Foundationsof The Faith

1 Thessalonians 1 Corinthians Revelation

1 Thessalonians 4-51 Corinthians 15

Phase 1 Jesus’ coming to the clouds to give resurrection bodies to all Christians (1 Thess 4:13-18) Place: Clouds Mood: Joyous and comforting Focus: Resurrection of Christians God’s Action: Gathering Player: Christians only mentioned Prerequisites: None Phase 2 Jesus’ coming to the earth to Judge and Rule (1 Thess 5, Rev ) Place: Earth/Israel Mood: Terrifying Focus: Judgment of the unbelieving world is the focus God’s Action: Destroying Players: Unbelievers primarily Prerequisite: Revelation 4-13

Phase 1 Jesus’ coming to the clouds to give resurrection bodies to all Christians (1 Thess 4:13-18) Place: Clouds Mood: Joyous and comforting Focus: Resurrection of Christians God’s Action: Gathering Player: Christians only mentioned Prerequisites: None Phase 2 Jesus’ coming to the earth to Judge and Rule (1 Thess 5, Rev ) Place: Earth/Israel Mood: Terrifying Focus: Judgment of the unbelieving world is the focus God’s Action: Destroying Players: Unbelievers primarily Prerequisite: Revelation 4-13

There is still a possible blurring of: A) Christmas: Jesus’ first coming to earth to die on the cross and raise from the dead B) Phase 1 Rapture: Jesus descending from Heaven to give dead and alive Christians resurrection bodies and take us with Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) C) Phase 2 Second Coming: Jesus’ second coming to earth to judge mankind and rule. (Revelation 14) A B C

There is still a possible blurring of: A) Christmas: Jesus’ first coming to earth to die on the cross and raise from the dead B) Phase 1 Rapture: Jesus descending from Heaven to give dead and alive Christians resurrection bodies and take us with Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) C) Phase 2 Second Coming: Jesus’ second coming to earth to judge mankind and rule. (Revelation 14) A B C

There is still a possible blurring of: 1) Christmas: Jesus’ first coming to earth to die on the cross and raise from the dead 2) Rapture: Jesus descending from Heaven to give dead and alive Christians resurrection bodies and take us with Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) 3) Second Coming: Jesus’ second coming to earth to judge mankind and rule. (Revelation 14) 1 2 3

Starts From Heaven: Revelation 6:1–2 “ Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” Seven Year Tribulation Period Daniel 9:27 “one set of seven years” Revelation 12:14, Daniel 7:25 “time, times and half a time” Revelation 11:2, 13:5 “42 months” half Revelation 12:6 “1,260 days” half Ends on Earth: Revelation 14:1 “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.” Jesus the Judge

Jesus the Ruler Isaiah 24:21–23 “So it will happen in that day, That the L ORD will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth. 22 They will be gathered together Like prisoners in the dungeon, And will be confined in prison; And after many days they will be punished. 23 Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, For the L ORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders.” Isaiah 65:19–25 “ I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying. 20 “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Will be thought accursed… 25 “The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox” Revelation 21:1–4 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away…Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

Mark 10:35–37 35 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus… 37 They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” Acts 1:3–8 The risen Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem… they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses” Matthew 19:28 “ Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Jesus the Ruler

Revelation 20:1–6 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus … they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:7–15 “When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”

Revelation 21:1–5 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” ?

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “ Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Our dead loved ones who knew Jesus are in Heaven with Jesus and will come with Him when He comes to the clouds. Our dead loved ones who knew Jesus are in front of us in line to get resurrection bodies. If we die tomorrow, we join them in Heaven. If we are alive at the phase 1 coming of Jesus, we will be instantly transformed into our cool resurrection bodies. Either way, we will be with the Lord always in all that He does once He comes for the rapture.

Some generation of Christians will not die, but rather see Jesus ascend from Heaven and take them! The Thessalonians thought it was them. Do you think it is us? Are you ready? If Jesus is only coming back in the second coming of Rev. 14, we have the terrible events of Rev 6-13 first. His coming is not imminent. But if Jesus is coming back any time, we better be living right and ready for Him.

Every wicked person and act in human history will have a day of judgment. Every wicked person and act in human history will have a day of judgment. There is really a day when Jesus will reign in righteousness. There is really a day when Jesus will reign in righteousness. Sin will be finally removed- in us and around us. Sin will be finally removed- in us and around us.