In our previous episode we traced Paul's footsteps down 00:01:36.23\00:01:38.85 to the great port city of Thessalonica. 00:01:38.88\00:01:42.06 The city that was the capital of the Roman province of 00:01:42.10\00:01:45.87 Macedonia, Paul and Silas left Timothy there and they 00:01:45.91\00:01:49.64 traveled out to the great city of Berea. 00:01:49.68\00:01:52.22 The home area of Philip of Macedonia and Alexander the 00:01:52.26\00:01:55.76 great, there they received a very a different reception from 00:01:55.80\00:01:59.36 the Jews but that will be the subject for our next 00:01:59.40\00:02:01.98 teaching in this series. 00:02:02.02\00:02:04.04 Soon Paul would leave Silas in Berea and would travel 00:02:04.08\00:02:08.19 down to Athens and Timothy would join him there in the 00:02:08.23\00:02:12.31 great university city of the world. 00:02:12.35\00:02:14.74 While Paul was there, the young Church at Thessalonica 00:02:14.78\00:02:18.56 weighed heavily upon his mind and he decided to send 00:02:18.60\00:02:22.35 Timothy back to encourage the young Church. 00:02:22.39\00:02:25.07 While Timothy was with them, something happened that 00:02:44.75\00:02:48.28 shattered the security of the young 00:02:48.32\00:02:50.49 Church at Thessalonica. 00:02:50.52\00:02:52.58 A believer in Jesus died, they didn't know what the 00:02:52.61\00:02:58.23 implications of this would be. 00:02:58.26\00:03:00.18 They had heard Paul talk about Jesus being the Messiah 00:03:00.21\00:03:03.25 and that one day He would return in a clouds of heaven as 00:03:03.29\00:03:06.37 King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but what would happen 00:03:06.41\00:03:09.46 to their dear loved one who had died? 00:03:09.49\00:03:12.37 What were the implications? 00:03:12.40\00:03:14.37 The church was devastated, Timothy brought this report 00:03:14.40\00:03:17.85 down to Paul who was at Corinth. 00:03:17.89\00:03:20.90 At Corinth he took out his pen and wrote some of the most 00:03:20.94\00:03:23.71 precious words ever written. 00:03:23.74\00:03:25.74 Words of assurance to assure the grieving church that 00:03:25.78\00:03:29.49 they would see their loved one again. 00:03:29.53\00:03:31.56 Let me read them to you. 00:03:31.60\00:03:32.80 What a precious passage, we don't want you to be ignorant 00:03:40.77\00:03:43.48 about those who have fallen asleep. 00:03:43.52\00:03:45.79 No Paul says, we want to be filled with hope. 00:03:45.83\00:03:50.03 It is not that Christians do not grieve when they lose 00:03:50.07\00:03:54.28 a love one, but they don't grieve like those 00:03:54.32\00:03:56.63 who have no hope. 00:03:56.66\00:03:58.55 Paul goes on to unfold what he means by this in the rest 00:03:58.58\00:04:04.13 of the passage. 00:04:04.17\00:04:05.90 Now this is incredible news for the young Church of 00:04:48.37\00:04:51.90 Thessalonica that was mourning the loss of one of the 00:04:51.93\00:04:55.43 members of their community. 00:04:55.46\00:04:57.17 They have been separated by death, but Paul said I don't 00:04:57.20\00:05:00.98 want you to be ignorant about those who have fallen 00:05:01.02\00:05:03.60 asleep or grieve like those who have no hope. 00:05:03.63\00:05:06.73 We have a hope of seeing our love ones again. 00:05:06.76\00:05:09.79 Paul wrote these precious words of assurance, to remind 00:05:09.82\00:05:13.19 them that they would not be left out, that their loved 00:05:13.22\00:05:16.64 ones would certainly be included when Jesus comes again. 00:05:16.67\00:05:19.64 Paul says don't grieve like those that have no hope, 00:05:19.67\00:05:23.13 your loved one who has died, professing faith in Jesus, 00:05:23.16\00:05:26.58 will live again and you will see them again. 00:05:26.62\00:05:29.25 They won't be left out of the picture. 00:05:29.29\00:05:31.09 Apparently the believers in Thessalonica believe that 00:05:31.13\00:05:34.24 Jesus will come back immediately in their day. 00:05:34.28\00:05:36.61 They were anticipating it. 00:05:36.65\00:05:37.89 We discovered later on in Paul's letters to them that 00:05:37.93\00:05:40.38 some of them had actually stopped working thinking He 00:05:40.42\00:05:42.84 would come any day. 00:05:42.88\00:05:44.41 But he said no, they won't be left out when Jesus comes 00:05:44.45\00:05:48.41 again, they will be raised from the dead and together 00:05:48.45\00:05:52.11 you will go up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:05:52.14\00:05:55.77 Then Paul summarizes with the most precious words in 00:05:55.80\00:06:00.99 verse 18, therefore encourage each other with these words. 00:06:01.03\00:06:07.15 What encouraging words, what tremendous words of 00:06:07.19\00:06:10.82 assurance, yes we can be encouraged that we will see 00:06:10.86\00:06:14.34 our love ones again, that death is not the final reaper, 00:06:14.37\00:06:17.90 that death was defeated by Jesus' resurrection from the 00:06:17.93\00:06:21.42 grave and that one day when He comes again in the 00:06:21.46\00:06:24.88 clouds of heaven we will be reunited with our loved 00:06:24.92\00:06:28.31 ones who died in Jesus. 00:06:28.35\00:06:30.44 Paul writes precious words. 00:06:30.47\00:06:32.53 Paul refers to Jesus' own words. 00:06:45.33\00:06:49.12 Apparently this teaching of Jesus was circulating in 00:06:49.15\00:06:52.92 the early church before Matthew penned in his gospel. 00:06:52.96\00:06:56.87 He refers to a passage similar to the one we found in 00:06:56.90\00:07:00.78 Matthew 24, where Jesus Himself gives His own 00:07:00.81\00:07:04.87 teaching about His return. 00:07:04.90\00:07:07.11 Yes in our Lord's great teaching given there on the 00:07:29.57\00:07:33.42 Mount of Olives, He says that after the great time of 00:07:33.46\00:07:36.83 trouble there be the sign of the Son of Man appear. 00:07:36.86\00:07:40.49 Jesus will return in the clouds of the sky, and when 00:07:40.53\00:07:43.72 He returns He will send His angels out to the four 00:07:43.76\00:07:46.92 corners of the Earth to gather His elect. 00:07:46.95\00:07:49.77 Those who died in ages past will be resurrected, 00:07:49.80\00:07:53.06 they will come forth from the tombs with new life. 00:07:53.09\00:07:56.14 Yes Paul assures them that even though our loved ones 00:07:56.18\00:07:59.18 are separated from us by death, they will not be left 00:07:59.21\00:08:02.18 out of the picture when Jesus comes again. 00:08:02.22\00:08:04.33 Jesus will resurrect them from the grave, and together with 00:08:04.37\00:08:07.82 the righteous living they will be caught up in the air 00:08:07.85\00:08:11.27 to meet the Lord. 00:08:11.30\00:08:13.15 Jesus refers to Himself a very special and exalted title. 00:08:13.19\00:08:18.90 He says that they will see the sign of the Son of Man 00:08:18.94\00:08:24.61 coming in the clouds of heaven. 00:08:24.65\00:08:27.13 This is very specific language found in Daniel 7:13. 00:08:27.17\00:08:34.98 Jesus is the Son of Man and coming in the clouds of 00:08:43.48\00:08:47.08 heaven, He comes to receive His kingdom and sends His 00:08:47.11\00:08:50.68 angels out the four corners of the earth. 00:08:50.71\00:08:53.10 He send them out to gather His elect. 00:08:53.13\00:08:55.48 Daniel describes a great time of trouble. 00:09:26.09\00:09:28.68 A time of trouble unlike any other since 00:09:28.72\00:09:31.27 there was a nation. 00:09:31.31\00:09:32.79 But he says that during this time of trouble, 00:09:32.83\00:09:35.73 that Michael will stand up, the great Prince who stands 00:09:35.77\00:09:39.55 for His people and there will be a tremendous time of 00:09:39.59\00:09:43.19 deliverance, even those who sleep in the dust of the 00:09:43.23\00:09:46.80 earth will be delivered. 00:09:46.83\00:09:48.53 He said the time is coming when multitudes who sleep 00:09:48.57\00:09:51.69 in the dust of the earth will rise, some to everlasting 00:09:51.73\00:09:54.81 life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt. 00:09:54.85\00:09:58.77 Yes there will be a tremendous time of resurrection, 00:09:58.81\00:10:02.49 a tremendous time when those who died in Jesus will 00:10:02.52\00:10:06.17 come back to life. 00:10:06.20\00:10:07.71 Jesus takes these words and describes how the Son of 00:10:07.75\00:10:11.09 Man will come and send his angels out the four corners 00:10:11.12\00:10:14.39 of the earth to together His elect from around the world. 00:10:14.43\00:10:18.82 Daniel describes a great time of trouble, Jesus seems 00:10:18.85\00:10:23.40 to interpret Daniels words in Matthew 24, when sitting 00:10:23.44\00:10:27.43 on the Mount of Olives He teaches His disciples about 00:10:27.47\00:10:31.22 the timeline and the events that would happen from His 00:10:31.26\00:10:34.98 day on down to the end of time. 00:10:35.02\00:10:37.41 While they were in the temple, Jesus saw a widow giving 00:10:37.45\00:10:40.75 her two mites and said that she gave more than all of 00:10:40.79\00:10:44.06 the others that day. 00:10:44.10\00:10:45.73 The disciples are shocked by Jesus' words. 00:10:45.77\00:10:48.23 As they walk out they say but Lord, 00:10:48.27\00:10:51.36 look at these majestic buildings. 00:10:51.40\00:10:54.43 Jesus takes them across the Kidron Valley up to the Mount 00:10:54.46\00:10:58.68 of Olives and they look back across. 00:10:58.72\00:11:00.33 The disciples are saying look Lord at the Majestic 00:11:00.37\00:11:03.12 buildings, certainly two mites are not enough to keep all 00:11:03.16\00:11:06.81 this going, Jesus you are naive about this. 00:11:06.85\00:11:09.41 Then Jesus gives His most detail teaching about the 00:11:09.45\00:11:13.50 sequence of events that would take place in the future. 00:11:13.54\00:11:17.68 He says the time is coming when not one stone would be 00:11:17.72\00:11:21.52 left upon another in this great temple complex that 00:11:21.56\00:11:24.96 you see today, it will all be torn down. 00:11:25.00\00:11:27.96 The disciples are shocked and say Lord, tell us when 00:11:28.00\00:11:30.94 this will be and what will be the sign of Your coming 00:11:30.98\00:11:33.89 and the end of the world. 00:11:33.92\00:11:35.48 But they assumed something as great as the destruction 00:11:35.52\00:11:38.59 of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem to be 00:11:38.63\00:11:42.03 the end of the world. 00:11:42.06\00:11:43.64 Jesus masterfully blends His answer of signs that 00:11:43.67\00:11:47.52 would take place before the destruction of the Jewish 00:11:47.56\00:11:51.90 temple and signs that would also be repeated before His 00:11:51.94\00:11:56.25 return at the end of the world. 00:11:56.28\00:11:58.80 He describes how there would be wars, and rumors of wars. 00:11:58.84\00:12:02.40 How there would be earthquakes and famines, but He said 00:12:02.43\00:12:05.96 the end is not yet. 00:12:06.00\00:12:07.86 Then He comes down and talks about the great sign that 00:12:07.90\00:12:11.97 we would see from Daniel, the abomination of desolation 00:12:12.01\00:12:16.04 standing in the Holy place. 00:12:16.08\00:12:17.98 He says to take note of that. 00:12:18.01\00:12:19.84 He says there will be a great time of distress, unlike 00:12:19.88\00:12:24.21 any other distress that has take place before that time. 00:12:24.25\00:12:29.21 Then He warns of false prophets that would come in His 00:12:29.25\00:12:33.65 name, of false Christ's who would come claiming to be 00:12:33.69\00:12:38.06 Messiah, Jesus says don't be taken in by this. 00:12:38.10\00:12:41.73 Yes we see indeed before the destruction of the Jewish 00:12:41.77\00:12:45.34 temple there were many false prophets that were 00:12:45.37\00:12:48.80 coming, they are coming in Jesus' name. 00:12:48.84\00:12:50.89 There are false Messiah's coming claiming to be the 00:12:50.92\00:12:53.81 Deliverer, they are coming to the Jewish nation and 00:12:53.84\00:12:56.77 saying they can deliver with arms, they can rid the 00:12:56.81\00:12:59.70 dreaded Romans of their occupation. 00:12:59.74\00:13:02.57 But this was a false message, a false teaching. 00:13:02.61\00:13:08.81 Jesus came as the Prince of peace, Jesus came as a 00:13:08.85\00:13:15.02 suffering Servant, as the true Messiah. 00:13:15.05\00:13:19.48 The false Messiah's came and encouraged the Jewish 00:13:19.52\00:13:23.22 resistance and ultimately that led to Rome coming down 00:13:23.26\00:13:26.93 and crushing the city of Jerusalem and indeed 00:13:26.96\00:13:31.91 destroying the temple. 00:13:31.94\00:13:33.13 It is curious that the very day the temple was destroyed 00:13:33.16\00:13:36.67 according to Josephus, a prophet when out in the streets 00:13:36.70\00:13:40.05 of Jerusalem and said today God will bring deliverance 00:13:40.09\00:13:43.41 for His people in this city. 00:13:43.44\00:13:45.35 They encouraged the zealots to go out into the temple and 00:13:45.39\00:13:48.13 fight and watch for God's deliverance. 00:13:48.17\00:13:51.76 That day the Jewish Temple was destroyed. 00:13:51.79\00:13:55.31 To get the zealots out of the Temple a Roman soldier 00:13:55.35\00:13:58.97 threw a firebrand inside, the firebrand caught 00:13:59.01\00:14:02.90 the Cedars of Lebanon on fire. 00:14:02.93\00:14:05.40 As the fire raged through the temple the gold melted. 00:14:05.44\00:14:10.30 To get the gold the soldiers took the temple apart and 00:14:10.34\00:14:14.63 they threw the great stones down into the Tyropoeon Valley 00:14:14.66\00:14:18.92 where they have now been excavated and 00:14:18.96\00:14:21.37 we can see them today. 00:14:21.40\00:14:23.32 Yes it was a tremendous destruction, a destruction that 00:14:23.36\00:14:27.34 Jesus had predicted and it was fulfilled according to 00:14:27.37\00:14:31.32 what He had said. 00:14:31.36\00:14:32.75 He had left the temple and said today your house is left 00:14:32.78\00:14:36.24 to you desolate, you have rejected Me as Messiah and now 00:14:36.28\00:14:39.70 I leave you your house is left to you desolate. 00:14:39.74\00:14:43.44 It was just a matter of time until 00:14:43.48\00:14:45.73 the temple was destroyed. 00:14:45.76\00:14:48.06 It is very interesting that Titus, the Roman 00:14:48.09\00:14:51.58 general who commanded the Army's of Jerusalem there 00:14:51.62\00:14:54.41 said don't destroy the temple. 00:14:54.44\00:14:56.37 It was the most beautiful building ever constructed 00:14:56.41\00:14:59.73 upon the earth. 00:14:59.76\00:15:01.06 Don't destroy the temple, preserve it. 00:15:01.09\00:15:03.17 That was amazing for a Roman general to take that stand. 00:15:03.21\00:15:06.95 Typically when Rome conquered they exacted a tremendous 00:15:06.98\00:15:10.68 punishment on rebellious people, but Titus said no it was too 00:15:10.72\00:15:15.08 beautiful, leave it. 00:15:15.11\00:15:16.92 But because the zealots were fighting from the temple, 00:15:16.95\00:15:20.85 because a false prophet had gone out in the name of the 00:15:20.89\00:15:24.48 Lord and said today God will deliver His people, we are 00:15:24.51\00:15:28.06 God's special people that God will 00:15:28.10\00:15:29.80 send a great deliverance. 00:15:29.83\00:15:31.29 Going to the temple and fight, they went into the temple 00:15:31.32\00:15:34.01 and they fought. 00:15:34.05\00:15:35.60 This was in fulfillment of Jesus' prediction. 00:15:35.64\00:15:38.07 He said that not one stone will be left upon another. 00:15:38.11\00:15:42.70 Yes not one believer perished in the flames of Jerusalem. 00:15:42.74\00:15:46.96 While there were hundreds of thousands who died during 00:15:47.00\00:15:51.01 that siege, not one believer perished, for Jesus had given 00:15:51.05\00:15:55.03 signs to the believer's on the Mount of Olives saying 00:15:55.06\00:15:58.31 when you see the city surrounded by the armies, you know 00:15:58.34\00:16:01.55 that it is time to leave the city, to go out to the 00:16:01.59\00:16:05.16 hills and indeed the true believers did. 00:16:05.20\00:16:08.42 Those who had rejected the teachings of the Prince of 00:16:08.45\00:16:11.30 peace, stayed in the city. 00:16:11.34\00:16:14.02 They thought when the Roman army withdrew that this was 00:16:14.05\00:16:18.39 a sign of weakness in Rome and they pursued the Roman 00:16:18.43\00:16:22.73 armies out, the Roman army would return with 00:16:22.76\00:16:26.41 great vengeance later. 00:16:26.45\00:16:28.80 They set siege to the city and there was tremendous 00:16:28.84\00:16:33.09 devastation, the city Temple would be destroyed. 00:16:33.13\00:16:37.31 Hundreds of thousands of people would lose their lives, 00:16:37.35\00:16:41.14 but not one true believer in Jesus died. 00:16:41.17\00:16:44.45 For they had heeded the words of Jesus and that important 00:16:44.48\00:16:48.08 teachings He gave on the Mount of Olives. 00:16:48.11\00:16:51.46 Jesus also predicted a coming time of trouble that would 00:16:51.50\00:16:56.45 take place after the destruction of the Jewish Temple. 00:16:56.49\00:17:00.75 He said there were be false Christ's and false Messiah's 00:17:00.79\00:17:05.02 that would come. 00:17:05.05\00:17:06.88 Yes Jesus warns against false Christ's and false prophets 00:17:33.74\00:17:38.06 that would come. 00:17:38.09\00:17:39.25 He said that if anyone would come to you and say here's 00:17:39.28\00:17:41.11 the Christ in some secret place, don't believe it. 00:17:41.15\00:17:44.33 Or here is the Christ in some wilderness place, 00:17:44.36\00:17:47.51 don't go out. 00:17:47.54\00:17:49.19 There's so many times, when so-called Christ, or messiahs 00:17:49.23\00:17:54.59 appear that perhaps in some secluded temple somewhere, 00:17:54.62\00:17:59.95 people believe it. 00:17:59.99\00:18:02.24 Or perhaps in some wilderness location, Jesus says don't 00:18:02.28\00:18:06.25 buy into that, there is so many New Age teachers that 00:18:06.29\00:18:09.34 claimed to be the Christ, or claimed to be the Messiah. 00:18:09.38\00:18:12.40 He says no, don't buy into that, why? 00:18:12.44\00:18:15.81 Because in verse 27 He tells us. 00:18:15.84\00:18:17.76 When Jesus comes again, He doesn't appear in some secret 00:18:24.69\00:18:28.67 temple in some city in Jerusalem. 00:18:28.70\00:18:30.88 He doesn't appear in some city in Rome, or some other 00:18:30.92\00:18:34.14 great city in the world. 00:18:34.18\00:18:35.60 When Jesus comes it will be like the lightning shining 00:18:35.64\00:18:38.15 for the East unto the west. 00:18:38.19\00:18:40.26 You know there is something about lightning. 00:18:40.30\00:18:42.15 When lightning strikes it illuminates the entire sky, 00:18:42.18\00:18:45.92 it goes from one end of the heavens to the other. 00:18:45.95\00:18:49.37 Jesus says that is the way it will be when I will 00:18:49.40\00:18:52.78 return again, it will be like the lightning, 00:18:52.82\00:18:54.55 a very visible event. 00:18:54.59\00:18:56.62 People will see it with their eyes. 00:18:56.66\00:18:58.50 No Jesus is not coming to some secret place to reveal 00:18:58.53\00:19:02.38 Himself, He is not coming to some mountain hideaway to 00:19:02.41\00:19:06.22 make Himself known. 00:19:06.26\00:19:07.98 When Jesus comes it is like the lightning shines from 00:19:08.01\00:19:10.58 the East even to the West, it is a visible event. 00:19:10.61\00:19:13.67 He warned us about false Christ's that would come in 00:19:13.71\00:19:16.82 the last days, they would come after that great time of 00:19:16.85\00:19:19.92 trouble, and they would deceive, if possible, 00:19:19.96\00:19:22.26 the very elect. 00:19:22.29\00:19:23.73 Did you notice that it said, they even work great 00:19:23.76\00:19:26.22 miracles and great wonders. 00:19:26.26\00:19:28.49 People believe if it was a miracle, 00:19:28.53\00:19:30.33 it must be done by God. 00:19:30.36\00:19:32.11 Jesus warned us against miracles. 00:19:32.14\00:19:34.86 Three times in the book of Revelation He warns that 00:19:34.90\00:19:38.67 people are deceived by miracles. 00:19:38.71\00:19:41.16 Oh I certainly believe that God works miracles today 00:19:41.20\00:19:44.62 in the name of Jesus, I certainly believe that Jesus 00:19:44.65\00:19:48.03 is a miracle working God. 00:19:48.07\00:19:50.08 But the Bible tells us, Jesus Himself tells us, 00:19:50.12\00:19:53.24 be careful about miracles, seeing is not necessarily 00:19:53.28\00:19:57.60 believing, He says we must be careful and evaluate 00:19:57.63\00:20:01.14 those miracles in light of the entire word of God 00:20:01.17\00:20:04.29 for these false Christ's will come and will deceive 00:20:04.32\00:20:07.40 many, many people. 00:20:07.43\00:20:09.00 Jesus says, when the Son of Man returns He will be like 00:20:09.04\00:20:12.21 the lightning shining from the East even to the West. 00:20:12.24\00:20:15.37 The apostle John picks up the same theme in 00:20:15.41\00:20:19.13 Revelation 1:7. 00:20:19.16\00:20:21.69 Yes when Jesus comes it will be a very visible event. 00:20:28.26\00:20:31.09 Every eye will see Him. 00:20:31.12\00:20:33.28 According to Revelation 1:7, even those who pierced Him. 00:20:33.32\00:20:37.82 Jesus seems to promise a special resurrection for 00:20:37.85\00:20:42.25 those who rejected Him. 00:20:42.28\00:20:44.07 A few moments ago I shared with you how when on trial 00:20:44.11\00:20:47.04 before Caiaphas the high priest. 00:20:47.08\00:20:48.91 He was asked, tell me are you the son of God? 00:20:48.95\00:20:51.97 Jesus said yes, and here after will you see the 00:20:52.00\00:20:54.99 Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven. 00:20:55.02\00:20:57.65 He promised old Caiaphas, the high priest, I'll see you 00:20:57.68\00:21:01.05 again, today you condemn Me as a criminal. 00:21:01.08\00:21:04.42 Today you condemn Me as a false Christ, but you will see 00:21:04.45\00:21:08.21 Me again when I come in the clouds of heaven. 00:21:08.24\00:21:10.73 Yes Caiaphas will be raised from the dead to see the Lord 00:21:10.76\00:21:15.74 return in the clouds of heaven. 00:21:15.78\00:21:17.37 When Jesus comes, it is a very visible event. 00:21:17.41\00:21:20.72 In addition to this it is also a very audible event. 00:21:20.75\00:21:23.75 We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 those words of 00:21:23.78\00:21:28.10 encouragement that Paul penned to comfort the grieving 00:21:28.13\00:21:30.91 Church of Thessalonica. 00:21:30.95\00:21:32.37 Yes when Jesus comes again it is an audible event. 00:21:41.22\00:21:44.20 The very dead in Christ, those were resting in their 00:21:44.24\00:21:47.18 graves will hear His voice and will come out 00:21:47.22\00:21:49.67 to life everlasting, to immortality. 00:21:49.70\00:21:53.53 Yes when Jesus comes it is a visible event and it is 00:21:53.57\00:21:57.27 also an audible event. 00:21:57.31\00:21:59.14 When the disciples were standing there on the Mount of 00:21:59.17\00:22:02.24 Olives, outside of Jerusalem, Jesus ascended into heaven 00:22:02.27\00:22:05.30 right before them. 00:22:05.34\00:22:07.12 Yes they were standing on the Mount of Olives, 00:22:33.14\00:22:34.97 As they stood there Jesus began to ascend from the earth and 00:22:35.00\00:22:39.38 go up into the sky. 00:22:39.41\00:22:40.97 The disciples are looking up and cannot believe what is 00:22:41.00\00:22:43.53 happening, they look up and see their Lord going up. 00:22:43.56\00:22:46.27 Then two angels appear to them and say, men of Galilee 00:22:46.30\00:22:48.97 why are you standing here gazing into the sky? 00:22:49.00\00:22:51.40 This same Jesus that you see go up into the sky today 00:22:51.44\00:22:54.37 will so come in like manner. 00:22:54.40\00:22:56.55 Yes Jesus will come again, the promise of the Angels, 00:22:56.58\00:23:00.26 this same Jesus, He doesn't send the Angel Gabriel to get us. 00:23:00.29\00:23:03.93 He doesn't send His representatives, this same Jesus 00:23:03.96\00:23:07.79 that you see go up into the sky, 00:23:07.82\00:23:09.95 He shall so come in like manner. 00:23:09.98\00:23:12.04 Yes the second coming of Jesus is a wonderful event, 00:23:12.07\00:23:15.89 it is a visible event, it is an audible event. 00:23:15.92\00:23:19.72 It is also a literal event. Jesus literally comes. 00:23:19.75\00:23:23.41 Yes I recognize that some people say He comes with a 00:23:23.45\00:23:27.09 spiritual mind, He comes when you die, no the Bible 00:23:27.12\00:23:30.73 teaches it is a literal event. 00:23:30.77\00:23:33.04 This same Jesus you have seen go up into heaven shall 00:23:33.08\00:23:36.53 so come in like manner, this is called the blessed hope 00:23:36.56\00:23:39.97 in Scripture, let me read to you Revelation 6:14. 00:23:40.01\00:23:45.60 Yes John describes a time in Revelation where he sees 00:24:16.32\00:24:19.15 in a vision on the very sky recedes like a scroll, 00:24:19.19\00:24:21.97 what's happening, the lightning is from the East even 00:24:22.00\00:24:24.91 on to the West, the very blue sky is gone because 00:24:24.94\00:24:27.82 Jesus is coming. 00:24:27.85\00:24:29.54 It is a time when the mountains will fall into the sea. 00:24:29.58\00:24:32.49 A time when islands would disappear from the tidal 00:24:32.53\00:24:35.41 waves, a tremendous time of devastation. 00:24:35.44\00:24:38.29 He said it is a time when rich people and poor people, 00:24:38.32\00:24:43.02 when free people and slaves, when all kinds of people 00:24:43.05\00:24:47.72 will run and hide from the wrath of the Lamb. 00:24:47.75\00:24:53.63 Can you imagine? Have you ever seen an angry lamb? 00:24:53.66\00:24:58.51 I have to admit I was once bitten by a lamb in Israel, 00:24:58.54\00:25:03.36 but I really haven't seen an angry lamb. 00:25:03.39\00:25:06.00 Jesus came the first time as a suffering servant, 00:25:06.03\00:25:10.06 but this time He returns as triumphant King of Kings 00:25:10.09\00:25:14.08 and Lord of Lords. 00:25:14.11\00:25:15.50 The Bible says. 00:25:15.54\00:25:16.89 People who have not made their peace with Jesus, 00:25:26.98\00:25:29.06 people who have not accepted Him as their Messiah, 00:25:29.09\00:25:31.30 they can't look into His face on that great day. 00:25:31.34\00:25:33.48 They preferred death to seeing Jesus when He comes again. 00:25:33.51\00:25:38.86 But those who've accepted Him as their Lord, 00:25:38.90\00:25:41.98 they look up and say. 00:25:42.01\00:25:44.39 They have waited for the true Christ, and when Jesus 00:25:50.18\00:25:53.72 actually appears, they look up and say lo, this is our 00:25:53.76\00:25:57.27 God, we have waited for Him and He will save us. 00:25:57.31\00:26:01.08 Yes when Jesus comes again, it is a very visible event, 00:26:01.12\00:26:05.52 it is a very audible event, it is a very literal event, 00:26:05.56\00:26:09.02 and it is a personal event because Jesus comes Himself. 00:26:09.05\00:26:12.47 And it is a glorious climatic event. 00:26:12.51\00:26:15.26 It is the end of human history as we know it. 00:26:15.29\00:26:18.73 But it is also is for a purpose, Jesus comes to take His 00:26:18.76\00:26:25.53 loved ones home. 00:26:25.57\00:26:27.21 As Paul said in the Lord's own words, that He will send 00:26:27.25\00:26:31.29 His angels out to the four corners of the earth to gather 00:26:31.32\00:26:35.33 His loved ones home. 00:26:35.36\00:26:37.01 When Jesus comes the second time, there are only 00:26:37.04\00:26:39.62 two groups of people. 00:26:39.66\00:26:42.17 One group of people say. 00:26:42.20\00:26:44.67 Another group of people look up and say. 00:26:47.79\00:26:50.32 Which group will you be in? 00:26:54.11\00:26:55.95 By God's grace you can choose to be in the group that 00:26:55.98\00:27:01.15 will look up and say. 00:27:01.19\00:27:02.49 All you have to do is yield your life to Him right now. 00:27:08.02\00:27:13.40 Let's pray together. 00:27:13.43\00:27:14.97 Our Father in heaven, thank you so much for the 00:27:15.01\00:27:17.76 incredible message that Paul penned to the young Church 00:27:17.79\00:27:21.85 of Thessalonica, who was grieving the loss of one of the 00:27:21.89\00:27:25.92 members of their community. 00:27:25.95\00:27:27.34 They were concerned that this person would not be in Your 00:27:27.38\00:27:29.81 Kingdom when Jesus returns the second time. 00:27:29.84\00:27:32.64 Thank you for the precious encouraging words that we have 00:27:32.67\00:27:35.27 read and thank You for the blessed hope, the grand 00:27:35.30\00:27:38.12 assurance that one day Jesus You will return in the 00:27:38.15\00:27:40.78 clouds of heaven and that You will return to gather 00:27:40.81\00:27:43.40 all of Your loved ones home. 00:27:43.43\00:27:45.68 Whether we have fallen asleep and are waiting that great 00:27:45.71\00:27:48.88 day while sleeping in the graves, or whether we are alive 00:27:48.91\00:27:52.04 it doesn't really matter. 00:27:52.08\00:27:53.44 For we will all be caught up to meet You in the air. 00:27:53.47\00:27:57.03 Father I pray that each one who hears this message will 00:27:57.06\00:28:00.46 surrender their heart right now to the Lord ship of 00:28:00.49\00:28:03.85 Jesus Christ, we pray, in Jesus name Amen! 00:28:03.89\00:28:08.41 from the great city of Thessalonica, Paul and Silas 00:28:08.44\00:28:11.96 sent out to the city of Berea. 00:28:11.99\00:28:14.67 They would travel 50 miles inland to the area that was 00:28:14.70\00:28:18.44 the home to Philip of Macedonia and Alexander the great. 00:28:18.48\00:28:22.01 There they went into the synagogue's and met a group 00:28:22.04\00:28:25.54 of Jews who had a very different heart. 00:28:25.58\00:28:27.67 Luke tells us that they were more noble than those in 00:28:27.71\00:28:30.70 Thessalonica and our next teaching we will be going out 00:28:30.73\00:28:34.35 to Berea to see the Jews who have an open heart and 00:28:34.38\00:28:37.96 receive Jesus as their Messiah. 00:28:38.00\00:28:41.25