4:13 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.
It’s pretty interesting to think about how certain events are bookends to an era of time. The Olympics, for example, have an opening ceremony and a closing ceremony. Any compelling book or storyline starts with an introduction and ends with a conclusion. As you listen today, Pastor John will teach about an event called the rapture, which happens to be one of the bookends to the church age. The church started in Acts with some really extraordinary events. The church age will end in a similar fashion.
Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 as he begins his message, “The Rapture.”