1
00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:06,200
On the journey returning this 
morning to 1st Thessalonians, 

2
00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,240
we're in chapter 4. 
We're going to read again from 

3
00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:20,040
verse 13 to 18, First 
Thessalonians chapter 4, and 

4
00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:23,880
we'll read from verse 13 to 
verse 18. 

5
00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,080
Let's hear the Word of God for 
those online. 

6
00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,240
The words will come up on 
screen, as we've said often. 

7
00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,720
Do we have emphasis? 
We're reading, of course, from 

8
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:43,040
the King James Bible, First 
Thessalonians 4, verse 13. 

9
00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:49,600
But I would not have you to be 
ignorant, brethren, concerning 

10
00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:54,800
them which are asleep, that ye 
sorrow not even as others which 

11
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,920
have no hope. 
For if we believe that Jesus 

12
00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:04,840
died and rose again, Even so 
them also which sleep in Jesus 

13
00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:09,760
will God bring with them. 
For this we say unto you by the 

14
00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:14,400
word of the Lord, that we which 
are alive and remain unto the 

15
00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,760
coming of the Lord, shall not 
prevent them which are asleep. 

16
00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,960
For the Lord Himself shall 
descend from heaven with a 

17
00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:28,280
shite, with the voice of the 
Archangel, with the trump of 

18
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,360
God. 
The dead in Christ shall rise 

19
00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:35,320
first, then we which are alive 
and remain shall be caught up 

20
00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:37,840
together with them in the 
clouds, to meet the Lord in the 

21
00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:41,280
air, and so shall we ever be 
with the Lord. 

22
00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:48,040
Wherefore comfort one another 
with these words, Amen. 

23
00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,320
We know God will stamp His own 
approval and blessing. 

24
00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,920
That's reading of his own 
precious and infallible word. 

25
00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:59,480
Amen. 
Now this morning we are 

26
00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:04,520
returning to our expository 
studies in Paul's first letter 

27
00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:10,759
to the Church of Thessalonica. 
And my text today is taken from 

28
00:02:10,759 --> 00:02:16,960
First Thessalonians chapter 4, 
verses 14 through to 17. 

29
00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:21,320
Paul says, For if we believe 
that Jesus died and rose again, 

30
00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:24,920
Even so them also would sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. 

31
00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,480
For this we say unto you by the 
word of the Lord, that we which 

32
00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,680
are alive and remain unto the 
coming of the Lord, shall not 

33
00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,840
prevent them which are asleep. 
For the Lord themselves shall 

34
00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,520
descend from heaven with a 
shout, with the voice of the 

35
00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,200
Archangel, and with the trump of
God. 

36
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,640
And the dead in Christ shall 
rise first, then we which are 

37
00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:45,600
alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the 

38
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,280
clouds, to meet the Lord in the 
air. 

39
00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:56,560
Now my subject today is entitled
The Truth about the Coming of 

40
00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:02,720
the Lord. 
Paul's first letter, the 1st 

41
00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,040
letter he ever wrote to a New 
Testament church under the 

42
00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,680
inspiration of the Holy Spirit 
was First Thessalonians. 

43
00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:15,160
Notice that his letter didn't 
begin with a message about their

44
00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,560
health or well-being. 
It wasn't a message about help 

45
00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:24,960
and strength from heaven, but in
fact, it began with a message of

46
00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,520
hope. 
You see from the opening verses 

47
00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,120
in chapter 1 all the way through
to the end in chapter 5. 

48
00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:36,560
With his final prayer, you as a 
reader will discover that First 

49
00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:42,280
Thessalonians is shaped by 1 
Great expectation, and that 

50
00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:48,280
expectation is summarised in the
words the coming of the Lord, 

51
00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:53,520
namely the personal, visible 
return of Jesus Christ in power 

52
00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,200
and glory. 
Remember, this young church was 

53
00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,800
only months old. 
It was living under the pressure

54
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,440
of persecution and opposition. 
Certain believers had already 

55
00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:08,200
been brutally murdered. 
Others had been put out of their

56
00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,400
jobs and put out of their homes.
Some had been imprisoned for 

57
00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,720
their faith. 
There were those imprisoned 

58
00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,640
being tortured. 
They were urged to give up the 

59
00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,520
Christian life, forget about 
Christ, return to paganism. 

60
00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,320
And of course, some in the 
church were troubled about the 

61
00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:29,400
state of their loved ones who 
had already died. 

62
00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:31,720
They were asking themselves 
questions. 

63
00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:35,400
Would they miss out in Christ's 
glorious coming for his Church? 

64
00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,960
Would their resurrection be 
delayed because of their death? 

65
00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,840
Was their resurrection 
guaranteed at all? 

66
00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:49,120
Would their bodies be forgotten?
Had death come and robbed them 

67
00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,560
of the fulfilment of Christ's 
promise? 

68
00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,480
Do all of these questions run 
through their minds? 

69
00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,320
They needed to be answered and 
Paul doesn't encourage them by 

70
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,720
telling them to look into their 
own heart and lives. 

71
00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,240
He doesn't tell them you find 
inner strength. 

72
00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:10,640
You discover your True Grit to 
master your pain or suffering. 

73
00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:18,080
No, instead He instructs them to
look upward and that upward look

74
00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,760
is about the coming of the Lord.
Listen to what he says in First 

75
00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:24,960
Thessalonians chapter one, verse
10. 

76
00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,640
And to wait for his Son from 
heaven, whom he raised from the 

77
00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:34,240
dead, even Jesus, which 
delivered us from wrath to come.

78
00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:39,400
Waiting for Christ coming is not
a sidebar. 

79
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:45,040
In fact, I believe it's one of 
the central truths that is the 

80
00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:51,480
posture of the Christian life. 
Paul's teaching flows from the 

81
00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:55,880
fact that the crucified and 
risen Christ will come again, 

82
00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:00,840
and his coming will shape how 
these believers suffer. 

83
00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,400
It will shape how they grieve 
and mourn the death of the loved

84
00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,760
one. 
It will shape how they live out 

85
00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:11,680
a holy life before God and man. 
It will shape how they share a 

86
00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,520
word of exhortation and comfort 
with one another. 

87
00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:20,080
You see, when a true believer 
dies, Paul just doesn't say, I'm

88
00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,680
sorry, they're there, it'll be 
OK. 

89
00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:25,960
He doesn't give them a little 
pat in the back. 

90
00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,120
He doesn't say we'll cry and let
it all out there. 

91
00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:34,040
He doesn't say this is all that 
there is to experience. 

92
00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:38,000
No, to a church wondering about 
its future. 

93
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:45,480
Paul sets before them this great
truth time and time again. 

94
00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,920
And what is that great truth 
that Jesus Christ is coming back

95
00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,200
again? 
That's one of the central truths

96
00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,320
in this book. 
Look with me, I've already 

97
00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,200
quoted First Thessalonians 
chapter one, verse 10. 

98
00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,880
And to wait for a son from 
heaven whom he raised from the 

99
00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:03,040
dead, even Jesus which delivered
us from wrath to come. 

100
00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:10,240
If you look with me at chapter 2
and verse 19 it says for what is

101
00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:15,760
our hope or joy or crown of 
rejoicing are not even ye in the

102
00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:20,480
presence of our Lord Jesus 
Christ at his coming Chapter 3 

103
00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:29,160
and verse 3 it says this, that 
no man should be moved by these 

104
00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:34,200
afflictions for yourselves know 
that we were there unto 

105
00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,080
appointed. 
Sorry, it's verse 13 to the end.

106
00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,480
He may establish your hearts 
unblameable in holiness before 

107
00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,440
God, even our Father, at the 
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 

108
00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,960
with all his seals. 
And then in chapter 4 and verse 

109
00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,440
15. 
For this we say unto you by the 

110
00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,800
word of the Lord, that we which 
are alive and remain unto the 

111
00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,360
coming of the Lord shall not 
prevent them which are asleep. 

112
00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:02,320
And then in chapter 5, verse 23,
he says, And the very God of 

113
00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,240
peace, sanctify you holy, and I 
pray God, your Holy Spirit and 

114
00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,480
soul and body be preserved, 
blameless unto the coming of our

115
00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,880
Lord Jesus Christ. 
Notice five times there's a 

116
00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:19,480
reference to Christ's coming. 
This is not mere idle 

117
00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:23,200
speculation. 
This is a matter to do with 

118
00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:27,840
divine revelation. 
Paul isn't interested in 

119
00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:32,200
throwing out a date here, but 
he's interested with setting 

120
00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,360
forth this glorious doctrine, 
the glorious doctrine of the 

121
00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:42,720
personal, visible, bodily return
of Jesus Christ to this earth 

122
00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:47,840
and power and glory. 
Yes, this epistle teaches us 

123
00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:52,280
about love and grace, teaches us
about the personal work of the 

124
00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:56,080
Lord Jesus, teaches us about 
holiness of life. 

125
00:08:56,160 --> 00:09:01,680
But all of these truths, they're
all framed by the sure 

126
00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:05,760
expectation of the truth that 
Jesus Christ is coming back 

127
00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,120
again. 
Now I have 4 things this 

128
00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,200
morning. 
Next week in the will of God, 

129
00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,560
we'll deal with the fifth thing,
which is maybe the more complex.

130
00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,440
First of all, the promise of his
coming is factual. 

131
00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:22,000
Look at verse 16 of First 
Thessalonians chapter 4. 

132
00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,200
For the Lord himself shall 
descend from heaven. 

133
00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:33,000
The foundation of our hope is 
not an event, but in a person. 

134
00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,920
Note the certainty of this 
promise. 

135
00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,440
Paul doesn't say if the Lord 
descends, but the Lord shall. 

136
00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:45,040
This is the language of divine 
certainty. 

137
00:09:45,560 --> 00:09:48,760
The doctrine of the second 
coming of Christ is not mere 

138
00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:52,720
poetic imagery. 
It's not a mere ecclesiastical 

139
00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:56,240
church tradition. 
No, it's the sworn promise of 

140
00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:00,760
the Lord Jesus Christ. 
In John 14 and three, he said in

141
00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,080
the upper room to encourage his 
disciples. 

142
00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:09,720
I will come again. 
That's a sure, that's a certain 

143
00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:14,760
and that is a sublime promise. 
And remember what we read in the

144
00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,600
book of Acts on the day of his 
ascension. 

145
00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:24,520
Acts chapter 1 and verse 13. 
Acts chapter one, Sorry, it's 

146
00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:28,760
verse 11, which also said, Ye 
men of Galilee, why stand ye 

147
00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,800
gazing up into heaven? 
The same Jesus which is taken up

148
00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,280
from you into heaven shall so 
come in like manner as ye have 

149
00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:39,640
seen him go into heaven. 
This same Jesus, you see, the 

150
00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:45,200
Bible teaches Now get the hold 
of this the personal, the 

151
00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:51,760
visible, the bodily and powerful
return of Jesus Christ in power 

152
00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,320
and before the final 
consummation of his Kingdom. 

153
00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,880
And this is not merely about a 
promise, Christ reigning 

154
00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:05,840
invisibly through his church, 
but the actual person of Christ,

155
00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:13,160
the King himself who ascended up
into heaven, returning to this 

156
00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:17,960
world in bodily form in person 
himself. 

157
00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:22,120
That's what it means when it 
says, for the Lord himself shall

158
00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:26,320
descend from heaven. 
He went up into heaven at his 

159
00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:30,800
ascension, and he's coming down 
out of heaven at his second 

160
00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:35,360
advent note to comfort not only 
the certainty of the promise for

161
00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,400
the Lord himself. 
Not an Angel. 

162
00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:44,360
He's not going to send Gabriel 
or Michael or any of them rest 

163
00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:48,120
not someone appointed to 
represent him. 

164
00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:54,400
He's not going to send Mary. 
Remember Mary is not a Co 

165
00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:59,840
redemptrix with Christ. 
He's not going to send a power 

166
00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:04,760
or an influence. 
No, listen to Acts 111 again, 

167
00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:12,040
this seeing Jesus, the one who 
was born in a human body in 

168
00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:16,160
Bethlehem's Manger, the one who 
lived his sinless life in that 

169
00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,160
body and kept the law of God 
perfectly. 

170
00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,560
The one who wept at Lazarus 
tomb, the one who loved his own 

171
00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,600
and loved them unto the end. 
The one who gave his life a 

172
00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:31,760
ransom for many. 
The one who bore our sins and 

173
00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:35,960
his own body on the tree. 
This same Jesus, the very same 

174
00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,800
one who bore those wounds in his
body, who bled and died in the 

175
00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,800
tree. 
That's why Paul says in Hebrews 

176
00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:47,920
chapter 10, verse 12, But this 
man referring to his humanity, 

177
00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,880
but this man, after he'd offered
one sacrifice for sins forever, 

178
00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,480
sat down in the right hand of 
God. 

179
00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:59,640
And I want to tell you for 
suffering Saints, the certainty 

180
00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:05,200
of this promise and the comfort 
of that promise was no small 

181
00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,600
comfort. 
This was genuine comfort. 

182
00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,640
This was great comfort. 
This was gracious comfort. 

183
00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,560
As I've told you, it wasn't a 
pat in the back. 

184
00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,520
It wasn't a top in the head. 
There, there. 

185
00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:20,520
Now let go of your tears. 
Remember, they've just been 

186
00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:24,920
converted out of Paganism, and 
Paganism had no comfort for 

187
00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:30,440
them. 
Paganism has no comfort when 

188
00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,560
death comes and takes away a 
loved one. 

189
00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:39,560
Paganism doesn't believe in the 
doctrine of the resurrection of 

190
00:13:39,560 --> 00:13:47,680
the dead, but Jesus Christ does.
Jesus Christ did here. 

191
00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:54,600
He comes with a certain 
comforting promise to all who 

192
00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,680
are in Christ. 
And what does he say? 

193
00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:02,960
I will come again. 
You can understand in relation 

194
00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:07,840
to Rosie's brother the impact 
that has on her as well as me as

195
00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:09,800
a brother-in-law and the rest of
the family. 

196
00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:15,000
We were reading last night just 
before she went to bed and it 

197
00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,760
sort of jumped out at the page. 
We're reading from John Chapter 

198
00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,200
11. 
You know what it says in the 

199
00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,160
verse 23? 
This is what the Lord Jesus said

200
00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,760
to Martha. 
And she was heartbroken about 

201
00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,000
the death of her brother 
Lazarus. 

202
00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,920
And what did the Lord Jesus say 
to Martha? 

203
00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:37,960
He says this in John 11. 
And in the verse 23, a 

204
00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:45,320
remarkable statement, he says, 
Thy brother shall rise again, 

205
00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:52,160
Thy brother shall rise again. 
That was a comfort to me as well

206
00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,240
as a comfort to Rosie. 
Martha said unto him, I know 

207
00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,720
that he shall rise again in the 
resurrection at the last day. 

208
00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,920
And that's true. 
But listen, Jesus saith unto 

209
00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:06,800
her, I am the resurrection and 
the life. 

210
00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,920
He that believeth in me, the way
we're dead, yet shall he live. 

211
00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:14,040
And whosoever liveth and 
believeth in me shall never die.

212
00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:18,400
Believeth thy this. 
Let me ask this morning, do you 

213
00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,600
believe in a promise that is 
factual? 

214
00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,960
If we're thinking about the 
coming of the Lord, what does 

215
00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:30,840
that mean? 
It is rooted and based on a 

216
00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:35,120
promise that is factual. 
The promise of His coming is 

217
00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,880
factual. 
Notice secondly and very 

218
00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:42,360
quickly, the particulars of His 
coming are foundational. 

219
00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:49,400
What's the ground of the coming 
of Jesus Christ back into this 

220
00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,120
world? 
If you look at our text, and 

221
00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:57,160
This is why I'm returning to 
this, you've got the truth of 

222
00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:01,520
redemption here. 
Notice what he says in verse 14 

223
00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,480
for if we believe that Jesus 
died and rose again, Even so 

224
00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,200
them also would sleep in Jesus 
will God bring with him. 

225
00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,320
Here's a conditional statement 
for if we believe that Jesus 

226
00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:19,040
died and the if here is not to 
suggest an element of doubt. 

227
00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:28,520
It's about you having faith in 
Christ, and it's not an element 

228
00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:30,480
of doubt, but an element of 
certainty. 

229
00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:36,160
We could translate it for since 
we believe, Here's the starting 

230
00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,080
point for the doctrine of the 
second coming of Christ. 

231
00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,960
You see, before there can be a 
crowning day, before there could

232
00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,040
be the coming day, there had to 
be the cross day. 

233
00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,800
The reference here is to the 
death of Jesus Christ on the 

234
00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,040
cross. 
For if we believe that Jesus 

235
00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:56,840
died, the death of Christ in the
cross was not merely a past 

236
00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:00,880
event. 
The death of Christ in the cross

237
00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:06,760
was a pattern, a guarantee for 
all that is going to follow. 

238
00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,200
Remember Paul says in 
Corinthians, there in First 

239
00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,880
Corinthians chapter 15 and in 
the verse 3. 

240
00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,319
For I delivered unto you first 
of all, that what you also 

241
00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:20,640
received, how the Christ died 
for our sins according to the 

242
00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,599
Scriptures. 
And when we think about the 

243
00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:25,760
death of Christ, we think about 
who died and when he died and 

244
00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:27,760
where he died and the way he 
died. 

245
00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,520
But why did he die? 
We taught you last Sunday night.

246
00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:36,760
He gave his life a ransom for 
many, a ransom, a once and for 

247
00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:40,360
all atoning sacrifice for sin. 
On that cross he suffered the 

248
00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:43,680
wrath of God. 
On that cross he suffered divine

249
00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:47,800
satisfied, divine justice. 
On that cross he fulfilled the 

250
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,040
law's penalty as well as the law
perfectly. 

251
00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:56,400
There's a great truth here on 
the ground of the death of 

252
00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:00,120
Christ. 
God save sinners high. 

253
00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:08,280
For if we believe that Jesus 
died, do you believe in Christ's

254
00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:12,600
attoning work on the cross? 
You see, belief in Christ's 

255
00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:20,840
death and resurrection shapes 
our eschatology, shapes what we 

256
00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:25,200
believe about future events. 
Remember, the Lord Jesus just 

257
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:30,560
didn't die to save our immortal 
souls, and He did that, but He 

258
00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,000
also died to redeem these bodies
as well. 

259
00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,120
Remember what we read there in 
First Corinthians chapter 1 and 

260
00:18:38,120 --> 00:18:43,440
in verse 6? 
It says in verse 19, First 

261
00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:48,040
Corinthians chapter 6, verse 19.
What know ye not that your body 

262
00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,680
is the temple of the Holy Ghost,
which is in you, what you have 

263
00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:53,360
of God, and you're not your own,
for you're bought with a price. 

264
00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:56,920
Therefore, glorify God in your 
body and in your spirits, which 

265
00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:02,800
are gods. 
See, death is real, and death 

266
00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:08,080
has to be conquered. 
And your body, the one that 

267
00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,920
you're living in now, Jesus died
to redeem your body. 

268
00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:17,680
And if he is redeemed it by 
blood, by the precious blood, 

269
00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:25,000
then your body belongs to Him. 
Your body is not for immorality.

270
00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,040
Your body's not for the 
committing of adultery or 

271
00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:31,360
fornication or any other immoral
acts. 

272
00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:33,800
Why? 
Because your body belongs to the

273
00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,000
Lord. 
Your body has been indwelt by 

274
00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,640
the Holy Spirit. 
Your body's been bought with the

275
00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,240
precious blood. 
Your body belongs to the Lord. 

276
00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,720
Now, of course, until the 
resurrection, your body and mind

277
00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,960
is under the power of death. 
That's why we're subject to 

278
00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:53,280
death and decay. 
Flesh and blood does not fit in 

279
00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,280
itself to enter into heaven. 
Our bodies as we journey through

280
00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:02,480
life are subject to illness. 
We can suffer a heart attack, we

281
00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:06,280
can take a stroke, we can be 
smitten with cancer. 

282
00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:14,120
You see, our bodies are subject 
to death and decay, and one day 

283
00:20:14,120 --> 00:20:18,160
our bodies will die. 
And our bodies in that state are

284
00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:23,200
not fit to enter into heaven. 
And therefore while the soul 

285
00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:27,160
leaves the body. 
The body is buried in the 

286
00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,720
ground. 
And here's the wonderful 

287
00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:33,760
teaching of the Bible. 
Jesus Trace died not only to 

288
00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:37,280
redeem your soul, but died to 
redeem the bodies not only of 

289
00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:42,080
dead Saints, but living Saints. 
And that's what Paul is dealing 

290
00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:44,480
with here. 
What happens to your body when 

291
00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,120
you die and your soul leaves the
body and goes to heaven? 

292
00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,000
When your body remains in the 
ground until the day of 

293
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,800
resurrection? 
Because Jesus just didn't die to

294
00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,640
redeem the body. 
Jesus died to raise the body and

295
00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:01,040
Jesus died to change the body. 
One day your body will be 

296
00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,040
changed and transformed. 
Listen to what Paul says in 

297
00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,480
First Corinthians chapter 15 and
verse 51. 

298
00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,800
Think of these words. 
Behold, I show you a mystery. 

299
00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:16,160
We shall not all sleep. 
That means we're not all die in 

300
00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:20,120
Christ, but we shall all be 
changed. 

301
00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:24,800
Those alive when Christ returns,
their bodies will be changed in 

302
00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,800
an instant. 
Remember what Paul says in 

303
00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,520
Thessalonians, Philippians 
chapter 3. 

304
00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:33,960
He says this for our 
conversation. 

305
00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,280
Manner of living is in heaven, 
from whence also we look for the

306
00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,400
Saviour of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, who shall change our 

307
00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:44,120
vile body, that it may be 
fashioned like unto His glorious

308
00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:47,640
body, according to the working, 
whereby he is able even to 

309
00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:54,720
subdue all things unto himself. 
Are you looking for His coming? 

310
00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:01,280
Are you aware that your body is 
subject to decline and disease 

311
00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,480
and death and difficulty and 
despair? 

312
00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:09,440
It's not fit to enter heaven by 
itself, but because of a 

313
00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:14,600
redemptive power of Christ's 
blood, one day All Saints, those

314
00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,320
who have died and their bodies 
have been buried, and they're 

315
00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,360
absent from the body and present
with the Lord and those who are 

316
00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:25,960
alive in that body, one day that
body is going to be raised up 

317
00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:30,280
and that body is going to be 
changed because that body has 

318
00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:32,800
been redeemed. 
That's the truth of redemption. 

319
00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:37,200
And remember Paul, he talks in 
Romans chapter 8, isn't that in 

320
00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:41,480
Romans chapter 8 and verse 23? 
He made a tremendous statement 

321
00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:45,400
there in relation to the 
redemption of our body, and not 

322
00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:48,280
only they, but ourselves also, 
which have the first fruits of 

323
00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,880
the Spirit. 
Even we ourselves grown within 

324
00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:52,640
ourselves. 
What are we waiting for? 

325
00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:58,120
For the adoption to wet the 
redemption of our body? 

326
00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,960
There's the truth of redemption.
Very quickly, if you go back to 

327
00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,040
our text, you've got the truth 
of resurrection. 

328
00:23:04,120 --> 00:23:08,960
If we believe that Jesus died 
and rose again, you see belief 

329
00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,320
in the personal, visible, bodily
resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

330
00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:19,200
Since you've believed in that, 
your faith in that doctrine of 

331
00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:24,080
the resurrection guarantees not 
only your redemption of your 

332
00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:27,640
soul and body, but it guarantees
your resurrection. 

333
00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:33,600
Remember what we read as an Adam
all die First Corinthians 1522. 

334
00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,360
So in Christ shall all be made 
alive. 

335
00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,320
All of humanities have said are 
subject to death. 

336
00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,520
We have sinned an Adam. 
We inherited the guilt of Adam's

337
00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,640
first transgression. 
We have inherited an additional 

338
00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:46,720
guilt for every other sin of 
thought word. 

339
00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:51,280
Indeed, we're not only guilty 
sinners legally, but we're also 

340
00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:53,800
sinners because we have a 
polluted nature. 

341
00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,080
We have a heart that loves sin. 
Jeremiah 17 and 9. 

342
00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,400
The heart is deceitful, and 
above all things desperately 

343
00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:00,760
wicked. 
Who can know it? 

344
00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:06,760
And only those in Christ shall 
be made alive, alive spiritually

345
00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:12,880
unto God, alive literally in the
resurrection. 

346
00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,720
You see, if you're not in Christ
this morning, if you're not born

347
00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,960
again of the Spirit, if you 
haven't mean saved by the grace 

348
00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,160
of God and washed in the blood, 
and you're not in Christ, then 

349
00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:27,640
there's no certainty for you. 
There's no comfort really for 

350
00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:31,040
you. 
You're viewed in Adam and you're

351
00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,040
still in your sins. 
And you'll not be part of the 

352
00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,880
first resurrection. 
You'll be part of the second 

353
00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:40,720
resurrection, but to be in 
Christ? 

354
00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,560
Revelation 14 and 13 says 
blessed are the dead which die 

355
00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,560
in the Lord. 
Whenever a believer dies, he 

356
00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:54,400
goes to sleep in Jesus Christ or
not into an unconscious state, 

357
00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,320
not into the state of 
annihilation, not about soul 

358
00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:00,440
sleep. 
It's a figure of speech sleeping

359
00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,440
in Jesus. 
It means the bodies in the 

360
00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,520
grave. 
The soul is in the presence of 

361
00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:10,120
God into glory, because death 
remembers the giving up of the 

362
00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:13,600
ghost. 
And one day at the resurrection,

363
00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:20,800
when Jesus returns, the body in 
the grave will be made alive 

364
00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:25,200
again. 
And the resurrection of Jesus 

365
00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:30,480
Christ's body from the dead, 
from the empty tomb, his 

366
00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:36,160
resurrection guarantees the 
resurrection of all in Christ. 

367
00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:40,240
The dead Saints will arise. 
They'll be changed and 

368
00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:45,320
transformed, a body like Christ 
and the living Saints for those 

369
00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,040
who are still alive, they'll 
also be changed. 

370
00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:53,040
They'll also arise because 
remember, He is the first fruits

371
00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:56,760
from the dead, and that's 
something that Paul emphasised 

372
00:25:56,760 --> 00:26:00,040
in First Corinthians 15 and 
verse 23. 

373
00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,400
But every man in his own order, 
Christ, the first fruits 

374
00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:08,760
afterwards, they that are 
Christ's at his coming. 

375
00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:14,480
If you have a loved one this 
morning, we're going to lay a 

376
00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:19,840
loved one this afternoon's body 
into the ground for those who 

377
00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:23,720
die in Christ. 
That body is going to be raised 

378
00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,720
again, not only the truth of his
redemption, the truth of his 

379
00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:28,880
resurrection quickly, the truth 
of his return. 

380
00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:31,840
Notice what it says here in 
verse 14. 

381
00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,480
Even so, them also would sleep 
in Jesus. 

382
00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:40,640
Will God bring with him, will 
God bring with him with him as a

383
00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:45,080
reference to Jesus Christ. 
Here's the day of his return. 

384
00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,800
Jesus Christ is going to be 
brought back into the world 

385
00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:57,160
visibly bodily. 
He has not been seen since the 

386
00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,600
day he left, the day of his 
ascension. 

387
00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:03,880
No St has seen him in the body 
since his ascension. 

388
00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,960
But if Christ has defeated 
death, and He has, if he's 

389
00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:15,760
conquered sin and Satan and the 
grave, and he has then has 

390
00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:21,600
returned bodily, His bodily 
resurrection guarantees the 

391
00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:26,120
resurrection of all who die in 
Christ. 

392
00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:30,640
It cannot fail. 
It will not fail. 

393
00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:35,600
His bodily resurrection 
guarantees his return in power 

394
00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:39,080
and glory. 
His bodily resurrection 

395
00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:43,240
guarantees his return to 
preserve his people to his 

396
00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:45,360
Father. 
This is real. 

397
00:27:46,120 --> 00:27:49,560
This is a real historical second
Advent. 

398
00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:52,760
You're going to see Jesus Christ
again. 

399
00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,760
God is going to bring Christ 
again. 

400
00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,480
The second time. 
Jesus Christ must return. 

401
00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:04,880
There'll be a visible, bodily, 
personal return of Christ. 

402
00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:09,360
Think of His reappearance very 
quickly high. 

403
00:28:10,120 --> 00:28:13,320
Here's the manner of His return.
This is not exhaustive, but it's

404
00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:15,880
sufficiently revealed. 
Look at verse 16. 

405
00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,720
For the Lord himself shall 
descend from Heaven high with a 

406
00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,440
shout. 
That's a command of divine 

407
00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:23,880
authority that is loud and 
clear. 

408
00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:27,520
That's a mighty shout. 
Notice also with the voice of 

409
00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:31,160
the Archangel. 
I don't know who the Archangel 

410
00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:33,480
is. 
Michael Gabriel, I do not know. 

411
00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:38,400
But here's Heaven responding to 
the sovereign King that's 

412
00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:40,800
returning to the earth and power
and glory. 

413
00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:46,080
And notice also these words, the
third thing with the trump of 

414
00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:54,160
God, the trumpet shall side. 
It singles the divine appearance

415
00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:59,680
of 1 The king coming in victory,
the the king coming to to call 

416
00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:02,720
an assembly. 
The the king will be visible. 

417
00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:06,200
He'll be unmistakable. 
Every eye shall see him. 

418
00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:10,640
The the trumpet sounds as a a 
signal of divine triumph. 

419
00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:13,840
And here's the triumph he will 
bring with him. 

420
00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,560
All He have died in him, and He 
will resurrect them. 

421
00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:22,240
Their bodies will arise, and 
He's going to change their 

422
00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:26,920
bodies, a new body like His 
glorious body, and he'll gather 

423
00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:32,640
them all to himself. 
That, my friend, I put it to 

424
00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:40,000
you, is indeed a glorious truth.
As you think about the 

425
00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:45,160
particulars of His coming that 
are foundational, I'd have to 

426
00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:47,120
finish. 
Let me just give you one final 

427
00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,400
point. 
Think this morning of the 

428
00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:51,800
programme of His coming as 
focal. 

429
00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:58,640
If Christ rose, then his people 
must rise, and He starts with 

430
00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:00,280
the dead first. 
That's the order. 

431
00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:05,920
It says then we and the dead in 
Christ shall rise first. 

432
00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:09,840
The focus is on resurrection 
from the dead, and it's not the 

433
00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:11,680
great hope of the Church from 
the beginning. 

434
00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:15,560
Hasn't it always been the bodily
resurrection of the return of 

435
00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,240
Jesus Christ? 
The dead Saints are not 

436
00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:20,560
forgotten. 
They're not disadvantaged. 

437
00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:23,760
They, they, they, they, they 
haven't lost out. 

438
00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,480
They, they, they, they rise 
first in order. 

439
00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,600
And I have to tell you, if you 
haven't already guessed, I'm an 

440
00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,400
historical premillennialist, and
that's my understanding of the 

441
00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:37,400
Scripture. 
Christ's returns in power and 

442
00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:41,840
glory, and then there is a 
resurrection of the righteous. 

443
00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,800
The dead in Christ will rise 
1st, and the righteous Saints 

444
00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:49,120
still alive, they'll arise also,
and their bodies will be changed

445
00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:51,840
and transformed, and they'll be 
caught up together with them in 

446
00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:53,840
the clouds to meet the Lord in 
the air. 

447
00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:58,520
And Christ will usher in His 
royal righteous reign that 

448
00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:02,560
culminates in final judgement at
the new heaven and the new 

449
00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:05,240
earth. 
Think of the purpose of us 

450
00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:07,080
coming. 
It's fruitful. 

451
00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:10,840
Why is this in the Bible? 
I believe a comfort for the 

452
00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:14,920
grieving Saints. 
This doctrine is written for 

453
00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:20,560
funeral homes, hospital wards, 
persecuted churches, weary 

454
00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:24,240
Saints, the grave sage of loved 
ones. 

455
00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:31,400
The Second coming reminds us 
that death is temporary, the 

456
00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:36,800
death is not final. 
And when Christ returns, he 

457
00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:38,840
says, behold, I make all things 
new. 

458
00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:41,360
Christ will make everything 
right at the end. 

459
00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:47,920
Is not tremendous a comfort for 
the grieving, a call for holy 

460
00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:53,440
living, Because this type of 
doctrine purifies the believer. 

461
00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:57,360
It strengthens the believer's 
perseverance and resolve. 

462
00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:02,760
Because when Christ comes, as 
I've said, he will finally 

463
00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:05,320
intervene and make every wrong 
right. 

464
00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:13,280
That's a call for holy living, 
and also it's designed, I 

465
00:32:13,280 --> 00:32:16,960
believe, to bring glory to 
Christ, the Christ who was 

466
00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:18,840
crowned with the crown of 
thorns. 

467
00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,440
We'll see him crowned with many 
crowns. 

468
00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:28,840
The rejected king will come, and
he will be seen as the rightful 

469
00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:34,280
king who has right to reign and 
rule over the children of man. 

470
00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:38,120
Here's 4 things about the coming
of the Lord. 

471
00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:44,800
The promise that is we've 
thought about the particulars 

472
00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:48,360
that are foundational. 
We've thought about the 

473
00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:53,160
programme that is focal. 
The dead in Christ will rise 

474
00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:56,120
first, then we which are alive 
and remain shall be caught up 

475
00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:58,040
together with them in the 
clouds, in the air, and the 

476
00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:01,360
purpose that's fruitful there. 
Next week, in the Will of God, 

477
00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,040
we look at the most 
controversial aspect of this 

478
00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:07,680
doctrine, and I'll set out what 
I believe the Bible teaches.