Pastor Dave Gudgel – The Meetup of Meetups – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

All (4th of July) activities in San Francisco, including the fireworks, have been

cancelled for 2020.

CANCELLED

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Brothers, 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,

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18who 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

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18will 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.

1. The location

1. The location1 Thessalonians 4:16a,17aFor the Lord himself will come down from heaven… After that, we who are sill 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.

rapturo

rapturoSpeedily taken away

Moved from one place to anotherClaimed for one’s own self

Rescued from danger

Revelation 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

1. The location2. The timing

Matthew 24:36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17a 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.

BEFOREA commanding shout

BEFOREA commanding shoutA call from Michael

BEFOREA commanding shoutA call from Michael

A trumpet signal

Matthew 27:50-53 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1. The location2. The timing3. The occasion

1 Thessalonians 4:14 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.

1. The location2. The timing3. The occasion

“After our church had five funerals in seven days, the sorrow took its toll on me. I chided myself,

‘Come on, Max, get over it. Death is a natural part of living.’ Then I self-corrected. No it isn’t. Birth is; breathing is; belly laughs; big hugs and bedtime kisses are. But death? We weren’t made to say

good-bye. God’s original plan had no farewell, no final breath, day, or heartbeat. No matter how you

frame it, good-bye doesn’t feel right.

But God has served notice. All farewells are on the clock. He has decreed a family reunion. What a reunion it will be. Revelation 21:4 says on that

day, ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.’ This long journey will come to an end. You’ll see Him,

and you’ll see them. Isn’t this our hope?”

– Max Lucado

Pastor Dave Gudgel – The Meetup of Meetups – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18