Letter to the Thessalonians - Part 2 — Stephen Kaung

This is Monday evening, May the 7th, 1973, in Richmond, Virginia. Ministry is being given through Brother Stephen Kong.

Opening Prayer and Introduction to the Thessalonian Letters

Lord, how we praise and thank thee that under the precious blood thou dost see no iniquity in us, but thou dost give the commandment to bless, and who can reverse it? So we just come to thee with confidence in thyself, trusting thy Holy Spirit to bless us with thy word, to touch our hearts, and to prepare us as a people for thyself.

We ask in the precious name of our Lord Jesus. This morning we fellowship together something in the two letters of Paul to the Thessalonians. We mention that these two letters to the Thessalonians were the first two letters written by Paul to any church.

The church in Thessalonica was raised up by God through the apostle Paul just probably for a few months. And Paul wrote these two letters to that church. Can you read these two letters without going into the details?

But if you try to read these two letters in one sitting, and you try to read them with your spirit open to the Lord, what impression will these two letters impress upon you most? I think this is a good way to read the Bible.

You know, sometimes when we read the Bible, we are bogged down with details, with a word, with a phrase, with a sentence. And when you are involved with such things, it gradually becomes technical. You may be able to get some understanding, and yet you miss the essence of the Word of God.

So I think sometimes it is very blessed if you try to read the Word of God in one sitting. Don't divide it, but read the two letters in one sitting. And with your heart wide open to the Lord, and you get a kind of impression from the Lord, as to these two letters.

The Freshness of Christ’s Life in the Thessalonian Church

I believe if you read it that way, the first thing that will impress upon you will be you somehow sense the freshness of life there. This is a young girl. She was not noted for her maturity. And yet there was a freshness.

The freshness of the life of Christ. Yes, they had problems. Problems not only with theology. They had problems in practical life. And yet you sense a freshness of the life of Christ in them. I do not know how to describe it.

The verse that came to me was in Psalms. You know in Psalm 46 it says, There is a river, the stream whereof flows through the city of God, and make glad the city of God. The Lord is in their midst, and they shall not be moved, and the Lord shall help them at the dawn of the morning.

Now that is the feeling. The church in Thessalonica is the city of God. The habitation of the Most High. The sanctuary, the habitation of the Most High. And the Lord is in their midst. The spirit of life flows through the city and makes them glad.

They shall not be moved. They are living in the dawn. Now that is the situation you find with the church in Thessalonica. Brothers and sisters, there is nothing more important than life. The life of Christ as manifested consciously in the church.

And Paul wrote these two letters. On the one hand to thank God for the life that was manifest in their midst. On the other hand to encourage them. They may continue to grow in life. Now we mention also this morning, if there is life, there will be evidence.

And the evidence is of life in the case where the church in Thessalonica is threefold. They turn from idols to God. That's the past. They serve the true and living God. That's the present. And they wake the Son of God from heaven.

That's the future. Brothers and sisters, if there is life, there will be the experience of the past. We are turned from idols. And there will be this experience. We are here serving the true and living God.

And there will be that expectation looking forward to the coming. And out of that comes the work of faith. The labor of love. And the endurance. If you read these two letters again for the second time, in the same way, probably you'll begin to get a second impression.

Living in Expectation of the Lord’s Return

And the second impression as you read these two letters is, here was as young as he was. Yet he was literally living on tiptoe. With anxious expectation of the return. Now that's the impression you will get.

In the two letters to the Thessalonians, you'll find he is just filled with the desire, the thought, of the coming, the second coming of the Lord. You understand? Not expecting the return of the Lord.

There was such an earnest and anxious expectation in there. Oh, that the Lord will come back to him. And they really expected the Lord to come back in their life. You know, brothers and sisters, sometimes it is an argument in theology.

Some people say, well, probably Paul was mistaken. Because in the writing of Paul, it seems as if he was expecting the Lord to return in his lifetime. But he waited and waited, and the Lord did not return.

And he passed away. He was mistaken. As a matter of fact, the early Christians in the first century, they were all expecting the Lord to return in their lifetime. And yet, the Lord did not return. Were they mistaken?

Not at all. Not at all. In every century, you'll find those who love the Lord are waiting for the Lord to return in their lifetime. Every century. Throughout the centuries, mistaken? Not at all. There is love.

If anyone really loved the Lord, if there is the first love, he is bound to wait for the Lord to come back in his lifetime. What else? It is a matter of love. Wherever there is the first love, there is that expectation for the Lord to return.

Because his heart is no longer on earth. His heart is on earth. That is the most healthy thing you can ever have. It is only when our heart grows cold when we say the Lord delayed his return. The Lord will not come in our lifetime.

It is the wicked servant who says the Lord is delayed. Therefore, he begins to beat his fellow servants. He comes careless. And unexpectedly, the Lord came back. It is the foolish virgin. The thing that the Lord would delay will not come.

And they will be shut out. Wherever there is first love. Wherever there is a revival, an awakening among God's people. Inevitably, you'll find the issue of the second coming becomes very little. It is only when the church is in sleep.

Then the issue of the second coming becomes a forgotten issue. Every time there is a revival in history. Every time there is an awakening. You'll find the second coming immediately becomes a living issue.

In other words, people begin to look forward to the coming of the Lord. That's all. God's timetable is flexible. God does not have a fixed timetable. Say, Christ will not return until the end of year 2000.

God does not have such a fixed timetable. God's timetable is flexible. Whenever the condition is fulfilled, then the time is come. Our Lord Jesus, He says He is coming back. And so far as the heart of our Lord Jesus is concerned.

How He longs to come back immediately. Think of the bridegroom and the bride. How anxious must be the heart of the bridegroom to come to meet his bride. Our Lord is the bridegroom. Anxious he must be in coming back to receive his bride.

But why does He delay and delay so long? The bride is not ready. The bride is not ready. When the bride is ready, He will not wait a minute. He will come back to receive. So brothers and sisters, spiritually speaking, even in the first century.

The Lord could return. And now we are in the centennial century. How much nearer it must be of the coming with this church. In Thessalonica, in her first love. No wonder you find they were anxiously expecting the Lord to come.

The Blessed Hope Amid Persecution

That's their blessed hope. They live by that blessed hope. And because of that hope in them, they were purified. This young church. When Paul preached the gospel to the Thessalonians. He was persecuted.

He had to be sent away. Because of the attack. Of the accusation. Of the riots. And after Paul left, this young church went through great persecution. Not from the Jews. But from their own country. And what kept them faithful to the Lord?

That they just found. It was the blessed hope. When the going was hard. They look up and said the Lord. That was their strength. And that gave them endurance. That was how they went through the persecution.

They were able to go through. Brothers and sisters. Every time the people of God enter into persecution. You'll find. The blessed hope contains them. Through all their trials. I'd like to read to you.

It is a translation. This hymn was written after the communists occupied. We do not know who wrote it. There are only three people. Who could write such a hymn. But I do not know which one. Just as the children of God enter into persecution.

You notice. How they accept the Lord. In other words. The longing to see the Lord is increased in persecution. Very often I feel we live so peacefully. We go to sleep. And if we live prosperously. We hope the Lord will delay his coming.

Why? Because we have such a good time here. But when God's people really enter into turbulence time. You'll find. The hope. The desire. The longing for the Lord to return. I'll read them. And you notice.

The desire there. Things long ago. At destiny. We parted. Within my heart. There is a ceaseless. How can I take my heart down from the willow? How can my song. Without thee. Be enjoyed. And when at night.

I'm keeping a lonely vigil. Grown dumb. A light to sorrow. And to fear. Then I recall. The promise of thy coming. But sigh. Oh Lord. Why? Why thou does not yet. Thy manger wakes the thought. I too am homeless.

Thy cross strips earthly pleasure. From my soul. Thy coming bids me seek. A better country. For thou thyself. Art now. My final goal. Things thou art gone. My joy has lost its flavor. My song of sweetness.

I will sing conveyed. Things thou art gone. The scent of void. Overwhelms me. Oh how I long. That thou wilt come. Though even now I know thy loving presence. Yet in my heart. There is still a scent of love.

Enlightening and tenderest of things. Can no more satisfy. I won't be there. Despite. Thy peace within. I still feel lonely. Despite thy joy. There still remains a sigh. When I feel most content. The silent yearning.

To see thee face to face. Becomes. What exile. Exile. Cannot the desire his homeland. And long his people once again to greet. What soul. On alien soul. Forgets his kingdom. What parted lovers. Never yearn to meet.

Oh Lord. How can these earthly love and pleasure. With all the joy of thy return compare. Then if I cannot hear. Behold thy company. What can I do. But sigh. Till thou my Lord. Couldst thou oh Lord. Forget thy word of promise.

Soon to return. And take me unto thee. Yet day by day. And year by year. I've waited. And still I wait. And no return. Remember Lord. The years I have been waiting. While thy dear footsteps. Linger far away.

How long how long. Oh must I wait still longer. Till thou shalt come again. In glorious array. From generation unto generation. Thy saints have come and gone. But have not seen. Thy glorious promise. Pass into fulfillment.

How long how very long. The time has been. Why cannot we dear Lord. Deserve thy footsteps. Why are the heavens still so closely sealed. Oh must our waiting be too long. Still further. Before thou in thy matchless wonder.

Are to yield. Lord. I recall the many years. I've waited. For thy return. Yet Lord. Not I alone. For thy dear saints. For many generations. Beseeching thee to come back. For thine own. To countless tears.

And countless servant pleadings. By thine appearing haste. To make me fly. Oh may thou come. The echo. Of the ages. Come. Come. And answer now. This mighty. Covenant. You can sense the feeling. Especially when God's people.

Are under. Tribulation. They long to see. That's their only hope. Brothers and sisters. The church in Thessalonica. Lost a church. Waiting for the Lord. To come back. And because they waited. The Lord to come back.

A fire. Of love. Was burned. The coming of the Lord. Is not for mental curiosity. The coming of the Lord. Ought to be a spiritual occupation. In other words. People today. Are curious. About the coming of the Lord.

They want to know all the events. All the prophecies. And how they will be fulfilled for them. But brothers and sisters. To those who really love the Lord. It is not a matter of curiosity. It is not just to satisfy our mind.

It is our occupation. It shall occupy our heart. It is something that is burning with our heart. Lord. Come quickly. Lord Jesus. You are ours. As you read these two letters to the Thessalonians. I believe.

That will be the impression. They do not know too much about. The second coming of the Lord. They still have theological questions. And yet you find. They were waiting for the Lord to return. Now that is.

Brothers and sisters. If you compare. Their knowledge of the second coming of the Lord. With the knowledge we have today. We are far more advanced than they are. We know much more than they do. It is not how much you know.

It is how are you waiting. Very often we know too much. But we are not waiting. What is the use of knowing. If you are not waiting. When he shall come back. He will take you by surprise. You are not ready.

For him. And probably you are asking to delay his return. Because you know. You are not ready. You cannot see. How much better dear brothers and sisters. If. Even if we know little. And yet that little we know.

Make us waiting. Looking forward. To the return. Why do we want him to return. Because we love him. We want to see him. And we shall be like him. When we meet. So this will be the impression you get. When you read the two letters to the Thessalonians.

I hope. You will read it. In that way. And see. If you get that right impression. So this evening I would like to. Hear with you. What the coming of the Lord. Means. As you will find in these two letters to the Thessalonians.

Deliverance from the Coming Wrath

Now of course. The coming of the Lord means a great deal to us. It means much to us. But we have to limit ourselves. To the two letters to the Thessalonians. We will see according to the two letters to the Thessalonians.

What does the coming of the Lord mean to us. Let us turn to 1 Thessalonians. Chapter 1. Verses 9 and 10. For they themselves relate concerning us. What entering in we have to you. And how he turned to God from idols.

To serve a living and true God. And to awaken his son from the heavens. Whom he raised from among the dead. Jesus our deliverer. From the coming wrath. First. The coming of the Lord means to us. The deliverance from the coming wrath.

This world has already been. The judgment is temporarily suspended. Now that is the situation of the world today. Do you not think that the world we live. Is not judged. God has already judged this world.

When Christ was crucified. The prince of the world was judged. And with the prince of this world judged. That is Satan judged. The whole world was judged. So far as God's judgment is concerned. But the execution of God's judgment.

Has been temporarily suspended. Is because of the long suffering. He wants everyone to be saved. And to repent. In other words. God suffers long. So far as the world is concerned. It is already judged.

There is no change. There will be no change. It is already judged. But God sustains the execution of his judgment. In order that during this period. Some may yet repent. Now that is the reason why. For the day is coming.

When God will execute his judgment upon this world. The wrath of God is coming. And it will come in the executing his judgment. So when you come to revelation. You will find. At the seventh. At the sixth seal.

It is said. Verse fifteen. Chapter six verse fifteen. And the kings of the earth and the great and Achilleach. And the rich and the strong and every bondman and freeman. Hid themselves in the caves and the rocks of the mountains.

And they say to the mountains and to the rocks. Fall on us and have us hidden from the face of him. That sits upon the throats. And from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come. And who is able to stand.

One day there will be the wrath of the Lamb. You know the Lamb is the meekest animal. You can do anything to a lamb. A lamb under the shearer utters no sound. When I was in New Zealand. I went to see they shear the lamb.

And it was a competition. Those shearers they came together. And they compete. Six lambs. And they all fought at once. And see who finished first. You know. And who did the best job. And they used electric shearers.

Electric shearers. You know. And they would. One lamb would come. And they would grab it. And they started it. And it is so fast. And because they want to get fast. Sometimes you will find that it took up half of the year.

But you do not hear a sound. It struggles a little bit. The Lamb is the meekest of all animals. Yes. When the meekest should get angry. Now that angry is something. Right. For instance. Suppose a person is a very gentle person.

Or a very patient person. You can do anything to him and he will not react. But one day when he does react. He blows the seed. The Lamb. Our Lord Jesus is the Lamb. Behold the Lamb of God. Who takes away the seed of this world.

You can do anything to him today. But one day. The wrath of the Lamb will come. It is the great day. Of the wrath of God. And who? People will hide in the cave. And ask the stones, the mountains to fall upon them.

Because they cannot see the cave. The 16th verse 1. And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels. Go and pour out the seven bowls of the fury of God upon the earth. One day seven angels.

Handing seven bowls. Full of the fury of God. And they will pour the fury of God upon the earth. One day. God will judge. And the wrath of God will continue on. Of course. To the judgment of the great white throne.

Who can behead. Deliver us from the curse. Lord Jesus. When he was crucified on the cross. The wrath of God. Then he cried out. My God. My God. Why? Wrath of God. Poured upon the sinner. The Lord said.

Verily, verily, I say unto you. If anyone should hear my voice. And believe in him who has thanked me. He has passed. Brothers and sisters. Our Lord Jesus is our deliverer. His return means the coming of the wrath of God.

Upon this earth. But we do not know. As in Luke it says. When you see all these things are coming. Lift up your head. For you are with God. Brothers and sisters. His second coming means. We have been delivered.

Justification, Salvation, and Freedom from Wrath

It means more than that. If you turn to Romans chapter five. Verses nine and ten. Romans chapter five. Verses nine and ten. Much rather therefore. Having been now justified. In the power of his blood.

We shall be saved by him. From wrath. For if being enemies. We have been reconciled to God. Through the death of his son. Much rather. Having been reconciled. We shall be saved. In the power of his life.

You know. Because. Christ has died for us. We are justified. In his blood. That is something already done. We are justified in his blood. We shall be saved by him. From wrath. We shall be. Saved. By him.

From wrath. Now what does that mean? It simply means this. Because having been justified by his blood. By his death. We have now his life in us. And in the power of his life. We shall be saved. From wrath.

That is to say. Daily as we live on earth. By the power of his life. We are saved. From pleas. Not only something that is coming. But even today. We can live daily under his pleasure. Just as our Lord Jesus.

When he was on earth. The heavens opened and said. This is my beloved son. In whom I have my delight. There is no rest. Upon him. Because he had done something. Displeasing the Father. But there is a delight.

Brothers and sisters. This life. Is now in you. And by this life. We are saved. Daily. From wrath. God is pleased with us. Not because we are able to please him. But because his life in us. Oh if we only live by the life of Christ in us.

We can look up. And the light of his countenance. Shine. That is being saved by his life. Saved from wrath by his life. And when the Lord shall return. There will be no wrath. Well done. This is the meaning of the coming of the Lord to us.

We are saved. Delivered. From. From second. Second chapter. Verses 19 and 20. First Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 19 and 20. For what is our hope. Our joy. Our crown. Our boasting. Are not ye also before our Lord Jesus at his coming.

For ye are our glory and joy. What is the second coming of the Lord means to us. The second coming of the Lord means to us. The day. Of. Reward. Revelation chapter 11. At the founding of the seventh. Conference.

This is what you find here. Revelation chapter 11. Verses. 15. So. 18. And the seventh angel sounding his trumpet. And there were great voices in the heavens saying. The kingdom of our of the world of our Lord and of his Christ is come.

And he shall reign to the ages of ages. And the 24 elders who stood upon their throne before God. Fell upon their faces and worshiped God saying. We give thee thanks Lord God almighty. He who is and who was.

That thou has taken thy great power and has reigned. And the nations have been full of wrath. And thy wrath is come. And the time of the dead to be done. And to give the recompense to thy servants the prophets.

And to the saints. And to those who fear thy name small and great. And to destroy those that destroy the earth. So far as the Lord's people are concerned. The coming of the Lord is the day of recompense.

The Day of Reward and the Judgment Seat of Christ

The day of reward. What is our reward? Of course if you read the Bible. You find the reward. Is given in many different ways. Sometimes it speaks of the throne. Sometimes it speaks of the crown. Sometimes it speaks of the dominion over 5 cities or 10 cities.

Sometimes it speaks of the joy of the Lord in the marriage feast. And you'll find it is described in many many different ways. And thank God. When the Lord shall return. This is the time. Not only we shall be delivered from the coming wrath.

But positively. This will be the day. That we shall be rewarded. Now brothers and sisters. There is a great difference between gift and reward. Gift is something that is given undeservedly. Not because you have done anything.

If you have done anything it will not be a gift. The Bible says it will be a gift. Eternal life is a gift. Not because we deserve it. Not because we have done something worthy of Him. But it is through grace.

We are saved by grace. Through faith. Not of ourselves. But of God. The Bible tells us. Aside from the gift of God. There will be the reward. God of reward is in the system. But reward is only for those who are the Lord.

Eternal life is offered as a gift to all who believe. The reward is promised to those who are the Lord. If they cooperate with the Holy Spirit. And let the Holy Spirit perfect His work. They shall be rewarded.

So you find in 1 Corinthians chapter 3. Paul said. The foundation is already laid. It is not of Christ. But we are building upon that foundation. Notice how you build. If you build with gold, silver and precious stones.

Or you build with wood, stubble and straw. The day shall come. When we shall all appear at the judgment seat. And a fire will appear. To take our work. If it is wood. Glass. And hay. You shall be saved.

But barely. But if it is gold, silver and precious stones. When they are tested by fire. It gives more. Radiance. So brothers and sisters. This is something. That we need to. You know today in Christianity.

Either people believe. That salvation is to be earned. By good works. Or we go to the other extreme. Because salvation is free. Therefore. After you receive. Christ. It doesn't matter how you live on earth.

After all. You are saved. That is another extreme. But as you read the word of God. You will find. That eternal life is the free gift of God. It is given to all who believe. Not by privilege. Pure grace.

But after we are saved. The Lord does accept. That we will do his will. And if we do his will. We shall be rewarded. Just like in a family. Every child that is born into the family. Has the right. The privilege.

To be fed. To be clothed. To live under a roof. In other words the parents prepare all these things for the children. For their children. It is gift. Not because you pay. Not because you have done something.

But because you are born to the family. Therefore this is your right. This is your privilege. It is equal to all the children in the family. Among the children. Is there are some. Who listen to the parents.

Who obey the parents. And who do things that are pleasing to the parents. You know what will happen. Sometimes the parents say. Now if you do this. Or if you don't do that. If you listen to me. When I come back.

You will have a candy. Now that candy is a reward. And suppose among seven children. And three cheat. And three do not listen. What will happen? All seven get the candy? No. The three that obey get the candy.

But all seven get the supper. So brothers and sisters. You will find. We are the family of God. All who believe in the Lord Jesus. Receive eternal life. Only those. Who do the will of God. Will be rewarded.

If after you believe in the Lord. You build. With wood. Grass. In other words. If you live your life. If you do your work. According to the flesh. Wood always represents human nature. Grass is human work.

Because in Egypt they mix the grass. To make bread. And hay speaks of the glory of man. If it is just in the level of the natural. You are building with wood. So. They are not very costly. And you can build very.

A big building. That is visible. Everybody can see. But. The point is. It cannot stand the fire. And the fire here. Is none other but the Lord himself. God is like a consuming fire. In other words. One day we shall all appear.

At the judgment seat of Christ. And there he will test us. With himself. Is it me. Or is it you. If it is you. No matter how big it is. Wood is the nature of God. Silver is the redemption of Christ. Precious stone.

Is the work of the Holy Spirit. And if you build with gold, silver and precious stone. Then the fire will only increase its light. And you will be rewarded. Now does it mean that. You will be unsaved.

Why. Because the foundation is Christ. It is only the superstructure that is burned. But you cannot burn the foundation. Therefore you are saved. But bear this in mind. You will not. All brothers and sisters.

I must say this is something. That many of God's people get confused. The second coming of the Lord is the time of reward. He shall reward. He shall reward his saints. Both great. If you give a cup of cold water.

In the name of the disciple. To anyone. You shall receive the reward. But among all the rewards. There is one. That Paul mentioned especially. In the letter to the testimony. He said. What is our hope.

Our joy. Our crown of boasting. Are not we also before our Lord Jesus. At the coming. For you are. Our glory and glory. In other words there is a reward. And the reward is. One day when you come to the judgment seat of Christ.

One day when Christ shall return. And you shall see him. There will be those. Whom you have. Helped. In the Lord. And they are there. At. The judgment seat of Christ. And they are your crown. And your joy.

You know. If God used you. To bring a soul to Christ. If God used you. To help. Other people. There is a joy. And how much more. When. You come. At the presence of the Lord. And you will find all these.

Whom God has used you to help. They are all there. They are your crown. They are your joy. That is your reward. If nothing else. That is enough. Not to say there are many more. Many more. But anyway. It is the source.

That the coming of the Lord. Is the day of reward. To God's servants. And God's people. And that should. Number three. Chapter three. Verse thirteen. In order to the confirming of your heart. Unblameable in holiness.

Before our God and Father. At the coming of our Lord Jesus. With all. The coming of the Lord. Is the day. When the purpose. Of God. Shall be fulfilled. Now what is the purpose of God. Concerning us. The purpose of God concerning us.

Holiness and the Fulfillment of God’s Purpose

Individually. You may find. In Ephesians chapter one. Verse four. According as he has chosen us. In him. Before the world's foundation. That we should be holy and blameless. Before him in love. Now what is God's purpose.

In choosing us. His purpose in choosing us. In Christ. Is that we may be. Holy and blameless. Before him in love. In other words. God choosing us. Is not just we may be saved. We may go to heaven. Yes we will.

But. God choosing us. Has a purpose. And his purpose is. That we may be holy and blameless. Before him. In love. Now that is God. Individually. You will find in chapter five. And it is the same thing.

Same thing. Verse. 26. That he. 27. That he might present the assembly. The church to himself glorious. Having no spot or wrinkle. Or any of such things. But that it might be holy. And blameless. Now this is the purpose of God.

Concerning us. In Christ Jesus. That we may be holy. That is to say completely separated. That we may be blameless. Before him. There is nothing. That he can blame. Of course it is in love. Because love covers a multitude.

This is God's purpose. And purposely. God's purpose is. That the church may be a glorious place. Without spot. Or any of such things. But we may be holy and blameless. Who is doing that kind of work? You know?

The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in us. The Holy Spirit in the church. Is working towards that. He is here responsible. To bring us there. Oh if only we know. And if only we are able to do that. And thank God.

At the coming of the Lord. This is what will be seen. Confirmed. Our heart is confirmed. Unblameable. In holiness. Before our God and Father. At the coming of our Lord Jesus. With all his saints. Dear brothers and sisters.

How shall we live today? We live today. With that eternal life. You know one. George Christian. The great evangelist. He said. I do not live. By time. I live by eternity. And here you will find. If we have the blessed hope.

Of the Lord Jesus before us. Now what is? What is involved there? That one day we shall stand before him. Holy and blameless. Brothers and sisters. We shall live daily in that light. If we walk in that light.

We have fellowship with him. And the blood of Jesus Christ. Cleanses us. From all harm. Not that we are perfect. We are not perfect. We need the precious blood. The more you walk in that light. The more you need the precious blood.

But thank God we shall walk. And we will be perfect. That is material. One day conceived by the Lord. Holy. Chapter 4. Verses 16 and 17. For the Lord himself. With an assembling shout. With archangels voice.

And with comfort of God. Shall descend from heaven. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we the living who remain. Shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. To meet the Lord in the air.

And thus we shall be always with the Lord. So encourage one another. Living spirit. The coming of the Lord. Shall mean to us. A great family reunion. At the coming of the Lord. There will be the family reunion.

The Resurrection and the Great Family Reunion

The dead. Shall be raised. From the dead. And those who live and remain. Shall be transformed. And we shall all be together. With the Lord. And with one another. Oh we shall find Paul there. And Peter there.

We shall find those. Dear ones. Who have gone before us there. It will be a great reunion. With the Lord. And with. You cannot imagine. The family sharing that. That they must be. Everybody wants to tell.

What the Lord means to them or to her. The reunion. Great family. And number five. Sacrifice. Verse nine. Because God. Has not set us for rest. But for obtaining salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who has died for us. That whether we may be washing. Or asleep. We may live together with him. Verse 23. Now the God of peace himself sanctify your holiness. And your whole spirit soul. And body to preserve.