An Appointment You Can't Afford to Miss pt 2
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Introduction
Introduction
The rapture of the church is something that has been talked about for centuries. The timing of this great event is not knowmn to anyone, but just as we can be certain of everything else in scripture, we can be 100% sure that there is coming a day when those who have been born again by receiving Christ as their Lord and Savior, will be taken from this Earth. The English word ‘rapture’ is derived from the Latin rapere, meaning to seize. It corresponds to the Greek verb harpazō. Harpazō (catch up, snatch up) is often invested with the idea of force. In this sense, harpazō refers to a rescue (take away, ) and to the near forceful capture of Jesus by a crowd (). The term is not limited to the physical realm. The evil one snatches away the message of the kingdom sown upon men’s hearts (), Jude exhorts believers to snatch some men from the fire (Jd 23), and no one is able to snatch the sheep belonging to the good shepherd from our Father’s hand (Jn 10:11, 28–29). Elsewhere, the term is used of supernatural phenomena and does not carry the concept of force. Paul received glorious revelation after being caught up into paradise (2Co 12:2, 4). The Holy Spirit carries Philip away and transports him to Azotus (Ac 8:39). Believers will one day be caught up to meet their returning Lord (1Th 4:17).
Ac 23:10
) and to the near forceful capture of Jesus by a crowd (
Jn 6:15
). The term is not limited to the physical realm. The evil one snatches away the message of the kingdom sown upon men’s hearts (
Mt 13:19
), Jude exhorts believers to snatch some men from the fire (
Jd 23
), and no one is able to snatch the sheep belonging to the good shepherd from our Father’s hand (
Jn 10:11
,
28–29
). Elsewhere, the term is used of supernatural phenomena and does not carry the concept of force. Paul received glorious revelation after being caught up into paradise (
2Co 12:2
,
4
). The Holy Spirit carries Philip away and transports him to Azotus (
Ac 8:39
). Believers will one day be caught up to meet their returning Lord (
1Th 4:17
).
For many years you have heard that we are living in the last days. When did the last days begin? Apostle Peter says the last days began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
For many years you have heard that we are living in the last days. When did the last days begin? Apostle Peter says the last days began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Acts 2:17-18The last days, which we have been in for many years, will conclude with a series of events at the end of the age. The time we live in now is commonly referred to as the Church Age, and it is called that because it is the time that began at Pentecost and ends when the Rapture of the church takes place. The Church is composed of those individuals who have by faith accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The Greek word ecclesia, translated “church,” means “a called-out assembly.” The Church is universal in scope but meets locally in smaller bodies. Let me share with you a series of events that will take place at the end of this age. The church age actually ends when the church is raptured. Here is the sequence of events that will follow this in the end times.
The seven year period know as the tribulation which will be like hell on Earth.
The physical coming of Christ to the Earth as Judge and King.
The establishment of God’s kingdom on earth for 1000 years.
The final judgment of humanity.
The beginning of the eternal state in New Jerusalem.
I. The Promise to the Bride
I. The Promise to the Bride
Jesus told them not to be troubled. This was a tall task He was asking them to do. On the surface, it may seem like it’s not a big deal, but just consider what was being communicated here.
After Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he spoke of deeply troubling matters: one of them would betray him, he was going to leave them, and Peter would disown him. Shortly the disciples would see their master led away for trial; then be condemned to death on a cross. Their faith would be sorely tested. It was to fortify them in these circumstances that Jesus’ teaching, beginning in 14:1–11, was given.
Jesus told them not to be troubled. This was a tall task He was asking them to do. On the surface, it may seem like it’s not a big deal, but just consider what
We will only focus on these first three verses. There are three things we can see being expressed here...
1. Keep Believing in Me
1. Keep Believing in Me
Though deeply troubled by the prospect of his own betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus concerned himself with his disciples’ distress. He said to them, Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.5 Their faith in God, and in particular their faith in Jesus, would enable them to calm their hearts as they faced what lay ahead.
2. Keep Believing in What I said
Having urged his disciples to maintain their trust in him even though he was soon to leave them, Jesus gave them further grounds for doing so: In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.6 God’s eternal dwelling place is portrayed as his ‘house’ (oikia) with many ‘rooms’ (monai), sufficient to provide a ‘place’ (topos) for all Jesus’ disciples. Jesus’ going was to prepare ‘a place’ for them in God’s ‘house’, and he assured them that if this were not the case he would have told them so.
3. Keep Believing In My Return
Jesus added, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Jesus’ going in this context is his return to the Father’s presence in heaven (via his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension), and it is to heaven he will take his disciples when he returns for them.
Jesus sought to fortify his disciples by telling them that by his departure he would prepare places for them in his Father’s house, and that he would return to take them to his home there.
JESUS IS COMING!!! He made this promise that He is coming back to get his bride, but we also see in scripture that the bride is protected from the wrath to come.
II. The Protection of the Bride
II. The Protection of the Bride
The hour of testing refers to “the great tribulation” (7:14). Though the wording may sound like a reference to all who will inhabit the world at that time, those who dwell on the earth is a phrase used repeatedly in Revelation (6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8), and it is speaking of the non-elect, “whose names have not been written in the book of life” (17:8).
The hour of testing refers to “the great tribulation” (7:14). Though the wording may sound like a reference to all who will inhabit the world at that time, those who live on the earth (“earth dwellers” from this point on in the notes) is a phrase used repeatedly in Revelation (6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8), speaking of the non-elect, “whose names have not been written in the book of life” (17:8). To “keep … from the hour of testing” has been taken to mean: (1) removed before the time of tribulation, or (2) supernaturally protected within the tribulation. Since the word hour suggests a period of time, and the purpose of the hour of testing is to test the non-elect “earth dwellers” rather than believers, it seems more likely that believers will be removed before the hour of great tribulation begins.
To “keep … from the hour of testing” has been taken to mean one of two things:
(1) removed before the time of tribulation, or
(2) supernaturally protected within the tribulation.
Since the word hour suggests a period of time, and the purpose of the hour of testing is to test the non-elect “earth dwellers” rather than believers, it seems more likely that believers will be removed before the hour of great tribulation begins.
If you recall last week, I mentioned that there are several views concerning when Jesus will come. I shared three different views…Pre Tribulation Rapture, Mid Tribulation Rapture, and Post Tribulation Rapture (briefly explain) I also shared that based on which says...
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Those words were meant to comfort the Thessalonian believers and it comforts us as well. I fail to see how we can be comforted knowing that we will be part of the Tribulation. I firmly believe based on scripture that we will be gone before the Tribulation begins, and what I share today will support that.
When we do an overview of the end times scenario it helps put this incredible event we know as the Rapture in it’s proper place. What the Bible calls the Day of the Lord in began at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came in .
“The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood
Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
When we think of a day in this context, we cannot think of it in terms of a 24 hour span of time, but it should be considered as a period of time, because we know that God does not operate on chronological time as we do, He operates on kronos time. Our finite minds are not able to grasp the concept of no chronos time The coming of the Holy Spirit was a preliminary event that anticipates a future, final day of the Lord at teh end of History. The day of the Lord will be the culminating “day” that the judgment of God will fall on those who have rebelled against Him and it will be part of the preparation for the glorious eternal state that will be inherited by the saved believers from all ages. The church (the Bride) is promised protection from this day. says...
When we think of a day, we cannot think of it in terms of a 24 hour span of time, but it should be considered as a period of time, because we know that God does not operate on chronological time as we do. The coming of the Holy Spirit was a preliminary event that anticipates a future, final day of the Lord at teh end of History. The day of the Lord will be the culminating “day” that the juggment of God will fall on those who have rebelled against Him and it will be part of the preparation for the glorious eternal state that will be inherited by teh saved believers from all ages. The church is promised protection from this day.
For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Rapture is very important and has a specific purpose. The purpose of the Rapture is to remove the church from this crooked, perverse world before the seven year Tribulation and its judgments begin. Again, let me remind you that there is no comfort in knowing you will go through the Tribulation which is why I believe the Bible shows we will be spared. Jesus told the church at Philadelphia
‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
If you read the Book of Revelation, you will notice that John never mentions the church being around during the Great Tribulation. I think he probably would have included that detail so we would be prepared!
When Paul writes about the judgments of the day of the Lord, he states that it will not happenuntil the one who holds back the lawless one is taken out of the way.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
Scholars believe that the one who is doing the restraining of the lawless one if the Holy Spirit that indwells the church (believers). There is a lot that happens in the world that I think we all wish were not the case, but it is because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, working through the church, that the flood of eveil that will be experienced in the Tribulation is currently held back. This evil will be judged when Christ returns to the Earth after the Tribulation. When the Rapture takes place the church will be absent from the Earth, and the door will be opened for the reign of the Antichrist during the Tribulation, who is referred to as the Beast in
I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;
John, in his vision recorded in Revelation, sees Jesus Christ coming after the Tribulation and when he comes, the Bible describes the scene in
And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
This verse is making reference to the church, which is the Bride of Christ. At the Rapture, Christ comes and takes His bride away to Heaven, celebrates the marriage in heaven with her during the Tribulation that will be going on here on Earth, and then returns to earth with her at His second coming to celebrate the feast.
Closing
Closing
The Rapture and the Second Coming are two separate events that will happen in the end times, and they are separated by a seven year period called the Tribulation. During this time, the Bride (the church) is safely in Heaven waiting to come back with Jesus to received the Kingdom prepared for Him by his Father.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
This will be the most glorious occasion unlike anything ever in the history of the world! I pray we strive to do kingdom work while we are here so that we can add as many people as we can to the great family of God so they can experience this glorious occasion too.