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Anticipate Christ’s Coming
I.
Nature of Christ’s Coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
A. Regarding Deceased Believers (vv. 13, 14)
(1Th 4:13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
(1Th 4:14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Paul, in his short time in Thessalonica, managed to lay a rudimentary foundation of doctrine on the
return of Christ. However, they had many questions unanswered. Apparently the Thessalonian
believers were uncertain about those believers that died before Jesus returned. They expected Christ to
come back soon, but meanwhile life went on and fellow believers were passing away. It is difficult for
us to put ourselves in their place. We can go to the New Testament and read the doctrine of the second
coming and the end of time in numerous places, but they could not, so they were essentially ignorant
until Paul or the other apostles expounded to them the revelations they had received as well as the
words of Jesus in His earthly ministry. The very scriptures we can so easily reference in this chapter
was indeed Paul’s effort to enlighten the Thessalonian believers.
B. The Catching Away (vv. 15-17)
(1Th 4:15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive
and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
(1Th 4:16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
(1Th 4:17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Paul’s recounting of the revelations he had received from Christ is the bedrock of our modern
eschatological understanding. Despite the clear language Paul uses, there are a myriad of varying
interpretations that even go so far as to deny the reality of a rapturing, a catching away of the saints. Of
course there is room for disagreement on this point, mostly on the timing in regard to other prophesied
events, but the fact remains that He is coming to take us to be with Him, both the already dead
believers and the still living saints.
The Greek word translated “prevent” in verse 15:
phthanō
fthan'-o
Apparently a primary verb; to be beforehand, that is, anticipate or precede; by extension to have
arrived at: - (already) attain, come, prevent.
Paul describes the precise order of the Rapture here; first, Jesus brings back to earth the deceased
believer. He announces His coming with a supernatural shout and trumpet, then the dead saints are
raised with physical bodies, the living saints are transformed from corrupt flesh to the same perfect
bodies, then all are gathered to Jesus in the heavens, the clouds and upper atmosphere. We will forever
be with Christ from that point.
(1Co 15:50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
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(1Co 15:51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed,
(1Co 15:52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
(1Co 15:53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality.
(1Co 15:54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory.
C. Christian Hope (v. 18)
(1Th 4:18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
What comfort there is to know that we have certain hope in Christ that He is returning for us all. If we
think of the coming of Jesus with fear or anxiety, we need to ask ourselves why. If we are ready and
are assured of His keeping us ready, joy is the only response we can have.
II.
Suddenness Of Christ’s Coming (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)
A. Concerning Times and Seasons (v. 1)
(1Th 5:1) But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto
you.
Paul had already taught the Thessalonians that the timing of the coming of Christ was known only to
the Father. He had also told them the teachings of Jesus on the signs of the season of His return.
(Mat 24:29) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened,
and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the
powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
(Mat 24:30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall
all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(Mat 24:31) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they
shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Mat 24:32) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and
putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
(Mat 24:33) So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even
at the doors.
B. Time of Christ’s Coming Unknown (v. 2)
(1Th 5:2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in
the night.
The season can be known, but not the specific time, so we must live with the concept of imminence, as
did the believers in the first century. 1900 years have passed, so His coming is that much closer.
C. Unexpected by the World (v. 3)
(1Th 5:3) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Paul emphasized that the uncertainty of the events was not in whether they would or would not occur,
but in when they would happen. Jesus IS coming, but we are not told when that will happen.
Throughout church history there have been many so-called prophets attempting to pinpoint the day,
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and obviously they have all been 100% wrong. The world absolutely rejects the idea of a God that
will one day close the door on history. We must proclaim the certainty of His return without resorting
to flaky projections of specific time.
III. Prepare For Christ’s Coming (1 Thessalonians 5:4-11)
A. Watch and Be Sober (vv. 4-6)
(1Th 5:4) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a
thief.
(1Th 5:5) Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the
night, nor of darkness.
(1Th 5:6) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
We are to be light. We are to proclaim truth. The Gospel is a balanced truth concerning both the gift
of life through the shed blood of Jesus, and the uncomfortable fact that God will end the reign of sin
and judge all who reject Him. Our testimony is both our words of proclamation and our lives lived
consistent with the truth we proclaim. If we believe He is coming we will act like it and talk like it.
B. Live With Christ (vv. 7-10)
(1Th 5:7) For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken
in the night.
(1Th 5:8) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith
and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
(1Th 5:9) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord
Jesus Christ,
(1Th 5:10) Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with him.
We are not to be complacent and ignore the truth of His coming. If we sleep the sleep of skepticism
and apathy we will be found in the same condition as the world who does not believe He’s coming at
all.
C. Comfort and Edify One Another (v. 11)
(1Th 5:11) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also
ye do.
The Thessalonians were living and witnessing the Gospel in difficult, dangerous times. Without the
certain hope that Jesus would return, their present circumstances would have been unbearable. This
hope brought them great comfort and strength. It is always easier to endure pain and stress if you
know it will not last forever. Our lives, no matter how difficult, can be borne because we know that
He is coming! All we now endure will be only memory one day. Even if we have to anticipate new
and greater trials in our immediate future, we can still look beyond and know that rest is coming.