The Rapture
Series - The Second Coming of Christ
What is the Rapture?
What Happens in the Rapture?
When is the Rapture?
Why a Pre-Tribulation Rapture?
It best explains Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy
It best explains Christ’s imminent Return Expectation
It best explains our Rescue from God’s wrath
The Second Coming of Christ – This is something that is often talked about but not often understood. What are the things we should know about the events of Christ’s return? How should these events influence our lives today? Join us at Hickory Creek as we talk about the events of the Rapture, the Great Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom and New Heaven and New Earth!
Transition Slide
Good Morning.
About 5 months ago, there was a lot of talk about the Second coming of Christ and the possibility that the world would be ending soon.
Harold Camping, a false teacher if there ever was one, predicted that on May 21st, 2011, Slide
that Jesus would return and those who were believers in Jesus Christ and had received Him as Savior, would be raptured up to heaven and then the end of the world would come 5 months later on October 21st, 2011.
Followers of Harold Camping paid for and put up billboards all over the country that read, Judgment Day is coming May 21st, 2011!
Well, that didn’t happen. Nobody disappeared that day. And this wasn’t the first time Harold Camping predicted an actual date for Christ’s return. He had done it in the past as well.
And after nobody physically disappeared on May 21st, he came out saying that it was just a spiritual rapture and that October 21st, 2011 was still the date for the end of the world.
Someone made a mock billboard with this new date.
Slide
Now, I can confidently call Harold Camping a false prophet because Scripture tells us that when someone makes a prediction or prophecy in regards to God that does not come true, we should not fear that person, we don’t need to listen to them. They are teaching falsely.
Now, the October 21st date is right around the corner, and I am nearly certain that this is not the date of the rapture. I say nearly certain, because the fact is Scripture tells us that nobody knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return for the church. So, I do not know if it will happen before then or after then, but I doubt, solely because this man predicted it, that it will happen on that day.
What I am certain about though,is that it is not the end of the world as Harold Camping is predicting because before that happens there is still a lot of prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled and even time periods much longer than 19 days that need to occur before the end of the world as we know it. What are those prophetic events?
Today, we are beginning what will be a series about some of the events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ.
Slide
Now, there are some that may ask, Shouldn’t we keep our focus on the things in the present instead of focusing on the things in the future?
Well, I think it is important to keep our eyes on some of the things in the future because when we have a proper view of them, they help us to live well in the present.
So we are going to take a look at some of the events that go along with Jesus’ return.
Now, before we begin, we must acknowledge that there is not universal agreement among the Christian community regarding some of these prophecies and the exact order of things.
Real Christian brothers and sisters can disagree on these things and still be fully devoted followers of Christ. And even though we may disagree on some of these issues, we must not be disagreeable, which has far too often been the case among Christians.
Remember that Jesus did not say, by your end times beliefs, people will know you are my disciples. It is by our love for one another that people will know we are His disciples. (John 13:34-35)
Now, before we begin, I want to remind everyone, that no one knows the day or the hour when the events of the end times as we know them will begin (Matthew 24:36)
But there are things we can know about these events that should be affecting how we live our lives now.
So, during the messages of this series, I will be talking about some of the major events of the end times to give you some perspective on these things and hopefully, affect the way we live our life in the here and now.
We are going to begin today talking about the Rapture.
Slide
I want to give you a timeline based upon my understanding of Scripture and the future events that will unfold.
Now, even though, as I said earlier, brothers and sisters in Christ can disagree about these things and still love one another and get along, I don’t think that our views of these end times events are unimportant.
I believe they are very important to how we live now and Scripture talks about them so we must study them to grow in our understanding so we can live well in light of what we know.
Next Event – The Rapture
So, as I understand Scripture, the next prophetic event that could occur at any time I believe is the Rapture.
Most in evangelical Christianity hold to there being a rapture, but sometimes disagree on exactly when it will occur during the end time events that have been prophesied.
The Tribulation
Another Event that is talked about in Scripture is the Tribulation. We believe this to be a 7 year period of time also known as the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).
The Millennial Kingdom
The next event would be the Millennial Kingdom when Christ actually returns to the earth, to set up a 1000 reign upon the earth. This will be a time of great peace on the earth when is Satan is bound and when Christ actually reigns here for 1000 years. (Isaiah 11:4-13, Isaiah 65; Revelation 20).
New Heaven and New Earth
At the end of the 1000 years, Satan, who has been bound for that period, is released and ultimately permanently defeated and then a New Heaven and New Earth are made where God will dwell with man and His glory will be our light.
We will talk more about these over the course of the next month, but this morning, let’s turn our attention back to the Rapture.
What is the Rapture?
Slide
The word is not found in our English Bibles.
The word come from a Latin word used to translate the Greek word “harpizo,” the Greek word found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that is translated in English as “caught up.”
So
The Rapture is what happens to Christians who are alive when Jesus Returns for His Church.
Slide
It is different than the actual Second Coming of Christ because not everyone will see Him, only believers, as they are “caught up” with Him in the air in the twinkling of an eye.
There are 2 primary texts that give some description of this event.
They are 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54.
Slide
We are going to read those this morning, so you can turn there in your Bibles.
We will read the 1 Thessalonians passage first and then the 1 Corinthians passage and then we will go on and answer our next 2 questions.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54
50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
Pray
Ok, so these texts describe this being caught up to the Lord as he returns for the church.
Now I want to talk about what exactly happens during this event known as the Rapture.
What happens at the Rapture?
Slide
First, we learn that
Believers who have died return with Christ and receive glorified bodies
1 Thessalonians 4:14 - “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him”
Since the time of Christ’s resurrection, believers who have died have gone immediately to be with the Lord. Paul confirms this for us in
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Slide
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
So those who die in Christ are with the Lord consciously and spiritually, but do not yet have their glorified bodies.
We see this in
1 Corinthians 15:52 where Paul says that “the dead will be raised imperishable”
How are the dead being raised if they are with the Lord and returning with Him?
Their bodies are being raised and transformed and those who have died will receive their glorified bodies at that time.
So that is one thing that happens at the Rapture.
Another thing that happens at the rapture is
Believers who are alive rise to Christ and are instantly glorified bodily
Slide
Paul says that after those who have died receive their glorified bodies, that “we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
And 1 Corinthians 15:52b-54 says - …we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
So, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ and you are here when he comes back for the church, you will not die, but be transformed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye and your body will be changed from the aging decaying tent that you are now living in, to a glorious new body, that does not decay, that does not suffer, that will not get cancer, that will be free from blemishes, that will not break bones, that will last for eternity!
Oh what a glorious day that will be.
What will that look like from those who are not believers, those who are left behind?
I don’t know exactly but it will not be pretty. People will be gone in a flash in the blink of an eye.
I will tell you that you do not want to be one of the people that are left behind, because the world is in for hardship and tribulation the likes as have never been seen in all of time.
So that is what the Rapture is and what happens at the Rapture.
There is not a lot of controversy within Evangelical Christendom about those 2 things.
But the timing of the rapture seems to warrant the most controversy.
When is the Rapture?
Slide
Well, within Christianity there some differing views regarding the timing of the Rapture
There are basically 3 main views for those who hold that a rapture will occur.
Some, who believe that the rapture will happen, believe in a…
Pre Tribulation Rapture
Slide
That is that the Rapture happens before the time of tribulation
Others believe in a
Mid Tribulation Rapture
Slide
That is the Rapture will happen in the midst of the Tribulation period.
And finally, there are those that believe in a
Post Tribulation Rapture
Slide
That is the Rapture will occur at the end of the Tribulation period and that the Rapture and the Second Coming are the exact same event.
So those are the three main options for when it occurs and all will seek to find Scriptural support and seem to have some Scriptural support. There are good Christians that hold each of those views.
Now I am going to share with you why I personally hold to a Pre Tribulation Rapture position.
Why a Pre-Tribulation Rapture?
Slide
I think the Pre Tribulation Rapture position best explains the Scriptural prophecies as a whole.
Disclaimer
Now if you disagree with me, realize that I still recognize you as a brother or sister even though you are wrong. And while I believe the view that people hold of the Rapture is important, I also understand it is not essential to salvation.
So, with that being said, I hold a Pre Tribulation Rapture position because I believe
It best explains Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy
Slide
In Daniel 9, an angel comes and visits Daniel when he is praying and the angel says this to Daniel
Daniel 9:24 - "Seventy ’sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.
He tells him that 70 sevens have been decreed for Daniel’s people, which is the people of Israel. The angel then gives a timeline of these “sevens.” He says
Daniel 9:25-26a - 25 "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ’sevens,’ and sixty-two ’sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ’sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing.
This time can be calculated between the time when Nehemiah went back to rebuild Jerusalem and the time when Christ came into Jerusalem and was Crucified.
That leaves one seven left. Then the passage in Daniel continues
Daniel 9:26b-27
The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ’seven.’ In the middle of the ’seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
It doesn’t say anything about a gap between the 69 sevens and the one seven. Why wouldn’t God tell Daniel that?
Because this is solely a prophecy about Daniel’s people.
When the Jews rejected their Messiah, God established the church and reached out to the gentiles. This is the church age. This is why we believe that God is going to rapture the church, all of those who have believed in Jesus Christ. He will then turn his attention back to Israel.
No matter if Israel has been faithless, God is faithful. God has made some promises to Israel that will be fulfilled. Many in the nation of Israel will turn to and recognize Jesus as their Messiah and believe on Him during this 7 year period that is yet to come. The church will be gone, however.
The church being raptured before this 7 year period best explains why it is a time for the Jews, and not the church.
A pre tribulation Rapture also
…best explains Christ’s imminent return expectation
Slide
The Apostles believed that Jesus could return at any time for them.
Paul includes himself as someone who would possibly be alive when the Lord returned.
He says in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that “we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Also, Jesus himself in the parables often told parables about continually being ready because he would come like a thief in the night or at an hour when you do not expect him (Matthew 24:44).
This was an encouragement to constantly be ready because his return could be at any moment.
There were no signs or prophecies that needed to precede the coming of the Lord.
In regards to the second coming of Christ when He returns and actually stands upon the earth and will conquer Satan and begin a millennial kingdom, there are plenty of prophecies that need to occur before that time.
If His return for the church at the rapture were at any other time than before the Tribulation, we would not have to worry about being found not doing what He has called us to do, because we would be expecting Him at a certain time.
But instead, He tells us to “keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matt 25:10) when Jesus will return because it could be at any moment.
So a pre tribulation rapture best explains the expectations of Christ’s imminent return.
A pre-tribulation rapture also
best explains our rescue from God’s wrath
Slide
The Tribulation period that is to come is characterized as a time of God’s wrath being poured out in judgment on this world and those who fail to receive Christ.
Speaking of the time of Tribulation, Jesus says in
Luke 21:23 - How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.
And in Revelation 6:17, “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
But God tells us through Paul in , 1 Thessalonians 1:10 tells us to “wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
And in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 he says that “God did not appoint us (believers) to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We who believe on and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, will be rescued from the wrath of God that will be poured out during that period of tribulation.
There will still be an opportunity for people to trust in Christ, but they will experience hardship and trouble and suffering like has never been experienced, because it is a time of wrath and final opportunity.
Conclusion
But those of you here today do not have to experience this time.
If you have put your trust in Jesus as Savior, He is coming back for you.
He told the apostles and us who are part of the church,
John 14:1-3
14 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Are you going to be found ready when Christ comes back for the church?
Have you received Him as Savior?
The time is coming. And while we don’t know the date, it could be at any time, any moment.
Are you ready?
Don’t be left behind. If you have never received Jesus as Savior, why not?
Do you believe?
Why not turn to him and confess that belief this morning.
I am going to pray and if you have never received Jesus Christ as Savior, then you can pray along with me if this is what you truly believe, and confess that to the Lord.
Let’s pray.
