Author: Steve's Outlook 365

When the Big One Comes - Don't Worry!
I Thessalonians 5:1-11
Intro:
1. ILL: Lord Chesta.
2. ILL: Got earthquake insurance because we are so close to the Hayward Fault.
3. Earthquakes have enormous destructive power.
a. 8.9 on the Richter Scale is equivalent to 10,000 megatons (100 times greater than the largest nuclear device ever exploded). This happened in Alaska in 1964.
b. Greatest loss of life, 830,000 people, China in 1556.
c. 2`d greatest loss of life (8.2) was on July 28, 1976 in China with 655,000 people died.
d. The Big One is to happen along the Hayward Fault most any time now!
4. Lord Jesus said that a sign that He is coming will be earthquakes!
a. Matt 24:7 - Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
b. Mk 13:8 - There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
c. Lk 21:11 - There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
5. They are happening more often now with greater intensity.
a. In the 9th century, there was one major earthquake; in the 11th century, two; in the 13th century, three; in the 16th, two; 17th, two; 18th, five; and in the 19th century, nine major earthquakes. So far in the 20th century, there have been over 40.
b. From the World Almanac: there were only 6 major earthquakes between 1800 to 1896. But in each decade from 1897, until 1947, there were either 2 or 3, and in the decade from 1947 to 1956, there were 7. From 1957 to 1966, there were 17.
c. In 1 year alone, 1976, we experienced at least 18 major quakes.
6. What will happen when the Real Big One Comes - When the Lord Comes Again?
I. ν1-3 - When is It Scheduled?
A. Various predictions concerning His coming.
1. The Moonies believe the returning Christ will be Korean.
2. Various Adventists claimed March 1843 or 1844.
3. Catholic Apostolic Church predicted His return in 1864.
4. Jehovah's Witnesses predicted an invisible coming in 1874 & the world would end in 1914. This was later revised to September 1975.
B. What the Lord predicted.
1. Nobody knows - not even Him! (Matt 24:36).
2. Like in the days of Noah, people would be conducting normal life (Matt 24:37-39).
3. ν2 - He will come like a thief in the night - unexpectedly! (Matt 24:43-44).
4. ν3 - He will come quickly like labor pains.
II. What Happens to Those Who Belong to the Night?
A. General attitude of the world at that time.
1. ν3 - They say, "Peace & safety".
2. ν5 - They are in darkness.
a. Jn 3:19-20 - This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
b. People who choose to stay in the dark are controlled by rulers of the dark. Eph 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
3. ν6 - They are asleep.
B. What will happen?
1. ν3 - Destruction will come unexpectedly & sudden.
2. Destruction (δλεθρος) = to destroy with the idea of corruption.
3. There will be no escape or exceptions.
III. What Happens to Those Who Belong to the Day?
A. General attitude of the saved at that time.
1. ν6 - Alert & self-controlled.
2. ν8 - Put on faith, love & the hope of salvation.
3. Rom 8:23 - We will have the fruit of the Spirit evident in our lives.
4. Tit 2:12.
a. They say "no" to ungodliness & worldly passions.
b. They live upright & godly.
Β. What will happen?
1. Rom 8:23.
a. At that time we will be adopted as His children.
b. Our bodies will be redeemed.
2. I Thess 4:16-17 - For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
3. ILL: The Rapture.
ILL: "A Thief in the Night". v11 says to encourage one another! In Christ, you don't have to worry about being left behind. Just trust Lord Jesus & let Him call the shots in your life!
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