THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
Beloved, It’s wonderful being in the presence of the Lord. I know the Lord is good for you and your loved ones. I know you’re being enjoying the presence of your Maker. A second in His presence is more than a thousand hours in the presence of the kings of this world.
This is a moment we are reaching ourselves through the undiluted Word, preparing the saints for the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ, and also looking at the current world events or amazing facts of the end time and understanding them in the light of the revealed Word of God. It is a moment, we are using to warn the unbelieving world about the judgement of God and call for urgent repentance from all sins and iniquities.
Today, the Spirit of God will reveal many shocking truth about this time. You may be cleared on many facts, of the things you’ve being hearing about, but do not understand them or know how they may look like or how it may happen. We are to depend on the Holy Spirit for deeper knowledge and insight this moment. We will take it gradual because there are many things God is laying in our hearts. Some of us have been hearing about many words about the end-time, but ignorant about some of them- I mean some words like Rapture, Mark of the Beast, Number of the Beast, the World Dictator- the man Antichrist, the climatic changes, the de-population agenda going on now, the New World Order, the Great tribulation, the Bema-Judgement, the One world economy, One world government and one world religion and others.
Now, By God’s grace, His Spirit will give enough explanation of some of these facts, so that you will not be trapped by the Satanic agenda of these last days. Really, the coming of the Lord is at hand. It may happen now as I’m preaching, when we are sleeping or in the morning. In short, anytime- I don’t Know, but it must surely happen.
The topic of the message is THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
Please turn with me to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded by John, Chapter 14 verses 1 to 3
John chapter 14:3
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”
Look again, the 1st Epistle of Paul, the Apostle to the Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 15 to 18
1st Thessalonians 4:15-18
“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. 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; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words”.
For emphasis, follow me again to 1st Corinthians chapter 15 verses 50 to 54
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory”.
May I continue by saying again that the coming of the Lord is at hand and the signs of His coming are here with us. Some have happened before now while others are taking place in our times. The story of the arising of the false prophets, the frequent earthquakes, the famines and pestilences or the characteristics of the perilous age are no longer news to us. We see these things on daily basis, more than before. The next thing now in as much as the prophetic calender of God is concerned is the sudden departure of the saints from this planet called earth.
In as much as i encourage you to go for your normal business, just remember this message saying Jesus Christ is coming back- I mean any moment from now. I don’t want to scare you but to comfort your heart and encourage you.
Many things are happening now. Are you seeing the clouds already bending? I mean something strange is around the corner.
I want to talk about the Rapture now which God has been showing me or some of his children, times without number.
One day, you may wake up and discover that your spouse is no longer by your side or your children that had gone to school did not return back to you. You are walking side by side with your good friend, all of a sudden He is no more with you. Or, as you are in the market or business center, you discover that your loved ones and business partners have just vanished in a twinkling of an eye. In the radio stations, some operators are gone or disappeared. In the Church, some people may be clapping their hands, binding and losing, getting entertained by some of today’s entertainers- I mean, some preachers and in a second, may look around and discover that the genuine ones are no more or the Bible of the Pastor is just remaining while the dedicated and sincere soldier has said good-bye to this rotten, corrupt world. Planes will be flying through the air at seven hundred miles an hour, suddenly the saved Pilots just got removed from your presence; cars speeding across the highways and then a saved driver is gone, leaving their passengers at their own peril. Ships may be sailing smoothly through the ocean, the Christian captain is just taken. Train will be moving across the rail and then Christian engineer, suddenly disappears.
Could you imagine the sudden confusion that may take place on the earth? Can you imagine the headlines in the newspapers all over the world immediately after the rapture, “Millions missing from every parts of the world”
Friend, by the time you rush to school to collect your children, you may find out that there is no one to ask after them because some righteous headmistress or teachers had all vanished. By the time you run to the Police station, to report, you will find out that the appropriate quarters are empty. When you desire to ask, what is happening, there may not be sign of an immediate answer- The communication lines were all disconnected, by themselves. Electricity is off because of the absence of the operators. It seems everywhere, there is quietness.
Beloved, it is RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH!
Jesus Christ has come for His people!
The day of the Rapture will be the day of the greatest accident – accident at the hospital wards. An acid can be poured anyhow, accident in the air region-where the Pilot is no more in control, accident in the land-the once regarded common driver has gone. You will witness unprecedented confusion and disasters everywhere-at schools, inside the market zones, inside the Church, on the highways, waiting points, offices. Inshort, everywhere!
Friend, the message is that the Rapture of the Church has taken place!
This is what Jesus said in the Book of Matthe Chapter 24:40-42
Now, what is the Rapture?
The word “rapture”, is the Greek word “Harpazo” or Latin word, “Rapere” which means to “to snatch away, to catch up or to be caught up” So, it means, to be caught up or taken suddenly. You may not see it written in the Bible openly, just as you may not find the word, Trinity or the mention of the name- God in the book of Esther- but God is there.
When you read the book of the Acts of the Apostle chapter 1 verses 10-11, you will see where the Angel of the Lord testified about the second coming of the Lord.
Acts chapter 1:10-11
“And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were looking steadfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven”.
Again in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 28, the writer testified about this, saying that to the people looking for Jesus Christ, He will appear the second time.
Jesus Christ who is our Master, also mentioned about His return in the place we read in John Chapter 14 verses 1 to 3. It’s a popular passage of the Bible where He mentioned enough rooms in His father’s house. So, heaven is a prepared place for the prepared people.
From our main text in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 15 to 18, we see the crux of the whole thing especially in verse 16. This shows the level of His appearing. You know that the Epistle was an answer by the Apostle, when a believer in the Church died and the Church were confused about his condition. So,Paul rested their mind by the words in the passage.
You now see the sequence of the event.
No 1. THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN
This shows that God is not going to send a Prophet or a Priest or a King or tyrant but “this same Jesus” is coming back.
No 2. THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT.
This means a call or command. God will command every Christian to come forth. Really, this thing must happen! I repeat- must come to pass. The voice of the Lord will be sounded forth when He descends from heaven. What a Day!
NO 3. THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE SHOUT OF THE ARCH-ANGEL.
This means that not only will Jesus Himself descend with a shout, but there will be the voice of the arch-angel. My friend, when Jesus comes, the voice of the arch-angel will be heard. The greatest thing that could happen today is not a person to get a contract-indeed, it is a miracle in itself or the stock market to rise but for Jesus Christ to return to this earth and take out His children.
The devil will be defeated, the graves will open and the dead in Christ shall rise! I don’t think I’m so much concerned with what the politicians or theologians or economists say, or what the television talk shows have to talk about; I’m listening for another voice-for the sound of the trumpet, for the shout of Jesus, for the voice of the archangel. When that sounds, there will be the marshaling of the troops of all the redeemed troops of the redeemed soldiers of God. Halleluyah!
Friend, I don’t know about you. But as for me and my family, we are looking ahead for the second.
NO 4. THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD.
Have you seen it? The trumpet is used to marshal the troops. That’s what Paul confirmed in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 51-52. We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed. The shout of Jesus, the voice of the arch-angel, the trumpet of God -something is going to happen when this harmony sounds!
NO 5. THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCH-ANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD, AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST.
This is the first resurrection!
Friend, why am I saying all these things? It is to let us know in a frank way that Jesus Christ is coming back again. We should preach prosperity and healing and not forget this essential truth. It seems some preachers are neglecting this aspect of the whole teaching. That’s why many members of the Church may descend on their Pastors when this event eventually take place. Some people will blame their popular G.O or Apostle, “Sir, you deceived us, for not telling us the complete truth”
Let me say here, according to the word of the Lord “Blessed and Holy is he that has part in this first resurrection”, that’s the Rapture of the Church for the second death shall have no power on him. Beloved, do everything possible and good to move in the Rapture, just like the man, Enoch who was not in his generation because the Lord took him.
May I ask now, “What is this life after the Rapture?
Nothing will ever be the same after the sound of the trumpet. God is working out his plan. We are now living in what is commonly called the Church age or the age of grace. But one day, not too long, the day of opportunity will end. When the last Gentile believer is saved and the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, then comes the rapture. It will be end of the Church age and the onslaught of tribulation.
Really, this is a mystery! I don’t want you to miss this great event. The Lord wants to give you a glorified body. In our glorified bodies, we will never grow weary, never get hungry, never have pains because we will be just like Him. The Psalmist said “ I will be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness” The resurrection of the dead, the translation of the living- just like a magnate catching an iron, all will be caught up together in a glorious reunion.
The reason for the rapture is that God has not appointed His children for the wrath to come. You see this earth, you think it is beautiful, Friend, you are yet to see heaven. God has a better place. Watch out, a great tribulation is coming upon the earth. But, all the saints will be with Christ in a permanent place.
Jesus Christ is coming back again!
Mark my word, You may not see your loved ones-mother,father, siblings especially the children any moment from now. It may happen immediately. You just wake up from your sleep in the morning and everywhere is too quiet- all you hear is that God’s children have gone. What will you do? You just tuned a world news- you hear the same news everywhere. Millions have just vanished to a place unknown. The news are the same everywhere- all over the world.
Friend, ask yourself, what will you do?
Anyway, you have to wait for the world government announcement for the global economy, government and Satanic one world religion. You either become a world citizen by taking the mark or the number of the beast and register for the devil forever or be killed for your stand in Jesus Christ.
Remember, there is a reward for those who received the mark of the beast. This can be seen in Revelation Chapter 14 verses 9-11 and Revelation 16 verses 1 and 2
But there will also be a reward for those who refuse to receive the mark and may be tortured till death. The word of God pointed it in Revelation chapter 15 verses 1 to 3
“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues, [which are] the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages”
Again, Revelation chapter 20 verse 4
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshiped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years”
Have you seen it?
Jesus is coming back. Are you ready to meet him? Have you been saved? Are you born again? Is your name written, not only in the Church roll but in the Lamb’s book? Are you ready for His return? Are there things in your life-an attitude, a habit, a weakness, a problem you need to deal with at the altar of prayer and repentance?. Do it now
Jesus told us to watch. It is one thing to watch and another thing to wait.
At this point, I will give you an opportunity to surrender your life to Jesus Christ and avoid a lfe of regret.
Are you ready now?
May I help you in prayer
You can pray this prayer and believe it.
Lord Jesus, I come to now by faith. I’m a sinner and I cant’ save myself. I believe you died for me and living now. Forgive me my sins and give me the grace to live for you. I reject self, the world and Satan. From today, I promise to follow you till the end. Thank you Lord for saving me. Amen
Now, May I pray for you.
Lord, I thank you for this soul coming to you. I can see the angels rejoicing on his behalf. Forgive him all his iniquities and write his name in the book of life. Please give him power over the flesh, the world and the enemy. Thank you Lord for answering us in Jesus Name. Amen
Congrats! My friend for the new life in Christ you’ve received today.
