''But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matthew 24:43-44).''

Everyone wants Jesus to give them a warning shot before He comes back. That's the thrust behind the questions about the signs of His return. Our sinful nature wants to be able to do whatever it wants and be assured of the opportunity to repent before the End.

That's what is so appealing about the Rapture. That there is a seven-year warning before Jesus comes back to judge the living and the dead. But Jesus doesn't give us any type of warning. He gives the illustration of being a thief who comes by night to steal and to plunder.

Jesus is coming to steal the souls of those who believe in Him. To plunder the devil's kingdom. To pillage the kingdoms of this world before He burns everything (2 Peter 3:7-12).

Jesus is coming as a thief. May He steal you so that you may live with Him forever. Amen.

Faith in Christ justifies and forgives sins. This faith, justification and forgiveness can only come through the Word. Especially when that Word was made incarnate and gives these gifts freely through His life, death and resurrection.

''But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matthew 24:43-44).''

Everyone wants Jesus to give them a warning shot before He comes back. That's the thrust behind the questions about the signs of His return. Our sinful nature wants to be able to do whatever it wants and be assured of the opportunity to repent before the End.

That's what is so appealing about the Rapture. That there is a seven-year warning before Jesus comes back to judge the living and the dead. But Jesus doesn't give us any type of warning. He gives the illustration of being a thief who comes by night to steal and to plunder.

Jesus is coming to steal the souls of those who believe in Him. To plunder the devil's kingdom. To pillage the kingdoms of this world before He burns everything (2 Peter 3:7-12).

Jesus is coming as a thief. May He steal you so that you may live with Him forever. Amen.

''Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming (Matthew 24:42).''

The Lord is coming. We should neither slumber nor sleep. We need to stay awake to see the Lord coming. To be expecting Him to come at any moment.

Being asleep, you can't pay attention to what's going on around you. You are unaware of the things being said or done. And we don't want to miss the glad news of the final trumpet when Christ descends.

Of course, we won't be able to sleep through the final trumpet. But spiritual drowsiness and sleep will keep us from hearing that wonderful call, "Come up here!" (Revelation 4:1) Stay awake with the spiritual caffeine of God's Word coursing through your soul so that you may be ready when He calls you home. Amen.

''Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left (Matthew 24:40-41).''

The popular book series ''Left Behind'' takes these verses from Matthew and illustrate the Rapture. However, those who teach the Rapture have these verses backwards. Taken in context, these verses continue from the illustration of Noah's ark. In Noah's days, the ones who were left behind were Noah and his family. Eight souls in all (1 Peter 3:20). The righteous were left behind.

Those who teach the Rapture say it will be the righteous who are taken away. The many sinners will be left behind. Completely opposite of the biblical record. 

Who will be left behind? Those who will live with Jesus forever in Heaven. Left behind to glory in His presence forever. Amen.

Liturgical Date: Easter Morning

Calendar Date: April 4, 2021

Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL

Order of Service: Divine Service 1

Hymns:

#457, "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"

#488, "He Is Arisen, Glorious Word"

#461, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives"

#466, "Christ Is Arisen! Alleluia!"

#480, "He's Risen, He's Risen"

#490, "Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won"

Sermon Theme: Jesus Has Swallowed Up Death Forever

Sermon Text: Isaiah 25:6-9

Other Lectionary Readings: 

Psalm 118:19-29

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Mark 16:1-8

''For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:37-39).''

When Jesus comes back, life will be going on like normal. Certainly everything will be worse than it is now, but that's no different than it was in previous generations.

Noah spent a century building the Ark. In the century, he thought that humanity couldn't get more depraved than it already was. But it has. The original sin that we have inherited from Adam and Eve continues to fester within us. Each successive generation is worse than the previous. 

When Jesus comes back, people will be carrying on life as usual. They will be eating and drinking and getting married. Many will have no care for what is going on around them with their fellow men. But let us look for the Son of Man when He comes so that we will not be swept away with the sinful into Hell. Amen.

Reading: Daniel 3

Hymn: LSB #442, "All Glory, Laud and Honor"

Psalmody: LSB #931, "All You Works of the Lord"

Reading: Zephaniah 3:12-20

Hymn: LSB #752, "Be Still, My Soul"

Psalmody: Psalm 85

Reading: Jonah 3

Hymn: LSB #544, "O Love, How Deep"

Psalmody: Jonah 2:2-9