2/23/25
Rev. Clint Smith
Sermon Direct Link
Disciples of Christ have been curious about when He will return for His Church even before the birth of the Church at Pentecost (Acts 1:6-7). However, Jesus emphasized that His disciples should not focus on the when, but on the what concerning the Kingdom. The what involves a command to share the Gospel with the nations. While we carry out our mission, we are comforted knowing that Jesus, our Wonderful Savior, is coming back for His Church.
The Apostle Paul encouraged the Church in Thessalonica with the assurance that at the sound of the trumpet of God, the dead in Christ will rise first and receive their new heavenly bodies and then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds for our eternal meeting with the Lord in the air.
Paul transitioned the Church’s thoughts from the Rapture to the Day of the Lord, highlighting the distinctions with his use of pronouns. He shifts from “I,” “you,” “your,” “yourselves,” “we,” and “us”—terms that describe the believers— to “they,” “them,”—referring to unbelievers.
Only believers who have died in Christ and those living at His return will positively experience the Rapture. The Church does not know the when, but we can know the times [Kairos (KIGH-RUSS) – the Greek word for seasons or the right or critical moment].
The Church of Thessalonica accurately knew that the day of the Lord is coming upon the unbeliever just as a thief comes unexpectedly and suddenly in the night. There is absolutely no way for the unbeliever to escape the certain judgment of the Lord. Rest assured; God has sharp words for unbelievers. (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6,9; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1,11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7, 14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5).
All who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son are not in spiritual darkness nor subject to its power. We are people of light and people of day. God’s truth about His coming is intended to cause believers to be alert and watchful, always sharing the faith, hope, and love of our Savior.
A Christians hope and destiny is critically different than that of an unbeliever.