Pilot Knob Lutheran Encourage One Another 11/15/2023
The season of the church year is the End Times. Prior to advent the focus is on the coming of the Messiah – the second and last time. There is a lot of talk about how the current Israeli war and newspaper headlines are reflecting the fulfillment of end time prophecy. We need to get our head out of current events that try to establish a biblical time-line. Paul reminds believers to encourage one another about the promise of Jesus’ return, not trying to map it out. Apparently, the Christians in Thessalonica thought the Lord would return in their life time and when some believers passed away, they wondered if they would miss out on His return. He assured them the hope we have in Christ is for the living and dead believers alike. 1 Thess. 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. “Fall asleep” does not refer to soul sleep somewhere until the end of time. Sleep is a metaphor for death because at death people look like they are sleeping and because Jesus’ death and resurrection has removed the fear of death and replaced it with the assurance of salvation. No matter how we die or when, we will be raised on the last day to be with Jesus forever. A word on 4:17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. “Caught up,” or the Latin word ‘rapture’ simply refers to the living Christians who will be instantly changed into an immortal body without dying and met the Lord as he returns. This nowhere refers to the church being taken out of the world prior to the tribulation. Paul is reassuring the believers that the living and dead will be raised at the end of time, be united, and be with the Lord forever. This is our hope, our assurance that we will be ‘snatched’ out of the world at the Lord’s return as he brings judgment and justice upon evil. This world will pass away but God’s word stands forever. Therefore, believe it, trust it and obey it. Pr. Bob Snitzer By the Way:Today: 3:45 Confirmation class. Thursday 16, Jon Ranheim’s funeral at 11:00 at Schott Funeral Home, FC.November 19, 9:00 AM Morning worship. Sermon: The End Will Come. 10:15 Sunday school for all ages. Sunday 26, 2-3:30 GriefShare. Please tell others. For more information go to:
https://www.griefshare.org/findagroupor contact Pr. Bob or Sue Reese.November 22, 6:30 Thanksgiving Eve Service. Please bring a nonperishable food item for the FC Food Bank.~ Past communiques and sermons can be read and heard on our website: www.pilotknob.org and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilotKnobLutheran/
