Encouragement
The Rapture Of The Church
The English word "rapture" does not occur AT ALL in the King James, New King James, NIV, or other modern translation of the Bible. In fact, the word itself did not come into existence until around the very late 1500s A.D.the meaning of the rapture is a snatching up to heaven born again believers. We can see that this is possible by looking at Acts 8:39, listen.” And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing”. This catching away is what is meant by the word Rapture. It will be performed by the same Holy Spirit that caught away Philip. Jesus has made the Church a glorious promise, to come back and get us and take us to heaven. John 14:2,3 records that promise, listen.” I go to prepare a place for you. 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”. The Rapture of the Church is the fulfillment of this promise. There are many believers that are confused with the Rapture, the catching away of the Church, and the second coming of Christ. They are two separate events, separated by seven years. The Rapture is imminent, it could happen at any time. Jesus has told us in Matthew 24:36” But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only”. No other biblical events need to occur in order for the Rapture of the Church to come to pass. But four events need to occur before the second of Christ can come to pass.
1St, the Church Age has to come to an end, 2Nd, the Abomination of Desolation spoken by Daniel the prophet has to come to pass, 3Rd , the 70th week of Daniel, or the tribulation has to begin, and 4th, the man of sin, or the antichrist has to come to power. Jesus has told us in Matthew 24:29,30 “ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”. Jesus has just told us when the second coming will occur, immediately after the tribulation, but the Rapture no man knows the day nor the hour, it could happen at any time. People who do not believe in the Rapture of the Church do not believe in the bible, for the bible gives us two references concerning the Rapture. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 listen, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory”. This is a beautiful description of the Rapture. Paul, who knew more about the plan of God than anyone that denies that there will be a Rapture of the Church, says all believers will be Rapture, Whether dead or alive at the time of the Rapture, the dead will be raised to life and take on a glorified body just like the one that Jesus now has, and we that are alive will simply be changed from mortality to immortality. I believe the bible. The next reference is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13- 17” 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 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.” Here Paul says that Jesus will come as far as the clouds, His feet will not touch the earth, and we will be caught up, or Raptured up to heaven to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we forever be with the Lord. Again I believe the bible. In Revelation chapter four, John, who represents the Church is told, come up here, to heave. This takes place immediately after the Church Age, but before the beginning of the tribulation. We believe that this call by God to come up here, is the call for the Rapture of the Church. In Revelation 19:11-14 is recorded the actual second coming of Christ, it reads;” And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” This army that comes to earth with Jesus Christ is the Church, how did they get to heaven? By way of the Rapture after the Church Age, but before the tribulation. Amen
www.drbernardajonesministries.org
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