Jesus is Returning Soon | Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, April 12



Pastor Jentezen Franklin brings comforting hope from 1 Thessalonians 4 as he teaches on the return of Jesus Christ. Discover why believers can face death and the future without sorrow or fear, and how the promise of Christ’s soon coming should purify our lives and fill us with expectant joy. 

 

Key Scriptures 

I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:52; Acts 8:39; John 6:15; I Corinthians 12:2; Acts 23:10; I Corinthians 15:51-52; Luke 17:34-37; Matthew 24:36-44; Numbers 10:9; II Thessalonians 2:7; Zechariah 12:2-3; Daniel 11:37; Luke 17:28; I John 3:2-3; Luke 21:34-35; Revelation 22:20-21 

 

Key Points 

  • Jesus is the center of the Rapture message. Wars, rumors of wars, and other signs are not the focus—the center of it all is Jesus. He Himself will descend with a shout, and everything about His return points back to Him. 
  • Jesus’ resurrection is the assurance of your resurrection. If you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, then you can trust that He has the power to raise you too. His victory over the grave is the foundation of our hope. 
  • No one knows when Jesus will return. There won’t be time to get ready when the trumpet sounds—the Church will be caught away in the twinkling of an eye. That’s why we are called to live godly, ready, and expectant lives now. 

Introduction 

Today we’ll explore the message, The sermon title Jesus is Returning Soon by Pastor Jentezen Franklin. Series title, The Return of Jesus. The message encouraged us to live with confident hope and daily readiness, grounded in the assurance that Jesus will return and that His promise gives us comfort, purpose, and urgency in how we live. 

• What stood out to you from Sunday’s message? 

Let’s explore three powerful truths from 1 Thessalonians 4 that bring comfort, reveal the glory of Christ’s return, and challenge us to live ready. 

 

The Comfort of Our Hope 

​In 1 Thessalonians 4, the Apostle Paul addresses a profound concern within the early church: the fate of believers who passed away before the return of Christ. The believers in Thessalonica were deeply troubled, fearing that their loved ones might miss out on the glory of the Lord's coming. However, Scripture shows that we are not called to live in the dark regarding those who have "fallen asleep" in Christ. 

​1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (ESV) 

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 

​The Foundation of Our Faith 

​Our comfort is not rooted in wishful thinking but in the historical reality of the Gospel. The bedrock of every miracle—including the promise of the Rapture—is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He conquered the grave, death for the believer has been transformed into a temporary "sleep." We do not sorrow as those who have no hope; rather, we rest in the authority of Christ’s finished work. 

​Present Reality and Future Promise 

​We are reminded that our loved ones who have died in the Lord are not lost or waiting in a void. A powerful truth to hold onto is that they are already in the presence of the Lord right now. When Christ returns, He does not come alone; He brings with Him those who have fallen asleep in Him. The transition from this life to the next is instantaneous for the believer—to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. This realization shifts our perspective from one of permanent loss to one of temporary separation and guaranteed reunion. 

​Discussion Questions 

  • ​How does the reality of Jesus' resurrection change the way we view the passing of a fellow believer? 
  • ​Paul emphasizes that we should not be "ignorant" or "without hope." In what ways can we practically encourage someone who is currently struggling with the "sorrow" of a lost loved one? 
  • ​Knowing that believers who have died are already with the Lord right now, how does that influence your daily perspective on the "Return of Jesus"? 

 

The Central Figure of Christ’s Return 

The return of Jesus is a dramatic and powerful event, with the Lord Himself at the center of it all. Jesus lovingly wanted to ease the fears of His disciples when He said: 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go, you know, and the way you know” (John 14:1-4). 

Thomas questioned the Lord by saying that they did not know where He was going or how to get there. Jesus patiently replied, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). The promise that in time we will have the opportunity to be in the presence of Jesus for eternity should bring joy and peace to all believers of Jesus Christ. 

The apostle Paul gives us this clear description straight from the word of the Lord: 

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NIV) “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 

What an incredible promise! The Lord Himself will descend with a commanding shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first, and then those of us who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air — and so we will be with the Lord forever. 

The Greek word translated “caught up” is harpazō, which means to seize, snatch away, or take by force. This same word appears in several places in the New Testament: 

  • In Acts 8:39, Philip is suddenly and supernaturally relocated after baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch. 
  • In John 6:15, the crowd tries to seize Jesus by force to make Him king. 
  • In John 10:28, Jesus promises that no one can snatch His sheep out of His hand. 

Pastor Franklin illustrated this with a powerful magnet in a scrapyard. Just as a strong magnet draws anything with the nature of metal toward it — whether on the surface or buried — so the Lord will draw to Himself everyone who has the nature of Christ. Only those who carry His nature will be taken up in that moment. 

This event will happen suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye. That is why we must live every day with the awareness that Jesus could return at any moment. 

Discussion Questions: 

  • How does the promise that we will be “caught up” to meet the Lord forever encourage you, especially when facing difficulties or grief? 
  • What does it mean practically to have “the nature of Christ” so that we are ready to be drawn to Him when He returns? 
  • In what ways can we live each day with the expectation of Christ’s return while still faithfully doing the work God has given us? 

 

Live Ready and Pure. 

The hope of Christ’s return does far more than comfort us — it challenges us to live differently right now. When we truly believe we will one day see Jesus face to face and be made like Him, that future reality motivates us to pursue purity and stay spiritually ready. The apostle John puts it plainly: because we have this hope, we purify ourselves just as He is pure. 

1 John 3:2-3 (NIV) “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” 

Believing in Christ starts a lifelong process of becoming more like Him. One day we will have glorified bodies — free from sin, sickness, pain, and weakness — and we will be morally pure like Jesus. Knowing this destiny gives us hope when we struggle with sin and compels us to resist temptation and turn away from anything that would corrupt us. Jesus warned that His return will be sudden and unexpected, just like in the days of Noah when people were eating, drinking, and marrying right up until the flood came. 

Matthew 24:38-44 (NIV) “For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” 

We are not called to predict the exact timing of His return, but to stay awake, diligent, and faithful in doing the work God has given us. Instead of living irresponsibly or putting off repentance, we should be spreading the Good News and living according to God’s Word every day. The hope of Christ’s return purifies us and keeps us ready. 

Discussion Questions: 

  • How does the hope of seeing Jesus and becoming like Him motivate you to live more purely in your daily life? 
  • In what areas do you need to “purify yourself” right now so you can be ready for Christ’s return? 
  • Jesus said we should “keep watch” and “be ready.” What practical steps can you take this week to live with that sense of spiritual alertness? 

 

Conclusion 

As we come to a close, we are reminded that this message is not meant to create fear, but to fill us with deep comfort and unshakable hope. Scripture shows us that the return of Jesus is certain, and for those who belong to Him, it is a promise filled with joy—the assurance that we will be with Him forever. 

We are encouraged to live each day with this hope in view. This is not a distant idea, but a present reality that shapes how we think, how we live, and how we love. The certainty of His return calls us to be ready in every moment—not out of pressure, but out of devotion and anticipation. 

The final words of Jesus remind us with clarity and urgency: “Surely I am coming quickly.” And in response, our hearts echo with expectation and faith. We are not left alone in this hope—we are called to strengthen one another, to speak life, and to remind each other of the promise that anchors our faith. 

So let this truth unite us: Jesus is coming again. Let it comfort you in every season, steady you in uncertainty, and inspire you to live a life that reflects His nature. Encourage one another with this hope, stay ready, and remain anchored in the promise that we will see Him face to face. 

Discussion Questions: 

  • How does the promise that Jesus is coming again and that we will be with Him forever bring you comfort or hope, especially in difficult seasons of life? 
  • What is one practical way the hope of Christ’s return can shape the way you live, think, or love others this week? 
  • The conclusion says we are called to “encourage one another with this hope.” Who in your life could use encouragement right now with the truth that Jesus is coming again, and how might you share that encouragement with them? 
  • Jesus’ last recorded words in Scripture are “Surely I am coming quickly.” How does that statement affect your daily walk with God and your sense of urgency? 

 

Resources 

YouTube  

Podcast 

Download this Group Guide