You are on page 1of 2

1

The return of Christ is Imminent


Although Paul had been in Thessalonica less than a month, he had
touched on many of the great doctrines of the church, including the second
coming of Christ. It is interesting that Paul did not consider this
subject to be above the heads of the new converts. Yet there are
churches today that have been in existence for more than one hundred
years whose members have but a vague understanding of the Rapture
of the church and the coming of Christ to establish His kingdom here on
earth. The Thessalonian church was not even a month old, and Paul was
teaching them these great doctrines!

The apostle obviously had emphasized the second coming of Christ for
believers and had taught that the return of Christ was imminent; for
during the period of time since Paul had left, some of the saints who had
come to know and believe in Christ Jesus had died, and this had naturally
raised the question in the minds of the Thessalonians as to whether these
saints would be in the Rapture or not. Paul presents the second coming of
Christ in relationship to believers as a comfort, and this forms the theme
of the epistle.
1



The Hope of the Resurrection 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
13
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will
happen to the believers who have died

so you will not grieve like
people who have no hope.
14
For since we believe that Jesus died and
was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God
will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the
Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
16
For the
Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the

1
McGee, J. V. (1997). Thru the Bible commentary (electronic ed., Vol. 5,
pp. 367368). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
2

Christians who have died

will rise from their graves.
17
Then, together with
them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught
up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the
Lord forever.
18
So encourage each other with these words.

You want to be ready when Jesus returns....Are you ready? If not,
become a born again follower of Christ Jesus...The following will
tell you how...it is not complicated...
I Know I Am Going to Heaven, Do You?
I am going to heaven when I die and know it.I dont hope I am,
I KNOW I am.how? The Bible tells me so.
1 John 5:13 says, These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye
have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son
of God.
Do you only hope you are going to heaven? Do you want to know
for sure you are?
In your own simple way pray this short prayer asking Jesus to
save you now: Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I need your
salvation. I am so sorry for my sins and ask you to forgive me. I
know and believe that you died for me and rose from the grave
and I ask you to save me now. I invite you into my heart, right
now, and I want to know for sure I will go to heaven when I die.
Thank you for saving my soul.
If you prayed that prayer and really meant it, the Bible says you
are saved and you now know you are going to heaven. Find a
Bible believing, teaching church and begin your life in Christ.

You might also like