Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and then 2 Peter 3:9-11. What does the future hold? Much of what is to come about the Day of the Lord. Day of the Lord begins with the Rapture and ends when the Kingdom is complete. For some, this will be a helpful review. For others, it will be an eye opener.

Transition

As we consider “Things to Come”, God warns us to not sleep but to watch and be sober (v.6).

Cross

  1. The cross marks the time when Jesus died for our sins. (Rom 5:8)

Church Age

  1. The death and resurrection of Christ began the church age in which we now live. This age is sometimes called the age of Grace because God is graciously offering salvation to all who will repent and believe.
  2. God’s plan for this age is for Christians are to become members of biblical local churches and then preach the Gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Rapture

  1. The rapture is the next event on God’s calendar. It is imminent – it could happen at any moment.
  2. It is the time when Christ will take all who have repented and believed on Him to heaven. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) “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: 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.”
  3. The rapture will happen unexpectedly and in a flash. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
  4. Those who have not truly trusted Christ will be left behind. If they have heard the Gospel but not truly been saved, they will never be able to believe later on. (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12) “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Rewards

  1. Right after the Rapture Christians will stand before the Lord’s Judgment Seat or Bema Seat.
  2. Christ will reward Christians for faithful service or rebuke them for failure to live for Him. (2 Corinthians 5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
  3. This judgment is for believers ONLY. It has nothing to do with our eternal destiny. It is not to be confused with the unbeliever’s judgment at God’s great white throne.
  4. Rewards will consist of commendation (“Well done!” Mt 25:21) for obedient Christians; administration (leadership positions Lu 19:17) for dependable Christians; and coronation (crowning) for honoured Christians. Crowns mentioned in the Bible included the Incorruptible crown 1Co 9:25, and crowns of rejoicing 1Th 2:19, righteousness 2Ti 4:8, life Jas 1:12 and glory 1Pe 5:4.
  5. Things that will cause shame on that day are regret for failing God, rebuke for unfaithfulness and unholy living, and retribution or loss of reward we could have received.
  6. Now we are to live holy lives in preparation for that Bema
    1. (1 John 2:28) “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”
    2. (2 Corinthians 7:1) “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Tribulation

  1. The 7-year Tribulation will be a time of judgement on this earth. (Matthew 24:21) “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
  2. The Tribulation is described in detail in the book of Revelation chapters 5-19 and in Matthew 24:4-41.
  3. Many will trust Christ during the Tribulation, but only if they have not previously heard the Gospel.
  4. It will begin with a time of peace led by the Antichrist world leader. Then he will turn on Israel and seek to kill every Christian. During this time God will be sending terrible plagues causing suffering and death, yet unbelievers will continue to curse God.

Revelation

  1. Christ will end the Tribulation with the battle of Armageddon, and to begin His 1000-year kingdom (Revelation 19 & 20).
  2. This coming of Christ is called His second coming and is distinct from the Rapture. (See my Doctrines of the Bible, lesson 33 for a list of distinctions)

Pit

  1. After the Tribulation, Satan will be bound for 1,000 years in the pit (Revelation 20:2-3).
  2. He will not be able to cause people to sin. Sin will still exist in the hearts of men because they have a sin nature.

Kingdom

  1. Earth will be a paradise for 1000 years as Christ reigns on earth as King. Christ will restore peace and harmony to nature and mankind during this period. This is often called the Millennium.
  2. Only Christians who lived through the Tribulation will enter the Kingdom to repopulate the earth. Raptured believers will be immortal and will reign with Christ in glorified bodies rather than living earthly lives among the mortals.
  3. During the 1000-year Kingdom, Christ will reign as King of the world. It will be a time of peace similar to the Garden of Eden (Revelation 20:6).
  4. Children born during the Kingdom will need to be saved just as we do today. Many will reject Christ in their hearts.
  5. At the close of the 1000 years, God will let Satan out of the pit. Satan will quickly rally the millions of “secret” unbelievers in the world to go to Jerusalem to fight against Christ, but God’s fire will destroy them (Revelation 20:7-9).

Judgment

  1. Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).
  2. All those who have refused, neglected or failed to receive Jesus as their Saviour will stand before God’s great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). They will be sentenced to the Lake of Fire.
  3. This is not unfair or unjust. Every sinner, including me and you, deserves to go to the Lake of Fire. That fact that God provided an escape through Christ’s propitiation is pure grace.

Lake of Fire

  1. Hell is the temporary punishment for sinners.
  2. The Lake of Fire is their eternal punishment. All who have not received Jesus will be cast into the eternal lake of fire. (Revelation 21:8) “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

New Heaven & Earth

We will examine this tonight at 6:00 p.m.

Conclusion

The two most important ways that you can prepare for Things to Come is to: 1) Be positive that you have trusted Christ to save you from hell. 2) Live each day abiding in close fellowship with Christ, fleeing temptation, and faithfully telling other of Christ so that you will not be ashamed if Jesus came at any moment. If you are not prepared in both of these ways, now is the time to prepare. The Rapture could take place today. Watch and be sober!

Song: God’s Final Call – 250
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Things to Come (pt.1)
11 June 2017 AM – 1Thessalonians 5:1-11 – Scott Childs