Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, June 18, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

STAR TREK – THE FINAL GENERATION

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 15:40-54

Text: 1 Cor. 15:41

1 Corinthians 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

Introduction: Everybody wants to be a STAR! There are Hollywood stars and sports stars. There is also a fascination today with ANGELS. The interesting thing is that angels in the Bible are connected with stars. When the Bible talks of the host of heaven, it refers both to stars and angels.

Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

In the resurrection, God’s people are going to be like angels:

Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Similarly, soul-winners are promised to shine like stars:

Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

The television series, “Star Trek,” was about a future time when people will travel through the stars from one galaxy to another. Those of us who are saved are going to do that some day! 🙂 Not only that, but we are actually going to BE like stars as we pass THROUGH the stars!

But there is more! A sequel to the “Star Trek” series was one called, “Star Trek, The Next Generation.” A movie was called, “Star Trek: he Final Frontier.”

I want to title this message, “Star Trek: The Final Generation.”

There is going to be a generation of believers who are not going to die, the exception to the rule of Heb. 9:27. Like Enoch, we will be translated that we should not see death. Amen! We call this great event, which could take place at any time, THE RAPTURE.

The Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ is going to come back one of these days, and those of us who are saved and alive at the time will be caught up into heaven WITHOUT DYING!

It could be that you and I are living in that final generation. I DO believe that we should be planning on leaving in the air someday soon!

I’m not looking for the UNDERtaker! I’m looking for the UPPERtaker!

I. CONSIDER THE TIME OF OUR DEPARTURE

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

A. The exact time is concealed

B. The exact time could be close!

II. CONSIDER THE TRANSFORMATION NECESSARY

1 Corinthians 15:49-53 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

We MUST be CHANGED. It’s even more important than the thought put on the nursery door, taken from 1 Cor. 15:51, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall ALL be CHANGED.” 🙂

A. It will be a swift transformation

B. It will be a supernatural transformation

C. It will be a superior transformation

III. CONSIDER THE TRIP

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 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: 17 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.

A. We are going to fly united! Amen!

Raised up together — the dead in Christ will rise first, because they have six feet more to TRAVEL than we do!
Caught up together!

B. We are going to fly unleashed!

No restrictions!
No seatbelts!
No instructions on using the oxygen masks and flotation devices!

IV. CONSIDER THE TRAGEDY

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

A. There will be a sharp division

Only those bodies which sleep “in Jesus” will get up. The other bodies will remain in the grave for 1,000 years.
Only the living “in Christ” shall rise. Those people who are unsaved will remain on the earth.

B. There will be a strong delusion

The antichrist will make his appearance, not as the antichrist, but as the “answer man.” He will fool the masses who remain on this earth.
Those who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness before the Rapture will be deceived.

C. There will be sure destruction

The next seven years will be the greatest period of God’s wrath that this world has ever seen. The second half of that week of years is called “the great tribulation.”
Those who receive the mark of the beast or his name or number, will be damned for all eternity.

Finally,

V. CONSIDER THE TREASURE OF THIS TRUTH TO THE BELIEVER

Titus 2:13 calls it “that blessed hope.”

A. It brings comfort

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

B. It brings cleansing

1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

C. It brings commitment

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
We should become more stedfast
We should become strong – unmoveable
We should be stepping forward – always abounding in the work of the Lord

D. It brings confidence

1 Cor. 15:58 – It gives us boldness, knowing that we are on the winning side, and our Savior is coming soon!