Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

Truth About the Rapture of the Church
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Introduction
I would like to just refresh what most of you believe about the Rapture of the Church. So open your Bible and lets move through these verses. 1 Thess. 4:15 a, "for this we say unto you by the word of the Lord..."
 

1.    The Rapture Is A . . Proclaimed Truth. v 13
        13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
 

2.    The Rapture Is A . . Predicated Truth. v 14
        14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
 

3.    The Rapture Is A . . Planned Truth. v 15-17
    15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

        1.    Planned for We who are alive. v 15 a
        2.    Planned for those who precede us -v 15 b,
                a.    The Dead "In Christ" v 16 b
                b.    They will rise first.
        3.    The Lord will Descend. v 16 a
        4.    The Voice of the Archangel. v 16 a
        5.    The Trumpet of God. v 16 a
        6.    The Dead In Christ Rise. V 16 b
        7.    We which are alive are caught up. v 17 a
        8.    With all the other Saints. V 17 b
        9.    We will always be with the Lord. v 17 b
 

Illustration
Swindoll relates the story of a women sentence to life in Prison. She promised she would get out. She learned os a man in the prison who built the caskets for those who died while in prison. She bribed him to let her clime in next to the body of the next casket being taken out side to the graveyard. Well she knew when the person died so she went down and climbed into the casket.

Outside she could tell she was being lowered into a grave, and she became alarmed, so she lit a match and found the man she made the deal with was the corpse she was laying near.

Don't make deals with the Devil.

Application

That Ladies Plan failed.

God's Plan will not fail.
 

4.    The Rapture Is A . . Personal Truth. v 16 a
    16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
 

5.    The Rapture Will Be . . Phenomenal Truth.
        16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
 

6.    The Rapture Will Be . . Permanent Truth. v 17 b
        ". . . And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
 

7.    The Rapture Is A . . Pacifying Truth. v 18
    18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Illustration
A hitch hiker got a ride with a Christian who had this big sign on his dash.