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The Rapture!
The Rapture is defined as; the state of being carried away, or, the bodily ascent into heaven of those who are saved [forgiven for their sins]. A direct reference is 1 Thessalonians 4:17, "We who are still alive and are left 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 return of the Lord in the clouds to Rapture His followers is also mentioned in Matthew 24:30, "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." And Revelation 1:7, "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him." The return of Christ for His Church (all true believers) in which He catches them up is called the "Rapture." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52), "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." The Bible does not actually state when the Rapture takes place. It could happen before, in the middle of, or after the Tribulation. Most Christians, however, accept a ‘pre-Tribulation’ viewpoint as more supported by Scripture than the other two. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3), "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him" (the Rapture), "we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness [the Antichrist] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction." There is also general agreement that there will be seven-years of troubles, that Jesus will return personally, and that He will set up a 1000-year earthly kingdom. Also, that there will be a final judgment at the great white throne at the end of the Millennium when all unbelievers will be sentenced. Eternity begins after this! The sequence is this: first the return of Christ in the clouds (called the Rapture), then seven-years of horrible conditions called the Tribulation (God’s judgment), and at the end of the seven years there will be the actual return of Christ to set up His kingdom. The Apostle Paul says (1 Corinthians 15:23-24), "This will happen to each in the right order--Christ having been the first to rise, and afterwards Christ's people rising at His return. Later on, comes the End, when He is to surrender the Kingship to God, the Father, when He shall have overthrown all other government and all other authority and power." The wrath of God will come upon a wicked, rebellious, and unrepentant world. Anyone who is not a true believer, whose faith was not real will be ‘left behind’ to go through those seven years of Tribulation horrors. Jesus explained about a sudden disappearance in Matthew 24 when sitting on the Mount of Olives at a private meeting with His disciples. After referring to the Flood of Noah’s day, Jesus said, (39-42), "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." Those who are ready, are those who are living by faith and continuing in the faith. They will leave this earth quickly just as Jesus said, "one will be taken and the other left." After that disappearance of the faithful, the Tribulation begins. The days are wicked and evil, so we must ask if our faith in Christ is real. And it is time to ask God to search our heart, to reveal any wrong attitudes, to repent if we have sinned, and to forgive others who have sinned against us. The disciples asked Jesus, ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’" They were worried because of the increased persecution. The Lord said His departure was at hand, so He warned them, "Watch out that no one deceives you." He knew that many would turn away from the faith, that there will be wide-spread deception and unbelief everywhere. He said to learn a lesson from the fig tree. When leaves appear in the spring, He is ready to return. Then He said (14),"This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Jesus tells us not to set dates, but just be ready. And we are ready if we have a repentant heart and a steadfast, continuing faith in Him. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father," (Matthew 24:36). The days before the world-wide flood were evil and wicked (like they are now). (Genesis 6:5), "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." The Lord said people will be going about normal activities with little thought of judgment and little thought that Christ is about to Rapture His people, suddenly! He said 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," (Matthew 24:39). From news reports of earthquakes, terrorist attacks, suicide bombers, fires, floods, food shortages, military conflicts in the Middle East and everywhere, we can easily see that it will take place, ’in the twinkling of an eye.’. The Lord said they "knew nothing about what would happen" (taken by surprise) "until the flood came and took them all away," indicating that they lost their lives (and their Eternal Life also). The warnings are reminders of the seriousness of living God’s truth, of repenting, of forgiving others us, and of remaining in God’s will by the power of His Holy Spirit. Through the perfect atonement work of Christ on the cross, we have forgiveness, so we are cleansed from sin and are ready to meet Jesus. Romans 5:1-2, "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And let us rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Jesus spoke from the Father’s throne (Revelation 2:10), saying, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." Asking for the Holy Spirit each day so we can follow Christ (and remain faithful to Him), is more important today than ever, because the leaves are ready to bud. We should not fear, but we should rejoice in the ‘living hope’ that has been promised to all believers in Christ. (1 Peter 1:3-4), "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you." Because we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, eternal salvation (which is offered to all true believers of every race, age, nation, and culture who will choose to accept it), cannot be denied. "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life," (1 John 5:13). As in Noah’s time, so it will be the next time…when the Rapture takes place. There will be those inside the ark (through saving faith in Christ), and those outside the ark (because of no faith in God). The Lord Jesus is the Judge of anyone’s faith. God doesn’t want us to be fearful, but He does want us to repent. We know (from all that is happening) that the leaves are ready to open. God has enlightened us and He has given us His Son (who forgives us). For that we can be eternally grateful. "You, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief," (1 Thessalonians 5:4). No one is ready for the Rapture unless they have faith in the Lord Jesus, and believe in Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. He is the only ‘way and truth and life,’ (John 14:6). God will be faithful to His Word and Christ will be faithful to His promise. 1 John 2:28, "And now, dear children, continue in union with Him; so that, if He re-appears, we may have perfect confidence, and may not shrink away in shame from His presence at His Coming." We are steadfast in the faith (by the power of the Spirit), loyal to God and His Word, and connected to Christ, so we say with confidence (the words of Revelation 22:20), "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
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Century Gospel Church © 2010 |
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