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| After The Rapture, What Then? by Rev. V.V. McCoy, President World Vision Enterprise |
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| Foreword I recommend this little book to you. Brother McCoy is a man of God who has given his life to the ministry of Christ's Church. He is more than a preacher. He is a man who lives what he preaches. Most of all, Brother McCoy has a long history of being involved in the very difficult area of jail ministry. He is one of the few ministers I know who visit the jails of Jackson and the surrounding counties on a regular basis. Whether you agree with Brother McCoy's interpretation or not, you must admire the man behind that interpretation. With Deep Appreciation, Dr. Jerry Jeffords June 1998 |
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| Part I |
| Rapture? When? Many believe that rapture takes place in the fourth chapter of the Book of Revelation. ...Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. Revelation 4:1. The invitation was given to John, and without a doubt, he went up to the Throne of God. He gives, in detail, what he saw in Heaven. For us to find out more about just what to expect in the near future, we should read on in the fourth chapter of Revelation. Also, the fifth chapter describes the book sealed with seven seals in the hand of Him Who sat on the throne. When a strong angel shouted, "Who is worthy to loose the seals and read the book?" no man was found to be worthy, but the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, which is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. With the rapture in the past, we set out to explore the future. Just what does the Word of God say? And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:1-2. The Lion is called a Lamb. When the Lamb opened the first seal, John was invited to "Come and see", by the first beast that was about the throne. John saw a white horse and his rider had a bow and a crown was given unto him. Notice: the crown was not earned. He went forth conquering and to conquer. Verses three through eight tell us about the second beast saying the same thing, "Come and see," at the opening of the second seal. In like manner, so did the third and fourth beasts at the opening of the third and fourth seals. At this time now, we have four horses and their riders: a white horse, a red horse, a black horse, and a pale horse. Each of the riders have a very destructive responsibility to carry out over the fourth part of the earth (verse 8). In your reading of these passages did you notice what was said in the last clause of the sixth verse? ...See thou hurt not the oil and the wine. Revelation 6:6. Of course, all of this takes place under the God-delegated authority of the rider of the white horse, which is the anti-Christ. Before we go to the opening of the fifth seal, we come to the seventh chapter. Here we find that the destruction [of the opening of the six seals] is brought to a standstill by an angel descending from the east, having the seal of the Living God. The angel says, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Revelation 7:3. Thus, we find that the sealing of 144,000 Jews must come first after the rapture. Now may I say to you who read this small book (or hear it read), that I, for one, believe these Jews were fine people before the rapture. Immediately after, they believed in Jesus Christ, Our Lord, and were sealed with the seal of God in their forehead for their protection from the anti-Christ during the first three and a half years of the tribulation period (1,260 days to be exact). These great servants of God are to be used of God for the rest of their stay on earth for a witness of God's great power to save souls and to spread the good news of the Kingdom (that is, the literal Kingdom) that our God has told us about. I speak concerning the one thousand-year literal reign of Christ, which is to be here on this renovated earth. Also, we read about two witnesses in the eleventh chapter of Revelation, which are referred to as two olive trees standing before the God of the Earth. These two great men will prophesy 1,260 days, at about the same time as the Jews preach and teach the everlasting gospel. And they, that is the two witnesses, will have great power to shut up Heaven, that it will not rain and turn water into blood. These great miracles which they are able to do will be done as often as they desire, because they have that power delegated to them. Now we come to a great revival. Many people will turn to God. People in all nations will believe and call upon God to save them through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. This is the beginning of the foolish virgins, as recorded in Matthew 25:1-13. Being saved, most all nations by now will have heard the Gospel, but each living soul is to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ before the end of the great day of Grace. And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:1-5.This is revival for sure-the prayers of all saints. The prayers of Mothers and Dads that were not fully answered before the rapture took place. It is no wonder that our great and powerful and all loving God would stop the clock and silence every living creature in Heaven to record or to receive the prayers of all saints. If this would not inspire a great interest and lead the church to prayer much, much more in the short time left before the rapture takes place, I don't know what it would take, with today being the second day of March 1996 at 4:40 PM. You will notice just what begins to take place, as the seven angels with trumpets prepare to sound them. Please read for yourself Revelation 8:7 - Revelation 10:7. Now let us look back: And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. Revelation 8:2. This is as they stand waiting, including the angel with the prayers of all the saints, which have been received by our loving heavenly, Father through Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The greatest revival ever, begins. If you would like to know more about this great revival to which I am referring, please turn in your Bible and read the seventh chapter of Revelation, beginning with the ninth verse. These converts, as we shall call them, are referred to as saints and servants. At this time, the Church has been raptured some time before. Now let's turn in our Bibles and read these verses that I have referred you to. Remember, this is when the 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe) of Israel were sealed. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. Revelation 7:9. Notice these great people: converts with palms in their hands, no crowns on their heads and crying with a loud voice saying, ...Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I (John) said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:8-14.We are, therefore, told that this multitude of people is saved after the rapture. They serve Him day and night in the temple, and He that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:16-17. Let us take another look back: And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:2. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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. I Thessalonians 5:1-3. The third verse of chapter 5 in I Thessalonians refers to the rapture of the Church. This little book is about the sudden fulfillment of the Holy Scriptures concerning the rapture, that has already taken place. We have heard "Peace and safety" for years. We are going to hear it more and more as time goes on before the rapture of the Church. When the Church is raptured, it will take place as suddenly as "a thief in the night" to those who are not ready-those who are not looking for Jesus to come back in the fashion we are taught in The Word. He will return in like manner as He went away. And how did He go away? How did the five hundred or more in the first chapter of the Book of Acts witness Him going into Heaven? ...While they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up... Acts 1:9-10. So He will return, in like manner, just as they saw Him go away. We are not looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ by watching our televisions. We are expecting Him to return as we are emphatically told here: 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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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 (or go before) them which are asleep. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:13-18.For the Lord Himself... He's not going to send an angel-He's not going to send the anti-Christ. Those expecting the anti-Christs to solve the problems of the world may be looking at their televisions around the world. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:16-18. Let no man deceive you because of the confusion that's in the world today. It will continue to grow and increase. Arm yourself with the knowledge of The Word. There will ever be confusion among so-called God's people, concerning the rapture, until the rapture takes place as we have just read and as Paul said. 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. I Thessalonians 5:3. Then Paul speaks to the brethren and encourages them. This is in reference to the Church, the overcoming Church of today, the fourth day of March 1996. We pick up with the fourth verse: But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. I Thessalonians 5:4-8.Now, the ninth verse of this chapter of I Thessalonians is in reference to those who are ready at the coming of the Lord, the great meeting in the air: For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. I Thessalonians 5:9-12. End Part I, "After The Rapture, What Then?" Continued... |
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