• The LAST PROMISE is made in Rev. 22:20 by the Lord Himself. He said, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.”
• The LAST PRAYER is made in Rev. 22:20 by John the apostle. He prayed, “Even so. Come, Lord Jesus.”
The LAST PROMISE and the LAST PRAYER has to do with the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
Some folks think the rapture and the second coming are the same. NOT SO!
• The second coming occurs after the great tribulation period. (Revelation chapters 6–19).
• The rapture occurs before the tribulation period (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).
The important differences between the rapture and second coming are as follows:
1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
The second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).
2) The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17,5:9).
The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).
3) The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).
4) The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-time events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18).
The rapture is imminent; it could take place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
If the rapture and the second coming were the same event, believers would have to go through the tribulation, and nowhere in the tribulation period is the church mentioned until the church comes back to earth with the Lord in Rev. 19 at the second coming.
Concerning the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH there are basically three beliefs when the rapture take place, such as:
• Pre-Tribulation – The Rapture will occur prior to the Great Tribulation and can happen at any time.
• Mid-Tribulation – The Rapture will happen halfway through the Great Tribulation.
• Post-Tribulation – The Rapture will happen at the very end of the Tribulation. Here the church is delivered through, and not from, the Tribulation.
No man knows the date of the rapture, but we do know the season.
Again, we are pretty sure it will be a PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE. That is, it will take place before the tribulation period. Because nowhere during the tribulation is the church mentioned until Rev. 19 when the church returns with Christ.
We do not have time to go into this further, but there are at least 13 reasons in the scripture that teaches a pre-trib rapture.
Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
No man knows but we had better be ready when it comes.
Illus: A gentleman visiting a certain school announced he would give a prize to the pupil whose desk he found in the best order when he returned.
• “But when will you return?” some of them asked.
• “That I cannot tell,” was the answer.
• A little girl, who had been noted for her disorderly desk, announced that she meant to win the prize.
• “You!” her schoolmates jeered; “why, your desk is always out of order.”
• “Oh! But I mean to clean it the first of every week.”
• “But suppose he should come at the end of the week?” someone asked.
• “Then I will clean it every morning.”
• “But he may come at the end of the day.” For a moment the little girl was silent. “I know what I’ll do,” she said decidedly, “I’ll just keep it clean.”
This is what we Christians should do, keep their lives clean from sin all the time.
The Bible does not use the word “rapture”. The Bible speaks of these events as being “caught up”.
The “rapture” of the church is probably one of the most compelling prophetic events in the Bible. And yet, some people claim that it is not taught in the Bible because you never actually find the word “rapture” in scripture.
This is a very poor argument, however. There are actually several words not found in the Bible that describe Christian doctrines which no one would argue are not taught in the Bible.
1) For example, the word “Trinity” is never actually found in the Word of God, but very few people will tell you that the concept of the trinity is not taught in the Bible.
2) The word homosexual is not found in the Bible, but the Bible clearly teaches that a man is forbidden to lie with another man as he lies with a woman.
3) The words "omniscience," which means "all knowing," "omnipotence," which means "all powerful," and "omnipresence," are words not found in the Bible, but we use them to describe the attributes of God.
1) Just because the words trinity homosexual, or Omniscience do not appear in the Bible, doesn’t mean the Bible is silent about these topics.
I would translate the word rapture—it simply means “to kidnap”: It is the Greek word harpazo.
The word RAPTURE means, “to snatch away.” It means, “to take suddenly away.”
To put it in simple terms, the rapture of the church is when believers will be taken out of the world to meet their Lord and Savior in the air. It is when Jesus comes to take His faithful home.
There are four raptures in the Bible and three of those raptures have already taken place.
1) Enoch, who walked with God and pleased Him, was the first to be, “Caught up”.
2) Elijah was the second to be "caught up." His rapture was a public event.
3) The third rapture was that of Jesus Christ our Savior. He was “caught up.”
4) The next rapture will be that of the church. This rapture will cause great chaos on the earth. It will be an eye opening event for many will be left behind.
During the rapture of the church the world will see chaos like they have ever seen before.
Just imagine people throughout the world will disappear in the twinkling of an eye.
If you were to ask a number of people what has impacted their lives more than anything else, you would get a variety of answers.
Some would say:
1) The day I got married
2) The day my children were born
3) The day I got the big promotion on my job
All of these are life-changing events that many of us have experienced, but the most significant day in all of our lives is yet to take place. THAT IS THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH BECAUSE IT WILL AFFECT EVERY SAINT AND SINNER!
The Lord's coming will affect every person for BETTER or for WORSE.
For example-
I. HIS COMING WILL AFFECT THE LIFE OF THE SINNERS
There is nothing that has ever happened or that will happen in the future, that will affect the lives of sinners IN A NEGATIVE WAY like the rapture of the church.
• Unsaved mothers and fathers will lose their babies and toddlers. Can you imagine the chaos!!!
• Rebellious teenagers will wake up screaming for their Christian parents but they cannot find them.
• Cars will lose their Christian drivers
• Airplanes will lose their Christian pilots
• Greyhound buses will lose their Christian drivers
• Trains will lose their Christian engineers
• Employers will lose their Christian employees
Illus: Everybody will turn to the evening news trying to find out what happened!!!
Only a few minutes after the Lord comes, the tribulation period will start.
Illus: Many folks can recall:
(1) How it was to live in times of WAR, in times of DISTRESS, and in times of DEPRESSION, but what they will have to face in those next seven years is something that no human has ever had to face yet.
(2) Many can recall how horrible it was to live under an evil dictator, but that is not a drop in the bucket when it compares to those who will have to live under the rule of the antichrist.
The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will affect the lost man like nothing else on this earth has ever affected him.
In this life the sinner does not want anything to do with Christ.
Every day, the sinner rejects the loving Savior who came and died for him. Because sinners have rejected the REAL SAVIOR, they will be forced to accept the FALSE SAVIOR.
Revelation 13:8, states, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life that was slain from the foundation of the world.”
The sinner may say, "Preacher, I am not saved, but if the Lord should come and I am left behind, I cannot see myself as one who would accept the antichrist.”
Whether you think you will, or will not, let me tell you what God's Word says you will do.
Revelation 13:8, states, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him...” (You will worship him!)
WHY WILL YOU WORSHIP HIM?
Look at 2 Thess. 2:8-11, we read, "And then shall that Wicked be revealed… (Verse 11) AND FOR THIS CAUSE GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE.”
Paul definitely shows us, in 2 Thess. 2:10-11, that those who will be deceived are those who, “... received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, AND FOR THIS CAUSE God shall send them strong delusions, that the should believe a lie.”
If any people fall into this category, it is probably the Americans. THEY HAVE HEARD THE GOSPEL OVER AND OVER AND THEY HAVE REJECTED THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
• We have churches conveniently scattered throughout every city and community.
• We have the gospel twenty-four hours a day preached to us on radio and television.
• We have literature scattered around for folks who want to be saved.
America has been blessed with the gospel of Christ. But at the rapture of God’s church those who have REJECTED THE REAL SAVIOR WILL ACCEPT THE FALSE SAVIOR…THE ANTI-CHRIST.
HIS COMING WILL AFFECT THE SINNER IN A NEGATIVE WAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE!!!
II. HIS COMING WILL AFFECT THE SAINTS
When the Lord comes, it will be the greatest thing that has ever happened to Christians.
Many times in this life, we feel that God has already blessed us with so many blessings that we are not in a hurry to leave this world.
Listen Christians, it doesn't matter if you have…
• Good health,
• A brand new car,
• A beautiful home,
• Millions in the banks
• Closet full of name-brand clothes
If you are a Christian you are in for the greatest blessing of your life when He returns!
We need to remember that the best is yet to come for us.
Illus: The story is told of the little girl that looked up into the sky one night and saw all the beautiful stars against the black velvet sky. She turned to her mother and said, "Mom, if heaven is this beautiful on the outside, I can’t wait to see what it looks like on the inside!"
The day the Lord Jesus returns for the Saints will be the greatest day of their lives.
I say that for many reasons, but let me share with you at least three reasons.
Look at:
1. OUR PERSON WILL CHANGE
Look at 1 Corinthians 15:51-52a, we read, “Behold , I shew you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…”
Notice, the Bible says that when the Lord comes back for us, we shall “…ALL BE CHANGED, IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE…”
Just how fast is “the twinkling of an eye?”
Illus: General Electric Co. did some research on this and it turns out that the twinkling of an eye has been established to be eleven one-hundredths of a second.
Now that’s fast!
• IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED WHEN THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME TO GET READY in Eleven one-hundredth of a second!
• You that are saved who are hearing this sermon, IF THE LORD HAS BEEN TELLING YOU TO DO SOMETHING, YOU HAD BETTER DO WHAT HE HAS ASKED YOU TO DO BECAUSE WHEN THE RAPTURE TAKES PLACE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME TO DO IT in Eleven one-hundredth of a second!
• You that are saved will not have time to make up for all the tithes you withheld from Him in eleven one-hundredth of a second!
• You that are saved and you have not forgiven someone will not have time to go to them and tell them you are sorry in Eleven one-hundredth of a second!
The RAPTURE of the church is going to happen so fast - WE NEED TO BE READY!!!
YouTube - rapture
In the twinkling of an eye, we Christians are going to get our glorified bodies. That should excite every Saint of God.
Illus: (Humor) Especially us husbands; we won’t have to wait in the car on our wives to get ready. She will be ready in an ELEVEN ONE-HUNDRETH OF A SECOND!!!
We mortals are always aware that we live in deteriorating bodies.
Illus: For example, what do we say when we see each other? “How do you feel this week?” (Humor) That’s a nice way of saying, “How much have you deteriorated this week?”
We ask that question all the time because we know we live in bodies that deteriorate with age.
One of the reasons everyone talks about wishing they were young again, is because they remember how good it was to live in these bodies and not be living with pain.
Illus: It is hard to tell young people that they need to be thankful for a healthy body. Why?
• It is hard for them to understand that the body they now run and jump with, will one day hurt every time they move.
• It is hard to tell them that the smooth skin they now have, will one day begin to wrinkle like a prune.
• It is hard to tell them that the good eyesight they now enjoy, will one day become blurry and they will barely be able to see.
• It is hard to tell them that the good hearing they now have, will one day fade.
• It is hard to tell them that one day, some of their beautiful hair will turn loose and some will turn gray.
• It is hard to tell them that their beautiful teeth will become decayed and have to be replaced.
The fact is, at the time we were born into this body, death began to set in.
One day, all around the world, God's people who are suffering with all kinds of diseases will be instantly changed. The Bible says it will happen, “In the twinkling of an eye.”
Some folks in this life are blessed with attractiveness. The reason we call it attractiveness is because wherever they go they attract attention.
Illus: The actress Cybil Shepard was on a television program called “The Edge” with Paula Zahn, April 7th, 2000. She told Paula that she got where she was in Hollywood because she worked for it.
She went on to say the only thing she has never had to work for was her looks.
As wicked as she was she confessed to be in her life story, called “Cybil Disobedience,” at least she knows that beauty is a gift from God.
Many people who have been blessed with beauty do not recognize it as a blessing.
Illus: An example of this is the young girl that was the most attractive girl in grammar school. When she went to high school, she was one of the most popular girls in the school because of her beauty. When she went to college, she could have her pick of any fellow on campus.
Here is the sad thing about this beautiful young girl. Years have gone by, and now she is having to battle with the aging process every day of her life, and it is obvious that she is losing the battle. She is going to have to adapt to life like we all have had to adapt.
But when a beautiful person walks past us, we all stop and take notice because we admire beauty, even if it belongs to someone else. They attract attention because of their beauty.
But listen, one day when Christ returns, it won't matter how big we are, how ugly we are, how handicapped we are, or how retarded we are, the Bible says, “... in the twinkling of an eye” all our problems in these areas are going to be solved.
OUR PERSON WILL CHANGE and …
2. OUR POSITION WILL CHANGE
Look at 1 Thess. 4:17. “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.”
Illus: "Caught up" expresses what a father does when he sees his child in front of a speeding car. Out of love for his child he snatches the child from danger.
What a lot of folks do not know is that the Bible teaches that this old world is headed for seven years of great tribulation. There is going to be suffering, crying and agony as never before during that time.
God is going to allow us to stay here until that time is almost here, and then He is going to reach down and snatch us out of this dangerous society, “...in the twinkling of an eye.”
When this happens, we as Christians are going to experience the greatest thrill of our lives.
1) OUR PERSON WILL CHANGE,
2) OUR POSITION WILL CHANGE,
3) OUR POSSESSIONS WILL CHANGE
Look at Rev. 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
Illus: Some of you have watched the popular program, “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” We are thrilled when we see someone win a million dollars. But as we rejoice over their winning, we are somewhat sad because inside of us is a voice saying, “Why couldn’t that be me winning a million dollars!”
Notice in Rev. 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
When God rewards those who have been faithful, folks who have not faithfully served the Lord will be thinking, “Why couldn’t that have been me?”
Well, it could have, if they had served the Lord like they should have!
Illus: Today we live in an age when a young boy plays little league baseball to keep from hurting anyone feelings EVERYONE GETS A TROPHY!
But God does not operate that way, when He returns the Bible clearly tells us He will give to give every man according as his work shall be.”
No works, no rewards!
If we have faithfully served the Lord, one day, “…in the twinkling of an eye”, our possessions will be changed.
Some who are rich in this life will have no reward for eternity, but some who were poor in this life, but faithfully served the Lord, “…In the twinkling of an eye” shall be rich.
1 Corinthians 3:8 says, “…Each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour”.
HIS COMING WILL CHANGE...
1) Our Person
2) Our Position
3) Our Possessions
Conclusion:
There is nothing that is going to affect our lives as much as the rapture of the church.
I. HIS COMING WILL AFFECT THE SAINTS
II. HIS COMING WILL AFFECT THE SINNERS
In May of 1984, National Geographic showed a television special of the destruction that completely wiped out the Roman city of Pompeii.
The citizens died in volcanic ash and extremely heated gases. Anyone with any imagination can visualize some of the horror of that disaster.
What makes it so bad is that none of them had to die that terrible death.
Ancient writers of Rome record weeks of rumblings and shakings that preceded this tragedy.
Today, we have some of the spiritual rumblings and shakings that the Bible says will precede His coming.
We need to be ready for the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH!!!
Illus: A young man, who was to return home and be married, came sooner than was expected. He did not notify his bride-to-be of the exact time. He desired to please her with a surprise. He loved her devotedly and had worked hard and saved his earnings in order to purchase a home for her. It was about midnight when he arrived, but, with a happy heart, he felt he must go by her home. However, when he came near he saw the house was all lighted up. As he came nearer he heard music. Still nearer he saw dancing. Finally looking through the window he saw his bride-to-be in the embrace of another man.
His heart sank within him and he went away never to return. If Jesus came today, where would He find His professed bride?
If He came today and He could possibly come, where would he find you?
Illus: A story of a man who took his dog on a long road trip. At one stop for gas, he let his dog out of the car and he got the gas, paid for it, and drove off – forgetting the dog was out of the car.
What did the dog do when he saw his owner drive away?
He went to the door of the gas station and laid down beside it, to wait for his owner.
See, he didn’t understand where his owner had gone, and he had no idea when his owner would return, but he knew for a fact that his owner would return to get him. And that enabled the dog to wait patiently and faithfully for his beloved owner’s return.
We need to be ready for the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH!!!
Illus: After church, where she had been taught about the rapture, a little girl was quizzing her mother.
• "Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?"
• "Yes."
• "Today?"
• "yes."
• "In a few minutes?"
• "Yes, dear."
• The young girl quickly grabbed her hair brush and said, "Mommy, quickly comb my hair."
In the Lord’s last prayer Jesus promised to come back for His church.
And we who are saved by His marvelous grace say, “Even so Lord Jesus Come!”
We have looked at the rapture of the church. THE RAPTURE WILL…
I. AFFECT EVERY SINNER
II. AFFECT EVERY SAINT
Believe it or not, ready or not, the Lord Jesus has promised He would return for His church.
