>>Bill: Well, as promised,
Dr. George Knight is back
00:00:01.26\00:00:02.33
with the second
part of our study of
00:00:02.33\00:00:05.70
Thessalonians. So, go
get your Bible and your pad
00:00:05.70\00:00:09.80
and your pen
and we will be right
00:00:09.80\00:00:10.50
back in 30 seconds.
00:00:10.50\00:00:17.03
(Music)
00:00:18.50\00:00:28.26
Announcer: It has
stood the test of time..
00:00:28.60\00:00:31.10
God's book, The Bible.
00:00:31.30\00:00:34.50
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:34.73\00:00:39.03
It Is Written.
00:00:39.26\00:00:41.46
Sharing messages of
hope around the world.
00:00:41.73\00:00:45.96
(Music)
00:00:46.90\00:00:56.10
Well, let me start off
by welcoming all of our
00:00:57.03\00:00:58.03
viewers to this week's
"It Is Written" program and
00:00:58.03\00:00:59.93
I also want to welcome Dr.
00:00:59.93\00:01:00.53
George Knight. Dr.
Knight, welcome back. >>Dr.
00:01:00.53\00:01:03.00
Knight: Good to be here
again Bill. >>Bill: Well,
00:01:03.00\00:01:05.63
we're going to get
right into our study.
00:01:05.63\00:01:06.53
Our viewers have
been instructed to go get
00:01:06.53\00:01:09.70
their Bibles, turn to
1Thessalonians and we're
00:01:09.70\00:01:12.70
going to get right
into it. Let's just pick up
00:01:12.70\00:01:13.70
from where we left off
last week. Maybe you could
00:01:13.70\00:01:17.83
just give a quick synopsis
of what we looked at last
00:01:17.83\00:01:25.30
week, just to bring some
of our viewers up to speed
00:01:25.30\00:01:26.33
that maybe weren't with
us last week. >>Dr. Knight:
00:01:26.33\00:01:30.26
Yeah. Last, last
week we talked about a new
00:01:30.26\00:01:32.60
congregation that Paul
had formed. The first one,
00:01:32.60\00:01:33.63
actually the second one
in Macedonia in the town of
00:01:33.63\00:01:37.23
Thessalonica and these
are new converts. And like new
00:01:37.23\00:01:42.96
converts from year one
to year 2012, new converts
00:01:42.96\00:01:44.00
are always excited.
00:01:44.00\00:01:52.06
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:01:52.06\00:01:52.50
Knight: And when they
find out that Jesus is going to
00:01:52.50\00:01:53.56
come, oh my, (laughter).I
remember when I first
00:01:53.56\00:01:54.56
became a Christian and
found out that Jesus was
00:01:54.56\00:01:59.30
going to return and save
us from this mess that we
00:01:59.30\00:02:03.03
call 'earthly history',
how excited I was. >>Bill:
00:02:03.03\00:02:04.10
Yes. >>Dr. Knight:
I'm still excited. >>Bill:
00:02:04.10\00:02:07.60
Absolutely. >>Dr. Knight:
I'm looking forward to it
00:02:07.60\00:02:09.16
every day. So, we've
got these new converts
00:02:09.16\00:02:10.10
but it's a
difficult situation. Paul is
00:02:10.10\00:02:12.93
basically run out of
town; he's worried about them;
00:02:12.93\00:02:19.23
he tries to write
back; he tries to go back but
00:02:19.23\00:02:20.26
he says Satan hindered me.
00:02:20.26\00:02:26.60
So, finally he sends
Timothy to make sure that
00:02:26.60\00:02:27.66
these people have not
had their faith destroyed
00:02:27.66\00:02:31.30
by enemies. Timothy
comes back, he says, Paul, they
00:02:31.30\00:02:37.30
love you, they love
Jesus, they haven't backslidden
00:02:37.30\00:02:38.33
and Paul is so
excited that he writes
00:02:38.33\00:02:44.03
1Thessalonians. And
1Thessalonians, part of
00:02:44.03\00:02:47.63
his agenda, his main
agenda is to answer their
00:02:47.63\00:02:48.60
questions. >>Bill:
Because while they are faithful
00:02:48.60\00:02:53.46
and while they have
missed him and want to see him,
00:02:53.46\00:02:57.23
they do have some
questions. >>Dr. Knight:
00:02:57.23\00:02:58.10
They have some questions.
00:02:58.10\00:03:00.13
>>Bill: Like any
new convert would. >>Dr.
00:03:00.13\00:03:00.96
Knight: That's right.
And this was rather a short
00:03:00.96\00:03:03.23
time that Paul was with
him. He wanted to be there
00:03:03.23\00:03:07.96
longer but due to the
political situation and
00:03:07.96\00:03:09.10
the aggressive Jewish
leaders there, Paul had to
00:03:09.10\00:03:14.53
escape by night while he
had a chance. >>Bill: Yes.
00:03:14.53\00:03:19.30
Okay. >>Dr. Knight: And,
so, he'd had a relatively
00:03:19.30\00:03:20.30
short time, the Bible
says he was there three weeks.
00:03:20.30\00:03:25.10
Well he may have
been there more than three
00:03:25.10\00:03:27.66
weeks because the
Bible sometimes leaves blank
00:03:27.66\00:03:28.66
spots. >>Bill: Right.
00:03:28.66\00:03:30.53
>>Dr. Knight: But it
was a short time and he'd
00:03:30.53\00:03:31.50
instructed them carefully,
from what he says, about
00:03:31.50\00:03:34.30
a Second Coming. But, you
know, Bill, it's one thing
00:03:34.30\00:03:39.96
to know something in
your head.>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:03:39.96\00:03:41.10
Knight:.and when your
relatives, your loved ones
00:03:41.10\00:03:45.80
die, your head
doesn't work the same way. You
00:03:45.80\00:03:52.23
start working on the
level of emotions rather
00:03:52.23\00:03:53.16
than intellect.
>>Bill: Interesting. >>Dr.
00:03:53.16\00:03:57.00
Knight: And so, one of
the big agendas was we thought
00:03:57.00\00:04:01.53
Jesus would come
right away. But some of our
00:04:01.53\00:04:02.50
friends have died.
People who have accepted Jesus,
00:04:02.50\00:04:11.86
they've died. What's
going to happen to them? Are
00:04:11.86\00:04:14.26
they going to miss out
on the great reward? >>Bill:
00:04:14.26\00:04:15.30
Right. Right. >>Dr.
00:04:15.30\00:04:18.56
Knight: And so, we've
got a troubled congregation
00:04:18.56\00:04:19.60
and that's what we're
going to look at today.
00:04:19.60\00:04:23.06
>>Bill: Okay. Okay. >>Dr.
00:04:23.06\00:04:23.56
Knight: We'll turn
to 1Thessalonians, the
00:04:23.56\00:04:25.93
fourth chapter.
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr. Knight:
00:04:25.93\00:04:29.20
1Thessalonians:4 is
actually Paul's best
00:04:29.20\00:04:30.06
description of the
Second Coming of Jesus. And I
00:04:30.06\00:04:40.00
think it might be
helpful just to read the entire
00:04:40.00\00:04:44.96
passage. >>Bill: Okay.
00:04:44.96\00:04:45.46
>>Dr. Knight: I'll tell
you what. We're also going
00:04:45.46\00:04:48.20
to read his second best
description and that's in
00:04:48.20\00:04:49.23
1Corinthians:15.
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr. Knight: But
00:04:49.23\00:04:52.70
I'm going to let you
read this one. >>Bill: Sure.
00:04:52.70\00:04:54.46
>>Dr. Knight: Let's
read verses 13 to 18. >>Bill:
00:04:54.46\00:04:55.43
Okay. So, I'm using
the NASB and it says here,
00:04:55.43\00:04:57.43
"For I testify.oh,
sorry I'm in the wrong,
00:04:57.43\00:05:04.10
1Thessalonians:4.>>Dr.
00:05:04.10\00:05:04.60
Knight: Verse 13.
>>Bill: Yes. There we go. >>Dr.
00:05:04.60\00:05:08.73
Knight: We all make
mistakes. >>Bill: Yeah,
00:05:08.73\00:05:09.70
we do. Absolutely.
"But we do not want you to
00:05:09.70\00:05:11.23
be uninformed, brethren,
about those who are asleep
00:05:11.23\00:05:15.80
so that you will not
grieve as do the rest who
00:05:15.80\00:05:16.90
have no hope. For if
we believe that Jesus died
00:05:16.90\00:05:22.93
and rose again even so
God will bring with him those
00:05:22.93\00:05:27.30
who have fallen asleep
in Jesus. For this we say
00:05:27.30\00:05:28.30
to you by the word of
the Lord, that we who are
00:05:28.30\00:05:33.06
alive and remain until
the coming of the Lord will
00:05:33.06\00:05:35.63
not proceed those who
have fallen asleep. For
00:05:35.63\00:05:36.63
the Lord, himself, will
descend from Heaven with
00:05:36.63\00:05:42.60
a shout, with the voice
of the Archangel and the
00:05:42.60\00:05:45.76
trumpet of God, and the
dead in Christ will rise
00:05:45.76\00:05:46.76
first. Then we, who are
alive and remain, will be
00:05:46.76\00:05:51.36
caught up again th them
in the clouds to meet the
00:05:51.36\00:05:55.40
Lord in the air and so
we shall always be with the
00:05:55.40\00:05:56.40
Lord. Therefore,
comfort one another with these
00:05:56.40\00:06:01.20
words." >>Dr.
Knight: You know, I find it
00:06:01.20\00:06:04.93
interesting that verse
13 and verse 18 both talk
00:06:04.93\00:06:05.93
about the same topic.
I do not want you to be
00:06:05.93\00:06:13.73
ignorant like those who
have no hope. And comfort
00:06:13.73\00:06:20.63
one another in verse
18. >>Bill: Yes. Very
00:06:20.63\00:06:21.56
pastoral. >>Dr.
Knight: Yes. In fact, we really
00:06:21.56\00:06:25.60
need to see this, not as
a theological statement as
00:06:25.60\00:06:29.40
such but as a
de-expression of pastoral
00:06:29.40\00:06:30.26
concern. For real
people in a really grieving
00:06:30.26\00:06:35.33
situation. None of
Paul's letter, in fact, no book
00:06:35.33\00:06:44.63
in the New Testament
is actually written in
00:06:44.63\00:06:45.56
an abstract
theological statement. Not even,
00:06:45.56\00:06:49.50
Hebrews or Romans. They're
both written, those books
00:06:49.50\00:06:54.20
and every other one is
written to people who are
00:06:54.20\00:06:55.20
hurting. >>Bill: Right.
00:06:55.20\00:07:00.06
>>Dr. Knight: Either
physically, mentally,
00:07:00.06\00:07:01.00
spiritually. People
need hope. And, you know, I
00:07:01.00\00:07:03.46
like that because I need
hope. >>Bill: Absolutely.
00:07:03.46\00:07:08.56
>>Dr. Knight: Anyway, I
want to read the parallel
00:07:08.56\00:07:09.60
statement.>>Bill: Absolutely.
00:07:09.60\00:07:11.76
>>Dr. Knight:.in
1Corinthians.>>Bill: Okay.
00:07:11.76\00:07:13.36
>>Dr. Knight:.the 15th
chapter and I'm reading
00:07:13.36\00:07:14.36
from the Revised
Standard Version. Verse 51, "Lo,
00:07:14.36\00:07:15.80
I tell you a mystery, we
shall not all sleep". Now
00:07:15.80\00:07:23.60
there's a word we saw
in the other one. >>Bill:
00:07:23.60\00:07:24.56
Yes. >>Dr. Knight: The
Bible uses it all the way
00:07:24.56\00:07:29.33
through. "We shall not
all sleep but we shall all be
00:07:29.33\00:07:35.83
changed in a moment, a
twinkling of the eye at
00:07:35.83\00:07:36.80
the last trumpet", and
by the way, the trumpets are
00:07:36.80\00:07:41.46
in both, "For a
trumpet will sound and the dead
00:07:41.46\00:07:45.13
will be raised
imperishable." I like
00:07:45.13\00:07:45.96
that. You know
what imperishable means?
00:07:45.96\00:07:52.56
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: We're not going to have
00:07:52.56\00:07:54.43
all these warts and
stuff that you've got on your
00:07:54.43\00:07:55.46
body. >>Bill: Yes. Yes.
00:07:55.46\00:07:56.83
>>Dr. Knight:.now. I
see you're wearing glasses
00:07:56.83\00:07:57.80
>>Bill: Yeah. >>Dr.
00:07:57.80\00:07:59.06
Knight: I've got
hearing aids, we're going to be
00:07:59.06\00:08:00.23
raised, we're going to
be raised like it's new.
00:08:00.23\00:08:01.93
>>Bill: Perfect. >>Dr.
00:08:01.93\00:08:02.40
Knight: And I'm ready for
my new body, Bill. >>Bill:
00:08:02.40\00:08:04.90
Absolutely. You and I
both. >>Dr. Knight: Yeah,
00:08:04.90\00:08:06.56
this one's getting
kind of worn out. (laughter)
00:08:06.56\00:08:07.73
>>Bill: My wife says
I'm stretching mine. >>Dr.
00:08:07.73\00:08:09.36
Knight: That's right.
00:08:09.36\00:08:09.83
"Raised imperishable and
we", that are still alive,
00:08:09.83\00:08:14.40
"shall be changed. For
this perishable must put
00:08:14.40\00:08:18.40
on the imperishable
and this mortal nature must
00:08:18.40\00:08:19.53
put on immortality".
Now watch that because we're
00:08:19.53\00:08:27.00
not given immortality
until when? >>Bill: After
00:08:27.00\00:08:30.53
the return of Jesus.
00:08:30.53\00:08:31.00
>>Dr. Knight: Until,
yeah, what's immortality mean?
00:08:31.00\00:08:33.53
>>Bill: Not to die. >>Dr.
00:08:33.53\00:08:34.06
Knight: You can't, not
subject to death. >>Bill:
00:08:34.06\00:08:40.56
Yes. >>Dr. Knight: so,
apparently I don't have
00:08:40.56\00:08:41.56
immortality now, do I?
00:08:41.56\00:08:43.36
>>Bill: No. Not according
to this. >>Dr. Knight: No.
00:08:43.36\00:08:44.56
In fact, 1Timothy,
chapter six and verse 10.>>Bill:
00:08:44.56\00:08:47.40
There's only one
that's immortal. >>Dr. Knight:
00:08:47.40\00:08:52.40
Says only God is immortal.
00:08:52.40\00:08:52.96
>>BillYeah. >>Dr.
00:08:52.96\00:08:53.36
Knight: And he's going to
give us, that is, everyone
00:08:53.36\00:08:55.06
who has accepted Christ,
when Christ comes again we
00:08:55.06\00:08:59.46
get the.>>Bill:
Gift of immortality.
00:08:59.46\00:09:00.46
>>Dr. Knight:.gift of
immortality. But we don't
00:09:00.46\00:09:03.33
have it now. >>Bill:
It's not natural to us. >>Dr.
00:09:03.33\00:09:04.70
Knight: And that's
important. >>Bill: Yes.
00:09:04.70\00:09:05.63
>>Dr. Knight: We're
going to come back to this
00:09:05.63\00:09:07.46
because a whole lot
of people believe that we
00:09:07.46\00:09:09.56
have immortal souls.
00:09:09.56\00:09:10.03
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:09:10.03\00:09:10.46
Knight: Well, I'm going
to tell you what, people can
00:09:10.46\00:09:13.56
believe what they want
but scripture is plain. Paul
00:09:13.56\00:09:17.16
didn't believe that.
00:09:17.16\00:09:17.63
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:09:17.63\00:09:18.06
Knight: He knew that we
are mortal. We are subject
00:09:18.06\00:09:21.63
to death. I mean
eternal death. Okay, let's go on
00:09:21.63\00:09:25.30
here. >>Bill: Sure. >>Dr.
00:09:25.30\00:09:25.83
Knight: I'll start with
verse 53 again, "For this
00:09:25.83\00:09:28.70
perishable nature must
put on the imperishable and
00:09:28.70\00:09:29.76
the mortal nature must
put on immortality. When
00:09:29.76\00:09:34.93
the perishable puts on
the imperishable and the
00:09:34.93\00:09:39.53
mortal puts on
immortality, then shall
00:09:39.53\00:09:40.40
come to pass the saying
that is written, death is
00:09:40.40\00:09:43.96
swallowed up in
victory Oh, death where is thy
00:09:43.96\00:09:47.13
sting. Oh, death
where is thy victory." >>Dr.
00:09:47.13\00:09:48.10
Knight: Well, I tell you,
Paul is high on the Second
00:09:48.10\00:09:54.83
Coming. I like that.
00:09:54.83\00:09:55.26
In fact, it's the most
mentioned teaching in all
00:09:55.26\00:10:02.76
of the New Testament.
One estimate is that one out
00:10:02.76\00:10:07.30
of every 13 verses in
the New Testament deals
00:10:07.30\00:10:08.43
with the Second Coming of
Jesus. In fact, in the two
00:10:08.43\00:10:13.66
books of Thessalonians,
the Second Coming is
00:10:13.66\00:10:18.20
treated in every chapter.
00:10:18.20\00:10:18.73
>>Bill: Wow. >>Dr. Knight:
That is the central focus
00:10:18.73\00:10:22.03
of the New Testament but
nowhere, well, outside the
00:10:22.03\00:10:23.06
book of Revelation, is
it so consistent as in the
00:10:23.06\00:10:29.00
book of Thessalonians.
00:10:29.00\00:10:29.46
So, we've gone over,
read Paul's two main passages
00:10:29.46\00:10:36.73
on the topic. Now, let's
go over and take a look at
00:10:36.73\00:10:40.46
1Thessalonians and verse
4 a little more carefully
00:10:40.46\00:10:41.46
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:10:41.46\00:10:46.06
Knight: "But we would
not have you ignorant,
00:10:46.06\00:10:47.16
brethren," remember
what's happening here. Some
00:10:47.16\00:10:50.40
of their friends in the
church have died. I don't
00:10:50.40\00:10:56.30
want you to be ignorant
concerning those who are
00:10:56.30\00:10:57.30
asleep. Well, there's a
word that we've seen more
00:10:57.30\00:11:03.06
than once.>>Bill: Yes.
00:11:03.06\00:11:03.53
>>Dr. Knight:.we've
seen in twice today. Every
00:11:03.53\00:11:05.66
time Paul talks about the
resurrection, he's talking
00:11:05.66\00:11:08.16
about those who are
sleeping. What do you
00:11:08.16\00:11:09.20
think about that? I
mean, what's it mean to
00:11:09.20\00:11:14.46
be asleep in the passages
>>Bill: Well, I mean, its
00:11:14.46\00:11:17.00
death. I mean, you know,
Jesus tells the disciples,
00:11:17.00\00:11:18.03
our friend Lazarus
has fallen asleep and they
00:11:18.03\00:11:22.60
turn to Him and say,
oh, that's good news. >>Dr.
00:11:22.60\00:11:27.13
Knight: Good, he's going
to get better. >>Bill: Oh,
00:11:27.13\00:11:28.16
he's going to get so
much better. >>Dr. Knight:
00:11:28.16\00:11:30.66
Yeah. Yeah. >>Bill:
Jesus says, no, he's talking,
00:11:30.66\00:11:32.76
he's dead. >>Dr.
Knight: He's dead. >>Bill: He's
00:11:32.76\00:11:33.76
dead. >>Dr. Knight: Yeah.
00:11:33.76\00:11:35.43
And Daniel, the 12th
chapter in the second
00:11:35.43\00:11:36.53
verse says pretty much
the same thing. He talks
00:11:36.53\00:11:38.50
about those who are
asleep in the dust of the earth.
00:11:38.50\00:11:42.96
Well, if they're asleep
in the dust of the earth,
00:11:42.96\00:11:44.00
they're obviously
in their grave. >>Bill:
00:11:44.00\00:11:46.23
Absolutely. >>Dr. Knight:
That's.>>Bill: Can I just
00:11:46.23\00:11:50.26
interrupt you one
question? >>Dr. Knight:
00:11:50.26\00:11:51.16
Sure. >>Bill: In your
book, you make reference
00:11:51.16\00:11:53.16
that there's some
discussion around why this
00:11:53.16\00:11:55.13
question emerged with
these new believers. That
00:11:55.13\00:11:56.23
some have suggested that
Paul didn't teach this or,
00:11:56.23\00:12:00.13
again, you seem to suggest
that what's happened here
00:12:00.13\00:12:06.76
is that they may
have had an intellectual
00:12:06.76\00:12:07.60
understanding of it but
as they began to see their
00:12:07.60\00:12:10.46
brethren die now they
don't know exactly. So,
00:12:10.46\00:12:15.76
the suggestion is not
here that in Paul's short time
00:12:15.76\00:12:16.96
with them he didn't
cover this doctrine. >>Dr.
00:12:16.96\00:12:20.30
Knight: He covers it.
00:12:20.30\00:12:20.76
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:12:20.76\00:12:22.53
Knight: But, you know,
I have to admit I can read
00:12:22.53\00:12:23.50
a book and still not
know what's in it. >>Bill:
00:12:23.50\00:12:27.63
Absolutely. >>Dr.
Knight: I can hear one of your
00:12:27.63\00:12:29.66
sermons.>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:12:29.66\00:12:30.23
Knight:.and stay awake
the whole time and still not
00:12:30.23\00:12:32.93
know what you said.
And, so, sometimes, you know,
00:12:32.93\00:12:33.90
teaching by repetition
and therefore it's important
00:12:33.90\00:12:39.23
that we read our Bibles,
not just once, and say, oh
00:12:39.23\00:12:43.66
man, I've been a
Christian 43 years and guess
00:12:43.66\00:12:44.76
what, I've already read
my Bible. >>Bill: Yes. I
00:12:44.76\00:12:48.50
think that's an important
lesson for us. Repetition.
00:12:48.50\00:12:50.86
>>Dr. Knight: Repetition.
00:12:50.86\00:12:51.50
>>Bill.is very, very
important. >>Dr. Knight:
00:12:51.50\00:12:53.36
I'm shocked that I
can read the New Testament
00:12:53.36\00:12:54.33
through on a regular
basis and still learn
00:12:54.33\00:12:56.60
something new every time.
00:12:56.60\00:12:57.10
And especially these
connections between, I
00:12:57.10\00:13:00.36
follow the word asleep
all the way through and just
00:13:00.36\00:13:06.83
look what happens.
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr. Knight: So,
00:13:06.83\00:13:07.86
they're asleep,
they're dead. >>Bill: They're
00:13:07.86\00:13:10.86
dead. Sure. >>Dr.
Knight: And, of course, back in
00:13:10.86\00:13:13.93
Psalms and I'll just
quickly mention a couple
00:13:13.93\00:13:14.86
of Psalms here. Psalms
146, "What's it like when
00:13:14.86\00:13:18.53
you die?" Psalms 146 is
one of the clearest. Verse
00:13:18.53\00:13:23.13
4, "When his breath
departs, he returns to his
00:13:23.13\00:13:24.26
earth on that very day
his plans perish". I mean,
00:13:24.26\00:13:31.13
it's like a deep
sleep >>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:13:31.13\00:13:35.43
Knight: And we're going
to get to this because some
00:13:35.43\00:13:36.60
people have a hard time
with this. They think we
00:13:36.60\00:13:42.00
have immortal souls; we
go to Heaven right away. And
00:13:42.00\00:13:45.26
then somehow they've
got to get people back into
00:13:45.26\00:13:46.36
bodies and it's,
it's either, let's see, it
00:13:46.36\00:13:51.03
was Oscar Kumar the
great theologian from
00:13:51.03\00:13:55.70
Switzerland who wrote a
book called "Immortality
00:13:55.70\00:13:56.80
or Resurrection".
>>Bill: One or the other. >>Dr.
00:13:56.80\00:14:02.10
Knight: Yep. You
can't have both. They're
00:14:02.10\00:14:05.73
incompatible. And, of
course, we've all read
00:14:05.73\00:14:06.66
about immortality.
People are resting in the grave.
00:14:06.66\00:14:09.10
There's other
passages that talk about the
00:14:09.10\00:14:14.10
unconscious condition
of people. Anyway, here we
00:14:14.10\00:14:15.10
go, verse 13 again. This
is so important, we've got
00:14:15.10\00:14:20.80
to start and read it
all over, "But we would not
00:14:20.80\00:14:24.96
have you ignorant,
brethren, concerning those
00:14:24.96\00:14:25.93
who are asleep, that is
dead and in their graves.
00:14:25.93\00:14:30.36
That you may not grieve
as others who have no hope."
00:14:30.36\00:14:37.46
I used to carry a
little thing in my Bible. Had a
00:14:37.46\00:14:38.43
big mausoleum with
these big concrete drawers and
00:14:38.43\00:14:41.76
it talked about peace of
mind, knowing that you're
00:14:41.76\00:14:44.90
dead ones are stored in a
concrete vault, reinforced
00:14:44.90\00:14:45.96
with steel. Now,
isn't that comforting? I'll
00:14:45.96\00:14:51.60
tell you, Paul's got
more comfort than that. Those
00:14:51.60\00:14:55.36
are people, really,
Paul would say, they have no
00:14:55.36\00:14:56.50
hope. >>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:14:56.50\00:14:59.30
Knight: They've
died, their relatives have
00:14:59.30\00:15:00.30
died, that's it, no hope.
00:15:00.30\00:15:01.86
>>Bill: It ends right
there. >>Dr. Knight: No
00:15:01.86\00:15:02.86
hope. But the good news
of the Gospel is not only
00:15:02.86\00:15:06.70
that Jesus died but he
resurrected. >>Bill: Also,
00:15:06.70\00:15:09.73
in verse 13, he doesn't
tell folks not to grieve
00:15:09.73\00:15:10.73
>>Dr. Knight: No, no, no.
00:15:10.73\00:15:13.40
He tells them to
grieve, no he doesn't tell them
00:15:13.40\00:15:14.40
to grieve. He said,
"Don't grieve like those that
00:15:14.40\00:15:17.16
have no hope". >>Bill:
Right. >>Dr. Knight: Ya.
00:15:17.16\00:15:20.40
In fact, actually, to
tell you the truth I know my
00:15:20.40\00:15:21.46
wife will feel bad
when I pass on but I would
00:15:21.46\00:15:25.86
really like my funeral
to be a celebration. >>Bill:
00:15:25.86\00:15:32.00
Right. >>Dr. Knight:
Now I'm in the grave and the
00:15:32.00\00:15:32.96
next thing I know,
Jesus is coming in the clouds
00:15:32.96\00:15:35.20
of Heaven. We get to
that shortly here. >>Bill:
00:15:35.20\00:15:37.40
Okay. >>Dr. Knight:
mean, I would like but I know
00:15:37.40\00:15:38.56
the emotional side of
it. >>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:15:38.56\00:15:41.80
Knight: But I would like
people to have a party at
00:15:41.80\00:15:44.03
my funeral. >>Bill:
All right. A celebration,
00:15:44.03\00:15:45.13
sure. >>Dr. Knight:
You know, this guy lived a
00:15:45.13\00:15:46.83
faithful life. I
hope that's what everybody
00:15:46.83\00:15:48.53
thinks of me. He lived
a faithful life. He loved
00:15:48.53\00:15:49.53
Jesus, he walked with
Jesus and he's waiting
00:15:49.53\00:15:52.70
in the grave and
Jesus is going to come and
00:15:52.70\00:15:56.06
resurrect him and then
were all going to go home
00:15:56.06\00:15:57.06
together. >>Bill: Yes.
00:15:57.06\00:16:01.30
>>Dr. Knight: Praise the
Lord. >>Bill: Absolutely.
00:16:01.30\00:16:02.30
>>Dr. Knight: Anyway,
I'm going to be asleep,
00:16:02.30\00:16:04.73
so I can't have a party
but...okay, I don't want
00:16:04.73\00:16:08.00
you to be ignorant but,
oh, no, says four, verse
00:16:08.00\00:16:09.00
14, "For since we
believe that Jesus died and rose
00:16:09.00\00:16:14.90
again, even so, through
Jesus God will bring with
00:16:14.90\00:16:23.20
Him those who have
fallen asleep." Now we have
00:16:23.20\00:16:24.33
a question here, Bill.
00:16:24.33\00:16:30.70
There's the word, God is
going to 'bring' with Him
00:16:30.70\00:16:31.70
I mean where's He going
to bring Him from? Now, I'm
00:16:31.70\00:16:36.73
going to tell you a little
bit of Greek here. >>Bill:
00:16:36.73\00:16:42.40
Okay. >>Dr. Knight: The
word used to translate the
00:16:42.40\00:16:43.46
Greek word, the English
word 'bring' can also mean
00:16:43.46\00:16:46.43
'take'. It can mean
bring or take. How do you know
00:16:46.43\00:16:53.56
which one to translate?
00:16:53.56\00:16:54.10
>>Bill: Good question.
00:16:54.10\00:16:54.56
>>Dr. Knight:
Well, theology drives
00:16:54.56\00:16:57.03
the translation. >>Bill:
Okay. >>Dr. Knight: If you
00:16:57.03\00:16:59.56
believe that everybody
has immortal souls and they
00:16:59.56\00:17:00.70
all went to Heaven
then Jesus is going to bring
00:17:00.70\00:17:02.93
them back. >>Bill:
Right: >>Dr. Knight: Uh, uh.
00:17:02.93\00:17:05.93
That's not what the
context here said. >>Bill:
00:17:05.93\00:17:06.93
Okay. >>Dr. Knight: We
don't have immortal souls,
00:17:06.93\00:17:09.83
we're sleeping in the
dust of the ground, we know
00:17:09.83\00:17:12.66
nothing and so when He
comes again He's going to
00:17:12.66\00:17:13.66
take them back. >>Bill:
Right. >>Dr. Knight: Now,
00:17:13.66\00:17:18.20
I'm going to prove
that from the context. Okay?
00:17:18.20\00:17:24.03
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:17:24.03\00:17:24.50
Knight: As we move on
here, verse 15, "For this
00:17:24.50\00:17:26.50
we declare to you by
the word of the Lord that we
00:17:26.50\00:17:27.56
are alive and who are
left until the coming of the
00:17:27.56\00:17:32.70
Lord shall not
precede those who have fallen
00:17:32.70\00:17:38.83
asleep". See, they were
afraid that their friends
00:17:38.83\00:17:39.86
who'd died were going to
miss out. >>Bill: There's
00:17:39.86\00:17:42.43
going to be this
glorious return and they're not
00:17:42.43\00:17:47.56
going to be there. >>Dr.
00:17:47.56\00:17:48.06
Knight: And they're
not going to be there. Paul
00:17:48.06\00:17:51.50
says, uh, uh, they're
going to have the first
00:17:51.50\00:17:52.50
part of the show. I
mean this is great. Not only
00:17:52.50\00:17:54.76
are they going to be
there but they get the first
00:17:54.76\00:18:00.93
position. >>Bill: Wow.
00:18:00.93\00:18:01.43
>>Dr. Knight: Yeah. That's
where we come to verse 16,
00:18:01.43\00:18:05.83
"For the Lord, himself,
will descend from Heaven
00:18:05.83\00:18:06.83
with a cry of command and
the Archangel's call, with
00:18:06.83\00:18:13.66
the sound of the
trumpet of God and the dead in
00:18:13.66\00:18:18.40
Christ will rise first."
00:18:18.40\00:18:19.06
See, there you've got
the word dead and sleep
00:18:19.06\00:18:24.40
equated. >>Bill:
Right. >>Dr. Knight: Okay.
00:18:24.40\00:18:25.30
>>Bill: yes. >>Dr.
Knight: So, these people who
00:18:25.30\00:18:29.40
are in their graves, not
knowing anything will hear
00:18:29.40\00:18:31.46
the voice of the
Archangel. And who's the
00:18:31.46\00:18:32.30
voice of the Archangel?
00:18:32.30\00:18:33.66
>>Bill: Jesus. >>Dr.
00:18:33.66\00:18:34.13
Knight: That's Jesus.
Jude 7 is the only other place
00:18:34.13\00:18:36.63
in the New Testament
that deals with the Archangel
00:18:36.63\00:18:37.63
and it's very plain
there that it's Jesus Christ.
00:18:37.63\00:18:41.40
He will call, just like
He did Lazarus. >>Bill: Sure.
00:18:41.40\00:18:45.26
>>Dr. Knight: Hey, rise.
00:18:45.26\00:18:45.76
Dale Moody, the great
evangelist of the 19th
00:18:45.76\00:18:48.80
century said, he said,
it's a good thing He said
00:18:48.80\00:18:49.93
'Lazarus, arise
Lazarus', otherwise all
00:18:49.93\00:18:51.90
the graves.>>Bill:
That's right. >>Dr. Knight: This
00:18:51.90\00:18:54.43
time Jesus is going
to call all of His people
00:18:54.43\00:18:55.40
from the rise. >>Bill:
Come forth. >>Dr. Knight:
00:18:55.40\00:18:59.83
And every time I walk
through a cemetery, you
00:18:59.83\00:19:02.70
know, all of us have
dead friends and dead
00:19:02.70\00:19:03.63
relatives, I'm
looking forward to that day.
00:19:03.63\00:19:07.26
I mean, just imagine
when Jesus comes in the clouds
00:19:07.26\00:19:12.30
of Heaven, those tombs
are going to open.>>Bill
00:19:12.30\00:19:13.26
Yeah. Now, what is
the saddest place on
00:19:13.26\00:19:17.80
earth today, will be the
happiest place on earth at
00:19:17.80\00:19:21.06
the Second Coming.
00:19:21.06\00:19:21.50
>>Dr. Knight: Oh man.
I've already got my hole in the
00:19:21.50\00:19:24.63
ground picked out. >>Bill:
Oh, do you? >>Dr. Knight:
00:19:24.63\00:19:25.70
Yeah. Right next to my
wife's parents. We're both
00:19:25.70\00:19:28.06
going to get in the same
hole, I think. My wife and
00:19:28.06\00:19:30.46
I. Because you can
stack them, you know. >>Bill:
00:19:30.46\00:19:31.46
Yes. >>Dr. Knight: And,
you know, if Jesus doesn't
00:19:31.46\00:19:33.83
come first. But I want
to be there with all my
00:19:33.83\00:19:39.03
friends and relatives
and we're going to.>>Bill
00:19:39.03\00:19:40.03
There's a story in
Portugal, just very
00:19:40.03\00:19:43.16
quickly, that says
that one of the Portuguese
00:19:43.16\00:19:46.56
kings, his wife was
assassinated, murdered
00:19:46.56\00:19:47.50
and he actually had
her crowned as Queen of
00:19:47.50\00:19:50.36
Portugal after she died
And he had her tomb built
00:19:50.36\00:19:54.40
in such a place in a
chapel, when he died he
00:19:54.40\00:19:55.33
had his tomb at her feet.
00:19:55.33\00:20:00.30
And the reason why he
did that, he said, because on
00:20:00.30\00:20:01.43
the resurrection
morning when we rise, the first
00:20:01.43\00:20:04.43
thing we're going to
see is each other. >>Dr.
00:20:04.43\00:20:08.10
Knight: That is a
beautiful family life that
00:20:08.10\00:20:09.13
begins here on earth
and it continues right up
00:20:09.13\00:20:12.56
into Heaven. That's great.
00:20:12.56\00:20:13.10
Okay, verse 16, "For
the Lord, Himself, will
00:20:13.10\00:20:18.03
descend from Heaven
with a cry of command of the
00:20:18.03\00:20:23.20
Archangel's call and the
sound of a trumpet and the
00:20:23.20\00:20:24.36
dead in Christ shall
rise first." That is, these
00:20:24.36\00:20:27.76
people aren't going to
miss out. They get.>>Bill:
00:20:27.76\00:20:32.26
First. >>Dr.
00:20:32.26\00:20:32.60
Knight:.priority. >>Bill:
Yeah. They're first. Yes.
00:20:32.60\00:20:38.13
>>Dr. Knight: Yeah.
Then, oh man, it gets more
00:20:38.13\00:20:39.10
exciting now, "Then
we who are alive, who are
00:20:39.10\00:20:40.76
left shall be caught up
together with them in the
00:20:40.76\00:20:44.13
clouds to meet the Lord
in the air and so should we
00:20:44.13\00:20:45.16
always be with the Lord."
00:20:45.16\00:20:50.83
The dead are raised.
Those who are living, whatever
00:20:50.83\00:20:51.86
generation it happens
to be, we are caught up in
00:20:51.86\00:20:56.16
the air and taken back
to Heaven for the great
00:20:56.16\00:21:01.36
millennial period of
Revelation 20. I mean, it
00:21:01.36\00:21:02.50
is a time to rejoice.
So, the two things happen
00:21:02.50\00:21:10.80
together. Jesus comes
and the resurrection takes
00:21:10.80\00:21:15.60
place. And the words I
want you to notice, Bill,
00:21:15.60\00:21:16.60
are 'caught up'.
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr. Knight:
00:21:16.60\00:21:24.86
'Caught up'. Now what
does it mean to be 'caught up
00:21:24.86\00:21:29.66
together with them in
the clouds'? That, in Latin,
00:21:29.66\00:21:30.66
it's called 'repetio'
and for us, in English, we
00:21:30.66\00:21:36.60
translate it as 'rapture'
So, do I believe in the
00:21:36.60\00:21:46.16
rapture? You bet I
believe, in fact, I
00:21:46.16\00:21:47.00
can hardly wait to get
raptured. >>Bill: Right.
00:21:47.00\00:21:50.23
>>Dr. Knight: Now,
that brings me to a little
00:21:50.23\00:21:55.53
thought. How secret
is the rapture? >>Bill:
00:21:55.53\00:21:56.50
Right. >>Dr. Knight:
Now, remember, it's very
00:21:56.50\00:21:58.60
plain here that the
Bible teaches that the rapture
00:21:58.60\00:22:02.60
takes place not some
time before Jesus comes. Paul
00:22:02.60\00:22:03.60
is very clear. The rapture
takes place at the Second
00:22:03.60\00:22:09.56
Coming of Jesus.
>>Bill: When He comes with the
00:22:09.56\00:22:16.10
command, with the
voice of the Archangel.>>Dr.
00:22:16.10\00:22:17.26
Knight: That's right.
00:22:17.26\00:22:20.56
>>Bill:.and the trumpet
of God'. >>Dr. Knight: So,
00:22:20.56\00:22:21.63
do I believe in a rapture?
00:22:21.63\00:22:22.80
You bet. Do I believe
in a secret rapture? If so,
00:22:22.80\00:22:23.76
this is the worst kept
secret in the history of
00:22:23.76\00:22:29.73
the universe. I mean,
what indications do we have
00:22:29.73\00:22:31.76
that this is not secret?
00:22:31.76\00:22:32.26
>>Bill: Well,
command, shout, voice, trumpet.
00:22:32.26\00:22:37.40
>>Dr. Knight: I
mean, you got trumpets
00:22:37.40\00:22:38.23
blaring..>>Bill:
It doesn't sound very
00:22:38.23\00:22:41.53
secret to me. >>Dr.
00:22:41.53\00:22:41.96
Knight:.that's not
very secret. And then you've
00:22:41.96\00:22:45.13
got the voice of the
Archangel. I mean you've
00:22:45.13\00:22:47.46
got noise all over the
place but it's not only
00:22:47.46\00:22:48.46
noise, you've got dead
people being resurrected
00:22:48.46\00:22:54.10
all over the place. It's
going to be pretty hard to
00:22:54.10\00:22:58.03
miss. >>Bill: Yeah. >>Dr.
00:22:58.03\00:22:58.56
Knight: And what does
Jesus say about that, the
00:22:58.56\00:23:00.73
visual aspect of it.
00:23:00.73\00:23:01.20
That it would be like a
lightning.>>Bill: From one
00:23:01.20\00:23:05.76
end of the sky clear
across the other end of
00:23:05.76\00:23:06.73
the sky. >>Dr. Knight:
Yeah. And Revelation 1,
00:23:06.73\00:23:11.36
the 8th chapter, "Every
eye shall see Him". Now,
00:23:11.36\00:23:17.96
the Bible is very clear
on two points. Number one,
00:23:17.96\00:23:19.03
that we're raptured at
the time that Jesus comes
00:23:19.03\00:23:23.80
again, not seven years
before or any other time
00:23:23.80\00:23:27.53
but at the time when
Jesus descends from the clouds
00:23:27.53\00:23:28.56
of Heaven. And the
other thing that's very clear
00:23:28.56\00:23:36.90
is that this is no secret.
00:23:36.90\00:23:37.43
It is absolutely public.
00:23:37.43\00:23:47.36
We'll hear it like, like
a trumpet blast. Like the
00:23:47.36\00:23:48.36
Greek call of a mighty
Angel and heard around the
00:23:48.36\00:23:55.16
world and then you can
see the graves opening up, you
00:23:55.16\00:24:00.13
can see Jesus coming
like a flash of lightning,
00:24:00.13\00:24:01.13
not one eye will miss it.
00:24:01.13\00:24:06.20
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr. Knight:
Anything but secret, Bill.
00:24:06.20\00:24:07.40
>>Bill: Yes. Absolutely.
00:24:07.40\00:24:09.36
>>Dr. Knight: It's
a.>>Bill: This is the
00:24:09.36\00:24:10.40
climax of the world's
history. >>Dr. Knight:
00:24:10.40\00:24:15.26
Oh, yeah. >>Bill: I
mean, everything is marching
00:24:15.26\00:24:17.43
towards this. >>Dr.
00:24:17.43\00:24:17.90
Knight: And you know,
it's the climax of the book of
00:24:17.90\00:24:20.20
Revelation. >>Bill:
Yes. >>Dr. Knight: In
00:24:20.20\00:24:21.13
Revelation, it's
pictured just a little bit
00:24:21.13\00:24:22.40
different. You've got
Jesus coming on a white
00:24:22.40\00:24:23.96
horse. Of course, a
white horse was the most
00:24:23.96\00:24:24.90
mechanized thing that
they could think of. >>Bill:
00:24:24.90\00:24:27.06
Yes. >>Dr. Knight: I'm
positive today that if we
00:24:27.06\00:24:28.56
were going to write
Revelation we'd probably
00:24:28.56\00:24:29.66
have something a
little more mechanical or
00:24:29.66\00:24:31.46
electronic or who
knows what but I don't really
00:24:31.46\00:24:35.83
care about the technology
but Jesus is pictured in
00:24:35.83\00:24:36.93
Revelation as coming on
a white horse to rescue His
00:24:36.93\00:24:41.33
people and take them to
their heavenly reward. And
00:24:41.33\00:24:48.66
that is what the
climax of the whole Gospel is
00:24:48.66\00:24:49.80
all about. You know,
some people think that Jesus
00:24:49.80\00:24:55.70
died for us is the
Gospel Well, it is. But a dead
00:24:55.70\00:25:00.33
Savior won't do
you much good. So Paul
00:25:00.33\00:25:01.20
says in 1Thessalonians,
1Corinthians that the
00:25:01.20\00:25:06.76
Gospel is also that Jesus
rose on the third day. And
00:25:06.76\00:25:13.33
because He rose we will
rise also. >>Bill: Right.
00:25:13.33\00:25:14.46
>>Dr. Knight: But,
that's still not all the good
00:25:14.46\00:25:18.53
news. People have been
dying for 2000 years and
00:25:18.53\00:25:21.53
are still dying. You and
I stick around long enough,
00:25:21.53\00:25:22.60
you and I could die. But
Jesus has the victory over
00:25:22.60\00:25:26.36
the tomb and the grave,
Revelation 1:18, and the
00:25:26.36\00:25:29.46
best good news, the
climax of the good news is that
00:25:29.46\00:25:30.60
He's coming to take us
home again. >>Bill: Amen.
00:25:30.60\00:25:34.80
Thank you Dr. Knight.
00:25:34.80\00:25:35.26
Let's pray. Gracious,
loving, heavenly Father we
00:25:35.26\00:25:40.33
thank you for the
promise of the soon return of
00:25:40.33\00:25:43.60
Jesus. Father, may
each and every person within
00:25:43.60\00:25:44.63
the sound of my voice,
at this very moment, commit
00:25:44.63\00:25:48.53
to being prepared to
meet Jesus when He comes. In
00:25:48.53\00:25:53.63
His name we pray. Amen.
00:25:53.63\00:25:58.06
>>Bill: You know, if
you would like to do some
00:26:03.20\00:26:04.16
additional study on
the Second Coming and the
00:26:04.16\00:26:06.33
truth about the rapture,
we have a special resource
00:26:06.33\00:26:11.20
here for you. It is a
special edition of the
00:26:11.20\00:26:12.16
magazine Signs of the
Times. It's entitled, "The
00:26:12.16\00:26:16.30
Surprising Truth about
the Rapture". It is our gift
00:26:16.30\00:26:20.20
to you, free of charge.
00:26:20.20\00:26:20.86
Here is the information
you need in order to get
00:26:20.86\00:26:25.80
your copy.
00:26:25.80\00:26:27.50
>>Bill: Well, Dr.
00:27:28.46\00:27:28.86
Knight, we've come to
the end of another program. I
00:27:28.86\00:27:32.40
appreciate you being
with us and I look forward to
00:27:32.40\00:27:33.40
Part 3 next week. >>Dr.
00:27:33.40\00:27:35.83
Knight: Sounds good,
Bill. >>Bill: Thank you
00:27:35.83\00:27:36.80
our dedicated viewers
that tune in every week. Let
00:27:36.80\00:27:39.00
me remind you that you
can acquire Dr. Knight's book
00:27:39.00\00:27:42.00
on Exploring Thessalonians. You
00:27:42.00\00:27:42.73
can go to our website,
itiswrittencanada.ca and
00:27:42.73\00:27:45.66
there you're going to
find a link and that link will
00:27:45.66\00:27:52.50
take you to a store
where you can purchase
00:27:52.50\00:27:53.43
this book, where you can
purchase all of the other
00:27:53.43\00:27:57.23
books that Dr. Knight
has written. So, they are a
00:27:57.23\00:28:00.80
terrific resource for you.
00:28:00.80\00:28:01.36
On the website you can
send prayer requests, you
00:28:01.36\00:28:05.13
can even make an
online donation if you feel so
00:28:05.13\00:28:06.16
impressed to do that
that will help us keep this
00:28:06.16\00:28:11.66
ministry on the air.
Well, our prayer is that the
00:28:11.66\00:28:16.53
good Lord will allow us
the opportunity of being
00:28:16.53\00:28:17.53
back again next week to
continue in our study of
00:28:17.53\00:28:21.16
Thessalonians. I hope
you will join us. Until then,
00:28:21.16\00:28:23.96
remember, it is
written, man shall not live by
00:28:23.96\00:28:24.93
bread alone but by
every word that proceeds
00:28:24.93\00:28:30.13
from the mouth of God.
00:28:30.13\00:28:35.43
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
00:28:36.43\00:28:39.10