In Sermon Illustrations: "Rapture"

We Can't Know The Day - But We Can Know The Season When Christ Returns.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

Jesus specifically told us that there would be signs in the sky in the sun and moon and stars (Luke 21:25), and he told us to “look up”, as our redemption draws near. Believers need to look up when the "season" of His return arrives.   The apostle Paul had this to say about the ...read more

Tags: Day Of The Lord, Return Of Christ, Seasons, Times, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope For The Return Of Christ

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 15, 2026

Hope is interesting because it depends on a person's circumstances. Around the world, there are literally millions of persecuted Christians. They often to the end of the Bible for hope: Revelation 22:20 “20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:20, 1 Corinthians 16:22

Tags: Hope, Rapture, Maranatha, Return Of Christ, Persecuted Christians  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

At The Time Appointed, The End Will ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2009

AT THE TIME APPOINTED, THE END WILL BE Baptist preacher William Miller, founder of the Millerites, announced that Christ would come on March 21, 1843, and when that failed, he proposed a new date of October 22, 1844. In a Philadelphia store window the following sign was displayed: "This shop is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:43-44

Tags: Second Coming

What We Believe: A Recent Newsweek Poll Gauges ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

What We Believe: A recent Newsweek poll gauges Americans’ opinions on the Book of Revelation and end times: *36% believe the Book of Revelation contains “true prophecy,” while 47% say it is metaphorical. *55% think the faithful will be taken up to heaven in the rapture. *74% of Americans believe ...read more

Tags: Apologetics The Bible

[127]. A Message From A Poem – Heaven’ S Door Will Open To Us

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 11, 2025

[127]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HEAVEN’ S DOOR WILL OPEN TO US This poem connects with 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 – {{1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “FOR THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise ...read more

Scripture: John 14:3, Revelation 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Tags: Victory, The Rapture, The Coming Of The Lord, I Will Come Again, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The Lord Descends, A Door In Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thus, If We Would Attempt To Good Purpose The ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Nov 4, 2004

Thus, if we would attempt to good purpose the healing of men’s souls, we must go forth in the name and power of Jesus Christ, calling on helpless sinners to arise and walk in the way of holiness, by faith in Him. How sweet the thought to our souls, that in respect to all the crippled faculties of ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ, Testimonies About Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Great Outline On The Hope We Have In Christ's Return

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 4, 2023

The Hope (literally, the "certainty") of Christ's Return and His Glorious Appearance is a… * living hope (1Pe 1:3) * blessed hope (Titus 2:13) * joyful hope (1Th 2:19) * comforting hope (1Th 4:13-18) * hope of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Return Of Christ, Heaven, Hope, Second Coming, Rapture, Assurance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seven Facts About False Teachers

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 2, 2023

FALSE TEACHERS... * Have always been in the Church since Acts (Acts 20). * More false teachers will show up near the Rapture of the Church, i.e. “the last days” (II Timothy 3). * False teachers contradict the truth of the Word of God (John 17:17). * False teachers have 3 key wrong doctrines: ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Satan, Discernment, False Teachers, False Teaching, Righteous Judgment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Rev. And Mrs. R. Porteous Were Taken ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Jun 8, 2003

The Rev. and Mrs. R. Porteous were taken prisoners by Chinese communist bandits in 1931, and led to a lonely spot on top of a hill where they were to be executed. The leader said, “This is the place.” The executioner took a long knife from its holder and raised it above the necks of the courgeous ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Grace Puts The Pieces Together

Contributed by Colin Bain on Dec 1, 2011

GRACE PUTS THE PIECES TOGETHER I remember years ago watching Tommy Cooper do a trick where you tear up a cigarette paper, blow on the pieces and magically them whole again. He then went on to teach the trick to the audience. The trick he told them was to have another cigarette paper hidden in ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Salvation Army

It's Later Than It's Ever Been!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 6, 2023

A young boy was playing in his grandmother’s house near a large grandfather clock. Noontime was approaching, and when both hands of the old timepiece reached 12, the chimes began to ring. As he always liked to do, the boy counted each gong as it sounded. This time, however, something went wrong ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18

Tags: Second Coming, Rapture, Time, Return Of Christ, End Times, Prophecy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Soon And Very Soon, We Are Going To Burger King!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 29, 2023

Kids say the darndest things.....even in church! One day as I was cleaning, I began singing one of my favorite gospel songs, "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!" I just love that song. Well, my young son, Cory, was in the next room listening to my song. Suddenly, he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Humor, Second Coming, Armageddon, Rapture, King Of Kings, Return Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Film Shrek 2, Shrek And The Princess Are ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 10, 2006

In the film Shrek 2, Shrek and the princess are married and they have been summoned to see the King and the Queen. As their carriage arrives in the kingdom of ‘Far, far away’ people begin to follow. At last, it is the long awaited return of the beautiful princess, and as the carriage enters the ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Anglican

If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 25, 2008

Song- If I could hear my mother pray again How sweet and happy seem, those days of which I dream When memory recalls them now and then And with what rapture sweet, my weary heart would beat If I could hear my mother pray again Chorus- If I could hear my mother pray again If I could hear her ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lazarus Churches That Are Dead And Stinketh!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

Vance Havner once commented that ministries often begin with a man who has a vision. That vision is captured by others and becomes a movement. As the movement gains followers and momentum, it becomes a machine. After a while, people forget all about the vision and what was once a movement ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Book Of Acts, Backsliding, Dying Churches, Church, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[278]. A Message From A Poem – The Light Of The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 25, 2026

[278]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD This was a poem written before I really started writing poems seriously. Part of the idea was to write a hymn and some tunes will fit its 8-8-8-8 metre. The title, “The Light of the World” was to cover several aspects suggested to me by ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:3, Matthew 17:1-3, Luke 24:47, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Tags: Brilliance Of The Lord, The Brightest Star, Nasa Christian Poems, Forgiveness Of Sins, The Light Of The World, Pure Light, Hubble Telescope, Christian Poetry, The Transfiguration, Light, Shining Face, The Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dirty Windows

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 12, 2023

"A friend of mine, Bud Wood, founded Shepherds Home in Wisconsin for boys and girls with developmental disabilities. The original ministry opened its doors in 1964 to 36 children, providing them a loving residential environment and a school that would focus on their unique needs, helping them ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, Philippians 3:20, 1 John 3:1-3

Tags: Revelation, Children, Heaven, Second Coming, Rapture, Return Of Christ, Disabled Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Writer Amos Wells Reflected Our Need For Thorough ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Writer Amos Wells reflected our need for thorough Bible study in this verse: I supposed I knew my Bible, Reading peacemeal, hit or miss, Now a bit of John or Matthew, Now a snatch of Genesis, Certain chapters of Isaiah, Certain Psalms (the twenty-third), Twelfth of Romans, first of Proverbs ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Feasts In The Bible

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 11, 2014

There are seven feasts in the Bible and they help us to tell the time. In fact, the Hebrew word for "feast" is moadim, used 223 times in Scripture and means "appointed times". The feasts represent the calendar of God’s plan for the ages. Four of the feasts were historically fulfilled in Christ’s ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-13

Tags: Second Coming, Passover, Feast

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Various Christian Groups Have Been Helping ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 4, 2007

Various Christian groups have been helping flooded areas recently. Here is an August 29, 2007 report: "ROCHESTER, Minn. (BP)--More than 570 disaster relief volunteers from the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention and eight other states are working long hours to aid victims affected by recent ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible