Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20050213.htm

APPLYING OUR CHURCH'S STATEMENT OF BIBLICAL FAITH
Article III, Part XII Of The Nepaug Bible Church Bylaws: The Last Things
(1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 4:13-5:9 et al.)
  1. Introduction
    1. Some claim the Church will experience some or all of the Great Tribulation so that we should stock up on goods and weapons and build forts to protect ourselves against the antichrist. Others hold the rapture occurs for the godly, so we will be raptured in the Tribulation depending on how good we have lived. Others hold we have a second chance after death, so if we don't trust in Christ now, it's not a big problem.
    2. Since what we believe on future events affects how we now live, Article III, Part XII of our Church's Bylaws states: "We believe in the personal, visible, imminent pre-tribulational return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Bride, the Church, and His subsequent premillennial second coming to earth to set up His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the judgments and the endless suffering of the wicked, and the eternal blessing of the righteous." We view Scriptures that clarify these beliefs, and why:
  2. The Last Things, 1 Thess. 1:9f; 4:13-5:9; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 3:10; 20:6, 11-15; Jn. 14:2-3; Zec. 14:4-11.
    1. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 with 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 in light of 2 Thessalonians 2:9-14 teach Christ will unconditionally rapture the entire Church to Himself in the air before the Great Tribulation Period starts:
      1. The Great Tribulation will be judgment on men for their having rejected Christ, cf. 2 Thess. 2:9-12.
      2. Since this judgment includes unbelievers falling for the antichrist's deception, since he will deceive them during the more peaceful first half of the Tribulation (2 Thess. 2:9-12; Dan. 9:27) and since the Christian is not guilty of having rejected Christ's Gospel, we believe that all who trust in Christ in the Church era will unconditionally be raptured before the start of the whole seven year Tribulation Period of Daniel's 70th week [of seven years], cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 with Daniel 9:27.
      3. Some would reply that only godly believers can be raptured, but 1 Thess. 5:5-10 reveals otherwise:
        1. Paul taught in 1 Thessalonians 5:5-9 that since we who trust in Christ are of the "day", we should "not sleep" in living sinfully like those who are of the "darkness" and will experience God's wrath.
        2. However, regardless whether we Christians "wake" by living righteously or "sleep" by living sinfully, Paul taught we will live together with Christ at His coming, 1 Thess. 5:10 with 5:5-6.
        3. Hence, believers will be rapture regardless of the level of righteousness in their Christian lives!
      4. The rapture of the Church is taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 as distinct from the coming of God's wrath in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, the latter coming on "them" versus the rapture of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that comes on "us". Thus, as we who trust in Christ do not go through the Tribulation Period, the 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 rapture occurs before the 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 Tribulation Period begins!
    2. After the Rapture, we will be judged by Christ at His Bema (from the Greek word, bayma in 2 Cor. 5:10) Seat where we will be rewarded based on godliness in our Christian lives, 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 3:13-15.
    3. We will then return to the earth with Christ when He comes to earth in His Second Coming that ends the Great Tribulation Period, Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:7-10, 11-21.
    4. After that, Christ will reign on the earth for a thousand years in the Millennial Kingdom, Rev. 20:1-6.
    5. At the end of the Millennium, Christ wins the last battle of unbelievers against Him (Rev. 20:7-9), Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10) and Christ judges the unsaved at the Great White Throne; whoever is not found written in the Lamb's book of eternal life at this judgment is cast into the eternal lake of fire, Rev. 20:11-15; 2 Thess. 1:8-9. There is no second chance for salvation after death, Hebrews 9:27.
    6. God will then establish the eternal state where a new earth is created without sin and death, and God will cause His heaven to descend and bond forever with the new earth, Revelation 21-22.
    7. Thus, we Christians should live expectantly hoping for the pre-tribulational rapture, being at peace with God and abounding in every good word and work to that end, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14-17.
Lesson: For trusting in Christ, we believers are promised by God entrance into heaven before His wrath comes onto the earth in the Great Tribulation Period for man's having rejected Christ.

Application: We should not live in dread of the Great Tribulation, but in comfort and expectancy of our Lord's return that we may be presentable to Him in life and service. May we now make disciples of all nations as only in this life will they have the chance to be saved by faith in Christ.