Nov. 10, 2024

Believe Again

Rapture of the Church

Primary Text:  1 Thessalonians 4:13–18      

Last Teaching:  Coming Again

1)  This Same Jesus

Acts 1:11:  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky?  This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” 

DQ 1) How long after His resurrection did the ascension of Jesus Christ occur? 

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2)  Preparing a Place

John 14:2-3:  “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” 

DQ 2) What do you imagine is the nature of the place God is preparing for you?

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3)  Be Ready

Matthew 24:36-44:  “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father….  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come….  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” 

DQ 3) How can a person be ready at all times for the coming of Christ?

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This Week’s Teaching:

1)  Twinkling Of An Eye

1 Corinthians 15:50–55:  I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 

DQ 1) Where are those who have already died in Christ prior to the Second Coming?

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2)  Caught Up!

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18:  Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.  

DQ 2) What is the condition of those who have died prior to the coming of Christ?

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3)  The Armies of Heaven

Revelation 19:11–16:  I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.  He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.  Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.  “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”  He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.  

DQ 3) Who is the Faithful and True rider on a white horse?  How do we know?

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