Heaven Pt 2: Future Home
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Paul here speaks to that Future Home that we shall all enjoy when Jesus “shall decend from heaven”, those who are dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Jesus speaks of bringing us to that Future Home. The Lord speaks to this clearly in John 14:2-3, saying;
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. 3 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.
Now, As Paul writes to the Thessalonians, he speaks of a time yet future that Jesus, having gone to heaven, now “Descends from heaven” to gather the Church together “to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord”
Now it is clear that by this text the apostle here speaks to more than only that related to our Future Home, but also draws the attention of the Thessalonian Church to that incredible event known to us as The Rapture of the Church, when Christ descends before the day of Gods wrath is poured out upon the earth, and takes her home to heaven.
Nevertheless, my desire this morning is to preach to you on verse 13 and 14 only.
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
A Future Home To Which We Sorrow Not
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
What has long been known to the Christian and even to the world, is an understanding that heaven is not a place of sorrow but a place of everlasting happiness.
Paul writes here to the Thessalonian Church and somewhat admonishes them in their vain sorrow even as others which have no hope.
By implication therefore is a knowledge that the Future Home of heaven is not a place of sorrow but that to which we have our hope.
The Biblical understanding of Hope is not, as I have showed before, a ‘hope so’ hope, but as the Bible presents a CERTAIN LOOKING FOR THAT WHICH IS NOT YET SEEN.
The Apostle wrote,
…but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Rom 8:24:25)
It is more certain for those who among us to have our hope in Heaven than for the expectation of our plans for tomorrow.
Heaven for those who are saved by the blood of Christ is a Certain HOPE, not a ‘hope so’ hope!
So contrary to the sorrow of those who have no hope, Heaven is a place of great and exceeding joy!
- A joy more overwhelming than anything that could have its likeness here.
- A Joy and happiness that has long forgotten even the appearance of sorrow.
- A Joy so exceeding and incredible that even the knowledge of its everlasting span alone in incomprehensible.
It is any wonder why the Apostle also wrote;
“… Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor 2:9)
And why should it not be this way if, as we had seen through the Bible last week, Heaven is God’s dwelling place?
If God, who is love and his very presence is peace, and who is indeed the light of the world even today, should himself be the light of heaven, the peace of heaven and the love of heaven?
The Bible tells us that there is no Sun there, nor will there be in the world to come, because Jesus is the Light of it.
Why can’t Christ, “The Light of the World” not dispel the darkeness of our day?
No beloved, we are not to sorrow as those who have no hope, but rejoice.
Turn for a moment to Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
So then,we see in that text that sorrow itself should not overwhelm those who are Christs, but that whatever sorrow we suffer today will NOT FIND A PLACE in the glory of the eternal tomorrow.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT FUTURE HOME TO WHICH WE SORROW NOT
The Bible has a wonderful expression that attempts to give comparison to our temporary sufferings of today compared to the eternal joy of heaven tomorrow.
Turn to Romans 8:18 for the proof of it;
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom 8:18)
So much more is written in this passage, but notice the amazement of the writer as he struggles to even compare that which is to come.
For I reckon (I count and have considered the sum of everything that I have already revealed to you of joy of eternal life. I have made an account of it all and have reckoned. This is an accounting term, its not used the way we Aussies use it, ‘I think’ etc, no, I have made an account of all our sufferings that we have endured and do endure, and) I “reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be (Notice: “Shall be” is not a present state, it is a FUTURE UNCHANGING STATE, once it is attained to it will forever “BE”) revealed in us.
One more time;
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom 8:18)
If you think that to be wonderfully exiting, please, please let me tell you more.
Your trials, no matter how severe they are, are not only considered unworthy of comparison, but more than this, they ALSO WORK an even greater joy to come!
We suffer trials and we seem to endure them and wonder and pray to God, “O Lord how long am I to suffer and to endure these long and terrible days” and yet what if I told you that not only would the extreme nature of your sufferings seem only to have endured for a moment when it is passed, but the greater the trial, the greater will it be working a glory to come.
Turn to 2 Cor 4:17-18
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor 4:17-18)
Do you see it? Do you see the “Shall BE” The eternal ‘Shall BE’ is there in the last word;
for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
And how is it that in our in our focus of a FUTURE HOME we “sorrow not”? It is ALL there in that incredible passage;
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:
(in other words, they do not keep as their focus the “Light afflictions” they endure “for a moment”, but believe by faith those things found in this eternal word of God, why?)
for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
And what is it that such a focus creates in us? Is it not HOPE?
A Future Home To Which We Hope For
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Paul had long spoken to the Church of Thessalonica. He told them of the things which are to come, he had spoken to them about the return of the Lord and our gathering together unto him. But now they are troubled, troubled to have such persecution afflict them, such persecution that we ourselves have never personally known.
And now the Church there has concern about the brethren that have died before them, that they will somehow miss their opportunity to be gather to Christ when he return.
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
What a wonderful term Jesus originated in the Gospels concerning those who die in Christ as merely asleep, never are dead lost referred to as ‘sleeping’.
Death is a term used at times to identify those who receive to themselves that recompense of their error, the wages of sin is death. (Rom 6:23)
Death in the bible is not part of the original scheme of things. Only the Bible presents death as having both an entrance and an exit.
Death came into the world by sin, and it will one day be destroyed.
The Bible speaks of death as the final enemy of man and it will have an end.
1 Cor 15:26 “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death”
Those who die apart from Christ have NO HOPE, but Paul chastises the believers who sorrow
“even as others which have no hope”.
Clearly the Bible presents that there are others who factually have no hope.
There are multitudes who are lost today and actually have NO HOPE whether they think they will have a good end or not.
Proverbs 14:12 says
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death”.
There is a way, a road, a path that man takes that is a hopeless way. It is the very ways of death.
Jesus said
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Matt 7:13)
But this is not the way for those of the church of Thessalonica, and therefore Paul writes;
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
What Hope is that?
It is the Future home to which we hope for
How did they attain this hope?
In a very practical way, they have gone from death to life, from condemnation to justification;
Turn to John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
The idea that we were indeed Dead in the most real sense of the word, that is, eternally dead, spiritually dead, is due to sin.
Remember scripture teaches that the origin of death is by sin.
Romans 5:12 is the classic passage on the matter;
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned;
This is the reason why Jesus can make that claim in John 5:24, those who shall not come into condemnation are passed from death to life.
Turn forward to Colossians 2
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Col 2:13-14)
Those “Ordinances” that were against us are the commandments of God that every one of us had broken. These were nailed to the cross of Christ and thereby taken away from us.
If you have believed the Gospel, you are JUSTIFIED BY FAITH.
The penalty was paid by Christ and you are NO LONGER to be tried for the crimes paid for by Christ.
The legal process has been fulfilled and paid for by Jesus Christ, not YOU. But you claim it by faith.
Forgiveness of sin is the FIRST item I wanted you to understand why you have this hope.
Secondly, you have this hope because through the forgiveness of your sin you have peace with God
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Rom 5:1-5)
Lastly it is that hope that an eternal kingdom and an enumerable company of angels.
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (Heb 12:22-26)
A Future Home To Which We Are Brought
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
There is an interesting picture that has come down to us out of tradition for those who have lived a godless life. A picture that when the time is come a character stands to his side waiting to bring him to hell.
He is the picture of death known as The Grim Reaper, the idea was taken from Revelation 14:15
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Verse 19 says
And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
That is the origin of the Grim Reaper, by tradition it his name is DEATH, and comes for us whenever the time is right. Those of you who are old enough remember the commercials on TV respecting the Aids Virus and the Grim Reaper.
Well, Death does come and those who do not know the Lord should fear it when it comes, because they too are brought to their Future home by him.
The story is told of a certain man who was walking in his neighborhood when he came face to face with Death. He noticed an expression of surprise on the creature’s horrid face, but they passed one another without speaking.
The fellow was frightened and went to a wise man to ask what should be done. The wise man told him that Death had probably come to take him away the next morning. The poor fellow was terrified at this and asked how ever he could escape.
The only solution the two could think of was that the victim should drive all night to a distant city and so elude Death. So the man drove to the other city—it was a terrible journey that had never been done in one night before—and when he arrived he congratulated himself on having eluded death.
Just then, Death came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” he said, “but I have come for you.”
“Why,” exclaimed the terrified man, “I thought I saw you yesterday near my home many miles away!”
“Exactly,” said Death. “That was why I looked surprised—for I had been told to meet you today in this city.”
Well, if its true that death will usher the wicked to their future home, it is wonderfully more true to see in our text that to those who have a Future Home in Heaven, will God Bring.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
We will indeed be brought to this Future Home.
It is expected that this home in which we will be brought is the very same place in which God Dwells and all who are his will also be there.
Turn to Mark 13:26
Now the passage itself speaks of the time after the great Tribulation in which those who are on the Earth will soon endure, and the gathering itself is for the Elect of God who will be present in that time, but it gives a biblical understanding of both a gathering and a bringing of Gods people together.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
But, transversely we also see the wicked gathered;
Consider the parable found in the same chapter, but most importantly lets go straight to the explanation Jesus gives of that parable;
Mark 13:37-43
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
This “Kingdom” is the Future Home of those who love God and are saved by his Son who died for their sin.
The focus of this first part of the Heaven and Hell series is indeed Heaven, but both are often included together as an explanatory contrast.
However glorious heaven is, hell is the equal counterpart.
Just as one example, that passage in Mark tells us the righteous shine forth as the sun in heaven, but the sinner has no light in him and will abide in darkness forever. Why?
Because the light they are offered is rejected.
In John 8:12 Jesus said;
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”
Turn to John 3:17-19
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil
It is not the place now to speak of Hell, but as it appears so often in the Bible it is difficult to avoid that there is indeed a Future Home for both those who love the light and for those who love Darkness.
Whatever it is that you love today and retain to your death, you will receive for all eternity as your Future Home.
In fact, you will be brought there.
For those of us who are looking for our new home in hope;
There is a story that is told of a missionary couple who had long served the Lord in Africa and were finally brought back to the shores of the USA where they began their journey some 40 years earlier.
On the docks was the largest crowd of people they had ever seen, they were waving flags and banners, shouting for joy at the arrival of the ship that was carrying home its precious cargo. But that cargo was not the missionary couple who’s long journey saw them return.
On that same ship was President Theodore Roosevelt who had spent several months as part of the Smithsonian African Expedition, collecting some 11,000 animals for the Smithsonian’s new Natural History Museum.
Not a single person of the thousands that came to welcome the presidents return in 1910 were there for this missionary couple.
The aged wife only looked at her husband with a tear forming in her eye and just like those who have long lived together, he new her thoughts and simply said, “its ok my dear, we’re not home yet”.
A Future Home In Which We Are Comforted Now
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
….
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The purpose of Pauls writing to the church of Thessalonica was to tell them the truth of that Future Home which is to come, for the purpose of comforting them that they may endure to the end before receiving the prise set before them.
Of all people in the Bible there are none to follow and to encourage us as an example, greater than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Of all people, he knew both the trials that he would endure and the joy set before him that he could be comforted by.
As for his trials, I will not relay them here, Nevertheless, Jesus knew they would be so severe that three times he prayed to the father that God might let the cup pass from him.
saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Mat 26:39)
Consider with me Hebrews chapter 12:1
The writer spends the entire preceding chapter speaking of the faith of those who had gone before, who endured their trials seeking a better country.
They were comforted by that Future Home which we also look forward to.
They were helped by knowing that the darkness of their trials would vanish in the light of the Future Home they found in the Bible.
Now the writer encourages us by giving the example that is greater than all who had gone before in Hebrews 11;
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Heb 12:1-3)
There is a Future Home in which we are COMFORTED NOW.
We endure the trials of life knowing there is a joy set before us.
We endure mocking knowing there is a future heavenly home where we will be received with joy.
We endure the hardness knowing the comfort that awaits us.
Paul wrote words to comfort the Church of Thessalonica.
Paul did not write platitudes.
He did not use cliches or simply speak words of vanity that sounded nice but had no truth in them.
Paul wrote that they might know the truth of that which was to come and concluded
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Remember, the context of the passage in Thessalonians 4 is the Rapture of the Church, how the Church will miraculously be taken out of this world to escape the wrath of God that is soon to be poured out on it. A period of Seven Years known as The Great Tribulation.
The Signs of the Times were identified by Jesus in many passages in the Bible, and for us there is no doubt we are living in the Time of The Signs.
Paul wrote of being taken to that future home to comfort the Thessalonian Church, and the recording of it is preserved to comfort us.
Jesus also had words respecting our Future Home that would comfort us.
Turn to Matthew 5:1
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
For those who have completely submitted themselves to Christ, those who have given up their life for what it was, knowing there is no hope in it and taken Jesus Christ at his words, to THEM is this hope given!
To them is
- The Kingdom of heaven.
- To them is the comfort
- To them is the inheritance of the Earth
- To them is fulfillment
- To them is mercy
- To them is the very sight of God
- To them is the family of God
- To them is the kingdom of Heaven
- To them is great reward set aside and awaiting its recipient.
The Future Home is Heaven, and those who have given themselves to Christ and believe the testimony of this book, THEY ARE the CITISENS OF THAT COUNTRY TO COME.
Are you?
.
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