RAPTURE
Last Call Ministries
1st
Thessalonians 4:16
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel and 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"
Question: Is there an event called the "Rapture" and if there is, when will this event occur?
In the church today is a discussion on whether there is a "Rapture" or
not. The Rapture is a prophetic event described in many places in the Bible.
Some would suggest that the word "Rapture" is not found in the Bible.
These same people suggest, that the teaching that Jesus, at a specific,
appointed time, will come above the clouds of the heavens, just before the
darkest time of humanity: to receive his eagerly waiting church and spare them
from the "Great Tribulation" described in detail, in the book of
"Revelation" is in error.
The "Latin Vulgate", the oldest known copy of the new testament
scripture,
reveals a word in 1st Thessalonians 4:16, that we translate as to be the words "Caught Up". That word in Latin is the word "Rapiemur". The word "Rapiemur" and the word "Rapture" are the same word.
As for the issue of whether the Lord is coming back at the beginning, midway or
at the end of the Great Tribulation, I believe that as we rightly divide the
word of truth with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the answer will be quite
clear.
Jesus will make two completely different appearances. Once, above the clouds before the
tribulation to remove his church to safety and again with his church at the
end of the tribulation to begin his thousand year reign on the earth.
In Matthew 24:1 we read, As Jesus departed from the temple, his disciples came
and were admiring the beauty of the temple. Jesus told them that the temple
would utterly be destroyed.
In Matthew 24: 3 the disciples ask him specific questions:
1. When will these things be?
2. What will be the sign of thy Coming?
3. What will be the sign of the end of the World?
In Matthew 24: 4-9 Jesus answers the questions. " Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in my name saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Nation shall rise against nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom: and there shall be famines and pestilence's (Major outbreaks of disease) and earthquakes, in divers places (unusual, diverse, never before seen locations as well as the known places). All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Birth Pangs).
Jesus paints the picture that these events are like a woman in labor. The nearer
the time of delivery the more frequent and more severe the events will be.
In Matthew 24:14-16 we read, "And the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end
come. When you therefore see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, stand in the Holy place, (Whoever reads this let him understand:)
then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains". Jesus gives a
very specific sign that will indicate that his return is very near and his
Kingdom soon to be set up on earth as well as the end of the world (Age) The
"Abomination of Desolation" is explained in 2nd Thessalonians 2:4.
Speaking of the antichrist, "Who opposes and exalts himself above all that
is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of
God, showing himself that he is God". Not only does he sit in the temple
but he also sits in the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. This is what Jesus is
speaking of when he says in Matthew 24:21-22 "For then shall be great
tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no,
nor ever shall be. Except those days be shortened, there should be no flesh
saved".
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened.
The moon shall not give her light. The stars shall fall from heaven and the
powers of the "Heavens" shall be shaken. Then shall appear the sign of
the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven". (Matthew 24:29-30)
Jesus gives a clear description of his final return to Earth. However, in the
thirty-seventh verse of the same chapter, Jesus begins to say, "But as the
days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the
days that were before the flood; they were eating and drinking, marrying and
given in marriage until the day Noah entered the Ark. They knew not until the
flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man
be". God's kids will be taken off the planet first, and then the
"great deception" takes place ending in near total destruction of the
planet. Just as Noah was aware of the coming flood, we are aware of the coming
tribulation. God made Noah get in the Ark, and then God shut the door. When the
Rapture takes place, it will be like God is shutting the door for a period of
time. The Rapture should not take the believer by surprise, but rather we should
be eagerly awaiting it's arrival. In 2nd Thessalonians 22: 7-8" For the
mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who letteth (restrains) will let
until he be taken out of the way. Then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom
the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and the brightness of his
coming". The Holy Spirit is the restraining force that prohibits this evil
event from going forward at this time. The Holy Spirit has also taken up
permanent residence in the Born Again believer. When the Holy spirit is removed
from restraining so is the church Raptured and the antichrist revealed.
In Matthew 24:40-44 Jesus says, "Then shall their be two in the field; one
shall be taken, and the other left. Two grinding at the mill; then one shall be
taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for you know not the hour your Lord
does come. But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch
(At what time) the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have
suffered his house to be broken into. Therefore be you also ready: for in such
an hour as you think not, the Son of Man cometh". In one account Jesus
gives a specific picture of events , letting you zero in on his final return at
the end of the Great Tribulation detailed in the book of "Revelation".
Then, Jesus describes his return as a secret time when people are going about
their business leading a normal life (A tough trick to accomplish in the middle
of nuclear war, when the powers of the heavens are shaken). Not only is that
describing bad weather but even the disruption of the magnetic fields and the
rotation of the planet. (Isaiah 24:20)
In Luke 17:28-29 Jesus further says, "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted and they built: but the same day Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all". Can you see the pattern of God's mercy toward his children ? First he removes them out of harms way. Then destruction comes. (Once in secret, the other for the whole world to see) In fact, in the turbulence of the tribulation, when war ravages the earth, all will know at that time that Jesus is in control and that they rejected God's gracious offer of forgiveness. Instead the people of the earth call the rocks and mountains to "Fall on them" and hide them from the face of him who sits on the throne; and from the wrath of the "Lamb" (Revelation 6:16)
One must first realize that the tribulation is for a Christ rejecting world, a judgement against man. (Although many will get saved during this time, many realizing that they missed out on a tremendous blessing, will willingly lay down their lives for Jesus). (Revelation 12:11) We as believers in Jesus have been delivered from judgement. We have been granted a pardon. It is not the nature of Jesus to cast his family into the judgement intended for a Christ rejecting world. In Daniel 9:27 it says, "And that determined shall be poured upon the desolate". If Jesus is in you, then you are not the desolate.
Let me say this loud and clear, "The Rapture is God's mercy toward his
children".
In Revelation 3:10 Jesus says, "Because thou has kept the word of my
patience, (Because you have been faithful to believe me and trust me), I will
also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world,
to try them that dwell upon the earth". This is the clearest statement that
Jesus gives us by far concerning the Rapture, it is very clear to this preacher
that the believers will be removed from the earth prior to the tribulation.
Jesus says, I'll keep you from the hour, not protect you through the hour.
The Rapture will take place at a time of prosperity. When generally speaking, no
one will be expecting it to happen.
I urge you, that if you do not know
Jesus as your Lord, now is the time of "Salvation". It doesn't matter
what you have done in life. Jesus won't cast you away. He knocks at the door of
your heart, eagerly waiting, patiently for you to answer. He cannot wait forever
and you cannot afford to turn him away . Simply Ask Jesus to forgive you and he
will. Jesus says, "Learn of me" I am meek and lowly in heart; and you
shall find rest unto your soul". Read God's Word.
I recommend that you start in the Gospel of John. Ask Jesus to teach you. By the comforting guidance of the Holy Spirit, Jesus will teach you. Jesus came to restore all that the devil has stolen from you.
Lord Jesus Open the understanding of your people! Amen!
Thank
you "In His Image" for the background set on this page.
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Free Trade Blocs the Conduit to Global Government?
Road Map for Peace, the Prophesied End Time Parting of the Holy Land?
Inter-Religious Pluralism, the Foretold "Mystery Babylon"?
Find this and more in the Provocative New Biblical Prophecy Book --Final Reckoning Mankind's Rendezvous with Eternity foretold-- You'll Never look at a newspaper the same.
