THE SWALLOWS RETURN

I) Introduction - No Comment

II) The Return, Revelation & Rapture of the Church

1. Immanent - I Thess 4:13 - 18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
2. Exact day is unknown- Matt 24:36 - But of that day and knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

III) The Requirement (Salvation)

1. Realization of need - RM 3:23- For all have sinned....
   
2. Realization of solution - JN 14:6- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
   
3. Realization for needful belief - JN 3:16

IV) Jesus' Response

1. Read JN 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; so that where I am, there ye may be also.
   
2. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins- Eph 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
   
3. Jesus destroyed the power of death - I Cor 15:57 - But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ