Hope and Transformation: The Promise of Resurrection
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor discussing the concept of resurrection and the believers' ascent to heaven. He assures the congregation that they will not need any special equipment or abilities to ascend to heaven, as God will suspend the law of gravity for them. The pastor then introduces the concept of the 70th week mentioned in the book of Daniel, explaining that Daniel prophesied that 70 weeks were decreed for God to deal with his people, but the 70th week was reserved for another ruler, known as the Antichrist. This week represents a period of seven years on the prophetic calendar, indicating that the tribulation will last for seven years.
The pastor then discusses the non-essential topic of the timing of the Rapture. He acknowledges that while the exact timing of the Rapture is unknown, it does not affect salvation, which is obtained through repentance and trust in Jesus Christ. The pastor emphasizes that differing beliefs on the timing of the Rapture should not divide believers, but rather they should come together in fellowship. He then presents the argument for a post-tribulation Rapture, stating that throughout the Bible, there is no instance where God removes His people from difficult situations or tribulations.
The pastor discusses Jesus's second coming and clarifies that Jesus will not physically set foot on Earth until after the tribulation. Instead, the Bible states that believers will meet Jesus in the clouds and in the air. The pastor envisions Jesus returning from Heaven on a white horse, accompanied by the hosts of heaven, to end the war of Armageddon and bring peace to the world for a thousand years. The pastor acknowledges that his thoughts on the battle of Armageddon are speculative, suggesting that the enemies of God may be consumed by a great fire in a short span of eight minutes.
The pastor concludes by emphasizing the magnificence of Jesus as the lion of Judah. He highlights how John was overwhelmed by Jesus' presence and couldn't even stand before Him. The pastor assures the congregation that Jesus' return will be glorious and that every promise He made in Scripture will hold true during the tribulation. The pastor then extends three invitations to the congregation. The first invitation is for those who have been visiting the church and have decided to make it their spiritual home. The pastor encourages them to come forward and be welcomed into the church family. The second invitation is to recognize the signs of Jesus' imminent return, particularly the events unfolding in Israel.
Key Takeaways:
- The transformation of believers at the return of Jesus will be instantaneous, akin to the speed of light traveling from the front of the iris to the back of the retina in the eye. This transformation will bring about a transition from death to resurrection, from sorrow to joy, and from suffering to a pain-free existence ([12:45]).
- The abilities of Jesus' resurrected body, such as passing through walls and traveling long distances instantaneously, suggest that believers' resurrected bodies will possess similar capabilities. This offers a glimpse into the extraordinary nature of our future existence ([18:30]).
- The return of Christ will be a moment of reunion with deceased loved ones for all believers who have died. This resurrection is a testament to God's love and grace, promising joy and celebration ([24:15]).
- There will be a second resurrection for the unrighteous, contrasting with the first resurrection of the righteous unto glory. This serves as a sobering reminder to live in a manner that ensures our place in the first resurrection ([30:00]).
- The sermon underscores the importance of living a righteous life, not just for the sake of earthly rewards, but for the promise of an extraordinary future existence in our resurrected bodies ([35:45]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."
2. Daniel 9:24: "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy."
3. Revelation 21:1: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea."
Observation Questions:
1. What are the key events described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 about the return of the Lord?
2. What does Daniel 9:24 reveal about the prophetic timeline and the purpose of the 70 weeks?
3. What changes are described in Revelation 21:1 about the new heaven and the new earth?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the description of the Lord's return in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 provide comfort to believers?
2. What might the 70th week in Daniel 9:24 represent in the context of end times prophecy?
3. How does the vision of a new heaven and a new earth in Revelation 21:1 relate to the promise of resurrection and eternal life?
Application Questions:
1. How can the assurance of the Lord's return and the resurrection of believers, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, influence your daily life and interactions with others?
2. Considering the prophecy in Daniel 9:24, how can you prepare yourself spiritually for the end times?
3. In light of Revelation 21:1, what changes can you make in your life to align more closely with God's vision of a new heaven and a new earth?
4. How can you comfort and encourage others with the promise of resurrection and eternal life?
5. What specific actions can you take this week to live in anticipation of Jesus' return and the fulfillment of His promises?
Devotional
Day 1: The Speed of Transformation
The transformation that believers will experience at the return of Jesus will be instantaneous, akin to the speed of light traveling from the front of the iris to the back of the retina in the eye. This transformation will take believers from death to resurrection, from sadness to joy, and from pain to a state of being pain-free ([49:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNzUC0nvx40&t=2958s)).
1 Corinthians 15:52 - "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."
Reflection: How can you live today in anticipation of this instantaneous transformation? What changes can you make to live more fully in the joy and freedom promised by Jesus?
Day 2: Miraculous Abilities
The abilities of Jesus' resurrected body, such as passing through walls and traveling long distances instantaneously, suggest that believers' resurrected bodies will possess similar capabilities. This is a testament to the miraculous nature of the resurrection and the transformative power of faith in Jesus ([51:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNzUC0nvx40&t=3065s)).
John 20:19 - "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'"
Reflection: How does the promise of a resurrected body with miraculous abilities inspire you to live out your faith today? What steps can you take to deepen your faith in Jesus' transformative power?
Day 3: Reunion in Resurrection
Revelation 20 emphasizes the resurrection of all believers who have died at Christ's return. This will be a moment of reunion with deceased loved ones, a moment of joy and celebration ([53:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNzUC0nvx40&t=3210s)).
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."
Reflection: How does the promise of reunion with loved ones in the resurrection comfort you today? How can you share this hope with others?
Day 4: Consequences of Turning Away
There will be a second resurrection for the unrighteous, which will lead to condemnation. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of living a life of faith and righteousness ([56:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNzUC0nvx40&t=3375s)).
Revelation 21:8 - "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
Reflection: How does the reality of the second resurrection motivate you to live a life of faith and righteousness? What specific actions can you take today to turn away from sin and towards God?
Day 5: Anticipation and Consequences
The sermon as a whole serves as a powerful reminder of the hope and anticipation that comes with faith in Jesus, as well as the sobering consequences of turning away from God. It encourages believers to live a life of faith and righteousness, looking forward to the day of resurrection with hope and joy ([58:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNzUC0nvx40&t=3480s)).
Titus 2:13 - "Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of anticipation for Jesus' return in your daily life? What specific steps can you take to live a life of faith and righteousness in anticipation of the resurrection?
Quotes
1. "The Bible says that on that day when Jesus returns all of us who know him are going to be all caught up in it." [28:43]
2. "In order to understand what the return of Christ or what we call the Rapture is going to be like, it's helpful to understand when his return is going to be. Now we learned a few weeks ago that no one knows the day nor the hour, but we can place it within the time frame of the three major time periods that take place during the last days." [33:07]
3. "At that speed, it takes about a 64th of a nanosecond to travel one inch faster than that. That's how fast we're going to be changed." [52:02]
4. "When you read about the post-resurrection accounts of Jesus's body, he could manipulate his molecules to pass through walls, he could travel over long distances instantaneously. That's what our resurrected bodies will be like." [52:50]
5. "All believers who have died will be resurrected at Christ's return. If you're still alive when this happens, this will be your first moment when you see the deceased loved ones again, right there hanging out together, everybody in the clouds, an eternal reunion." [53:34]
6. "You're not going to need a Superman cape, you're not going to need an Iron Man suit, you're not going to need anti-gravity boots. God will do everything and he'll suspend the law of gravity for us so that we Ascend like Jesus ascended 2,000 years ago." [48:43]
7. "Jesus is the lion of Judah, he is magnificent. He took John's breath away, John could not even stand in his presence, and that's the Jesus who is coming back and his return is going to be glorious." #!!01:05:01!!#
8. "Jesus might return before the tribulation, he might return during the tribulation, he might return at the end of the tribulation, but all Bible believing Christians agree that whatever we believe about the timing of the Rapture is not a Doctrine to divide us or to disqualify anybody from getting to heaven."
9. "Therefore, encourage one another with these words. In whatever time Jesus decides to return, he is returning, and we should be encouraged because this is the ultimate Great moment where we will meet him face to face."
10. "Here's what matters: Jesus is coming back to claim his people and to change us and to welcome us into his Earthly Kingdom under his rulership, and nothing and no one can stop that from happening."
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