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…..
.....By San Davis
