Two Descriptions of the Rapture

I. 1 Thess 4:13-17

A. Thessalonians

1. Were bothered by a question

2. "What will happen to those who die

before the rapture?"

3. Check out Acts 17

B. Text

1. A realization

a. I would not have you ignorant

b. Concerning them which are asleep

c. Four key areas Paul would not have

ignorant

(1) Rapture - 1 Thess 4:13

(2) The events of of the Old

Testament - 1 Cor 10:1

(3) The restoration of Israel

- Rom 11:25

(4) The manifestation of the

spiritual gifts - 1 Cor 12:1

2. A repose

a. For if we believe that Jesus died

and rose again

b. Even so them also which sleep in

Jesus will God bring with him

c. 1 Thess 4:14

d. The death of a believer is looked

upon as peaceful sleep

(1) Matt 27:52

(2) Jn 11:11

(3) Acts 7:60

(4) Acts 13:36

(5) 1 Cor 15:6,18,20,51

(6) 2 Pet 3:4

e. However, it should be quickly

stated that this verse in no

way teaches soul sleep

f. This unscriptural doctrine is

refuted in

(1) Matt 17:3

(2) Rev 6:9-11

3. A revelation

a. "For this we say unto you by the

word of the Lord"

b. "That we are alive and remain unto

the coming of the Lord"

c. "Shall not preceed them which are

asleep"

d. 1 Thess 4:15

e. Note Paul's usage of the pronoun "we"

(1) He was looking for the Lord's

return in his time.

(2) He would later know otherwise.

(3) 2 Tim 4:6

4. A return

a. "For the Lord himself shall descend

form heaven with a shout, with the

voice of the archangel, and with

the trump of God"

b. 1 Thess 4:16

c. Often supposed that Michael will be

this archangel on the basic of

Dan 12:1-2

d. It is not unreasonable to suggest that

Gabriel will be the angel involved at

this time because of the vital part

he played in those events surrounding

the first coming of Christ.

(1) Lk 1:19

(2) Lk 1:26

(3) Matt 1:20

(4) Matt 2:13

e. "With a shout"

(1) This the final of three instances

in which Christ shouted.

(2) On each occasion a resurrection

took place

(3) Three occasions

(a) The shout at Bethany

[1] Lazarus come forth

[2] Jn 11:43-44

(b) The shout at Calvary

[1] Jesus cried out and

gave up the ghost

[2] Matt 27:50-53

5. A resurrection

a. "And the dead in Christ shall rise"

b. 1 Thess 4:16

6. A rapture

a. "Than they which are alive and remain

shall be caught up together with them

in the clouds"

b. 1 Thess 4:16

7. A reunion

a. "...to meet the Lord in the air: and so

shall we ever be with the Lord"

b. 1 Thess 4:17

8. A reassurrance

a. "Wherefore comfort one another with these

words"

b. 1 Thess 4:18

II. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

A. Dr. John Walvoord writes:

1. This passage compliments 1 Thess 4:13-18

2. 1 Thess 4:13-18

a. Question of whether those who have died

in Christ would have the same benefits

of those who were translated

b. Question of whether those who have died

in Christ would have the same experience

of those who were translated

3. 1 Cor 15:51-53

a. Question of whether those who were translated

will have the same experience as those who

have died and who are resurrected

b. Question of whether those who were translated

will have the same benefits as those who have

died and who are resurrected

B. Observe some phrases from 1 Corinthians 15:51,53

1. "I shew you a mystery."

a. Suppose you read Bible

(1) From Genesis 1

(2) To 1 Corinthians 14

b. You would have learned many facts

(1) Creation

(2) Man's sin

(3) The flood

(4) Bethlehem

(5) Calvary

(6) The resurrection

(7) The existence of heaven

(8) The existence of hell

c. But you are forced to conclude

(1) The only way a Christian can get to heaven

(2) Is through physical death

(3) Note 2 exceptions

(a) Enoch - Gen 5:24

(b) Elijah - 2 Kg 2:11

d. Now the secret is out

(1) Millions of Christians

(2) Will get to heaven

(3) Without dying

(4) 1 Cor 15:51

2. "We shall be changed...in the twinkling of an eye."

a. What has to happen before this takes place?

(1) The different events that set the stage

(a) A World in turmoil

(b) Spiritual decay

(2) The last repenting sinner added to the body

of Christ by the Holy Spirit

(a) Then the body is complete

(b) The Head will appear

for his beloved bride

(d) The book of Ephesians suggests this -

Eph 1:10,22,23

Eph 2:21

Eph 4:4,13,16

Eph 5:22-33

b. A very practical truth seen in Acts 2

(1) The first convert added to the body

at Pentecost

(2) God keeps the records

(3) The last just before the rapture

3. "For the trumpet shall sound."

a. In at least three biblical passages

concerning the rapture a trumpet is

memtioned

(1) 1 Cor 15:52

(2) 1 Thess 4:16

(3) Rev 4:1

b. The Old Testament - the trumpet used for

(1) To summon to battle

(2) To summon to worship

(3) "Prophecy for Today, Zondervan, p.30

c. Dr. Pentecost suggests both uses

(1) To the angels

(a) "Prepare for battle"

(b) Scripture

[1] Jn 14:30

[2] Eph 6:12

[3] 1 Jn 5:19

[1] Any action by God

[2] Especially the Rapture of the

Church

(2) To all believers

(a) "Prepare to worship"

(b) Num 10:1-3

[1] Note one trumpet - princes come

[2] Two trumpets - everyone came

(d) We sons of the king

(e) Thus only one trumpet

4. "For this corruptible must put on incorruptible

and this mortal must put on immortality."

a. Corruptible

(1) That supernatural act

(2) Whereby the bodies of the departed dead

(3) Will be resurrected

b. Mortal

(1) That supernatural act

(2) Whereby the bodies of the living believers

(3) Will be transformed

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