Preparing for the Future: Living in Hope of Jesus' Return

Preparing for the Future: Living in Hope of Jesus’ Return                             

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

7-21-19

I. Hope in the future resurrection.  (1 Thessalonians 4 :13-14)

1 Corinthians 15:19 - “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”  

II. Hope in Christ’s physical return. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Hebrews 9:28 -“Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

The Lord Returns:

1. With His command, the archangel’s voice and the trumpet of God.

John 5:28-29 – “Jesus said, ‘…an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth…’”

Revelation 10:7 - “…the trumpet call will be sounded by the seventh angel…just as he announced to his servants the prophets…”

Revelation 1:7 - “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him…”

Matthew 25:13 -“Jesus said, ‘Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’”

2. And the dead in Christ will be raised to be with Him.

1 Corinthians 6:14 - “God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.”

3. And takes us to be with Him forever, faith turns to sight.  

2 Corinthians 5:8-“…we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

John 14:3 - “Jesus said, ‘…I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.’”

1 Corinthians 13:12- “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

4. To judge the living and the dead.

Isaiah 2:19 - “Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of his majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.”

Luke 23:30 - "Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'"

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne…books were opened… and the book of life. …the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Psalm 96:10 - ”Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns...he will judge the peoples with equity.’” (fairness, justice, righteousness)

Acts 17:31 - “…He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”  

Isaiah 13:11 - “The LORD says, ‘I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.’”

Luke 16:22-23 - “Jesus said, ‘…The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment…’”

Romans 8:1 - “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 - "Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it… it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done… 

If the work that anyone built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

1 John 4:17 - “By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.”

5. And ushers in His reign over all creation with His people. 

Zechariah 14:4, 9-“On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives…the Mount…shall be split in two from east to west …the Lord will be king over all the earth…”  

Job 19:25-27 - “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and…he will stand upon the earth… after my skin has been destroyed…in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see …my eyes shall behold, My heart faints within me!”

Philippians 3:20-21 – “For our citizenship is in heaven…we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.”

2 Timothy 2:12-“If we endure, we will also reign with him…”

How should we then live?

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

For Growth This Week

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11. Each person read a few verses. Each one share something he/she learned or was reminded of from the passage.

2. How does hope in our future resurrection address the difficulties you struggle with daily? (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

3. What might it look like to grieve death as one without hope? With hope?

4. What will you request for your funeral in order to reveal your hope you had in Christ?

5. How should Jesus’ return for justice and vindication at the final judgement encourage believers? (Isaiah 13:11 and 1 John 4:17)

6. What are some ways we can better steward the resources God has given us, such as time and possessions, in light of Christ’s return?