1^ST Thessalonians 4:13-18

Introduction: Paul tells us in this passage that he was looking for the Lord Jesus to come in his lifetime. It is reflected in these words that are found in verse fifteen: "that we which are alive and remain."

Paul is not pointing to some sign that indicated the return of Christ. He was resting in the promise that He was going to return. Paul was not looking for he undertaker; he was looking for the upper taker. He was not interested in a hole in the ground; he was looking for one in the air. He knew nothing about an airplane ride but he was well familiar with the plain air ride.

As troubles come and you can be certain of that fact that troubles will come, Paul admonished us with these words "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." That word "comfort" can also carry with it the meaning of cheer. In other words, when we come together and start to have a pity party, someone needs to remind us these words in verses thirteen through verse seventeen. Regularly one of us should just through in a conversation that this could be the day that Jesus comes for us as the church.

"Maybe today my Lord may come for me,

Maybe today my Jesus I shall see,

Maybe today from sin I am set free,

Jesus may come and I will go home

It may be today."

Are you looking forward to His return? It is my desire and directive from the Lord to encourage you in this matter. Here is the main thought of the message "Looking for Thee Any Day Now!

There will several items that we want to see from the Bible in regards to this subject- "Looking for Thee ANY DAY NOW!

Before any further, it is important to clarify a few terms. When I say the rapture of the church, I am speaking of the event that is next on God's prophetic calendar in which Jesus will come in the clouds and take all of the saved folks from the earth. He will not set foot on the earth. Immediately after the rapture starts the tribulation period for three and one half years. It will be a terrible time for those who are left behind. But they will be nothing in comparison to the next three and half years. That period of time is called the great tribulation.

The Second Coming of Christ is the event at the end of the seven years of absolute terror for the people who are left behind in the rapture. In this coming, He will come again on the earth to set up His rule and reign on the earth for one thousand years. It is only by the grace of God that I will be in the rapture.

For the sake of clarity, I am referring to the rapture of the church in this message when I refer to His coming.

I. THE SURENESS OF HIS COMING AGAIN

How can I be sure He is coming again? Let me give you three reasons why I am sure.

I am sure of His coming again soon because it recorded in His Word.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

Revelation 22:20

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

This Bible is God's infallible Word. Every word, verse, line and chapter is true. It is all truth and nothing but the truth. If that was not settled in my mind, then I could almost see an area for doubt but I have it on the authority of the inspired Word of God that He is going to come again. I am trying to tell you- HE IS COMING AGAIN! HE IS COMING AGAIN!

B. No only I am sure that He is coming again soon because it is recorded in His infallible Word, but I have His word on the subject.

Revelation 22:7, 12, 20

“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

John 14:1-3

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

How much plainer do we need it? He said it and that settles it regardless of who believes it but if we believe it we ought to act like we believe it and get ready for the Lord to come again soon. I plan to repeat this often today- HE IS COMING AGAIN!

C. It is recorded in His Word and He did say that He is coming again soon but also, His workmen have recited it.

1. Paul told us this truth- HE IS COMING AGAIN!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

John echoes the call of this truth- HE IS COMING AGAIN!

Revelation 22:7, 12, 20

3. Paul said it; John echoed it and Peter amened this truth- HE IS COMING AGAIN!

2^nd Peter 3:1-4

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

4. Paul said it, John echoed it and Peter amened it but also James proclaimed this- HE IS COMING AGAIN! James 5:8

“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

II. THE SIGNS OF HIS SOON COMING

Let me say this first. We don't need any signs to be fulfilled. John and Paul believed the stage was set for the coming of Christ in their generation. One person said he is looking for the signs but listening for the sounds of the trumpet telling us to come up hither. My friend Albert Watkins said that he believes the coming of the Lord Jesus for the church is like those last faint shades of sun on the horizon just before darkness. AMEN!

Secondly, we as Gentile believers don't need signs because Jews require a sign. We seek after wisdom and this Bible is complete wisdom of all parts of life including this one.

But in case you do want to have some signs, here are a few recorded signs in our Bible. As I go through this, it ought to make your heart sing- JESUS IS COMING SOON!

Matthew 24:4-12

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

A. False Christ Vs. 4

There have been more men who have claimed to Christ more and more in the last few years. Some of them have been vile and wicked men. Some men don't claim openly that they are Christ but they sure want you to think that they are.

B. Frequent Conflicts Vs. 6-8

It is interesting that we are now at war with Iraq when I am typing these words. Wars are constantly coming about with greater frequency. But it would do us well to read verse six with a great appreciation for the Word of God. Jesus said "see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." This world has nothing yet. When the rapture of the church takes place and the tribulation starts, these conflicts will be mild. Why? The Holy Spirit will not be here to restrain evil. Man will do with his evil and wicked heart will imagine. Reading history for many years, it will be surprising what more the heart could imagine.

It is not only a conflict of war that is running with great frequency, but disease is running amuck. As of the end of 2002, an estimated 42 million people worldwide – 38.6 million adults and 3.2 million children younger than 15 years – were living with HIV/AIDS. Approximately 70 percent of these people (29.4 million) live in Sub-Saharan Africa; another 17 percent (7.2 million) live in Asia.

We thought that smallpox had been wiped off the earth until recently. Anthrax is a scary subject in which it is deadly as a room full of poisonous snakes.

Earthquakes in divers places are seen. The frequency of earthquakes has increased greatly in the past few years. On a global scale, the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) located over 23,000 earthquakes last year, their highest annual total ever. Prior to 1993, the NEIC never catalogued more than 20,000 earthquakes in one year.

This world knows it will not be long before Jesus comes.

Romans 8:22

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”

Each earthquake can be likened unto a woman in labor. As the birth is closer than the more intense the pain is and closer the labor pains are.

C. Fierce Contempt Vs. 9

Throughout the world, Christians are suffering for their faith. We have it at ease basically in America. But that may not always be so. Many of our Baptist forefathers suffered in this country. They were placed in prison and such. We get the martyrs complex when someone slams a door in our face. The longer we go the more out of step will society we become. It is not politically correct to preach against abortions, sodomy, and such. But it is Biblically correct. More people are living together under that same roof but not married. They are "shacking" up is what we used to call it. Now they call it living together. God had a plan for living together. It is called marriage. This is not for convenience either. It is God's plan from the beginning. But people get bent out of shape if you preach against living together without the benefit of marriage.

If you preach about living godly and separate, then you are a legalist. If you don't enjoy the contemporary music, you are narrow-minded and don't want to reach people with the gospel.

Jesus was out of step with the world. So were Peter, Paul and many others. So I am in good company.

D. Faulty Companions Vs. 10

I have never seen a time when people look for reasons to split fellowship with one another. I am on several pastor email groups. When the fur starts flying, I found that it was better to stay silent unless it is grievous error in the Bible teaching. Or I think it is better to email the person privately than slam the person publicly and think I had done something big for the Lord. As I read the gospels, I find that the Lord Jesus rebuked His disciples privately.

A man may tell you that he loves you in the Lord and then start tearing you apart publicly. That is true faulty companionship.

E. Foolish Competition Vs. 11

I have seen more and more men who are on the airwaves and in the media that call themselves prophets. They try to say that the Lord gave them a vision about some things that will not benefit the church whatsoever. If prophets were still around like the Old Testament had, they would be for this purpose that we find in Ephesians 4:12. That verse says: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”

These men draw men and women away from the truth of the Word of God instead to the Word of God. They want to compete with the church in all actuality. It is foolish to go out of the bounds of the local church.

F. Frozen Compassion Vs. 12

I do not have the time to talk about how sin has abounded. The list would go on for several hours. But it is for certain that many people don't love people as they once did. Many have preferred to love me and mine instead of the lost world. It has frozen in place.

I have said all that to remind you that JESUS IS COMING SOON!

III. THE SURPRISE OF HIS SOON COMING

Matthew 25:13

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

The surprise will not just felt by the lost. There will be some Christians that will be caught by surprise. They will be caught in their sin. I do not have the time to list sins. But let me give one to illustrate my point. What does the Bible say about church attendance?

Hebrews 10:25

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

That means that unfaithfulness to church is sin. Let's say that you decided to stay at the house this morning and at 11:15 AM Eastern Standard Time, Jesus came for the church. Yes, you would be taken in the rapture but can you imagine the surprise the rapture would be to you?

They may be caught sleeping spiritually.

Roman 13:11-12

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

We need to be awake because JESUS IS COMING AGAIN SOON!

They may allowed them to be subject to the will of the devil. Would it be a rude surprise to be doing some thing other than the will of God? Why? JESUS IS COMING AGAIN SOON!

It would be much better if when Jesus comes again for the church in the rapture that we are busy preaching the Word. It is the command for the church.

Mark 16:15

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

It would far better that when Jesus came for the church that we were praising Him. May our words be good and gracious! Just imagine of trying to say that word that all know is a curse word but you have not broken yourself of the habit. You have half of the word out of your month then the rapture takes place. I wonder if we will complete our words that we started here.

Be careful what you say. The next word that you say may be in the presence of the Lord Jesus. How comely and precious our praise should be!

Psalm 150:6

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”

It would be greater if we were praying when He comes for the church. This could be silent or aloud. Once again, imagine you are your knees calling out to God and the rapture takes place and He answers in person.

Preaching is important, praying is great and praising is sweet but we ought to be practicing what we know is Biblical living when the Lord Jesus comes for the church. Harold Vaughan said the right thing every time until it becomes the normal thing.

If you are praising, preaching, praying and practicing when He comes, the rapture will not be such a surprise. It will show that you really believed that He is coming at any time.

IV. THE SILENCE OF HIS SOON COMING

Lost men and women will not hear the voice of the Saviour when He calls for us to come up hither and meet Him in the air. They are not tuned to the Master. They are tuned to their master. John 8:44

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Only the redeemed will hear His voice in that day. That is people who were not redeemed by corruptible things. 1^st Peter 1:18-19

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”

If you have never accepted Christ as your Saviour, you should, must do it today. Tomorrow may be too late. Why? JESUS IS COMING AGAIN SOON! Tomorrow old man death may be at your doorstep. You may have a massive stroke and lay in a coma where you could never consciously get saved. Today is the day of salvation. Don't delay; be saved today.

The only reason you may know the rapture took place is because some godly friend or family member is missing and you remembered the preaching and teaching about the rapture. There are no second chances for those who rejected Christ before the rapture. Remember- JESUS IS COMING AGAIN SOON!

V. THE SADNESS OF HIS SOON COMING

It is found in this next statement. There are literally billions of people who live on the planet who have never accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. They will go to hell if the rapture took place today. They will not want to be saved even if they could be. Why? They will believe the lie of the Antichrist. For time’s sake I will not read 2^nd Thessalonians 2:3-12 but it shows what I just said.

That is really sad, isn't it? We may the key to their salvation if we would tell them of Jesus the mighty to save. What an awesome thought that JESUS IS COMING AGAIN SOON and we know folks that we have not given the gospel story and they are lost with God and have no hope.

Conclusion: A few years back, I had the privilege to hear Doctor Lee Roberson preach at Fellowship Baptist Church in Clayton at their annual camp meeting. He was the pastor of Highland Park Baptist church for 40 1/2 years. In those years, he baptized sixty thousand people.

One service, he announced that he was going to preach on the subject that changed his ministry. I figured that this man who pastored for all those years and baptized that many folks must have something worthwhile to say. I came that night with great expectation. I bought my pen and paper. He preached on the Second Coming of Christ. This subject was the motivation for his service for Christ all these years.

It ought to be ours. Why? That is simple. JESUS IS COMING AGAIN SOON! Just in case you did not get that thought all the times I mentioned it today, let me repeat it again: JESUS IS COMING AGAIN SOON!

Are you saved? If you are and are not right with God, do it today in this service because JESUS IS COMING AGAIN SOON!

If you are not saved, do it today because JESUS IS COMING AGAIN SOON! Don't delay, get saved today.