The Great Disappearance: Matthew 24, I Thessalonians 4:13-18

What this episode covers

Matthew 24:36-41 Blank Outline Completed Outline So, I’m going to read from Matthew chapter 24, 36 through, I’m actually going to add 42, so you can follow along. This is Jesus on the Mount of Olives discourse, and here’s what Jesus had to say. He’s talking about His return. But about that day or hour, nobody knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them away. This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field, one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Well, if you’ve been with us over the summer, you know that we’ve been preaching through the book of 1st Thessalonians. And we’re going to continue through there. We’re going to conclude chapter 4 this morning. And so, a couple more messages in 1st Thessalonians. So just to give you a little background, the theme of 1st Thessalonians is be ready. And what are we to be ready for? Well, we’re to be ready for the coming of Jesus, the second coming. All through the book of 1st Thessalonians, Paul writing to this church at Thessalonica refers to the second coming of Jesus. In fact, at the end of every chapter, there’s five chapters in 1st Thessalonians, he refers to the second coming of Christ. And so, Paul is wanting those Thessalonian believers and you and I to be ready for the second coming of Christ. And that’s what we’re going to talk about this morning. Did you know a quarter of the Bible is prophetic? 25% of the Bible approximately talks about the future. And God has given us a glimpse of how the world’s going to end. The book of Revelation lays that out for us. Revelation 1:19, this is the outline of the book of Revelation. John is on the Isle of Patmos and he has a vision of Christ. Revelation 1:19 says, John, write the things that you have seen, the things which are and the things which are coming thereafter. There’s the outline of the book of Revelation. The things that you have seen, John saw a vision of Christ. Read Revelation chapter 1. It’s the only description of what Jesus looks like in all the Bible. So, John writes that. Write the things that are. John wrote seven letters from Jesus to seven historical churches that were present in modern day Asia and Turkey. And then write the things that are coming, that are hereafter. That’s chapters 4 through 22. 4 through 19 talks about the time of God’s wrath on the world. It’s called the Great Tribulation. Chapter 20 talks about the millennial reign of Christ. Well, he will rule and reign for a thousand years. Chapters 21 and 22 talk about the new heaven and the new earth. So, this morning we’re going to think about 1st Thessalonians 4:13 through 18, and it’s called the Great Disappearance. If there’s one section of Scripture in 1st Thessalonians that you might be familiar with, this would be the most familiar. It talks about what we refer to as the rapture of the church. And so, let’s just think about some introductory thoughts here. the return of Christ is mentioned all throughout the Bible And here it is, the return of Christ is mentioned all throughout the Bible. So, just like we celebrate His first coming at Christmastime, the Bible all throughout the Scriptures talk about what? The second coming of Christ. We just read about it in Matthew chapter 24. John 14, in the upper room, Jesus’ words to His disciples before he goes to the cross. And what does he say in John chapter 14? He talks about a person, a place, a promise, and a plan. Do not let your hearts be tro

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