Jesus Is Coming Again!
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
August 14, 2022
Intro
We believe in the real and personal return of Jesus Christ
-read belief statement
 
Why does this matter?
-they thought their loved ones had missed out on Christ’s return!
-we must all consider our appointment with death
   -Ecclesiastes 7:2
   -some people avoid talking about death (fear, distracted)
   -death to some is popular, a way to escape
          (possibly in pain, lacking proper information)
-The Bible says Jesus is coming again
    -We must trust the whole Bible, or none of the Bible!
 
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
We do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope
-Christ followers have real hope!
-We follow someone who solved our greatest problem: death!
-1 John 5:11-13   …you may KNOW that you have eternal life
-Yes Christians grieve over death, but with HOPE!
 
Jesus died and rose again, and so will we!
-John 11:25-26  “I am the resurrection and the life…”
 
What believers experience when they die:

1. Freedom- relief from temptations, an earthly body
2. Fellowship- with Jesus and all other believers
3. Fullness of knowledge- the consequences of choices

 
Jesus is coming back!
-Acts 1:9-11
-This can happen at any time!
   -Paul and the Thessalonians anticipated Christ’s return
   -Acts 1:7  Jesus tells us not to worry about when
 
 
Paul tells us how (vs 16-17)
-The Lord will personally come down
-This will be noisy! 
   -A shout- a cry, command, announcement
   -Archangel’s voice- Mark 8:38
   -Trumpet of God- no one will miss this event!!
-The dead will rise first to join Jesus
   -No description of how, nature of bodies,
-We who are alive will (also) be “caught up”
   -Same word in Acts 8:39; 2 Cor 12:2-4
   -Happens along with resurrected dead
-We meet Jesus in the clouds- Mark 13:26; Acts 1:11
 
-This is where we get the belief in the Rapture
   -1 Thes 4:15-17 does not offer a clear timeline
   -differing beliefs on the timing of the rapture come from
        Multiple verses in the Bible
   -Our church believes in the second coming of Christ and the
      Rapture of His church, we agree to disagree on exactly
      when this occurs in relation to the final judgment of the world
   -see our Belief Statement about Last Things
 
We will always be with the Lord
-Our reunion with Jesus physically is forever!
 
 
Jesus is coming again!
Therefore encourage one another with these words
-Every believer should be encouraged by this promise!
 
-Every unbeliever CAN be encouraged: trust Jesus now!
   -1 John 5:11-13
   -Romans 10:9-10
   -Acts 10:42-43
 

 
St Joe Community Church
Belief Statement about Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
 
Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.