See You Here, There, or In the Air (Part One): 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 by Dr. Rod Mattoon

Scripture

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

About this sermon

We now get to study one of the wonderful passages in the entire Bible. This passage is like a shot of adrenalin to a weary servant of the Lord. It is like a warm blanket for those gripped by the chilling hand of death. It is a bright ray of hope in this world that has been darkened by the ebony of sin. These verses are a huge blessing for several reasons. * They provide ENCOURAGEMENT at a grave side as you face the death of saved loved ones because you know you will be reunited with them one day. * They give ENERGY and motivation to live for Jesus Christ each day and to be prepared for His coming. * Their truths EXHORT the Christian to be watching and waiting for Christ’s return at any moment and to earnestly contend for the faith. * They bring EXCITEMENT to the heart of the servant of Christ that the battle is almost over and the Captain of our Salvation will return at any moment. * They provide ENLIGHTENMENT about current world affairs and future events as we see the signs of His return becoming more prevalent and increasing in intensity. * They ENABLE the Christian to say with confidence to other Christians when they depart from one another, “I’ll see you here, there, or in the air!” Why can a believer say this to another believer? This passage provides a number of answers and concerns that Paul addressed and wants us to consider. As we begin this series, we note that Paul did not want Christians to be ignorant about an important matter. When it came to the matter of the death of the Christian and the return of Jesus, Paul wanted Christians to be informed and not in the dark. He wanted them to know what went on after the death of a Christian as well as the future of all Christians after they die. So what does the Bible say about the death of the Christian? This first message of this series goes into that issue. It was preached on Sunday night, April 25, 2021, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.