In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2
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The Timing of the RaptureSo, when is the Rapture going to happen? If you look at the following verses, you will see that it is saying that Jesus will keep us from the wrath and hour of temptation. Also many verses teach that Christ's reture is imminent. If you look at some of the verses below you will see just that. This is why believers are waiting for Jesus Christ, not just an event or series of events such as those related to the tribulation leading up to Christ's second advent in which He returns to the earth and remains for His millennial reign. I believe that means the rapture will happen BEFORE the tribulation. The verses that show imminency are marked with a *. Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;*Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.* Phi 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Conversation means citizenship.) Phi 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand*. It appears that Paul seemed to think that the Lord could come during his lifetime, so there is no record of Paul expecting to go through the Great Tribulation first. Paul expected the imminent return of Christ. In other words, the return of Christ is the next thing Paul expected to happen. 1Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:*1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1Co 15:52 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. We shall not all sleep – in other words we shall not all die. At the last trump – That is His last call. The trumpet is His voice. (See Rev. 1:10-13) So at the last trump is the voice of the Lord Jesus. And in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. I believe that if you read this verse it is saying that Christ will return to take the believers with Him before the tribulation. 1Th 4:13 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. The reason Paul is writing this is that the Thessalonians were worried about those that had died before the rapture and Paul was letting them know what was going to happen to ‘those that were asleep. Obviously Paul had taught the Thessalonians about the imminent coming of Christ or else they wouldn’t have been worried about those that had died. (imminent means the next thing on God’s agenda) 1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1Th 4:15 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. This is Paul’s assurance that he is giving God’s answer to their question, because he knows that they had been worrying about those who had died before the Rapture and wants them to know that the dead in Christ will have part in the Rapture. (Prevent is an old English word meaning ‘precede’.) 1Th 4:16 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: Notice that it is the Lord that comes to the earth. When He comes to the earth to establish His kingdom, He will send His angels to the four corners of the earth to gather His elect, who will be both Israelites and Gentiles. ‘the voice of the archangel’; Notice that it His voice that will be like the voice of an archangel in the quality, majesty and authority of His voice. ‘the trump of God’; It will be His voice that will be like a trumpet. How can we be sure of this? (See Rev. 1:10) 1Th 4:17 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. It is not taught in the Old Testament that the Lord Jesus is going to take people out of this earth to be with Himself. This truth was first revealed in the Upper Room when the Lord said: Joh 14:2 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. Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Now, think about this, does the Lord come as a thief to the church? No He doesn’t. But He will come as a thief to the world after the church has been raptured. The Day of the Lord will come suddenly and it will begin with the night of the Great Tribulation and continue until the millennial reign of Christ. 1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.* Again Paul is saying that the Church will not be here during the Great Tribulation because if you look at 1 Th 5:2 you see that the Lord cometh as a thief in the night and Paul says that we are the children of light and of the day. And another verse from Paul that says that we are not going through the Great Tribulation. 1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Take a look at this again – ‘God hath not appointed us to wrath’. God has not destined us for wrath, for the Great Tribulation, but for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. One other thing to think about is that in Revelation, the Church is mentioned in the first 3 chapters of this book. But from chapter 4 on, the Church is not mentioned again until chapter 19. Why would this be? Could it be that the Church is not on this earth during the time of the tribulation? Think about it. It makes sense. The Church is going to be raptured before the tribulation, not during or after it. The church that is left on the earth during the tribulation is called the great harlot: (Rev. 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH). Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. This is Christ's final word of encouragement to His church is that it will not pass through the Great Tribulation. I believe that the above information gives you something to seriously think about. |
Everlasting Life He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36. Are You Ready Links • Are You Ready • How to Get to Heaven • Forgiveness • Understand the Scriptures Part 1 • Understand the Scriptures Part 2 • Salvation by Baptism? Part 1 • Salvation by Baptism? Part 2 • Salvation by Baptism? Part 3 • What Happens When You Die • Things about Revelation Part 1 • Things about Revelation Part 2 The Rapture The Tribulation • The Tribulation • Tribulation Purpose --The Seals --The Trumpets |
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