November 9th Worship Bulletin

November 9th Children’s Bulletin

November 9th Children’s Message

November 9th Devotion

Grace to you and peace, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Over the next three weeks we are going to talk about something that intrigues many people—questions about what’s going to happen at the end of the world, and whether we are living in the end times.

Some predicted the world was going to end on December 21, 2012, because the Mayan calendar ended on that date. As you can tell—because you’re here—the world didn’t end. (I did tell folks who were certain it was going end to empty their bank accounts into mine since they “wouldn’t need money anymore.” That didn’t happen either.) Just a heads up on all of that: Jesus said, “No one knows the day or the hour.”¹

Here’s what we’re going to do. Open a Bible to 1 Thessalonians 4. Starting there, we’re going to build a foundation to understand these things. There are a lot of different interpretations. What I’m going to share with you is what the ancient Church has always taught. They were closer to the writing of these things and therefore more able to understand what was written.

I would encourage you to stop in for Bible study after church. We are digging into the book of Revelation and covering these things in far more detail. The class is easy. No one is going to ask you a question or make you read anything. It really is just a conversation as we walk through the words in the Bible.

Today we’re going to start in 1 Thessalonians. Let me give you the context. These people were convinced Jesus was returning soon. They were concerned about their relatives and loved ones who had already died as believers—wondering, “Are they going to miss out on what is to come?”

So Paul was writing to explain what happens. Let’s start in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, where it says:

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

My goal today is to encourage you as we look at three reasons we have hope. The first reason is:

1. Christ is coming again.

Jesus said:

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back; I will return and take you to be with Me so you also may be where I am.²

In the early Church they were so excited about Jesus’ return they had a greeting: “Maranatha” Our Lord is returning! There was a deep sense of anticipation. The Bible promises:

From now on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will give it to me on that day, and not only to me but also to everyone who loved his appearing.³

Many of us love this world more than we anticipate Jesus’ return. We cling to comfort, calendar, and control. We plan for retirement more than we prepare for the Return. The Judge who comes is the Savior who already died for you; crucified, risen, and returning to gather the Baptized whom He has named His own.⁴ Jesus alone redeems and will raise us, the faithful, up.

There is a reward for those who long for Jesus’ return. Many have given up that hope, but He is coming back. What does that mean?

The words:

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep…⁵

“Asleep” is a poetic way of saying those who have died. (Like those whose names we spoke last week and rang the bell.) As Christians we know we don’t die forever because we live forever with God. So those words say they rest in Jesus.

Then in verse 16 it says:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

When Jesus returns the voice of the archangel is going to shout and the trumpet of God will blast. That is because the greatest victory in all eternity demands the greatest shout from heaven. The trumpet of God sounds, the archangel cries, and the Bible says:

…the dead in Christ will rise first.⁶

Who are the dead in Christ? They are Christians who died. They’re going to rise first. All will rise. Then all will be judged at the throne of God. The Bible says:

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power.⁷

You can be born once and die twice, or you can be born twice and die once. You can be born one time into this world. If you’re only born one time you will die twice. You would die a physical death and then you come before the throne and you would die an eternal death, an eternal life separated from God.

The good news is if you’re born twice you only die once. Jesus said:

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.⁸

In Holy Baptism your old life is: gone, forgiven, transformed, made new. Because of that we have joy and peace in knowing Jesus will return.

So the first thing is: Christ is coming again. The second thing is:

2. The Rapture.

What is the rapture? Here is where some in the Church have misunderstood what the Bible describes. There are some new ideas running around which the Church never taught, or even mentioned, for about 1900 years. Then someone came up with a new idea.

New ideas are not inherently bad, but we need to be careful with “new ideas” when it comes to what the Bible teaches. God’s Word says:

I the Lord do not change.⁹

The Word of the Lord stands forever.¹⁰

Countless times God tells us His Word is trustworthy and unchanging. So when a “new idea” pops up it is imperative we examine that new idea and compare it to the the ancient teachings of the Church. We trust the wisdom of antiquity, the wisdom of the old ways. The Bible says:

Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient old reliable paths,
ask where is the good way, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.¹¹

So what is “The Rapture?” The rapture is when Christians are taken from this world to heaven on the Last Day, the Day of Judgment. Let’s see what the Bible says:

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them [the dead in Christ who rise first] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.¹²

The dead in Christ rise first. Then we who are still alive will be: caught up, rescued. There are basically four different beliefs about this rapture. They have strange nick-names: Pretrib, Midtrib, Postrib, and Amill.

• Pretrib: Christians are rescued before the time of “Tribulation” before things get really bad.¹³ (Started in the 1830’s)

• Midtrib: Christians are rescued in the middle of a seven year “Tribulation” before the second half when it gets really really bad.¹⁴ (Started in 1962)

• Postrib: Christians are rescued after the Tribulation.¹⁵ (Started in 1937)

• Amill: the “Time of Tribulation” started when Jesus rose¹⁶ and will continue until He returns.¹⁷ (Started in 70)

Amill is far and above the vastly more accepted teaching throughout the Holy Christian Church on earth. It is the ancient way the Church has always taught these things. Pre, Mid, Post-trib are new ideas. Once again the Bible says:

Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient old reliable paths,
ask where is the good way, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.¹⁸

Matthew 29:40-44 is often misunderstood to explain people will just vanish or float up into the sky while other are left behind. They never taught such a thing until about 100 years ago.

These verses end with the words:

…you must be ready, for the Son of Man [Jesus] is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The point is be ready, be prepare. Be in church, be doing the work of the Lord, be sold out for Him. Don’t think, “I’ll get to it: ‘When I get old’ or ‘later’ or ‘someday.’ For some that “someday” doesn’t get here. Over the past Summer and Fall months we’ve had a number of bad road accidents. People were driving along. They had plans. The day was going well. Then, without warning, their day ended and so did their time to be right with God.

Let’s not be half-hearted or lukewarm Christians.¹⁹ Let’s be ready. Be here. Be cared for, and be sure. Because Maranatha. “Our Lord is coming.” Be in that place where your safety and your security are secured. In the house of God.

If you’re on the outside come inside. Give Zion a try. If you stepped out for a while there is still a seat waiting for you. Come on back to a place that cares about you. Come here and learn of a God whose care for you is so great He ran to come get you.

Next week we are going to answer the question: What will heaven be like? And How do I know I will get in? Those are very important questions I hope you’ll stop in to hear.

Amen.

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NOTES

1Matthew 24:36

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As We Gather

Today we begin our three-week journey in a new series: At the End. The world wonders about “the end times.” Scripture gives confidence, not confusion. In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul assures us those asleep in Christ will rise and we will meet the Lord in the air. This message calls us to readiness, not fear, because Jesus’ return means reunion, restoration, and rejoicing.

Prayer Before Service

Almighty God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto You, and promises that when two or three are gathered together in Your Name You will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Your servants as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of Your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Historical Note:
A prayer of St. John Chrysostom (c. 349–407), the great preacher and Archbishop of Constantinople, this prayer comes from the Byzantine ‘Euchologion’ tradition and echoes the concluding petitions of the Divine Liturgy. It was translated into English and placed at the close of Morning and Evening Prayer in the 1549 and 1662 Books of Common Prayer, after which it spread widely through Western churches. Lutherans have used it in English prayer offices since the 19th century as a fitting conclusion to corporate prayers, a clear assurance of God’s promise to hear the Church gathered in Christ’s Name.