Foundations of The Faith

1 Thessalonians 1 Corinthians Revelation The Return of Jesus 1 Thessalonians 1 Corinthians Revelation

Eschatology: The Return of Christ Amillennial Return of Jesus No Rapture Postmillennial Return of Jesus Premillennial Return of Jesus Pre Tribulation Rapture Mid Tribulation Rapture Post Tribulation Rapture

Paul’s Topic: What happens to Christians who have died? 1 Thessalonians 4:13 13 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.” Paul’s Topic: What happens to Christians who have died? Paul’s Purpose: Christians understand the future and have hope as a result. What would you tell someone about their Christian loved one who just died to comfort them? “They are safe in heaven with Jesus.”

But there is more hope yet: Dead Christians are in Heaven enjoying fellowship with Jesus right now. That is great and comforting! But there is more hope yet: Luke 23:42-43 The thief said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” 2 Corinthians 5:4-10 “indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life…. 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”

The Return of Jesus in Two Phases 1 Thessalonians 4-5 1 Corinthians 15

The Difference Jesus’ coming to the clouds to give resurrection bodies to all Christians (1 Thess 4:13-18) Place: Clouds Mood: Joyous and comforting Focus: Resurrection of Christians God’s Action: Gathering Player: Christians only mentioned Prerequisites: None Matthew 24:37–51 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 “Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” Jesus’ coming to the earth to Judge and Rule (1 Thess 5, Rev. 14-18) Place: Earth/Israel Mood: Terrifying Focus: Judgment of the unbelieving world is the focus God’s Action: Destroying Players: Unbelievers primarily Prerequisite: Revelation 4-13

Prophesy and the Comings of Jesus 1 2 3 There is still a possible blurring of: 1) Christmas: Jesus’ first coming to earth to die on the cross and raise from the dead 2) Rapture: Jesus descending from Heaven to give dead and alive Christians resurrection bodies and take us with Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) 3) Second Coming: Jesus’ second coming to earth to judge mankind and rule. (Revelation 14)

Prophesy and the Comings of Jesus 1 2 3 There is still a possible blurring of: 1) Christmas: Jesus’ first coming to earth to die on the cross and raise from the dead 2) Rapture: Jesus descending from Heaven to give dead and alive Christians resurrection bodies and take us with Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) 3) Second Coming: Jesus’ second coming to earth to judge mankind and rule. (Revelation 14)

Seven Year Tribulation Period Jesus the Judge Revelation 6:1–2 “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” Seven Year Tribulation Period Daniel 9:27 “one set of seven years” Revelation 12:14, Daniel 7:25 “time, times and half a time” Revelation 11:2, 13:5 “42 months” half Revelation 12:6 “1,260 days” half Revelation 14:1 “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.”

Isaiah 65:19–25 “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying. 20 “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Will be thought accursed… 25 “The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox” Intermediate Kingdom Unlike Today or the Eternal State When Jesus Rules on the Earth Isaiah 24:21–23 “So it will happen in that day, That the Lord will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth. 22 They will be gathered together Like prisoners in the dungeon, And will be confined in prison; And after many days they will be punished. 23 Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders.”

Jesus the Ruler Intermediate Kingdom Unlike Today or the Eternal State When Jesus Rules on the Earth Acts 1:3–8 The risen Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem… they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses” Matthew 19:28 “Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Revelation 20:1–6 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus … they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Intermediate Kingdom Unlike Today or the Eternal State When Jesus Rules on the Earth

Revelation 20:7–15 “When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”

? Revelation 21:1–5 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

The 1st Point of the Rapture: Hope that Comforts 1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Our dead loved ones who knew Jesus are in Heaven with Jesus and will come with Him when He descends. Our dead loved ones who knew Jesus are in front of us in line to get resurrection bodies. If we die tomorrow, we join them in Heaven. If we are alive at the descending of Jesus, we will be instantly transformed into our cool resurrection bodies. Either way, we will be with the Lord permanently in all that He does once He comes for the rapture.

This impact comes from the imminence. The 2nd Point of the Rapture: Hope that Purifies This impact comes from the imminence. If Jesus is only coming back in the second coming of Rev. 14, we have the terrible events of Rev 6-13 first. His coming is not imminent. But if Jesus is coming back any time, we better be living right and ready for Him. Some generation of Christians will not die, but rather see Jesus ascend from Heaven and take them! The Thessalonians thought it was them. Do you think it is us?

The Point of the 2nd coming: Hope of Justice Every wicked person and act in human history will have a day of judgment. There is really a day when Jesus will reign in righteousness. Sin will be finally removed- in us and around us.