Where Did Everybody Go?

Play Left Behind Intro

Intro:

Revelation 4:1 NKJV

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

While sitting on an airplane, Dr. Tim LaHaye watched a married pilot and an unmarried flight attendant flirting. He imagined the pilot’s wife was a believing Christian and wondered what the pilot wold do if some of his passengers were suddenly raptured.

From this observation came the Left Behind series, which outlines in a fictional format what will happen in the last days. What we watched was Hollywood’s attempt to put the rapture into video format.

What we watched was Hollywood’s attempt to put the rapture into video format. Many

Many have mocked, doubted, and denied that such an event will take place. But think of what it will be like. One author describes it this way:

Jumbo jets plummet to earth as they no longer have a pilot at the controls. Driverless buses, trains, subways, and cars will cause unimaginable disaster. Classrooms will suddenly be without teachers… Doctors and nurses seem to abandon their patients in the middle of surgical operations, and patients will vanish from operating tables. Children disappear from their beds. People run through the streets looking for missing family members who were there just moments ago. Panic grips every household, city and country.

It is difficult to put into words the event that is about to take place. Last time we were together we focused on the secret Jesus revealed to John. The secret is this, I am coming soon!

At 12:05 last night a telephone operator reported three frantic calls regarding missing relatives. Within fifteen minutes all communications were jammed with similar inquiries. A spot check around the nation found the same situation in every city. Sobbing husbands sought information about the mysterious disappearance of their wives. One husband reported, “I turned on the light to ask my wife if she remembered to set the clock, but she was gone. Her bedclothes were there, her watch was on the floor…she had vanished!” An alarmed woman calling from Brooklyn reported, “My husband just returned from the late shift… I kissed him… He just disappeared in my arms.”

It is difficult to put into words the event that is about to take place. Last time we were together we focused on the secret Jesus revealed to John. The secret is this, I am coming soon!

It seems nothing is more debated and questioned in Christianity then the topic of Christ’s second coming. Many question the timeline of when it will occur. While others deny it will ever happen.

I remember once in Salem, on a Wednesday evening, the women met in the sanctuary and the men met in the Fellowship Hall. I do not remember the topic of the message. But sometime during the course of the message, he mentioned Jesus coming to earth to save us from our sins.

As I sat there, I heard the Lord ask me, “Daniel, if so many people believe in my first coming, why should there be any doubt about my second coming?” For some reason, I began to cry. I quickly wiped my tears and tried not to make a scene.

In scripture, for ever one prophecy about Jesus’ first coming, there are eight prophecies about His Second Coming. Of the 260 chapters in the New Testament, there are 318 references to His Second Coming.

Our aim is to take what scripture says about the coming of the Lord, study it, understand it, and apply it to our lives.

As we discussed last time we were together, “the purpose of revelation is to change us, not simply to inform us.”

Therefore, this evening, we will look at the event that will kick off the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy, the Rapture.

One day soon, people will look around and ask, where did everybody go? To answer this questions, we will ask three more questions, [What is the Rapture?], [Where will the Christians Go?], and [What will the Christians Do?]

Let’s begin

1. What is the Rapture?

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep 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 by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:

To understand the rapture, we need to have a brief overview of what we mean when we say, the Second Coming.

The Second Coming describes Jesus return to earth again. He promised He would come again. The angels told His followers on the Mount of Olives:

Acts 1:9–10 NKJV

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

Acts 1:

The question is not, will Jesus return? Rather, it is how will He return? The Second Coming of Christ will occur in two phases, first at the rapture. Second, at His physical return to earth.

At the rapture Jesus comes for His church. At the second coming, He comes with His church. The rapture and the second coming are separated by seven years, known as the tribulation.

Tonight, we will focus on the first phase of His coming, the rapture. The word rapture is not found in scripture. It comes from a Greek word that means:

to carry off by force

to claim for oneself eagerly

to snatch way speedily

to rescue from the danger of destruction

There are three distinct references to the rapture in the New Testament, in , , and . In each reference, the author details what will happen when Jesus returns.

Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica because they were concerned. What will happen to those who have died as Christians? They assumed, because they are dead, they will be unable to go when Jesus returns for His people.

The fact that they asked this type of question shows that the New Testament Church believed in the imminent return of Jesus Christ. They believed that He could come at any moment!

Paul comforted them by reminding them, we have hope when a believer falls asleep. Think about that, the early church believed Jesus’ power over death, they didn't say believers died, only that they fell asleep.

The Lord showed Paul that there will be four events that take place:

The Return- when Jesus returns, there will be one sound that could be described in three ways: a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God.

when Jesus returns, there will be one sound that could be described in three ways: a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God.

The Resurrection-

when this occurs, those who have died as Christians will rise first. They will be resurrected from their graves. Whether they were buried, lost at sea, burned alive, or MIA, this is not a problem for Jesus. He knows where their bodies are.

The Rapture- after the dead in Christ rise, then the rest of us who are alive will be caught up to meet the Lord.

after the dead in Christ rise, then the rest of us who are alive will be caught up to meet the Lord.

One author paints a word picture: millions of people from all parts of the earth will feel a tingling sensation pulse through their bodies. They are all suddenly energized. Those with physical deformities are healed. The bling suddenly se. Wrinkles disappear on the elderly as their youth is restored. As these people marvel at their physical transformation, they are lifted skyward. Those in buildings pass through the ceiling and roof without pain or damage. Their flesh and bones seem to dematerialize, defying all known laws of physics and biology. As they travel heaven ward, some of them see and greet those who have risen from their graves. After a brief mystical union… they all vanish from sight. (Jeremiah, What in the World is going on, p. 109).

The Reunion- at this moment, we will have a reunion with those who have died and with the Lord.

at this moment, we will have a reunion with those who have died and with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 NKJV

51 Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:

How quick will this occur? So fast, within the blink of an eye, the Christians will leave this earth. Think of how this will change the planet. When at least one billion people leave. One author estimates 25% of the United States’ population will vanish (Jeremiah, 138).

George asked me a question a few years ago, and I have yet to have an answer until tonight, will everyone hear the trumpet or just the Christians? Dr. David Jeremiah explains, “the sound will be exclusively directed— heard only by those who have placed their trust in Christ” (107).

No wonder those who are left will be confused. They will hear nothing, but suddenly millions of people will vanish without a trace.

What is the rapture? It is the event where all who have accepted Christ as their Savior and actively live for Him will be caught up from the earth and meet the Lord in the air.

2. Where will the Christians Go?

John 14:1–3 NKJV

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 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. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Imagine being the disciples, they had to come to terms that Jesus, who is God, came to this earth the first time. The left everything to follow Him, and within three years, He begins to prepare them for his upcoming departure.

His conversation with the disciples causes them to worry. What will happen when He leaves? Will we ever see Him again?

Jesus soothed their concerns by informing them as to why He plans to leave.

He is to return to be with His Father so He might prepare a place for us.

When the time is right, He will return and take us there. Therefore, where will we go when the rapture occurs? We will go to heaven.

The question arises, who knows when Jesus will return?

Matthew 24:36 NKJV

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

Matthew 24:36–39 NKJV

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Only God the Father knows when it is the right time for Jesus to return. Until then, Jesus works with His church, through the Holy Spirit, to make the necessary preparations, specifically, seeing people get saved.

Then, when He does return, and all the Christians vanish from the earth, we will meet Him in the air and go with Him to heaven. The next and final question I want to answer is...

3. What will the Christians Do?

Hebrews 9:27–28 NKJV

27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 9:27 NKJV

27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

When Jesus returns for His church and we go to heaven, be it through resurrection from the grave or through the rapture, we have to wonder, what will we do in heaven?

After our arrival in heaven, there will the Judgment Seat of Christ. Every person in earth and every person throughout history WILL be judged. The way we live now determines when our judgment will occur.

It will either take place with other Christians in heaven, or with unbelievers on earth. These two judgments are separated by 1,000 years, with the judgment seat of Christ occurring first.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NKJV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

There are two references

We will stand before God and give an account for our lives. However, there are some misconceptions about the judgment seat of Christ.

It will not be like a courtroom where the judge determines our fate, guilt or not guilty. Instead,. it is more like an athletic event where the participants are being rewarded by a judge who sits upon a high platform, watching everything that happens.

Furthermore, the Judgement Seat of Christ is not to determine our fate, where we will be judged and determined if we can enter heaven. We have already been judged and we were found guilty.

That is why Jesus came to take our place and stand in for our judgment.

Finally, the Judgment Seat of Christ is not a time where every sin we ever committed will be reviewed by Jesus. Why not? Because our sins are under the blood, as far as the east is from the west.

Then what will happen at the Judgment Seat of Christ?

Romans 14:10–12 NKJV

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Romans 14:10-

We will give an account of our deeds and what we have done for the Lord on earth.

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 NKJV

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1 Corinthians 3:”

Paul gives us an illustration. The judgment seat of Christ will be like a building that is burned. After the fire destroys the building, the materials that were used to build the building will be revealed.

In essence, the things we did or didn’t do for God will be judged. People will either lose their rewards or receive rewards.

There are five rewards awaiting the believer:

The Victor’s Crown

1 Corinthians 9:25–27 NKJV

25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

This imperishable crown will be for those who made the sacrifices to serve the Lord, living a holy life, and striving to do all they can for Him.

The Crown of Rejoicing

1 Thessalonians 2:19 NKJV

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

The crown of rejoicing has also been called a “soul winners crown.” It will be given to those who have helped other stand before the throne of God on this judgment day.

The Crown of Righteousness

2 Timothy

2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV

8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Those who actively anticipate His coming will receive this crown. It will be for those who did not get caught up with the things of this world, instead they constantly looked for Him!

The Crown of Life

James 1:12 NKJV

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Those who receive this crown are those who have suffered, endured, persevered, and made it through despite terrible obstacles.

The Crown of Glory

1 Peter 5:4 NKJV

4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Those who have led in the church will receive this crown. Not just pastors, but those who have taught, trained, and served as an example for others to emulate and follow.

What will we do with these crowns?

Revelation 4:10–11 NKJV

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Romans

Romans 4:10–11 NKJV

10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,

We will join with all of heaven, take what God has given us, and give it back to Him as the ultimate form of worship!

How we live here determines how we will get to worship there.

If we do nothing for Him now, we will have nothing to offer Him then. But, if we will worship, serve, honor, trust, and tell others about Him, we will have rewards He will give us to give back to Him!

But, if we will worship, serve, honor, trust, and tell others about Him, we will have rewards He will give us to give back to Him!

Close:

Play video pastor preaching about Rapture

There is so much available for us in heaven. There are two ways to get there, death or the rapture. Personally, I want to go through the rapture.

Regardless of how we get there, there will be a day when people will ask, where did everybody go?

Jesus will come, we will go to heaven, and we will be judged! The question is are we ready? Are we doing all we can to get our families ready?

What are we doing for Him on earth? Are we serving Him to our fullest, or just biding time until He comes?

When He returns, I want to have something to offer Him!