The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "When Jesus Comes."
Our hope as Christians is in Christ. The New Testament makes this perfectly clear. Our hope for salvation is in him (Rom 5:1). Our hope for the future is also in him (Tit 2:13; cf. 1Pe 1:3, 13). Of course, viewed inclusively, our future hope entails much more than the arrival of Jesus; it entails all of the future events associated with his continuing presence. Jesus comes to rescue believers from God’s wrath (1Th 1:10), to raise the righteous dead (1Th 4:16), to reward those who appear before his judgment seat (1Th 1:19; 3:13; cf. 2Co 5:10), to judge the living prior to the renewal of all things (Mt 19:28-30; 25:31-46), and to raise and sentence the unrighteous dead (Rev 20:12-13) prior to the appearance of a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1-22:5).
Perhaps the following overview of these events may clarify their temporal relationship. Jesus is coming to rescue (1Th 1:10; 5:9; cf. 4:14-18) and then to reign (Mt 24:30-31; cf. 19:28). His return is sequenced, that is, it’s a complex event that unfolds in two phases. In the same way that the prophesied advent of Christ unfolds in a first advent followed by a second advent, so also does the second advent unfold in a coming to rescue, the rapture (1Th 4:14-18), followed by a coming to reign, the glorious appearing (Mt 24:30-31). Following the rapture, those who are “caught up” (1Th 4:17) to be with the Lord will appear before Jesus, their judge, at the bēma of Christ, i.e., the judgment seat of Christ, “so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2Co 5”10). Following the glorious appearing of Jesus, those who are alive, both Jews and Gentiles, will appear before Jesus, their judge, who will determine who gains entrance into his kingdom. Jews who evidenced faith by faithfully watching for Christ’s return and Gentiles who evidenced faith by demonstrating compassion to the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters enter the kingdom—while the faithless are excluded.
Inserted between the two aspects of our Lord’s return is a time of wrath (1Th 1:10; 5:9), God’s wrath, from which believers will be rescued by Jesus’ coming. This time of wrath is defined in terms of various future judgments (i.e., the seals, trumpets, and bowls) described in the book of Revelation. Following the seal judgments (6:1-14), those who experienced them cry out saying: “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath [i.e., God’s wrath] has come and who can withstand it?” (vv. 16-17; cf. 15:1). This period of wrath is thought by some to be related to the day of the Lord and to coincide with a future seven-year period of time called the Tribulation (Da 9:24, 27; cf. Mt 24:4-31; esp. vv. 8, 21). Others think the period of wrath coincides with only a part of the Tribulation—either during the second half or at the very end. Hence the difference of opinion among scholars regarding the temporal relationship of the rapture to the Tribulation—the text reads “Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” not “the coming Tribulation” (1:10).
Resurrections also occur in connection with the coming of Jesus. There are two resurrections separated by 1,000 years (Rev 20:4-6). The righteous (v. 4) are resurrected first and the unrighteous (v. 5) second—1,000 years later—making the first resurrection a resurrection unto eternal life and the second resurrection a resurrection unto eternal death. What’s more, the first resurrection does not take place all at once; it unfolds sequentially—”Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him” (1Co 15:23). Saints will be raised, resurrected, when Jesus comes to rescue (1Th 4:16) and other saints will be raised, resurrected, when he comes to reign (Rev 20:4). Both of these resurrections are part of the first resurrection—destiny is determinative. The resurrection of Jesus, of saints at the rapture, and of saints at the glorious appearing all belong to the first resurrection. Finally, following his glorious appearing, Christ will reign on earth for 1,000 years, during a form of the kingdom of God called the millennium.
Central Message of the Text:
When Jesus comes, believers in Christ will be rescued, rewarded, reunited, resurrected, raptured, and sanctified through and through.
Family Talk:
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about Jesus’ return. Actually, a better word is yearning; I’m yearning for Jesus to come today, right now, mainly because I’m really tired. Tired of the junk, the discouragement, the harsh circumstances of this world. I hurt for my friends who are hurting. I’m burdened for the sick. I’m standing with the parents of young kids and teenagers carrying an overwhelming load or facing incredibly challenging circumstances. My heart aches for those of us on this side of heaven and I’m just ready for Jesus to come claim us. That being said, after reading this week’s passages I’m feeling pretty convicted because my desire for Jesus’ return is out of hopelessness. I know we’re all going to feel some measure of hopelessness when the brokenness of the world reveals itself so openly. However, today I feel a need to shift my perspective from hopeless to hopeful. I can have hope because I know He is faithful to fulfill His promises. The end of the story is already written (literally; read 1 Thessalonian 4:13-18 for a glimpse). He will return and when He does, He’ll take me with Him to be with the Father. The fact that I have a place waiting for me fills me with overwhelming, abounding hope. I’m going to take my eyes off my circumstances and turn them to Jesus. I’m praying Romans 15:13 for us today, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rejoice, friends, because hope does not disappoint!