Hints of Heaven:
Reflections on the Realm of the Righteous—
#1 The Great Catch (1 Thess 4:16-17)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013
Reflections on the Realm of the Righteous—
#1 The Great Catch (1 Thess 4:16-17)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013
Our new sermon series is about where we will be spending a great deal of time in the future. It is a subject that attracts our attention and stimulates our imagination: heaven. Unfortunately, it is not a topic about which we have as much information as we might like. The biblical writers mention it often enough, but generally give no extended and detailed discourse (except for John's Revelation). There is no book of the Bible about heaven. Hence, like the poor at harvest time, we must go through the fields of scripture, gathering the gleanings we find along the way. Admittedly, these gleanings usually only whet our appetite to know more. Nevertheless, together they do provide sufficient spiritual nourishment to inspire our wonder, our gratitude, and our anticipation for what more God has in store. Such will be our task these five sessions as we look into God's word for Hints of Heaven.[1] We will concentrate on five major passages that offer insight into our future state.
There are certain aspects of flying people find less pleasurable than others. For example, some do not enjoy taking off, as the engines roar, the aircraft shakes, and the air pressure changes, making one's ears pop. People are usually more positive about landing—usually.
Before I begin the sermon proper, here is a synopsis of events answering a general question....
Upon death, people enter what theologians call the intermediate state,[2] a temporary, incorporeal (spiritual) existence,[3] in which they are conscious, can sense the passage of time, and have some awareness of events transpiring among the living still on earth. (This is in contrast to what those who believe in "soul sleep" contend, but more on that later.)
Upon their resurrection, people enter what theologians call the final state, a permanent, corporeal (physical) existence, in which they will receive new and immortal bodies, as well as recompense for their deeds on earth. (NB: While a person's deeds in life do not determine his destination in death, whether heaven or hell, they do determine his recompense after death, the degree of his reward or retribution.[5]) After resurrection, there are still only the same two groups, those who are saved and in heaven and those who are condemned and in hell.
As it is today, so it was in the first century, many people had questions about God's plan for the future and, as it is today, some people were ready to offer answers. Their answers, however, did not always agree with God's plan, being based on human speculation rather than on divine revelation. This was the situation in Thessalonica, where the apostle Paul had founded a congregation. Many believers assumed Jesus would return soon after his ascension. Almost thirty years have transpired, though, when Paul writes his first letter to the church, and people are questioning Jesus' delay, especially as some of their loved ones have already passed away. How would their current absence affect their future status? Some false teachers are claiming that only those still alive when Jesus returns will go with him to heaven. Like the requirement for some contest, they say "You must be present to win." One of Paul's reasons for writing is to address this controversy and clarify the matter.
I. The Great Catch (1 Thess 4:16-17)
...when Jesus returns.
we read...
In "The Great Catch," we will be taken by the Lord. This event is not like "catch and release" in recreational fishing, because Jesus will not let us go but will keep us, so that...
Although "the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thess 4:16), the rest will follow in short order. This means that some people may not experience physical death but will be like Enoch and Elijah.[7] In this way, the event will be...
If Jesus comes back to the earth after we have left this earth, will we have missed the resurrection and be left behind? One of the Hints of Heaven in scripture is "The Great Catch," which assures us that, dead or alive, our reservation for heaven is secure. You do not have to be present to win? So...
The Great Catch (1 Thess 4:16-17)
I. The Great Catch (1 Thess 4:16-17)We will also survey several other passages along the way that address questions people have asked me about some related matters.
II. The Great Change (1 Cor 15:42-52)
III. The Great Company (Rev 7:9)
IV. The Great Contrast (Luke 16:19-31)
V. The Great Challenge (Matt 25:21, 34)
**********
There are certain aspects of flying people find less pleasurable than others. For example, some do not enjoy taking off, as the engines roar, the aircraft shakes, and the air pressure changes, making one's ears pop. People are usually more positive about landing—usually.
As he was landing the jumbo jet, the pilot hammered his plane onto the runway really hard. The airline had a policy requiring the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, give a smile, and say "Thanks for flying with us today." He had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sonny, mind if I ask you a question?" "Why no Ma'am, what is it?" he replied. "Did we land...or were we shot down?"People are usually more positive about landing—usually. Regardless of how you feel about flying, there is a trip in the future of everyone here. It will be "The Great Catch," when Jesus returns to gather the redeemed and take them to heaven.
**********
Before I begin the sermon proper, here is a synopsis of events answering a general question....
Where Do People Go When They Die?
Upon death, people enter what theologians call the intermediate state,[2] a temporary, incorporeal (spiritual) existence,[3] in which they are conscious, can sense the passage of time, and have some awareness of events transpiring among the living still on earth. (This is in contrast to what those who believe in "soul sleep" contend, but more on that later.)
- The righteous, those who decided for God while they were alive, go to heaven (a.k.a. paradise, Abraham's bosom), a place of comfort.
- That is where the savior went after his ascension.
- That is also where the saints will be until their resurrection.
- The unrighteous, those who did not decide for God while they were alive, go to hell, a place of torment.
- That is where they will be separated from the Lord and, perhaps, isolated from everyone else.
- That is where the wicked will remain imprisoned until their resurrection.
In the afterlife, there are only these two groups, the righteous and the unrighteous, and their disposition in death depends on their decision in life, whether or not they chose to serve God.BTW: When someone says hell is where his friends will be, so that is where he wants to be, he assumes hell is a party place, but it is really a very lonely place. Descriptions of hell give no indication of interaction among the residents, probably because each is consumed by his own suffering. Jesus calls it is a place of "darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt 8:12).[4] Even Satan, when he is finally consigned there, will not have a good time. Contrary to popular belief, hell is not the devil's playground; it will be his prison.
Upon their resurrection, people enter what theologians call the final state, a permanent, corporeal (physical) existence, in which they will receive new and immortal bodies, as well as recompense for their deeds on earth. (NB: While a person's deeds in life do not determine his destination in death, whether heaven or hell, they do determine his recompense after death, the degree of his reward or retribution.[5]) After resurrection, there are still only the same two groups, those who are saved and in heaven and those who are condemned and in hell.
- The righteous will be raised when Jesus returns (at the beginning of the Messianic Age). They will "appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Cor 5;10)—more on that later, as well.
- During the Messianic Age, "they [resurrected saints] will reign on the earth" (Rev 5:10b) as part of Jesus' administration. The apostle John writes...
Rev 20:6b [T]they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
- After the Messianic Age, the saints will enter a revitalized creation, the New Heaven and New Earth, to continue eternally their enjoyment of life with God. The apostle Peter writes...
2 Pet 3:13 ...in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
- The unrighteous will be raised after Jesus reigns (at the close of the Messianic Age). They will appear before the "great white throne" of God's judgment to receive their final sentencing (Rev 20:11). Again, John writes...
Rev 20:12 ...I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.... The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books....
- At that time, they will relocate to the Lake of Fire to continue eternally their torment of life apart from God (without pardon or parole). John continues...
Throughout this sermon series, we will examine some of these events in more detail. If you have questions, please let me know, and I will try to answer them as well.Rev 20:15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
* * * * * * * * *
As it is today, so it was in the first century, many people had questions about God's plan for the future and, as it is today, some people were ready to offer answers. Their answers, however, did not always agree with God's plan, being based on human speculation rather than on divine revelation. This was the situation in Thessalonica, where the apostle Paul had founded a congregation. Many believers assumed Jesus would return soon after his ascension. Almost thirty years have transpired, though, when Paul writes his first letter to the church, and people are questioning Jesus' delay, especially as some of their loved ones have already passed away. How would their current absence affect their future status? Some false teachers are claiming that only those still alive when Jesus returns will go with him to heaven. Like the requirement for some contest, they say "You must be present to win." One of Paul's reasons for writing is to address this controversy and clarify the matter.
1 Thess 4:13 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.The apostle then goes on to describe...
I. The Great Catch (1 Thess 4:16-17)
...when Jesus returns.
1 Thess 4:16 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.Paul says...
A. We will be taken by the Lord (1 Thess 4:16).The apostle describes what that event will involve, citing at least three details. It will be...
...one in which Jesus himself will take part. As the savior makes clear in the Olivet Discourse, he will not do the actual assembly but will assign that task to others.1. A personal gathering
Matt 24:31 ...he will send his angels...and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.Nevertheless, Jesus will be present to oversee the operation. It will be a personal gathering. Moreover, it will be...
It will not take place in private or in secret but will include a clear announcement: "the trumpet call of God."[6] This will be a distinguishing feature of the event, because Jesus also mentions it. In that same Olivet Discourse describing his return,2. A public gathering
we read...
Matt 24:31a ...he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call....Paul refers it again in his account of the resurrection to the church at Corinth.
1 Cor 15:51b We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—52 in a flash...at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound [and] the dead will be raised....I understand that God often works with what He has and that at this time the trombone (which I play) had not yet been invented, so He went with the next best thing. In any case, the instrumental fanfare will make Jesus' return a public gathering.... Moreover, it will be...
Certain individuals will be at the head of the line, namely, "the dead in Christ." Contrary to what the false teachers are saying, "You need not be present to win." In fact, believers who died first will meet Jesus first—almost makes you want to get a head start. Jesus' return will be a priority gathering.3. A priority gathering
In "The Great Catch," we will be taken by the Lord. This event is not like "catch and release" in recreational fishing, because Jesus will not let us go but will keep us, so that...
B. We will be together with the Lord (1 Thess 4:17)....from that point on.
Although "the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thess 4:16), the rest will follow in short order. This means that some people may not experience physical death but will be like Enoch and Elijah.[7] In this way, the event will be...
...of the living and the dead. Also like Enoch and Elijah, this will not take place on earth. It will be...1. A combined gathering
...not in heaven but "down from heaven" (v. 16), yet still "in the clouds [and] in the air" (v. 17). This elevation is probably for greater visibility, perhaps for those left behind, which also accords with other descriptions of Jesus' return.[8] Jesus himself says...2. A celestial gathering
Matt 24:30 ...all the nations of the earth....will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky....Similarly, John says...
Rev 1:7a Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him....Our meeting with Jesus will be a celestial gathering. It will also be...
However much we enjoy one another's company on Sabbath morning, come lunch time, we go our separate ways, unless we have a fellowship meal. Even then, we eventually all go home. Although this final gathering "to meet the Lord" will include food,[9] what will keep us all together is that we will be home, "at home with the Lord" (2 Cor 5:8), as Paul says elsewhere, and it will be a ceaseless gathering, one that will last forever.[10]3. A ceaseless gathering
If Jesus comes back to the earth after we have left this earth, will we have missed the resurrection and be left behind? One of the Hints of Heaven in scripture is "The Great Catch," which assures us that, dead or alive, our reservation for heaven is secure. You do not have to be present to win? So...
- The next time you question if Jesus' first coming was his only coming, or if the delay in his return may mean he has changed his mind about returning at all, take heart: God's plan is still on track, and the best is yet to come.
- The next time someone claims God spoke to him, and you wonder if God would ever speak to you, bear in mind that one day you will hear Jesus' voice, and it will be a most welcome call.[11]
- The next time you have difficulty walking across the parking lot at the mall or climbing a set of stairs without getting winded or fatigued, remember that when Jesus returns,, you will fly to be with him in the air.
- The next time you say goodbye to another believer who passes from this life, know that you will meet again and, better still, that you will never have to part again.
The Great Catch (1 Thess 4:16-17)
For the Bibliography and the Endnotes see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs