1 Thessalonians 4

4:1-12 II. IN THE PRESENT: THE LABOR OF LOVE.

1. The Challenges of the Rapture. 4:1-12

2. The Chronology of the Rapture. 4:13-18

3. Their Love for God. 4:1-8

4. Their Love for the Brethren. 4:9-10

5. Their Love for the Lost. 4:11-12

6. Concerning Self. 4:3-5

7. Concerning Saints. 4:6-10

8. Concerning Sinners. 4:11-12

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

A. Their Love for God. 4:1-8 V.1 a) Abounding - In the Received.

I. Abounding - Believers ought to grow, go on and not draw back. Heb.6:1; 10:39; Eph.4:13-15 II. Walking - Ephesians describes how we ought to walk:

1. Walk in the Prepared Work. 2:20

2. Walk Worthy. 4:1

3. Walk in Love. 5:2

4. Walk as Children of Light. 5:8

5. Walk Circumspectly. 5:15

III. Pleasing - There are at least 6 Scriptural ways to please God

1. Preaching the cross pleases God - 1.Cor.1:21
2. Giving pleases God - Phil.4:16-18
3. Walking worthy pleases God - Col.1:10
4. Obeying parents pleases God - Col.3:20
5. Faith pleases God - Heb.11:6
6. Giving thanks and doing good pleases God - Heb.13:15-16 Who we desire to please determine whom we serve. Gal.1:10 V.2 b) Audible - Given Requirements.

These young believers had already received the instruction to walk in holiness.

V.3 c) Abstinence - From sexual Relationships.

I. The Will of God: Sanctification (What). v.3

II. The Way of God: Should (How). v.3-12

III. Sanctity in Sexual matters and Social lives.

This includes abstinence from pornography, sexual fantasy, homosexuality, sexual intimacy before marriage and adultery. 1.Cor.6:13-20 V.4 d) Agreeable - Relating in a Rightful way: Reserved and Respectful.

Believers should live in his body by the right spirit, with a life that has been waiting for the right one, a separated life still possessing virginity, with a life that hasn’ t dishonoured itself in various unclean sexual ways.

V.5 e) Abased - Lustful Rise.

Believer’ s life should be governed by the spirit and not by sexual lust.

V.6 f) Advantage - Of man and the Lord’ s Response.

Unclean sexual relationship affects peoples commitment and it can bring the judgment of God.

V.7 g) Appeal - To be Restrictive.

Believers are called to a new life in Christ. Eph.4:24 V.8 h) Advise - To the Rebellious.

If anyone rejects these words concerning sanctification in sexual matters and wants to live as the world, he then has not rejected Paul or man but God Himself, he will receive as a child of God the consequence of his rebellion against the designer and creator of man. Heb.12:5-11

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

B. Their Love for the Brethren. 4:9-10 V.9 a) Inspired - By God to Love.

All believers who understands the sacrifice and suffering of Christ also knows how much God loves them John 3:16; 1.John 3:1 that will cause love to their brethren. 1.John 4:16 V.10 b) Increasing - More in Love.

Believers’ love for the brethren ought to increase at all time, love should be the greatest virtue of Christians, the excellency, the principal spirituality, the most sought work. 1.Cor.13:1-3, 13; 2.Cor.8:1-5

C. Their Love for the Lost. 4:11-12 V.11 a) Working - Considering Ourselves.

3 aspects of loving others:

1. Lead a quiet life - Having a quiet spirit.

2. Mind your own business - Having a meek spirit.

3. Work with your own hands - Having an independent spirit.

V.12 b) Walking - Considering Others.

Our testimony to the world should be, that we have a heavenly Father that helps us to walk properly and who supplies our needs.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

A. THE DAY OF CHRIST. 4:13-18

1. The Resurrection of Sleeping Saints. 4:13-16
2. The Rapture of Living Saints. 4:17-18

The PROBLEM - Ignorance of the resurrection of the dead at Christ’ s return. v.13 The PROMISE - The great experience awaiting both the living and the dead. v.14-18 The - The Lord’ s return is to comfort their lives. v.18

John 14:1-3 is much similar to 1.Thess.4:13-17 in many ways, even in the order of the words:

1. Heart be troubled John 14:1 Lest you sorrow. 1.Thess.4:13

2. Believe also in Me. John 14:1 We believe that Jesus 1.Thess.4:14

3. Told you. John 14:2 Say to you. 1.Thess.4:15

4. Come again. John 14:3 The coming. 1.Thess.4:15

5. Receive you. John 14:3 Caught up. 1.Thess.4:17

6. To Myself. John 14:3 Meet the Lord. 1.Thess.4:17

7. Where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3 Always be with the Lord. 1.Thess.4:17

8. The Resurrection of Sleeping Saints. 4:13-16 V.13 a) Sorrow - Not for those that Rest.

I. Ignorance is wilful carelessness in understanding certain facts.

II. 4 areas the apostle does not want us to be ignorant in:

1. Concerning the Rapture. 4:16

2. Concerning the restoration of Israel. Rom.11:25

3. Concerning Israel’ s wilderness experiences. 1.Cor.10:1

4. Concerning spiritual gifts. 1.Cor.12:1 III. The dead is said to be sleeping, this is not a soul sleep, or the sleep of the spirit but the sleep of the DNA of the body.

IV. Because all who dies still lives and will be resurrected, believers should not sorrow. 1.Cor.15:29-56 V. The Thessalonians thought their dead brethren might not participate in the rapture with them and that made them sorrowful. They thought that one had to be alive to participate in the rapture.

V.14 b) Sleeping - Saints will Return.

I. Jesus will bring with Him those saints whose DNA sleeps (He will bring their soul and spirit with Him) at the rapture and give them a new body.

II. It’ s only those who died in Christ that is brought with Him at rapture not the Old Testament saints. v.16

III. A sleeping body and a dead body are similar. The sleeper does not cease to exist and the dead person does not cease to exist. Sleep is temporary, death is also. Sleep has its waking; death has its resurrection.

V.15 c) Sequence - Of the Resurrection.

Those saints who lives on earth at Christ’ s return will not rise first but the dead will be first resurrected.

V.16 d) Shout - Causes first the dead to Rise.

I. Jesus will descend with a shout. (A military shout of command) Shout

II. The voice of the archangel Michael will also be heard. Jude 9

III. God Himself will sound the trumpet and not the angels.

IV. Then the dead will be resurrected with a new body.

V. A similar scene happened in Matt.27:50-53. VI. How will the saint’ s new bodies be like?

1. It will not be the same body. 1.Cor.15:37

2. It will be glorious. 1.Cor.15:40-41

3. It will receive incorruption. 1.Cor.15:42

4. It will receive power. 1.Cor.15:43

5. It will become spiritual. 1.Cor.15:44

6. It will be like the body of Jesus. 1.Cor.15:49; 1.John 3:2

7. It will be immortal. 1.Cor.15:53 VII. The Spirit in our hearts is our guarantee for this new body. 2.Cor.5:4-5; Eph.1:14

8. The Rapture of Living Saint. 4:17-18 3 different views of the rapture:

9. Pre-tribulationism view: Believes that the Church will be caught up before the 7-year period of Antichrist.

10. Mid-tribulationism view: Believes that the Church will be caught up at the middle of the 7-year period of Antichrist, just before the great tribulation.

11. Post-tribulationism view: Believes that the Church will be caught up after the 7-year period of Antichrist at Christ’ s 2nd coming. V.17 a) Caught up -

I. How? - Those who live on earth will be caught up (Latin Vulgate. Rapturo).

II. Where? - In the air and in the clouds. The clouds are properly not rainy clouds but glory clouds. Heb.12:1 III. Why? - Then we will never be separated from Jesus again.

IV. Who? - Then we will meet the Lord and the saints.

V. When? - It can happen anytime for it is imminent.

VI. There are differences between the 2nd coming and the rapture.

1. At Christ’ s 2nd coming He will put His feet on the earth, after He has been in Edom and Megiddo. Zech.14:3-4 But at the rapture He only appears in the clouds. 1.Thess.4:17

2. At Christ’ s 2nd coming He will come with all the saints. 1.Thess.3:13 But at the rapture He comes to get the saints. 1.Thess.4:16-17

3. At Christ’ s 2nd coming He will come to Reprove and with Rage. Rev.19:11-21 But at the rapture He comes to Resurrect and Receive. 1.Cor.15:51-52

4. At Christ’ s 2nd coming He will come to reign on earth. Rev.20:4 But at the rapture He comes not to reign on earth but to receive His own in the air. 1.Thess.4:17 5. At Christ’ s 2nd coming He is a married man. Rev.19:7 But at the rapture He comes to receive His coming bride. John 14:2-3 VII. Collection of Scriptures referring to the Rapture: John 14:1-3; Rom. 8:19; 1.Cor. 1:7-8; 15:1-53; 16:22; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 3:4; 1.Thess. 1:10; 2:19; 4:13-18; 5:9, 23; 2.Thess. 2:1; 1.Tim. 6:14; 2.Tim.4:1; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; James 5:7-9; 1.Peter 1:7, 13; 1 John 2:28-3:3; Jude 21; Rev.2:25; 3:10 VIII. Collection of Scriptures referring to the 2nd Coming: Dan.2:44-45; 7:9-14; 12:1-3; Zech.14:1-15; Matt.13:41; 24:15-31; 26:64; Mark 13:14-27; 14:62; Luke 21:25-28; Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21; 1.Thess.3:13; 2.Thess.1:6-10; 2:8; 2.Peter 3:1-14; Jude 14-15; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-20:6; 22:7, 12, 20 IX. There is an O.T. passage concerning rapture. Isaiah 26:20-21 X. The reason why the Church will experience rapture is to save it from the wrath to come. 1.Thes.1:10; 5:3, 9; Luke 21:36; Rev.3:10-11 XI. There are O.T types of the rapture.

5. Enoch is a type of rapture, he was taken to be with the Lord before the flood, but Noah went through it protected by God. Gen.5:24

6. Lot was removed from the city before God’ s judgement came upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen.19:12-29

7. Rebekah is a type of rapture, after Isaac was to be offered by Abraham (The Father offering His Son) Isaac is not seen until he meets Rebekah, the Church will not see Jesus until the rapture. Gen.22:1-19; 24:61-67

8. Daniel is a type of rapture, he was gone when 3 of his friends were thrown into the fiery oven. Dan.Ch.3

9. John the apostle is a type of rapture, he was caught up in Revelation before Jesus begins opening the 7 seals. Rev.4:1 XII. The Jewish marriage tradition is a type of rapture, even our redemption:

Jewish marriages were arranged marriages, the fathers met together and decided, sometimes even before the children were born, that these children should marry each other. The Church is chosen before creation to be married with Christ. Eph.1:4 2. THE The Jews were betrothed (engaged) before marriage, the man went to the woman’ s house and asked her father for his daughter, often they don’ t see each another until the time comes for them to be married. The Church on earth doesn’ t see Jesus until He takes her home to the marriage ceremony.

3. The bridal price

The bridegroom and his father should pay a bridal price for the bride. Christ and His Father paid the price for the Church His bride. Eph.1:14; Acts 20:28 4. The marriage contract

They made a marriage contract when they paid the price. The Jewish nuptial contract (Heb. Ketubah) has mutual obligations, the husband promises to provide for her and the bride promises to be faithful at home. The new covenant is the marriage contract where Jesus’ promises are written and it is sealed with His blood. 1.Cor.11:25 5. The formal acceptance

The formal acceptance is the bride agreeing upon marrying the man. Gen.24:57-59; Rev.22:17 6. The unity

The husband and wife were now one flesh. Gen.2:24; 1.Cor.6:16-17 7. The bathing

A part of the bridal process involves a “ Mikvah” bathing in water for cleansing and consecration at the betrothal stage. Jesus is also bathing His wife with water. Eph.5:25-26 8. The spreading of his garment

The groom spread his garment over the bride. (Covering her in a protective and redemptive way) Ruth 3:9; 12-13; Ezek.16:8 Christ has also covered His Church with grace, love and the Holy Spirit.

9. The Covenant Cup (1st cup)

During the betrothal ceremony they drank from the same cup together but would not drink it all, they waited until they were brought together at the marriage supper. At the last supper Christ and His disciples drank from the same cup together. Mark 14:23 (Christ would not drink the cup before he entered the kingdom). Matt.26:29 10. The veiling

The woman began wearing a veil, as a sign of that she was betrothed and not available to another. The Church wears the veil of grace. Gen.24:65; Ps.5:12 11. The gown

Often the groom supplied her a gown (Christ is the Church’ s gown) Rev.19:8 12. The mansion

The groom began building a mansion for them and the Father would regularly come out to look at how far the groom had come. Christ prepares mansions for His bride. John 14:1-3 13. The coming

The groom didn’ t know when he should get his bride that was his father’ s decision. Christ does not know when He is going to return. Mark 13:32 14. The waiting stage

They were now married but they did not yet live together. Matt.1:18-19; 2.Cor.11:2 They are a married man and woman but not yet a married couple.

15. THE WEDDING STAGE (The full marital status) This betrothal service is called in Hebrew the “ kiddushin” .

16. The wedding day Wedding happened normally on a Wednesday evening (Tuesday evening - our time) So the bride took notice every Wednesday for the groom’ s arrival for she didn’ t know when he would arrive. Christ will come as a thief in the night to get His Church. Matt.24:42-44; 1.Thess.5:2

17. The wedding season It usually happened during the fall (because of the outdoor celebration).

18. The groom’ s golden crown The groom would put a golden crown on his head, (Christ cometh with many crowns Rev.19:11-12) as he was to get his bride (the bride would also wear a crown at the wedding).

19. The groom’ s arrival with his friends The groom came with his friends and best friend.

20. The proclamation of the groom’ s coming The groom would come with proclamations and the sound of trumpets. Christ cometh with a shout and with a trumpet. 1.Thess.4:16

21. The meeting place

The groom met the bride who was ready outside her house in the street. Christ meets His ready bride in the air outside of earth. 1.Thess.4:17 22. The march

They march through the city to the canopy.

23. The chanting

At Jewish betrothals the words “ blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” is chanted as the bridegroom approaches the “ Chuppah” (Canopy). Christ too would not be seen until the Jews were chanting the marital words. Matt.23:37-39 24. The “ Chuppah”

The groom first enters the canopy to welcome his betrothal.

25. The Tallith

A Tallith is draped over the couple to symbolize his provision and protection of his wife. The Tallith’ s tassels represent the commandments and the blue cords in each corner that they are heavenly.

26. The father’ s blessing

The father blessed them in the canopy. Gen.24:60; 1:28; Eph.1:3 27. The ring

In ancient Jewish betrothal ceremony the groom puts a ring on the brides right index finger and says “ behold, you are consecrated (Heb. Mekudesheth) to me with this ring according to the Law of Moses and Israel” . After the ring is put on then the ceremony is completed.

28. The intimacy

They enter the mansion to confirm their marriage sexually.

29. The Covenant Cup (2nd cup)

After the matrimonial blessing is spoken over them they sipped wine at the same cup together. Christ would not drink the cup before he entered the kingdom. Matt.26:29 30. The length of the wedding

A. The wedding is a 7-day celebration. Gen.29:27-28 From the rapture to the marriage supper is perhaps 7 years.

B. They stayed 7 days in the mansion while the guests celebrated outside. The Church is perhaps in the mansion of heaven for 7 years and will then return with Jesus at His 2nd coming. 1.Thess.3:13 C. During the 7-day period the groom would come out of the home to the door to receive gifts and greet the guests.

D. During the 7-day period the groom would give gifts to his wife and serve her.

31. The checking the sheets of the bed

The groom’ s best friend checks the couple’ s bed sheets for blood to confirm her virginity. Christ is the Church’ s shared blood and has given His virginity to the bride.

32. The marriage supper

The marriage supper occurs at the end of the 7-day period. (After the 7-year period of Antichrist). Rev.19:9 33. The appearance

After the 7th day the groom brings out his bride from the mansion. Christ brings us back to the earth during His 2nd coming. 1.Thess.3:13; Rev.20:4 34. The inheritance

The bride inherits all things that the groom has. The Church also inherits with Christ. 2.Cor.1:20; Eph.1:22; Phil.3:21 V.18 b) Comfort -

Rapture is one of the greatest comforts for the saints on the earth. Is repeated in 5:11