouds with Jesus when He returns?

            A. admit you are a sinner

                        1. Rom 2:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

            B. Admit you can’t save yourself

1. Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

C. Believe Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead to pay for your sins and give you eternal life

            1. 1 Cor 15:1-4

D. Call upon His name to save you from your sins

1. Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

VII. Conclusion

            A. only skimmed the surface of this glorious event

            B. it’s exciting and should make you want to tell others about it