Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title: The Rapture
Theme: To help us to understand the rapture more.
Text: 1 Thes 4:13-18, Revelation 1:19
1 Thessalonians 4:13 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. :14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 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. 16 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: 17 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Strong Delusion: see 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Full Life Study Bible
Let us read Rev 4:1
Revelation 4:1. After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
After what? Until Rev 20 we see no more mention of the church. We now begin chapter four with a mention of heaven. What happened to the church? The word is mentioned 19 times in the previous three chapters but that is it until a testimonial is given.
I want to look at that tonight, The Rapture.
Article 13 of the Declaration of Faith We believe in the pre-millennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second to reign on the earth a thousand years.
1Thessalonians 4:13. 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.
The word here asleep refers to the sleeping of the body:
1. When a person has died it is similar to sleep. The word translated "asleep" has its root in the Greek word Keimai, which
means "to lie down." It is the same word as used to describe the disciples in Luke 22:45 it only
refers to a sleep of the body 3. We know from other scriptures that the body returns to the dust and the soul returns to God.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
2Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Full Glory will not happen until Christ second coming
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
that ye sorrow not-Why? He is not talking about a sorrow for one that has died in your life because you miss them or maybe just the surprise. We know Jesus and Paul speaks of sorrow in John 11:33,35 and Phil 2:27. He is talking about the sorrow for no hope. As though there was no resurrection.
4. We also see from history that the early church took the word that was used for Inns (Motels and Hotels today) and also used it for burial places. The word is koimeterion which is where we get our word cemetery from.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Three kinds of death:
1. physical death-separation of the spirit and the body
2. spiritual death-separation from God
Ephesians 2:1. And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;
3. eternal death-
1Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
15 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 (precede-go ahead) them which are asleep.
16 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:
Here we see the description of his coming.
17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The word "rapture is derived from the Latin word raptus, which means caught away or "caught up".
What do we know about the events.
Bodies will be changed.
1Corinthians 15:51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
The most important thing of all is "we shall always be with the Lord" Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Three theories of when the rapture will happen.
1. Pre-tribulation: The rapture will occur before the tribulation period.
2. Mid-tribulation: The rapture will occur during the tribulation period.
3. Post-tribulation: The rapture will occur after the tribulation period.
7 day theory
1) 2 Peter 3:8 one day is as 1,000 to the Lord
2) Hebrews 4:4-11 millennium as a day of rest
3) Rev 20:1-9 1,000 yr. millennium
God created the earth in six days. On the Sabbath day he rested. From creation to the Christian era there are 3,760 yrs. So far it has been almost 2,000 yrs since Christ birth. So that is 5,760. We don’t know how long it will be between the rapture and the tribulation period. Some say overnight or may be longer who knows. Any way then there is the Millennium. Again all these are saying that these years are right. But we do know that the earth is probably not older than 8,000 yrs. so it would make sense. It should also stir our hearts to look for his coming.
Four doors of Revelation
1) Doors of Opportunity, evangelism and missionary work (Rev. 3:8)
2) Doors of One’s heart for salvation (Rev. 3:20)
3) Door of Heaven for the rapture (Rev. 4:1)
4) Door of Heaven for the second coming (Rev 19:11)
