IT'S UP FROM HERE | END TIME SERIES

KHQ

Its UP From Here (A Synopsis On The Rapture)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NLT
Premise - Whether we like it or not the return of the Lord is near! And we have the golden responsibility of ensuring our hearts are correct, our lives are postured after the Lord in obedience, and that we also consistently share this message of the gospel with as many as possible with the hope of rescuing as many as possible from that dreadful day.
Fundamental Truths
1. We have this assurance in Christ that those who have accepted Jesus as Lord
and savior by believing in the finished work of the cross as well as the resurrection don’t die, we sleep. (Death is for those who have not accepted Jesus, rest is the benefit for those who have)
”Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For 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.“ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV
2. Those who have fallen asleep will rise first, then we who are still alive will follow.
(It is imperative to understand that sleep seems to only last a second.)
”According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until 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.“
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 NIV
3. It is not on earth that we will meet the Lord but in the air because the story isn’t
finished! Hope belongs to those in Christ!
”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 one another with these words.“ 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 NIV
4. It is not the date that matters but the posture! No one knows the time therefore
we must always live with urgency and sensitivity understanding it can happen at any moment.
”Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.“ 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 NLT
5. Don’t be fooled by people watering down the day or assuming because it hasn’t
happened yet that it won’t. The day is near and you won’t see it coming!
”When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.“ 1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 NLT
6. Be alert and guarded living your life as if His return could happen at any second.
”For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.“ 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 NLT
7. Rest assured that if you are in Christ that you are secure and will be with the Lord
but whatever you do don’t forget the responsibility of rescuing others by sharing this message of hope!
”For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourag