Introduction Remember! THIS is the very first time MOST Christians will see and be with Christ! WOW! Hollywood ain't got nothing on the King of kings. It may happen in a twinkling, but we've got an awesome destination just ahead! And yet I love to ponder the depths of intimacy that will take place on that day, when so many souls will finally be with the One whom they have put their trust. What a sobering yet ultra-fulfilling moment it will be.
By the way, what does "putting our trust in Him" really mean? Is it believing in Jesus? Or perhaps something deeper? We know it is by grace and faith that we are saved, not by works. (Eph 2:8) So there are places in heaven for the smallest measures of faith. But Scripture also says faith without works is dead (James 2:17) And Jesus clears it up a bit more for us in Matthew 6:20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." There is clearly work to be done! But is your heart in your work? I suppose the real question is, Do you want a shack in God's kingdom or a mansion? (Lord knows even a shack in heaven would trump this old earth infinitely, but we are encouraged to "lay up treasures in heaven") Luke 6:22 says, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sakes;" And again in Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." To be treated in accordance to His name sake it is ever so vital that we become Christlike in our walk, but even before that we must want Christ in the depths of our heart as we are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). And that is a daily decision evidenced in our lives by keeping His commands (John 14:15) Big picture? Having a genuine an intimate relationship with God is above all else. We know Him as Christ Jesus, we accept His sacrifice for us, and because of His perfection (thank God) it is through obedience to the Holy Scriptures that we must become sanctified. (John 17:17) This will be the spotless church to "be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white" that Christ returns for, and "the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." (Rev 19:8) Our fallen sinful state is a strange and mysterious experience. Evil and troubles are all around and growing, yet redemption sings a far sweeter song. One from our God, who first loved us, then saved us from ourselves! Demonstrated by the shedding of His blood and taking our place in death, yet risen in glory so we too may rise! And what a glorious day that will be: "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." 1st Thessalonians 4:17 This is big! This is the first moment of the first day of the rest of eternity with the Savior! THIS is the rapture, and we can see how important it is that we know what Scripture says about it, that we study it, share it, and most importantly, that we want to. ~T.t. Please read on, to the "let's get started" for more details about the rapture as revealed through Scripture. To skip right to the TIMING of the RAPTURE click here. |
Let's get started! What an exciting subject! One which is held with many differing opinions, each clung to by strong adherents. The timing is pre-tribulation, mid-trib, post-trib, and even that it already happened. Some, however, don't believe there even is a 'rapture', or that it will ever take place. This teaching generally stems from the word "rapture" not actually being in the Bible. So let's clear these up right away in 1st Thes 4:16:
"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." The dictionary form of this Greek verb is harpazō (ἁρπάζω) literally 'caught up' or 'taken away' This is the rapture of the church, however when and what that entails is often taken away from the truth. First let us look at some more verses about Christ's return: "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (Matt 24:40-42) It gets better: "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." (1st Corinthians 15:51-52) This is obviously a future event! Unless history missed something along the way...And what an AMEN that is, for this IS our blessed hope! (Titus 2:13) And that "hope" is in something that WILL happen at a future time. Otherwise it might have been called, "our blessed past" Or "that's history" But oh how gracious and loving our Creator is, that He has a plan for each one of us! "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 BUT "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;" 2 Peter 3:10 More to come >>The TIMING of the RAPTURE<< A song to read to........ |