The Great Catching Up

Scripture Text Thessalonians 4:13-18

 A survey by Pew Research done in 2013 asked, do you believe Jesus will return in the next 40 years. 47% answered yes they believe Jesus will return in the next 40 years. 38% said He would not return in the next 40 years! 14% said they didn’t know! How many of you reading this think Jesus will return for His church soon? All the signs Jesus said to watch for are appearing everywhere.  2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NKJV) ¹ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

 These signs alone are taking place daily on a greater scale than ever before! Prophecies are being fulfilled right before our eyes! Time to get our house in order is now! Jesus warned people many times to be ready so that day will not catch you unaware! The people in Thessalonica were asking Paul what about the people who have died? Will they miss the great catching up? Paul answered that question in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV) ¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
¹⁶ 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.
¹⁷ 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.
¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

There is a hymn that sums up what a tremendous day that will be!

     What A Day That Will Be

      There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
There'll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be,
With the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Invitation: Are you ready to meet Jesus if He were to come today? Would you go up with Jesus or be left behind? If you are not sure make sure today! Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive and save you and you will go up when Jesus returns for His church.