Guido Gardens Online: Bible Studies by The Sower: First Thessalonians

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The Guido Evangelistic Association, Inc.
600 N Lewis St.
PO Box 508
Metter, Georgia 30439

(912) 685-2222
FAX (912) 685-3502

Michael A. Guido, D.D., Founder

FREE BIBLE STUDIES BY THE SOWER

Mr. Guido has been writing and recording messages on the books of the Bible for his 15 minute radio program, "The Sower," for over 40 years. Now, for the first time, they are presented in text form for your enjoyment and edification.

Click on the menu to the left to begin your Bible Study with Mr. Guido, one verse at a time, in the order in which they were written and recorded.

The Book of First Thessalonians: Message Thirty

By Michael Guido, D.D.

On an island in the South Pacific, when one dies, a loved one climbs a high tree and cries, "Come back! Come back!" The Christians who stand by the graveside of those who died in the Lord know that one day they will come back, when the Lord returns. Let's think on His return.

Mark the promise. It's written in 1^st Thessalonians 4:15, "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." There's no supposition or speculation here. There's no guesswork or gamble about this. There's no uncertainty here. The apostle Paul got this direct from the Lord. Not only did the Lord speak of His return, but so did every prophet of the Old Testament. And what of the New Testament? The promise of the Lord's return is mentioned 318 times in it, or once in every 25 verses. From Genesis 3:15 to Revelation 22:20 the promise of the Lord's return is like a silver cord running through all Scripture.

Now let's meet the Person. It's written in 1^st Thessalonians 4:16, "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven." There are some who say that the second coming of Christ was fulfilled in the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost. But the Bible says, "The Lord Himself shall descend," not "the Spirit." There are others who say the second coming of Christ is fulfilled in the conversion of a sinner or the dying of a saint. But the Bible says, "The Lord Himself shall descend;" not His Spirit, but the Savior; not conversion, but Christ. The two men in white apparel said to the disciples, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." "This same Jesus," declares the Bible. Did He go up in a body? Then He'll come down in a body. Did He go up in the clouds? Then He'll come down in clouds. Did they see Him go? Then they'll see Him come down.

Now let's listen to the pitch. First, there'll be the "shout." This is the Victor's shout. One day our Lord went to the grave of Lazarus and He shouted, "Lazarus, come forth!" He that was dead came forth. So it is that at His return all the bodies of the believers that are asleep in the soil or the sea will come forth at His shout. Second, there'll be the "voice of the archangel." There's a great battle going on against the forces of the devil and his demons. When the archangel speaks it will be a shout of victory, for then the devil will have been defeated. Third, there's "the trump of God." When the trumpet blows in the army camp, the men pitch in to fight. But when God's trump shall sound, the Christians will be picked up to have fellowship with Christ.

Mark the plan. The Bible says, "The dead in Christ shall rise first." Who are the dead in Christ? Those who have repented of their sins and received the Savior, but who have died. They're in many different places. Some have gone down into the sea...many are in manmade graves...some have been burned to death...others have been torn to pieces by explosions...some have been lost in the wild places of this earth, and their bodies have been eaten by the birds...but the Lord knows where they are. When He comes, the bodies of the believers will be caught up, and not one will be missing. After the dead in Christ are raised up, then, says the Bible, "we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." One said to me the other day, "There are two things that everyone must do." "What are they?" I asked. "Die, and pay taxes," he answered. I surprised him by saying, "I expect to pay taxes, but I don't expect to die." "Are you crazy?" he asked. "No," I answered. "Should Christ come today, and He may, I'll not die, but I'll be caught up. I'm not looking for the undertaker, but the Uppertaker." In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the Christians who are alive and remain when Christ comes will be caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air.

Mark the preparation. As a Christian man was dying, he said to his two sons who were saved, "I'm going to leave you for a little while, but not for long. I'll see you again. Goodnight!" But to his youngest son, who wasn't saved, he said, "Goodbye, son, goodbye! Your brothers trusted my Savior as their Savior. I'll see them again. But you've rejected Him. I'll never see you again." Oh, father," he cried, "tell me goodnight, for I now trust the Savior." You will too, won't you?

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

Click here to go to the next message in this Sower Scripture Study on the book of First Thessalonians.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Mr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification.