San Davis
Sermon Message for Monday March 19, 2012.
JESUS CHRIST OUR BLESSED HOPE WILL SOMEDAY RETURN TO RAPTURE HIS BRIDE, THE TRUE CHURCH AS PROMISED IN 1st THESSALONIANS 4:13-18.
Precious saints of God, I thank our Lord Jesus for another opportunity to minister to you all. This subject of the Rapture is very near and dear to my heart. I have lived most of my Christian life making myself ready for this glorious event! I will first explain the Dispensation scheme of time since creation, leading up to this current era. The Dispensation of Grace, or the Church Age just before the Rapture. I pray by the end of this message that you will be enlightened and just as excited about our Blessed Hope, Christ Jesus Crucified returning to take His Bride home! That is the Rapture…
The rapture is an event that will take place sometime in the near future. Jesus will come in the air, catch up the Church from the earth, and then return to heaven with the Church. The Apostle Paul gave a clear description of the Rapture event in his letters to the Thessalonians and Corinthians.
"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."
(1 Thessalonian, 4:16-18).
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on in-corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality"
(1 Cor. 15:51-53).
We are living at the close of the Dispensation of Grace, referred to as the Church Age. Our Heavenly Father God, has always worked in dispensations, meaning a particular era in time from the very dawn of time until this present age we now live in.
The first dispensation was the age of Innocence with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they were created by God. How long that dispensation lasted, we are not sure but we could speculate about 40 days before they were tempted and fell from grace. We could speculate 40 days because the number 40 is Gods probationary number. After the Adam and Eve’s fall, for a period of about 1600 years, the Lord dealt with the human race by means of conscience, then 1600 years after creation, Father God dealt with the human race by means of the Dispensation of Government. The first established Government was given by God to a man name Noah.
For 400 years the Dispensation of Government was in existence until God spoke to Abraham and it rolled into the Dispensation of Promise. God gave the greatest promise known to man, that the redeemer was coming and He was coming through the family of Abraham; hence the very first verse in the book of Matthew chapter 1:1 was, "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham".
This dispensation lasted for about 400 years then the Lord on thundering Mount Sinai gave the Book of the Law to Moses then the world entered into the Dispensation of Law, which lasted for nearly1600 until Christ Jesus was born. John 1:17 "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus". Upon the advent of Christ, the world entered into the Dispensation of Grace, to God be the glory, which is in effect the Dispensation of the Church.
Jesus quoted in Matthew 16:18 " And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Praise the Lord with me saints of God, we are coming down to the close of the Dispensation of the Church age and we are almost at the end of it. The next Dispensation upon us is the Dispensation of Righteousness, called the Millennium Reign of the Kingdom Age, where Jesus Christ will rule and reign personally from the city of Jerusalem. He will be governing the entire world. All elections will seize regarding Prime Ministers and Presidents for Jesus will be the ruling Governor, Prime Minister, President and King of the whole world.
The bible says in Isaiah 9:6 "Unto us a Son is given, and the Government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
The scripture also says in Isaiah 2:4 "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." Glory to God, all sickness will be gone, diseases will be no more and all hospitals will be out of business....Oh Praise the Lord, the glory of God will fill the earth, Hallelujah!!!
That's not all saints of God, there is yet another Dispensation and that is the Dispensation of Eternal Perfection, yes the Dispensation of the Perfect Age, that will never end. God at that time, after the Millennium Reign will transfer His Temple from Planet Heaven to Planet Earth which was promised to the saints who overcame in Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. "
Revelation 21:2 " And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." We will live in the New Jerusalem in abundant Peace, "FOREVER". We serve an awesome God, we serve the KING OF KINGS and the LORD OF LORDS who made all things and without Him nothing was made...Glory to God!!
We are coming down today to the conclusion of the Church Age. Regrettably and sadly the bible proclaims the fact, that the end of Church Age will not be good. The Apostle Paul, addressing the Church, says in 2nd Timothy 3:1-5 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." It is almost hard to fathom that this is the character of the Church; however thank God these traits are not indicative of all churches. There is another side of the Church that is on fire for God and full of the Holy Ghost, saved by the blood of Jesus and full of the power of God...Praise the Lord, Glory to God, Hallelujah...This is the Church, the Bride of Christ Belongs to, this is the Church that has their oil lamps filled, this is the Church heading on the straight and narrow path to eternity...glory to God, Hallelujah!!
Now, how do we know that we are living in the concluding part of the Age of the Church and that the Rapture is about to take place? We may argue as to when it will happen but the fact that it will happen, there is no argument.
The Rapture - Christians Taken Alive!!
The Apostle Paul describes the transformation of the believer into the Heavenly Kingdom of God. A perishable, mortal human body cannot enter the Kingdom, therefore believers will be given new bodies that are imperishable and immortal. Paul reveals a mystery: every believer will not die but some will be translated into the Kingdom of God in the blink of an eye. During the Rapture, living Christians will enter the Kingdom directly without experiencing death! Paul uses the term "sleep" which is Greek idiom or a metaphor for physical death. But when a believer, either dead or alive is changed, they are immortal for eternity.
If anyone says that they do not believe in the Rapture of the Church, then ask them if they believe in the Resurrection of Christ. The Resurrection and the Rapture are synonymous, one of the same, two different word for the same thing.
The RESURRECTION explained in 1st Corinthians 15:
To get a full understanding of the Resurrection, it is best to read chapter 15 in its entirety; however for argument sake, I will quote from 1st Corinthians 15:12-21
"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead."
We Will Not All Die - 1st Corinthians 15:50-53
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality.
The Apostle Paul uses the idiom for physical death, clearly explaining that those Christians who have experienced physical death will be resurrected by Christ. Here we see the Rapture in the 17th verse of 1st Thessalonian 4, which is the Greek word "harpazo" translated into English as "caught up".
The Apostle Paul then explains the RAPTURE in 1stThessalonians 4:13-18
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 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.
Again I ask, how do we know that we've come to the end of the Church Age and that the Rapture is about to take place? We know it because of several things:
We know that the Rapture will take place before the tribulation because the tribulation will be a pouring of God's wrath on the earth with no match in history. But at the same time, the ones who are saved, yes the ones who are born again, do not have to fear such wrath because we "wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."
1 Timothy 1:10.
We know that we've come to the end of the Church Age and that the Rapture is about to take place because, there were three
Raptures preceding the final one to come.....
The First Rapture – Enoch Did Not Die - Hebrews 11:5
By Faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
There was also a Second Rapture - Chariots of Fire - Elijah went up by a whirlwind 2nd Kings 2:1-12
Rapture number 2 is found in the Book of 2nd Kings as the premier prophet of God has finished his Earthly ministry and is turning over his office to his protégé Elisha. Elijah, in his wisdom, knows Elisha's Faith will be tremendously strengthened by witnessing the taking of Elijah from Earth to Heaven right before his eyes:
1 AND it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to Heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel". But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 3 Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; be still". 4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho". But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you". So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be still". 6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan". And he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you". So the two of them went on. 7 Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you". And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me". 10 He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." 11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to Heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more ...
There He Goes – Jesus Raptured in Luke 24:49-53
In the Gospel According to Luke, Jesus tells the Disciples to await the Holy Spirit of God, Whom Jesus would send unto them after He ascended to God the Father's right hand. The Disciples are ordered to stay in the city of Jerusalem until the Spirit comes upon them. In the city of Bethany, Jesus blesses His Disciples and Ascends into the Kingdom of God on high. HIS RAPTURE IS FOUND IN VERSE 51:
49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." 50And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and were continually in the temple praising God.
Then The Final Rapture – That of The Church – The Body of Christ - Christians Taken Alive - 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Apostle Paul again uses the idiom for physical death, this time clearly explaining that those Christians who have experienced physical death will be resurrected by Christ. Here again we see the Rapture in the 17th verse, which is the Greek word "harpazo" translated into English as "caught up":
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
In conclusion, I will say that the timing of the Rapture is not known. As the bible indicated in Matthew 24:36-44 Of that Day or hour, no man knows!! But we shall know the season, therefore the bible admonishes us to keep watch and don't be like the 5 foolish virgins!!!
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 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; 39 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. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS.
The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 is one of the most enigmatic and intriguing in all of scripture. It seems to be a story of great drama and romance. In it we also see a warning, and some information for the saints of great prophetic significance, It is also a wooing, and a calling into a devotion in God. The Spirit of God is speaking to us in the storyline. We find ourselves being drawn beyond our comfort zone. Deep calls out unto deep ......Ps.42:7
The facts of the story are straightforward. Five of the virgins were wise and five were foolish. Just who are these 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins? If they are all believers then why the division? Are there two different groups of people within the beloved Congregation of God? And if so, what is it that distinguishes them from each other?
Matthew 25 :1-13
25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
25:3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
25:4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 And at midnight a cry was heard:
'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
25:7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 And the foolish said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
25:9 But the wise answered, saying,
'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you;
but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came,
And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding;
and the door was shut.
25:11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,
'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
25:12 But he answered and said,
'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
25:13 Watch therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
In Luke 12:36, the Word states that when Christ returns, He will be returning from a wedding. In Revelation 19:7-8, we read about the marriage itself. Jesus our Groom, comes down from heaven and calls up the Church, His Bride. After meeting in the air, He and His Bride return to His Father's house, Heaven. The marriage supper itself will take place there, while down here on earth the final events of the tribulation will be playing out. After the marriage supper of Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are presented to the world as man and wife. This corresponds to the time when Jesus returns to earth accompanied by an army "clothed in fine linen, white and clean" as illustrated in (Rev 19:14).
To God be the glory, honor and praise....The Time is Now, It Is Over! Amen…..
JESUS CHRIST OUR BLESSED HOPE WILL SOMEDAY RETURN TO RAPTURE HIS BRIDE, THE TRUE CHURCH AS PROMISED IN 1st THESSALONIANS 4:13-18.
Precious saints of God, I thank our Lord Jesus for another opportunity to minister to you all. This subject of the Rapture is very near and dear to my heart. I have lived most of my Christian life making myself ready for this glorious event! I will first explain the Dispensation scheme of time since creation, leading up to this current era. The Dispensation of Grace, or the Church Age just before the Rapture. I pray by the end of this message that you will be enlightened and just as excited about our Blessed Hope, Christ Jesus Crucified returning to take His Bride home! That is the Rapture…
The rapture is an event that will take place sometime in the near future. Jesus will come in the air, catch up the Church from the earth, and then return to heaven with the Church. The Apostle Paul gave a clear description of the Rapture event in his letters to the Thessalonians and Corinthians.
"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."
(1 Thessalonian, 4:16-18).
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on in-corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality"
(1 Cor. 15:51-53).
We are living at the close of the Dispensation of Grace, referred to as the Church Age. Our Heavenly Father God, has always worked in dispensations, meaning a particular era in time from the very dawn of time until this present age we now live in.
The first dispensation was the age of Innocence with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they were created by God. How long that dispensation lasted, we are not sure but we could speculate about 40 days before they were tempted and fell from grace. We could speculate 40 days because the number 40 is Gods probationary number. After the Adam and Eve’s fall, for a period of about 1600 years, the Lord dealt with the human race by means of conscience, then 1600 years after creation, Father God dealt with the human race by means of the Dispensation of Government. The first established Government was given by God to a man name Noah.
For 400 years the Dispensation of Government was in existence until God spoke to Abraham and it rolled into the Dispensation of Promise. God gave the greatest promise known to man, that the redeemer was coming and He was coming through the family of Abraham; hence the very first verse in the book of Matthew chapter 1:1 was, "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham".
This dispensation lasted for about 400 years then the Lord on thundering Mount Sinai gave the Book of the Law to Moses then the world entered into the Dispensation of Law, which lasted for nearly1600 until Christ Jesus was born. John 1:17 "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus". Upon the advent of Christ, the world entered into the Dispensation of Grace, to God be the glory, which is in effect the Dispensation of the Church.
Jesus quoted in Matthew 16:18 " And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Praise the Lord with me saints of God, we are coming down to the close of the Dispensation of the Church age and we are almost at the end of it. The next Dispensation upon us is the Dispensation of Righteousness, called the Millennium Reign of the Kingdom Age, where Jesus Christ will rule and reign personally from the city of Jerusalem. He will be governing the entire world. All elections will seize regarding Prime Ministers and Presidents for Jesus will be the ruling Governor, Prime Minister, President and King of the whole world.
The bible says in Isaiah 9:6 "Unto us a Son is given, and the Government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
The scripture also says in Isaiah 2:4 "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." Glory to God, all sickness will be gone, diseases will be no more and all hospitals will be out of business....Oh Praise the Lord, the glory of God will fill the earth, Hallelujah!!!
That's not all saints of God, there is yet another Dispensation and that is the Dispensation of Eternal Perfection, yes the Dispensation of the Perfect Age, that will never end. God at that time, after the Millennium Reign will transfer His Temple from Planet Heaven to Planet Earth which was promised to the saints who overcame in Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. "
Revelation 21:2 " And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." We will live in the New Jerusalem in abundant Peace, "FOREVER". We serve an awesome God, we serve the KING OF KINGS and the LORD OF LORDS who made all things and without Him nothing was made...Glory to God!!
We are coming down today to the conclusion of the Church Age. Regrettably and sadly the bible proclaims the fact, that the end of Church Age will not be good. The Apostle Paul, addressing the Church, says in 2nd Timothy 3:1-5 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." It is almost hard to fathom that this is the character of the Church; however thank God these traits are not indicative of all churches. There is another side of the Church that is on fire for God and full of the Holy Ghost, saved by the blood of Jesus and full of the power of God...Praise the Lord, Glory to God, Hallelujah...This is the Church, the Bride of Christ Belongs to, this is the Church that has their oil lamps filled, this is the Church heading on the straight and narrow path to eternity...glory to God, Hallelujah!!
Now, how do we know that we are living in the concluding part of the Age of the Church and that the Rapture is about to take place? We may argue as to when it will happen but the fact that it will happen, there is no argument.
The Rapture - Christians Taken Alive!!
The Apostle Paul describes the transformation of the believer into the Heavenly Kingdom of God. A perishable, mortal human body cannot enter the Kingdom, therefore believers will be given new bodies that are imperishable and immortal. Paul reveals a mystery: every believer will not die but some will be translated into the Kingdom of God in the blink of an eye. During the Rapture, living Christians will enter the Kingdom directly without experiencing death! Paul uses the term "sleep" which is Greek idiom or a metaphor for physical death. But when a believer, either dead or alive is changed, they are immortal for eternity.
If anyone says that they do not believe in the Rapture of the Church, then ask them if they believe in the Resurrection of Christ. The Resurrection and the Rapture are synonymous, one of the same, two different word for the same thing.
The RESURRECTION explained in 1st Corinthians 15:
To get a full understanding of the Resurrection, it is best to read chapter 15 in its entirety; however for argument sake, I will quote from 1st Corinthians 15:12-21
"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead."
We Will Not All Die - 1st Corinthians 15:50-53
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality.
The Apostle Paul uses the idiom for physical death, clearly explaining that those Christians who have experienced physical death will be resurrected by Christ. Here we see the Rapture in the 17th verse of 1st Thessalonian 4, which is the Greek word "harpazo" translated into English as "caught up".
The Apostle Paul then explains the RAPTURE in 1stThessalonians 4:13-18
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 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.
Again I ask, how do we know that we've come to the end of the Church Age and that the Rapture is about to take place? We know it because of several things:
We know that the Rapture will take place before the tribulation because the tribulation will be a pouring of God's wrath on the earth with no match in history. But at the same time, the ones who are saved, yes the ones who are born again, do not have to fear such wrath because we "wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."
1 Timothy 1:10.
We know that we've come to the end of the Church Age and that the Rapture is about to take place because, there were three
Raptures preceding the final one to come.....
The First Rapture – Enoch Did Not Die - Hebrews 11:5
By Faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
There was also a Second Rapture - Chariots of Fire - Elijah went up by a whirlwind 2nd Kings 2:1-12
Rapture number 2 is found in the Book of 2nd Kings as the premier prophet of God has finished his Earthly ministry and is turning over his office to his protégé Elisha. Elijah, in his wisdom, knows Elisha's Faith will be tremendously strengthened by witnessing the taking of Elijah from Earth to Heaven right before his eyes:
1 AND it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to Heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel". But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 3 Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; be still". 4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho". But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you". So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be still". 6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan". And he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you". So the two of them went on. 7 Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you". And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me". 10 He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." 11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to Heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more ...
There He Goes – Jesus Raptured in Luke 24:49-53
In the Gospel According to Luke, Jesus tells the Disciples to await the Holy Spirit of God, Whom Jesus would send unto them after He ascended to God the Father's right hand. The Disciples are ordered to stay in the city of Jerusalem until the Spirit comes upon them. In the city of Bethany, Jesus blesses His Disciples and Ascends into the Kingdom of God on high. HIS RAPTURE IS FOUND IN VERSE 51:
49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." 50And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and were continually in the temple praising God.
Then The Final Rapture – That of The Church – The Body of Christ - Christians Taken Alive - 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Apostle Paul again uses the idiom for physical death, this time clearly explaining that those Christians who have experienced physical death will be resurrected by Christ. Here again we see the Rapture in the 17th verse, which is the Greek word "harpazo" translated into English as "caught up":
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
In conclusion, I will say that the timing of the Rapture is not known. As the bible indicated in Matthew 24:36-44 Of that Day or hour, no man knows!! But we shall know the season, therefore the bible admonishes us to keep watch and don't be like the 5 foolish virgins!!!
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 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; 39 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. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS.
The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 is one of the most enigmatic and intriguing in all of scripture. It seems to be a story of great drama and romance. In it we also see a warning, and some information for the saints of great prophetic significance, It is also a wooing, and a calling into a devotion in God. The Spirit of God is speaking to us in the storyline. We find ourselves being drawn beyond our comfort zone. Deep calls out unto deep ......Ps.42:7
The facts of the story are straightforward. Five of the virgins were wise and five were foolish. Just who are these 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins? If they are all believers then why the division? Are there two different groups of people within the beloved Congregation of God? And if so, what is it that distinguishes them from each other?
Matthew 25 :1-13
25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
25:3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
25:4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 And at midnight a cry was heard:
'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
25:7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 And the foolish said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
25:9 But the wise answered, saying,
'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you;
but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came,
And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding;
and the door was shut.
25:11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,
'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
25:12 But he answered and said,
'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
25:13 Watch therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
In Luke 12:36, the Word states that when Christ returns, He will be returning from a wedding. In Revelation 19:7-8, we read about the marriage itself. Jesus our Groom, comes down from heaven and calls up the Church, His Bride. After meeting in the air, He and His Bride return to His Father's house, Heaven. The marriage supper itself will take place there, while down here on earth the final events of the tribulation will be playing out. After the marriage supper of Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are presented to the world as man and wife. This corresponds to the time when Jesus returns to earth accompanied by an army "clothed in fine linen, white and clean" as illustrated in (Rev 19:14).
To God be the glory, honor and praise....The Time is Now, It Is Over! Amen…..
.....By San Davis
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