Christmas Future
by Gary Johnson
We have been walking through the Christmas story these past couple weeks through the lenses of “Christmas past” and “Christmas present” so you already know today is “Christmas future.”
In Christmas past as children, we anxiously waited for Christmas morning to arrive. Though we have grown older, nothing has changed. We often anxiously wait for answers to prayer to arrive and for the hand of God to be seen in our circumstances.
In Christmas present, our society has become engrossed in consumerism as we buy into the thinking of Burger King’s mantra to “have it your way.” Whether money and the things that money can buy, where and what we do for work, where we live and with whom, we want it our way. What if – in Christmas present – we surrendered our lives to Jesus, King above all kings and truly made Him Ruler of our lives? This Christmas would be different.
Christmas is about the coming of Jesus – His first coming; but there will be a “Christmas future” when Jesus comes again. Paul wrote about this to believers struggling with understanding life after death.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT)
In the first century church at Thessalonica, the believers were confused about loved ones who had “fallen asleep” (i.e., died). Where were they? What happened to them when they drew their last breath? Paul spoke “directly from the Lord” words to clear up the confusion.
The same confusion exists in the 21st century church. All too often, we make “the end” and the second coming of Jesus complicated and it doesn’t need to be. The return of King Jesus was important to Paul. Every chapter in 1 Thessalonians ends with mention of the second coming. If it’s repeated, it’s important! Paul took what so many people have made complicated, and he made it simple for us to understand. Let’s use that word as a memory tool.
Struggle (v 13): We struggle with death. Even as Christians, we struggle to talk about it, think introspectively about it, plan for it, and more. We struggle understanding what happens to us the moment we die. Other versions of this passage use the phrase “fall asleep” referring to death. Hence, some people believe the soul “sleeps” in the grave until the return of Jesus. Friends, “to be absent from the body is to be home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8)!
Involved (vv 14-15): Every God-follower who dies before the return of Jesus will come back with King Jesus. As well, believers who are alive on earth at the time of His return will be involved (see P below).
Majestic (v 16): Jesus will come again, not as a helpless baby laid in a feeding trough but as a conquering King! Moreover, His return will be announced simultaneously to the entire globe by trumpets and the commanding shout of Michael the Archangel!
Purge (vv 16-17): When Jesus returns from heaven, those who are home with the Lord return with Him as a mighty, conquering army! The dead do not rise up from the ground; they are coming with Him. Check out Revelation 19:7-8, and 19:11-16, paying close attention to “those who are wearing the clean, white linen.” Believers alive at His coming are caught up into this great army of believers to vanquish all that is wrong, evil, and sinful.
Life Unending (v 17): Our finite minds cannot grasp the infinite! We will live with Jesus, and it will be forever!
Encourage (v 18): We need good news today! This word is paraklasis – a word that echoes the “nickname” of God the Spirit, paraclete, the one who is called alongside as comforter. Let’s comfort each other with the Good News that Jesus is coming back! And, we’re also told - commanded - by Paul to continually encourage each other with this hope-filled news.
You can find helpful information about the second coming in The End: The Return of King Jesus and the Renewal of All Things. As well, I recently preached this very text, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 at Connect Christian Church (starts at 16:18) in Concord, NC, a partner church of e2.
With growing anticipation, we look forward to Christmas future – the second coming of Jesus – in all His majesty and splendor. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
