08-07-2022 - The Rapture of the Church

SERIES INTRODUCTION

We are living in the last days. The signs of the times are all around us. Biblical prophecy is being fulfilled at an increasing rate. It is not a question of if the end is coming, but how soon. What does the Bible say is going to happen in the last days? What does this all mean? What should we be doing? How should we be preparing?

We are starting a new series this morning titled, “Living in the Last Days,” to help answer these and other questions about biblical prophecy. What is the rapture? Who is the antichrist and when is he going to rise to power? What is going to take place during the Great Tribulation? Where is the church during this time? What is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the Judgment Seat of Christ? When is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? Who will stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment and what will happen to them? What is the ultimate fate of Satan and the demonic realm? What happens during the Millennial Kingdom and when will God create new heavens, a new earth, and the city New Jerusalem we hear so much about? How do all these events tie together and in what order will they happen?

If you’ve even wondered the answers to some of these questions or if you are curious about biblical prophecy of the end times and want to know more, then you will want to be here and tune in to the messages over the next several weeks. I believe we, as the body of Christ, need to be informed on what the Bible has to say about all this so that we can be like the men of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32 who “understood the times and knew what to do.”

SERMON INTRODUCTION

This morning we are going begin our study of “Living in the Last Days” by looking at what the Bible has to say about “The Rapture of the Church.” And I want to begin this morning by taking a look at a familiar and well-loved passage of Scripture in John Chapter 14.

SCRIPTURE

John 14:1–6 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. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

MESSAGE

Introduction

Jesus is addressing His disciples during the end of His earthly ministry. Jesus will soon die on the Cross for the sins of the world. After the Cross, Jesus will ascend back into Heaven and will no longer be with them as He had been for the last three and a half years. But before Jesus leaves, He wants to give them some encouragement and hope. And that hope is that Jesus is going to prepare a place for them and all those who follow Christ. He is returning back to His Father’s house in Heaven to prepare that place and, once it is prepared and ready, Jesus will come again to collect His bride, His church, and take them to that place He’s prepared to be with Him for eternity.

The Mystery of Christ and the Church

The imagery here that Jesus uses of a marriage and as the church being the bride of Christ is unmistakable. Paul, in Ephesians 5:32 refers to it as the “mystery of Christ and the church.” Jesus uses this imagery of marriage to represent His relationship to the church all throughout His teachings in the Gospels. But it is important for us to understand, what Jesus had in mind is the ancient Jewish wedding. And Jesus, here in John 14, uses this marriage imagery as a way to describe the rapture of the church.

We briefly summarized this idea during a Wednesday night Bible Study recently. But I want to present it this morning for the sake of those who were not there that Wednesday night and hopefully provide a little more detail and clarity to those who were. We’re going to look at the three phases of an ancient Jewish wedding and how each phase is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church and how it prophetically reveals the rapture of the church.

The Covenant Phase (Shiddukhin)

Determining the Bride Price

The father would determine the bride price, or dowry, for the prospective bride.

God the Father determined the bride price, or price of redemption, to be the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.

Paying the Bride Price

The prospective groom would then leave his father's house and travel to the home of the bride to pay the bride price.

Jesus left His Father's house in Heaven and traveled to earth, took on the form of human flesh, and paid the price for our sins by shedding His blood and laying down His life on the Cross of Calvary.

The Marriage Proposal

The groom made an offer of marriage to the bride, but the bride had to accept.

Jesus has made the offer of salvation, but we must make the decision to accept. We accept God's plan of salvation by placing our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

The Marriage Contract

Once the prospective bride accepted the offer, she and the groom would sign a marriage contract, or covenant, called a ketubah.

We accept God's plan of salvation and enter into the New Covenant by placing our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are then sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.

The Wine Covenant

The prospective bride and groom would perform a ceremony to seal the marriage covenant where they would drink from the same cup of wine. The groom would say "I will not drink of this cup again with you until I drink it new with you in my father's house."

We demonstrate our love for Christ and remember His sacrifice for us at Calvary when we partake in the Lord's Supper, or Communion. When Jesus told His disciples that he would not drink of the fruit of vine any more with them until He drank it new with them in His Father's Kingdom, this was a reference to the ancient Jewish wedding. We are to partake in Communion, which is a picture of His body and blood being sacrificed for us, until Jesus returns.

The Engagement Phase (Erusin)

The Engagement

Once the ketubah was signed and the cup of wine was shared, the two were considered betrothed or engaged. However, in Jewish culture, engagement had a stronger meaning than in our culture today. Ending the engagement required a bill of divorce. However, they did not live together or consummate the marriage at this point.

Once we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ into our heart, we are saved. We enjoy the benefits of being the Bride of Christ already, but there is also a component that is not yet. Even though Jesus is with us spiritually speaking and we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we are still awaiting the return of Jesus Christ and the time when we will be with Him for eternity.

The Living Arrangement

The bride remained in her father's house while the groom returned to his father's house.

After Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, He ascended back to Heaven and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God the Father. We remain on earth awaiting His return.

The Bridal Chamber

When the bridegroom returned to his father's house, he would prepare a huppah, or bridal chamber. This was typically another room built onto his father's existing house.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14 that in His Father's house were many mansions, that He was going there to prepare a place for them, and that He would return again one day to receive them and take them to where He is. This is a reference to the ancient Jewish wedding.

The Length of the Betrothal

This process of preparation typically took at least one full year, but could last up to seven years.

We are currently living in the period of time known as the betrothal. This is known as the Church Age or the Dispensation of Grace. We don’t know when this period of time will end.

The Waiting Period

During this time the bride was waiting and preparing for the return of the bridegroom.

We remain here on the earth while we prepare and wait for the return of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that we should "watch and wait" and make preparations for the return of Jesus.

The Marriage Phase (Nissuin)

Setting the Date

The father of the bridegroom would determine the right time for the marriage and would give his son permission to go receive his bride.

One day soon, God the Father is going to turn to His Son Jesus Christ and say "It is time to go receive your bride."

The Marriage Procession

Once the bridegroom was given permission to receive his bride, he would lead a procession of his friends and family to the home of the bride. This was typically done in the middle of the night. As the procession approached her home, those who accompanied the bridegroom would announce his arrival with a shout.

One day soon, Jesus is going to descend on the clouds of heaven with a heavenly host. The voice of the archangel will shout to announce His arrival and the trumpet of God will sound. He is going to come as a thief in the night.

The Bride Must be Ready at All Times

The bride had to be ready to go with the groom at any moment.

Since we do not know the day or the hour of His return, we must remain ready at all times. We must have on the wedding garment and our lamps must be full of the oil of the Holy Ghost.

Mark 13:32–37 NKJV

32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

The Rapture of the Bride

The groom would gather up his bride and carry her back to his father's house to the bridal chamber, or huppah, that the groom had prepared.

At the Rapture, we are going to rise to meet the Lord in the air. The dead in Christ will rise first. Then, we which are alive and remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, as so shall we ever be with the Lord. The Bible tells us that we should comfort one another with these words.

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.

The Glorification of the Bride

After the marriage was consummated, the bride and groom would emerge from the bridal chamber. The bride would remove the veil that she had been wearing up to this point. There would be a celebration with their friends and family that lasted for seven days.

We are going to be glorified and presented to Christ as a glorious church, without spot and without blemish. The veil will be removed and we will see Him face to face. We will stand before the Bema (Judgment) Seat of Christ and receive rewards for our works and faithfulness during our life on earth. We will also sit down and feast with Jesus at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It will be a celebration like no other!

1 Corinthians 15:51–58 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

What Should We Do?

Make Preparations

In John 14:6, Jesus said that He is “the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.” In other words, there is only one way to become part of the bride of Christ and be part of the church that Jesus is coming back soon to receive and take back to His Father’s house to the place He has prepared. Jesus has made preparations for you. Have you made preparations for Him? When the roll is called up yonder, will you be there? Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? The five foolish virgins did not have oil in their lamps when the bridegroom came. Will you be caught off-guard with no oil of the Holy Spirit in your heart when Jesus returns? Make preparations today. It is as simple as surrendering your life to Christ, confessing your sins, accepting His forgiveness, placing your faith in Him as Messiah and Savior, and allowing the Holy Spirit to come in and transform your life.

Watch and Pray

Since we do not know the day or the hour of Jesus’ return to rapture the church, we must be ready at all times. We are to watch and understand the time and the season in which we live. If we will look around today, we will see that the coming of the Lord is near. It will not be long before the end times prophesies that are written in the Bible will become reality. We not only are to watch, but we are to pray. We should pray, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We should pray, “even so, come Lord Jesus.” We should pray for the lost to be saved. We should pray for God’s hand of protection and provision to remain upon us as the condition of the world continues to get worse. We should pray for the Lord to redeem us out of this present world and keep us from the hour of tribulation that is coming on the world. We have much to pray about.

Comfort One Another

At the end of Paul’s section on the rapture in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4, he reminds us to “comfort one another with these words.” For a Christian, the rapture is not something to fear. The rapture is something to eagerly anticipate. Titus 2:13 tells us that the rapture is the blessed hope of the church. Our loved ones that died in Christ will rise again! We will see them again! We will be united with our Savior Jesus Christ and we will be reunited with all of our loved ones that have already passed. We will rise to meet the Lord in the air and we will be with Him and with them for eternity! What a blessed hope! What a comfort! Church, be comforted today in knowing that soon the burdens of this life will be lifted and we are going to a better place!

Work for the Lord

Paul, at the end of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, tells us that we should be “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” There is so much work to be done. We don’t have time for disruptions, distractions, or divisions. The church must stop fighting the wrong battles and fight the good fight of faith. It is time to get on the battlefield for the Lord. It is time to be the church that Jesus designed us to be. There are people who are lost that need to be saved. There are people with chemical addictions that need help. There are broken families that need to be put back together. There are people who are demonized that need to be set free. There are people who are sick who need to be healed. There are people in darkness that need to see the light. Get motivated and get moving for God! Your labor will not be in vain. It may feel like it some times. It may feel like you’re not accomplishing anything or doing any good. But God has promised that nothing you do for Him is in vain!

CLOSING

Do you need something from the Lord this morning? Do you know Him as your Savior? If not, why don’t you come and surrender your life to Him today? Do you want to pray for some loved ones that are lost or in need of something in their lives? Why don’t you come pray for them today? Do you need to receive comfort or do you want to be better prepared to offer comfort to others regarding the rapture of the church? Why don’t you come let the Lord fill you will comfort and assurance of the rapture and blessings of God that will overflow out of your life into others? Are you doing all you can for the Lord? Have you sat down on the sidelines because you felt it was all in vain? Why don’t you get back in the race today, surrender your life to God’s will, and let Him begin to work in you so that you can continue to work for Him?

ALTAR CALL