The immediate outcome of the Thessalonians’ saving faith was to wait for Jesus’ appearing or the rapture. Paul included the return of Jesus for His church in his preaching to them from the very beginning of his time in the city. Why else would they have responded to his message with the eager expectation of Jesus’ return for them?
The new converts in Thessalonica so fixed their hope on their departure from the earth that when some in their midst died, they grieved unnecessarily thinking they would miss out on the rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-19). In response, Paul emphasized the primary place of the “dead in Christ” during the rapture telling his converts that Jesus would resurrect them first at his appearing (4:16). These new converts to the faith all believed in a future resurrection, but mistakenly believed that the Rapture would happen in their lifetime.
In Romans 8:23, Paul identifies a key aspect of the rapture, “the redemption of our bodies,” and then says this in verse 24, “For in this hope we were saved.” Paul regarded this event we call the “rapture” as a key aspect of his preaching because it signified the “hope” contained in the saving message of the Gospel. We see a similar connection of hope to the Gospel in Colossians 1:4-5.
If I were to cite this verse for any Bible-believing saint, he or she would immediately affirm a belief in what it says.
Yet, most Christians today not only ignore the message of this verse, but live as though it’s not true.
What is the verse that’s so overlooked, so disregarded by so many in the church today? It’s 1 Corinthians 15:19, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
Many believers, particularly in America, live with a one-world focus that assumes their Gospel hope for just this life is sufficient to carry them through its ups and downs. But how long can a perspective that ignores our glorious eternal hope sustain one in the midst of tragedies and tribulations without opening the door of one’s heart to doubt and despair? Not long. Not long at all.
In his daily devotional book, Restoration Year, John Eldredge wrote this for November 11, “Most Christians have no solid grip at all on their future; they are fixated completely and entirely on the present moment. But we cannot live without a future . . . . Without a glorious hope blazing in your heart, you will be crushed by the pain of the world.”
Most sermons today not only discount the realities of eternity, but rather reflect a sanctified version of Joel Osteen’s book, Your Best Life Now. When we look in Scripture, however, we see a drastically different emphasis, one that highlights the truths of 1 Corinthians 15:19.
Jesus again and again linked belief in Himself with eternal life (see John 3:15-16; 5:24, 39-40; 6:40; 10:27-28; 11:24-27; 14:1-6). One cannot miss the forever aspect of His teaching. He died so that we might inherit eternal life. He never promised us a great life before then, but warned of tribulation (John 16:33).
After her brother Lazarus died, Martha expressed a belief in his future resurrection as she spoke to Jesus about his death. In response, “Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lies and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26). The Lord wanted Martha’s focus to be on the future resurrection of all believers, even as she watched the Lord raise her brother from the dead.
The last recorded words that Jesus spoke to His church were these, “Surely I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20). If His imminent appearing was so important to Jesus that it became His last words to the church, should it not also be on our lips as we navigate through the heartaches and pains of life?
Journey back in time with me as the apostle Paul proclaims the Gospel in the city of Thessalonica. His success at winning many to Jesus there created much jealousy among the Jews who forced him to leave town much earlier than he planned (Acts 17:1-9).
Despite Paul’s short stay in the city, which ended in a riot, consider how he instructed these babes in the Christian faith. He taught them . . .
To expect Jesus’ soon appearing (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10), which resulted in the Thessalonian converts mistakenly believing it would occur in their lifetime rather than that it could happen before they died (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
The details of the event we now refer to as the “Rapture” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Paul only needed to add details concerning the fate of the “dead in Christ” during it.
The “times and seasons” of the end times. Because they knew all about the signs of the end, the apostle did not need to provide them with more information regarding them (1 Thessalonians 5:1).
All about the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2), would have included in-depth teaching from several Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Zephaniah, and Joel.
The surprise beginning of the wrath of the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
About the coming of the “man of lawlessness” or the antichrist, his opposition to God, and his future desecration of the Jewish temple during the tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5). This would have included instruction from the book of Daniel and Jesus’ words as recorded in Matthew 24:15.
About the work of the Restrainer in regard to the appearance antichrist, which signifies that the Rapture must happen before Satan unveils him to the world (2 Thessalonians 2:2-7).
That the Lord Jesus Himself would kill the “man of lawlessness” at His Second Coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
Journey back in time with me as the apostle Paul proclaims the Gospel in the city of Thessalonica. His success at winning many to Jesus there created much jealousy among the Jews who forced him to leave town much earlier than he planned (Acts 17:1-9).
Despite Paul’s short stay in the city, which ended in a riot, consider how he instructed these babes in the Christian faith. He taught them . . .
To expect Jesus’ soon appearing (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10), which resulted in the Thessalonian converts mistakenly believing it would occur in their lifetime rather than that it could happen before they died (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
The details of the event we now refer to as the “Rapture” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Paul only needed to add details concerning the fate of the “dead in Christ” during it.
The “times and seasons” of the end times. Because they knew all about the signs of the end, the apostle did not need to provide them with more information regarding them (1 Thessalonians 5:1).
All about the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2), would have included in-depth teaching from several Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Zephaniah, and Joel.
The surprise beginning of the wrath of the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
About the coming of the “man of lawlessness” or the antichrist, his opposition to God, and his future desecration of the Jewish temple during the tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5). This would have included instruction from the book of Daniel and Jesus’ words as recorded in Matthew 24:15.
About the work of the Restrainer in regard to the appearance antichrist, which signifies that the Rapture must happen before Satan unveils him to the world (2 Thessalonians 2:2-7).
That the Lord Jesus Himself would kill the “man of lawlessness” at His Second Coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
Speaking as an American, I believe the affluence in my nation keeps many believers, and pastors, from fully absorbing the truths of 1 Corinthians 15:19. We have lived in a bubble of prosperity for so long that many of us do not recognize the many and varied threats from those who seek to destroy our county and put us under the heels of the globalists.
Many remain under the illusion that Marxism cannot happen here despite the openness of many in our government who tell us that is what they want for the U.S.
American Christians under the hypnotic spell of the mainstream media see only hope for their future even as the walls close in on them week by week and their freedoms slowly vanish.
The many discouraging caricatures of heaven also contribute to the neglect of these things in our daily lives. How can sitting in on cloud with a harp compare with the technology of modern life? Who wants to jump into icy waters to earn one’s wings as an angel? Is not life here more exciting than a never-ending worship service?
Without the hope of eternity, it’s totally impossible to make sense out of what we experience in this life. Paul David Tripp wrote this in his excellent daily devotional book, New Morning Mercies, “Without eternity at the center of our thinking, our picture of life is like a jigsaw puzzle missing a central piece.”
Tripp added this about a biblical worldview,
“For God’s children, eternity promises that sin will die, suffering will end, our trials will be no more, and we will live with God in perfect peace forever . . . . You just can’t make proper sense of life without viewing it from the perspective of eternity.”
If you are like me, you feel greatly overwhelmed at times as you watch the wicked carry out their evil schemes. Those motivated by greed and power seem to be winning the day as they inflect pain, grief, and even death on a great many people. Their reign of terror, however, will quickly come to an end during the Tribulation period.
If you’re groaning because of what you see (Romans 8:23-25), take heart; that’s a good sign because it means you have given up on this life to fulfill all your dreams and look for the joy of Jesus’ appearing with excited anticipation.
The best comfort for the afflictions of this life is to keep the message of 1 Corinthians 15:19 in mind at all times, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
Whatever happened to eternal life? It’s alive and well in God’s Word, but needs to make its reappearance in Bible-believing churches today.
3 comments:
So good to see this! I don't know how Christians today get by thinking/hoping things will get better in Earth...do they not see the signs? Yet, if one brings this stuff up in a small group setting or at church, labels of doomsday Christian and pessimist abound. It's the other way around, those who see this truth are eternal optimists and see the glory to come in Him!
THERE IS NO QUESTION HE WILL RETURN,
BUT THE TIMING IS VERY VERY QUESTIONABLE.
WHY ??
TAKE A LOOK AT THE STOCK MARKET,UP AN UP WITH NO END.
SCRATCH IT ALL
STEPHEN >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Stephen where ya been? People were asking about you so I posted - hope you are doing well!!
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