3/16/25
Rev. Clint Smith
Sermon Direct Link
The coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church has been a subject of debate, confusion, and false teachings throughout the history of the Church. Many, weary and troubled by these disagreements, have turned to the Scriptures to seek God’s truth and understand His will. Truth brings comfort to the Church, and God has provided all that we need to know in His written Word, the Bible.
The Apostle Paul, seeking to provide clarity and distinguish between the Rapture of the Church and the final return of Christ (the Second Coming), wrote an orderly account of the Lord Jesus’ coming to ensure that the Church would not be confused or led astray by false teachings. In the Rapture, the Church is taken up to Heaven by the Lord, whereas in the Second Coming, the Church will return to Earth with Him.
In his first letter to the Thessalonian Church, Paul reassured the Church that Jesus had not yet returned and that they had not been left behind. He also comforted them with the promise that their saved loved ones would be included in the glorious Rapture of the entire Church, the next prophetic event believers await. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
God instructed the Church how to keep their spiritual composure even when false doctrines abound. Paul warned the Church not to believe end times false teaching even if the preacher/teacher claims to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from the Apostle himself.
The Thessalonians were in danger of falling completely for Satan’s deception. Paul urgently warned the Church, ‘Do not let anyone deceive you in any way!’ Romans 7:7-13
In the last days, a great rebellion will take place as many who profess to be Christians abandon the true faith. During this time, the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction, the Antichrist, who is doomed to perish—will be revealed. With arrogant pride, he will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.