All Caught Up
Why should we consider the "end times?”
Effective preaching about 'the last things' may be one of the best ways to help Christians internalize a worldview that puts eternity and this world in their right proportion.
-Douglas Moo, Commentary: 2 Peter and Jude, Zondervan, p. 219.
If Jesus's resurrection compels us to move forward from His death, the hopeful promise of His return helps us persevere to the end.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
There are signs leading up to the return of Christ, and an order to the events which precede it.
1 Thessalonians 1:10
And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (John 14:1-3)
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 believers 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.
1 Corinthians 15:50-53
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-8
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. 5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
Questions for Application
Am I ready to meet the Lord?
Does the promise of His return give me hope?
Do I helpfully share this promise?
Effective preaching about 'the last things' may be one of the best ways to help Christians internalize a worldview that puts eternity and this world in their right proportion.
-Douglas Moo, Commentary: 2 Peter and Jude, Zondervan, p. 219.
If Jesus's resurrection compels us to move forward from His death, the hopeful promise of His return helps us persevere to the end.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
There are signs leading up to the return of Christ, and an order to the events which precede it.
1 Thessalonians 1:10
And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (John 14:1-3)
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 believers 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.
1 Corinthians 15:50-53
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-8
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. 5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
Questions for Application
Am I ready to meet the Lord?
Does the promise of His return give me hope?
Do I helpfully share this promise?
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Staffing Changes This YearWe Learn TogetherStudy Questions for January 5, 2025Weather Alert for This Sunday January 5Membership MattersBelong TogetherStudy Questions for January 12, 2025Weather Alert for Sunday January 12Calling All Men (and help from ladies)Worship TogetherStudy Questions for January 19, 2025Tax Info and 2 Core ValuesStudy Questions for January 26, 2025Pray TogetherWhat a Response Thank YouJesus Steps ForwardStudy Questions for February 2, 2025
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God Is at Work in our LivesJesus Meets a Variety of ResponsesStudy Questions for February 9, 2025New Check-In ProcessBe a Sidekick - Make a Lasting DifferenceJesus and the Kingdom of GodStudy Questions for February 16, 2025New Check-In ProcessJesus and His Power in MinistryStudy Questions for February 23, 2025The Hardest Days - Prayer for the Millers in SpainStudy Questions for March 2, 2025Jesus and the Process of Discipleship
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TOGETHER - Membership at CFCJesus and His Service to PeopleStudy Questions for March 9, 2025Quarterly Operations ReportJesus and His Mission on EarthStudy Questions for March 16, 2025What an Encouragement - Membership ClassJesus and the Sacrificial LifeStudy Questions for March 23, 2025Easter is 3 Weeks AwayYou've Been ServedStudy Questions for March 30, 2025
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Waiting to Take the FieldMagnify God's CareStudy Questions for June 8, 2025Pray for High School & Middle School CampsMagnify God's LoveStudy Questions for June 15, 2025God Is the Owner of EverythingIt's a PrivilegeMagnify God's ForgivenessStudy Questions for June 22, 2025Study Questions for June 29, 2025Magnify God's FaithfulnessThe Challenge of Freedom
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Study Questions for July 6, 2025A New InitiativeThe Heart of PraiseStudy Questions for July 13, 2025Serve Alongside a Medical TeamStudy Questions for July 20, 2025Crying out in LamentWelcoming Our New MembersStudy Questions for July 27, 2025Trusting God's ProtectionPrayer for Back to SchoolStudy Questions for August 3, 2025Mea Culpa