Sermon Central
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Jesus Is Coming Back Series
Contributed by Diana Tyler on May 21, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: What is the Rapture?
Jesus is coming back. He's going to be coming back twice. First, He'll be returning in an event called the Rapture and 7 years later in The Second Coming. There are people out there who say the Rapture isn't biblical because the word Rapture isn't in the Bible. The event however is in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16.
Another word for Rapture is harpozo which is Greek for caught up. The Rapture will be very sudden. Literally every believer in Christ will be caught up to Heaven in the blink of an eye. That's how fast it will be. Remember that material things won't be in Heaven so all our clothes will be left behind. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, everything. We won't need material things because in Heaven we will be wearing a garment of salvation and a robe of righteous. Isaiah 61:10. In Heaven, there is no sickness, no death, no pain, no accidents, no violence, no heartbreak. Most importantly, we will be in the presence of God.
Nobody knows when the Rapture will happen. Not even Jesus knows when He's coming back. Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32. Picture it. You're teaching the children in your Sunday School class. The day is going normal. Suddenly you hear a shout, then a loud trumpet blast, suddenly you glorified body as well as them. 1 Corinthians 15:51-58. You see your loved ones and friends who either were raptured, or they had previously died. You see the heroes and heroines of the Bible. Most importantly, you see Jesus. Over the years, there have been many questions as to what Jesus looks like...especially while He walked on earth. What He looked like in human form isn't important. It's what He looks like now. Revelation 1:13-16. The amazing part of Jesus's description is where it says out of His mouth went a two-edged sword. Remember Hebrews 4:12? Amazing description of what Jesus looks like. It's beyond our understanding.
It's a reminder as to how majestic Jesus really is. God is also a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29. How Jesus can be majestic yet gentle at the same time...it's a mystery.
