Growing Giants Pt. 8
TOGETHER FOREVER
1 Thessalonians 4:16(NLT) – For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. (NKJV – The dead in Christ will rise first)
1 Thessalonians 4:17(NLT) – Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:18(NLT) – So encourage each other with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18(Message) – Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.
THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE!
1 Thessalonians 4:13(NLT) – And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14(NLT) – For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.
1 Thessalonians 4:15(NLT) – We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died.
1 Thessalonians 4:16(NKJV) – For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:17(NKJV) – Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Corinthians 15:52 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Caught up – Taken by force, caught up
Rapture – Believers in Christ, taken up by the power of God in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:17(NKJV) – And thus we will always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18(NKJV) – So comfort one another with these words.
When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.
John 14:2 – I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 – And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Jesus Christ is coming again. The Bridegroom Cometh!
Matthew 24:42 – Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 – And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1. WE PRAY
1 Peter 4:7 – But the end of all things is at hand: therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing
2. WE LOVE
1 Peter 4:8 – And above all things have fervent love for one another.
Matthew 24:12 – And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
3. WE STEP INTO THE RIVER OF REVIVAL
Matthew 28:19 – Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations
Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
I WANT TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR!
I WANT TO BE A PART OF GOD’S END TIME HARVEST BEFORE HE COMES AGAIN!
Discussion Questions
1. All of us experience grief and sadness when loved ones die. How does knowing they are in heaven affect the way we grieve? 2. The apostle Paul wrote about the rapture to give comfort to believers. How does the teaching of the rapture give comfort and encouragement to believers? 3. Are you looking forward to the great reunion in heaven? Who are some of the people you are looking forward to seeing? 4. Should believers run to the mountains and hide until Jesus comes again? Why not? 5. Are you personally ready to meet the Lord? If not, what needs to change? 6. What can we be doing to help others be ready for the coming of the Lord?
Memory Verse
1 Thessalonians 4:17 – Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.