| Vol. VI Number 17 | May 5, 2002 |
There have been many sermons about the coming rapture of the church and how all the Christian will rise to meet Jesus in the air. The question I ask today is, ``If Jesus calls his church home today, would you rise to meet Jesus in the air?'' There are many who will be shocked to find themselves left on this Terra Fermi. They will find that the sin in their life prevented them from rising to meet Jesus in the air. They have been deceived into thinking that once they have repented that all future sins are covered and they can live a life of sin and still be saved.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I have heard many sermons on the above scripture, without ever mentioning the next chapter. In chapter 5 the Apostle Paul admonishes the Thessalonian church to be ever vigilant and ready for the coming of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-24
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
In the fifth chapter the Apostle Paul tells the church to be ever vigilant to the coming of the Lord.
No one knows when the day of the Lord will be, but we do know that the day will come upon the world as a thief in the night. Everyone will be surprised when the day of the Lord comes, both the Christian who is ready and the rest of the world who are at a total loss. Just like a thief who breaks into a place in the middle of the night when none suspect him, so will the coming of the Lord.
The current situation of the world especially with the middle east is in a state of flux. There are some demanding that Gaza become the homeland for the Palestinians, and that Israel share their capitol with the Palestinians. Jerusalem is the capitol of Israel and any country that refuses to acknowledge the Biblical capitol of Israel is really saying they are against God and the Bible.
Most of the countries around the world do not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capitol. Many still have embassies in Tel Aviv including the United States which is telling the world that the capitol of Israel is recognized as Tel Aviv and not Jerusalem as mentioned in the Bible. There are only two countries who have an embassy in Jerusalem, Costa Rica and El Salvador. Every other nation around the world has rejected the Bible and Israel right to have their capitol in Jerusalem.
The world thinks that by rejecting Israel's capitol of Jerusalem that they are bring peace and safety. Please read this article titled, ``An Unpeaceful Move.'' The Bible states that peace and safety will only come when Christ rules Israel and the world from Jerusalem. This will only happen during the millennial reign as described in Revelation.
Here Paul is referring to what he previously wrote to the Ephesian church.
Ephesians 6:11-18
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
We are to put on the whole armor of God and withstand all of the fiery darts of the wicked one. But the world wants to use their own solutions without trusting the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Christian needs to have total faith in the Lord and have the Lord's righteousness applied to his own life to be able to rise to meet the Lord in the air.
Jesus is our only hope and salvation. Without Jesus Christ we have no hope and no salvation. If the Christian fails to live a righteous life as the Lord would have him to live does he have any hope in the resurrection? When we are saved from a life of sin we are raised to newness of life.
Romans 6:4
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
While the world is appointed to the wrath of God by their total rejection of his Holy Word and his people Israel, the Christian embraces the Word and God's promises to Israel.
1 Thessalonians 5:10-24 deals with how the Christian should live his life. How to live in a wicked world and how to follow the life and walk of Jesus Christ. Though I already read this to you it is good to hear it again.
1 Thessalonians 5:10-24
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
If you adhere to these precepts then you are assured a place in the resurrection.
3014 E Street Philadelphia, PA 19134 Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637 Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
Services:
Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON
Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM
Wednesday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM
Copyright © 2002 LeRoy D. Cressy
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