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Future Events for those

in Christ’s Kingdom

A Simple Guide to what the Bible Says about the Future

Part 2 – Questions about Christ’s Coming answered by Paul the Apostle in his letters to the Thessalonians

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

www.pastorkennedy.com

(On the website above, click the link to “recent message notes” to view this message online.)

Today we are having an authority on the subject of Christ’s Second Coming…the Apostle Paul! Both of his letters were written to the Church at Thessalonica shortly after spending time starting a church (through quite a controversy with those worshipping the local gods – Acts 17:1-15). The letters dealt with practical issues, but primarily referenced the Second Coming of Christ, and clearing up misconceptions surrounding the Second Coming.

Look at some of the references that apply to Christ’s Second Coming in many chapters of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians:

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10

9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

1 Thessalonians 2:19

19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

1 Thessalonians 3:13

13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 through 5:1-11; and, 2 Thessalonians chapters 1 & 2

1 Thessalonians answers critical questions about Christ’s Second Coming.

Of the three chapters in 2 Thessalonians, the majority parts of the first two chapters are primarily dedicated to clearing up misinformation about the Second Coming of Christ.

Let’s spend some time looking at the obvious questions that those in the Church at Thessalonica asked Paul about Christ’s Coming. The answers that are given by Paul the Apostle, in his letters of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, speak more clarity to the whole subject for us today!

One could easily say that of the doctrinal subjects taught for both 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, the primary topic is the Second Coming of Christ.

Obvious Question 1: “Paul, I am concerned about my friends and relatives who have died, but who loved the Lord.

I hope they will not be left out when Christ returns!”

The Coming of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

13 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. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

The spirits of those who have died believing in Jesus, God will bring with Jesus at His Return (v. 14; see also 2 Cor. 5:6-8 and Phil. 1:23 “Absent from the body [in death] – present with the Lord [in heaven]”) and their bodies, asleep in the earth, will rise and be transformed to their new spiritual bodies…they will not be earthly and physical made like Adam any more, but “glorified” at the resurrection, to be made like the risen Christ) (v. 16b, 17; 1 Cor. 15:42-44).

1 Corinthians 15:42–44; 47-49

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

Job

Even Job, in one of the most ancient books written, as recorded in the Old Testament, believed the precious truth of the resurrection of his body. He most likely couldn’t understand it, but Job had faith that he would see God with his own eyes and body – when his Redeemer came to stand on the earth “in the end”.

Job 19:25–27

25I know that my Redeemer lives,

and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

26And after my skin has been destroyed,

yet in my flesh I will see God;

27I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!

The Scripture teaches that those who died, before Christ’s Sacrifice for sin on the cross, went to paradise (Luke 23:43), if they were those of faith, to a place called Abraham’s side or bosom, as seen in Luke 16:19-31. Across the great gulf (Luke 16:26) there was a fiery place of torment. Both of these places are where departed spirits went following death, prior to Christ’s Redemptive Sacrifice. At Christ’s resurrection, He took with Him the “firstfruits” and “ascended on high”, we believe from “paradise/Abraham’s side”, where “he led a host of captives” to be with Him in heaven (1 Cor. 15:20-23; Eph. 4:7-10). Heaven (the place of God’s current Dwelling Place) is where the spirits of Believers-in-Christ now go upon their death (2 Cor. 5:6-8 and Phil. 1:23).

At the Resurrection spoken of at Christ’s Second Coming, believers in Christ are given new Spiritual Bodies, as seen in the verses noted earlier (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; and

1 Corinthians 15:42–44; 47-49). Those who do not know Christ do not rise earlier, but are brought together at the final Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

Question 1: “Paul, I am concerned about my friends and relatives who have died, but who loved the Lord. I hope they will not be left out when Christ returns!”

Answer: “Don’t worry, God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him 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!”

~ ~ ~

Obvious Question 2: “Paul, when is Jesus coming back? How can we know when He is coming?”

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Jesus tells His disciples: The Day and Hour is Unknown by all but God, the Father:

Matthew 24:36–51

36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

The Conditions on the Earth at the Time of Christ’s Return will be similar to when the catastrophic Flood came in Noah’s day – it will seem like a very Normal Day:

Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.

A Supernatural Harvest will suddenly happen for those who Know Christ – folks will be following their normal work patterns, but one will be taken and the other left:

Matthew 24:39b That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Keep Watch and Faithfully Do What God Has Given You To Do: No one will know when Christ’s Coming is going to happen…

Matthew 24:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins: Keep diligent watch and be prepared to wait until Christ Comes!

Matthew 25:1–13

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Question 2: “Paul, when is Jesus coming back? How can we know when He is coming?”

The Apostle Paul’s answer to this obvious question of “when” is, “no one knows, so keep watch, be ready, be sufficiently prepared to wait for His Coming, because it could happen any time!”

~ ~ ~

The third obvious question found in Paul’s follow-up letter to those in Thessalonica. It begins with addressing the reality of painful hurts from the persecution that the Christians in Thessalonica are enduring.

2 Thessalonians 1:4

4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

Obvious Question 3: “Paul, we believed the Gospel you told us about, but because we believe it, those around us are doing terrible things to hurt us to try to pressure us to renounce our faith in Christ, or destroy us! What is going on here?”

Paul’s Answer seems to reflect this answer: “You will not be sorry you accepted Jesus Christ and the Gospel message I taught you when you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Messiah – God, the Son! In your suffering you are being counted worthy to share in Christ’s sufferings (2 Cor. 1:5; Phil. 3:10; 2 Tim. 1:8; 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:12-14). God is Just! He will pay back those persecuting you when the Lord Jesus Returns! Don’t worry, Christ’s Coming will make all things right!”

2 Thessalonians 1:5–12

5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Peter confirms Paul’s assessment of future blessing for earthly suffering:

1 Peter 4:12–13

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Question 3: “Paul, we believed the Gospel you told us about, but because we believe it, those around us are doing terrible things to hurt us to try to pressure us to renounce our faith in Christ, or destroy us! What is going on here?”

Paul’s Answer: “Hold on during suffering! The Coming of Christ will set all things right!”

~ ~ ~

2 Thessalonians

Now we have the final instruction that the Apostle Paul has for us in his second letter to the Thessalonians.

Obvious Question 4: “Paul, some folks around here have told us that Christ’s Return has already happened! Is that true? They even said that you teach that Christ has already come again!”

The Apostle Paul responds to this question with a statement about “The Man of Lawlessness” prophesied by Jesus Christ and Daniel the Prophet

2 Thessalonians 2:1–5

2Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?

The Apostle Paul let everyone know that although Christ could come back at any time (as intimated in his first letter –

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11), there were certain signs that had to be fulfilled that “prove” it is really Christ who has come back, and those specific signs had not happened yet. Paul, in this passage, qualifies what will happen before the world sees the visible “Second Coming of Christ, in Power and Glory”. While in 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul referenced earlier, “Be ready, no one knows the time,” now he deals with the rumor that Christ has already returned.

So, we see there are two things at work:

1. The mystery of imminency. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 – Christ may Return “like a thief, at a time you are not expecting – so be prepared”, and

2. The world-wide (obvious to everyone who is not deceived) Revelation of the Day of the Lord – Christ’s Coming in Power and Glory – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

Many of the Theories of “Rapture”, or “being caught up to be with the Lord”, (Pre-, Mid-, Post-, A-, Tribulation/Millennium, etc., etc.) center around whether or not the Scripture teaches if Christ’s Coming could be “imminent”, and how this could relate to Christ’s coming in Power and Glory!

Revelation 1:7

7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

(See also Revelation 19:11-21)

There seems to be little controversy from those who seriously study the Bible on whether or not there will be a time when Christ returns in Power and Glory, so the main debate often centers on the “imminency” of Christ’s Return. Could the “Rapture” happen at any time? Paul, I believe, implies this in his first epistle, when he strongly tells the church to “be ready”. Now Paul clarifies the timing of Christ’s Coming in Power and Glory.

Jesus Spoke of the Same “Man of Lawlessness” that Daniel prophesied – called “the Abomination of Desolation”

Matthew 24:15–16

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

(See the passages Jesus was referring to in Daniel, below.)

Daniel 9:27

27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

Daniel 11:31

31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

Daniel 12:11

11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

In the middle of Paul’s discussion about “the man of lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7, Paul begins referring again to the “mystery” that he touched on in his first letter. In fact, I feel this section of Scripture is the strongest passage in Scripture identifying the “mystery” of what many teach today as being “the Rapture”.

2 Thessalonians 2:6–8

6 And now you know what is holding him back (the man of lawlessness, 2 Thess. 2:3,4), so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

(The second half of vs. 8 obviously happens when Jesus comes in Power and Glory, in the clouds, visible to everyone.)

There are obvious questions that come from this passage:

•What is the “secret power of lawlessness”, which is already at work? (2 Thess. 2:7).

Could this be referring to “the rebellion” Greek: “apostasia” (2 Thess. 2:3) which culminates in the revelation of the “man of lawlessness”, when “he will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thess. 2:7) In other words, is the “spirit of lawlessness” a diabolical form of apostasy against God and His Christ? Is it working today? And, is it culminated through the “man of lawlessness”?

•Is the One who holds this spirit of rebellion back, the Holy Spirit?

oAre we, who are the Children of God – the earthly Temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21,22)?

•If we are the earthly Temples of the Holy Spirit, who then must be “taken out of the way” before the “man of lawlessness” is revealed?

If the Holy Spirit is “taken away” (through Believers in Christ being “raptured”), so that the “man of lawlessness” can be revealed, then we see reasoning for the teaching of “the rapture”, or “catching away”.

Matthew 24:39b-41

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 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.

This is the primary reasoning of those who believe in a pre-tribulation “rapture”.

Powerful Delusion

The final verses of Paul’s comment on the Second Coming have to do with the powerful spiritual delusion that accompanies the “lawless one” after “the one who holds back” the lawless one, “is taken out of the way”.

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12

9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

The False Prophet

Another spiritual deceiver, referred to symbolically as “another beast”.

The Apostle John in Revelation 13 gives further insight on the counterpart of this “man of lawlessness”. He is called “the false prophet” and he does amazing signs and wonders – even calling down fire from heaven to prove his false demonic spiritual power and to deceive the nations of the world…to have them worship, “the lawless one”.

Revelation 13:11–18

11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.

Question 4: “Paul, some folks around here have told us that Christ’s Return has already happened! Is that true? They even said that you teach that Christ has already come again!”

Paul’s Response: “Christ has not come back! You need to always be ready, but there will be obvious events that must take place before Christ comes in His Glory, which have not taken place. The fact that they have not happened proves it!”

Conclusion

Today we have continued discovering what the Bible says about the End Times. We have worked through four potential and obvious questions, which most likely prompted the Apostle Paul to write his two letters to the Church at Thessalonica.

Question 1: “Paul, I am concerned about my friends and relatives who have died, but who loved the Lord. I hope they will not be left out when Christ returns!”

~ ~ ~

Question 2: “Paul, when is Jesus coming back? How can we know when He is coming?”

The Apostle Paul’s answer to this obvious question of “when” is, “no one knows, so keep watch, be ready, be sufficiently prepared to wait for His Coming, because it could happen any time!”

~ ~ ~

Paul’s Answer: “Hold on during suffering! The Coming of Christ will set all things right!”

~ ~ ~

Question 4: “Paul, some folks around here have told us that Christ’s Return has already happened! Is that true? They even said that you teach that Christ has already come again!”

~ ~ ~

We will be exploring further passages in subsequent messages, which we hope will clarify the “signs of the times” more clearly.

May the Lord give us insight into this mysterious and critical subject, and may our attention be focused on our Lord, in our preparation for His Coming! May our study of this subject prompt us to “be prepared”, and to live pure lives before God!

1 John 3:2–3

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure.