SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) (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."
(Revelation 3:10) "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the Earth."
PREFACE SUMMARY
Dear reader, many Christians, have held the pre-tribulation rapture belief for centuries. In my opinion, it is a belief that is not only logically sound but also supported by biblical evidence.
The idea of a rapture that takes place before the tribulation period is not new and is rooted in the belief that God will rescue his faithful followers from the wrath to come. This means that those who have faith in Christ will be spared the horrors of the tribulation period, a time of great turmoil and suffering.
Can you imagine the splendor of being included in the next event scheduled on God's timetable, described as the church's rapture? It is a glorious sight to behold, one that fills our hearts with joy and hope.
We can only imagine what it will be like to meet our departed loved ones again as their bodies come forth glorified. This confirms the word of God found in the First Corinthians fifteen chapter, which describes the body going down in weakness but being raised in power.
It is important to note that the power spoken about in these verses refers to the power of the resurrection, which the Bible describes as the first resurrection. As such, the second death (eternal judgment) hath no power, giving us hope and reassurance that we will not face eternal damnation.
Some people argue that the concept of a church rapture is not supported by scripture. However, how do they explain the passage found in Revelation chapter twenty, verses five through six, which states, "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."
Beloved, To me, the concept of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, provides hope and comfort, especially during these uncertain times marked by [global pandemics, political unrest, economic instability, etc.]. It is a reminder that God is in control and that He will protect and care for His people. This belief also serves as a motivation to live a life that is pleasing to God and to share the good news of salvation with others.
In summary, the topic of the Rapture is a complicated one, but we can find solace in the fact that there is evidence and support for its occurrence. As Christians, we should strive to understand it better, as it has significant implications for our eternal destiny.
"WHERE ARE OUR DEAD?"
Saints, the word “rapture” refers to a “carrying away” or a “snatching away," and the English word “rapture” comes from the Latin noun "rapture" which in Greek means "the catching up" that is used about the description found in (1 Thessalonians 4:17) concerning the event we call the rapture of the church, where Christ is described as descending from Heaven with a shout to remove his people from the Earth.
Beloved, the event referred to as the rapture of the church is described as accompanied by a trumpet, including the archangel's voice as spoken of in the word of God. (1 Corinthians 15:52) & (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Being that the trump of God is sounded in this event could mean that the Father will be present for this event, and according to the Bible, those who are asleep in Jesus, which means that their bodies are described as being asleep, shall be resurrected.
Beloved, I like to look at (Titus 2:11-14) where the scriptures speak of God being present at this event. [11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Did you know that when Christ paid the ransom for our souls, He also paid a future ransom for our bodies? Therefore, at His appearance, our bodies shall be changed into glorified bodies. However, because we are eternal spirits, we will never lose consciousness when our soul and spirit leave our body.
Our bodies, made from the earth's minerals, will decay and return to the earth. Still, because we are made up of matter that can change form but cannot be destroyed when the rapture takes place, our bodies will come back together and be changed into a glorified body that will never grow old.
The Bible teaches that those who are alive and know Christ as our Savior will be changed in a moment and the twinkling of an eye faster than one can notice. We will leave these mortal bodies and enter into a glorified body to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
The Apostle Paul assures us that those who have died in the Lord are not forgotten. When this fantastic event occurs, Christ will bring the souls, including the spirits of those who have left this world and entered paradise, back with Him when He returns to get His bride, described as the church.
When the Lord rides the clouds to get His bride, the souls of the departed dead will return with Him and enter the graves where they were buried. Because matter can never be destroyed, God will call it all together to come out of the grave in victory and power of the first resurrection.
The word declares that the dead in Christ shall rise first, and then we who are alive and remain shall be changed (the splitting of the atom) and be resurrected. Those who have died in the Lord will come forth with a body like His glorious body to meet Him in the air, and so shall they ever be with the Lord.
Beloved, what a glorious event as the dead in Christ are being raised in the victory and power of his spoken word to celebrate their new life with him as he takes them along with the raptured saints into the gates of glory.
Church, can you picture in your mind the precious children, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers, including the sailors that may have gone down in a watery grave, yes beloved, that went down in a foreign war with a prayer of trust in their heart, and let us not forget those that may have been burned up in buildings or even vaporized by an explosion, having the matter of their bodies come back together in a glorified state and come forth out of those graves celebrating the victory and power of their new life to meet the Lord at his coming?
Beloved Saints, what a glorious sight to behold this event on God's schedule we describe as the rapture of the church, and we can only imagine what it will be like to meet our departed loved ones as their bodies come forth glorified confirming the word of God found in first Corinthians the fifteen chapter which describes the body going down in weakness but being raised in power, which beloved, is the power of the resurrection in which the bible describes as the first resurrection, on such the second death (eternal judgment) hath no power!
(Revelation 20:5-6) (5) "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." (6) "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years."
Beloved, the bible describes this event as being like the heavens departing like a scroll to make an entrance into the white throne judgment where the resurrected dead that have been in the flames of hell will stand before God and give an account of the life they lived on Earth.
Saints, at this judgment, we who made it out in the rapture will be the jurors in this judgment and watch as these people who have been resurrected from hell, along with fallen angels, will stand before God and give an account of their lives and sins before God only to hear him say, "depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I never knew thee" and be cast into a liquified lake of fire which is the second death,
Beloved, did you know that the second death will be an eternal separation from God, including being confined to everlasting torment with a mind that will never cease to remind them of the many opportunities they had to accept Christ but chose to rebel like Satan, accepting his deception that they could be their own Savior?
In summary, the bible is clear concerning separate historical events where the dead will be raised. It clearly describes those who have died since the rich man, who is confined in the torments of hell, will be left there until after the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth and after God puts a stop to the army Satan has managed to deceive, thinking they can overthrow the government of Christ only to have God consume everything with fire.
"LOOKING THROUGH A KEYHOLE AT THE RAPTURE."
Dear reader, "Looking through a Keyhole at the Rapture" is a phrase that conjures up vivid imagery and raises many questions. What lies beyond the keyhole? Is it a glimpse of heaven or a vision of the world's end? The keyhole gives us a sense of restriction and limitation, as if our perceptions constrain our view of the world. At the same time, it suggests a sense of curiosity and desire, as if we are driven to explore the mysteries that lie beyond our immediate surroundings.
Beloved, the term "rapture" is derived from the Latin noun "rapture," which means " catching up" in Greek. In Christian eschatology, the rapture refers to an event in which Jesus Christ descends from Heaven with a shout to remove his followers from the Earth. This event is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 as the "catching away" or "snatching away" of believers from the world.
According to the scriptures, the rapture will be accompanied by a trumpet blast and the voice of the archangel. This is described in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The trumpet, a symbol of God's judgment against sin, signifies the end of the current age and a call to repentance. The voice of the archangel, indicating the power and authority of God's heavenly hosts, assures believers of the divine nature of the event and the protection they will receive.
Being that the trump of God is sounded in this event could mean that the Father will be present for this event, and according to the Bible, those who are asleep in Jesus, which means that their bodies are described as being asleep, shall be resurrected.
Dear reader, I remember taking the pulpit in a tent revival to preach on this subject when God showed up and got everybody's attention; yes, beloved, it was in the early 1990s, and I remember it well because there was a singer there that evening who had allowed Satan to infiltrate his heart with, thoughts of malice, jealousy, and hate including instinctive thoughts to murder burning the home of two of my most faithful supporters who that evening was at this tent revival meeting.
The Lord had just used me and a local pastor who had stopped by a local radio station asking if I would ride with him thirty miles to visit a hospital and pray for a woman on life support who had attempted suicide by overdosing on pills.
We visited the woman in the ICU and were informed that they were going to unplug her because her body was rejecting the life support, and we were only allowed four minutes to pray over her.
Saints, the morgue was there to get the body, but saints of God and fellow peers, Jesus had other plans and decided to give her another chance at life, surprising all of us, including the medical staff, that he still had the power to raise the dead. Hallelujah!
Beloved, my 18-wheeler with the lighted crosses on the grill was parked at the tent revival, and it was visible to the interstate, allowing those traveling the interstate to view the truck parked in the field at the revival.
Church, I had no idea that God had made plans to scare the devil out of all of us attending this meeting, but just as I took the pulpit that evening, the wind got up outside the tent, which caused us to wonder if we should dismiss the service.
Beloved, I remember opening my bible to the fourth chapter of First Thessalonians for a subject title message: "Looking through a Keyhole at the Rapture."
Did you know that without warning, a small twister appeared before my pulpit, twisting in a circle the loose pages, paper, etc., that it had drawn from nearby bibles and songbooks? Yes, beloved, God was putting on a show and display of his power, and to be honest with you,
I had thoughts that the rapture of the church was taking place right before my very eyes, and remember, beloved, the woman on life support had just been brought back from the dead so at this point, I could believe God for anything. Still, this beloved is not why God demonstrated his power in this service.
Beloved Saints, a singer, was attending this service who needed deliverance from the demonic realm, which caused him to entertain thoughts of doing physical harm to a husband and wife who had a reputation for helping everybody who came to them with a need. God was not going to allow this singer to leave this service with the evil intent of doing physical harm to these beautiful people.
God managed to scare all of us out of our wits, especially the man with the evil thoughts, which afterward caused his Holy Spirit to flood the place in revival, and after all the repentance, with around ninety people flooding the altar that night and the wind dying down, I could continue my message on the church's rapture.
I used one of the old skeleton keys in my message on the coming rapture, which was the key to fit most houses in the early 1950s and churches; in the message, I described how the people back in the early 1900s would place a rubber band over the door handle of their home which would apply pressure on the skeleton key that would be left in the lock to keep an intruder from attempting to unlock the door by pushing the key out.
My message was centered around the thought that if you removed the key from the lock, you could look through the keyhole and catch a partial view of what is visible in the room behind the door.
Beloved, I attempted to use this illustration of looking through this keyhole as a partial view of what we can see by observing world history, including current events which the bible describes as signs, yes beloved, the very signs Jesus described as birth pains which shall occur just before he comes for his church.
Saints, I do wish to stop here and emphasize that people have risen before drawing large crowds in their midst, convincing them to stock up because the rapture of the church was going to occur on a particular day because they have studied church history and have mapped all the signs but beloved the scripture plainly states in Mark the thirteenth chapter that no one knows the day, nor the hour when the son of man cometh.
Beloved, in (Matthew 24:5-14), the Lord spoke of the signs that would precede his return. He talked about wars and rumors of wars, which are still happening in our world today. He also spoke of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, famines, and pestilences, which have recently become more frequent and severe. Despite all these things, he said that the end is not yet, for other events must happen first.
(Luke 21:26) tells us that men's hearts will fail them for fear of the things coming upon the earth. This means that people will be afraid and anxious about the future as they see the world around them changing rapidly and unpredictably. The very powers of heaven will be shaken, causing people to question their beliefs and values.
The Bible clearly instructs us to be vigilant and prepared for the return of the Lord. Living in fear or panic is not an option; we must lead a consecrated life by maintaining a close relationship with Him. By submitting to the guidance of His Spirit and obeying His commands, we can confidently show love and compassion to those around us.
In summary, to be prepared means living a surrendered life, focusing on serving others with humility and kindness. So, let us boldly embrace this call to readiness and strive to live a pleasing life to our Lord and Savior.
"WHAT IF I SHOULD MISS THE RAPTURE?"
Dear reader, I want to ask you whether you are willing to risk not heeding the Bible's clear teachings regarding the calling out of the Church from this world before the great tribulation begins? This event, also referred to as "the hour of temptation," is described in the Bible as a time when the entire world will be tested.
According to the Bible, faithful Christians who form the body of Christ will be saved from the upcoming trial time, known as the tribulation. This time of trial will be a period of great suffering and hardship that will test the faith of all people on earth. However, those who have accepted God's word and have faith in Him will be spared from it.
Beloved, it's important that we take the Bible's warnings seriously and prepare ourselves for the second coming of Christ. This means having faith in God and trusting in His plan, even when things seem uncertain or difficult. It also means being ready to face the challenges ahead with determination and confidence, knowing that God is with us and will never leave us or forsake us.
Saints of God, for one to make such bold statements that there is only going to be one general resurrection where everyone will be resurrected at the same time does not line up with this scripture found in (Revelation 20:5-6) (5) "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. which states that "the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years are fulfilled."
(2 Thessalonians 2:11-12) [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Beloved, those who reject God's word and refuse to accept the truth will be left to face the full force of the tribulation, a time of great distress unlike anything seen before. The tribulation is believed to last seven years, during which there will be widespread famine, disease, natural disasters, wars, and persecution of God's people.
Saints, the coming great tribulation can better be described as seven years of intense distress and suffering as the coming world leader known as the Antichrist will spearhead the one world government, which will make a decree that no one person on earth may buy or sell unless they take his mark which is called, the mark of the beast.
Dear fellow believers, I would like to take a moment to clarify an important point regarding the tribulation period mentioned in the Bible. There is a common misconception that Christians must go through tribulation, but I want to assure you that this is untrue.
According to some of my friends, they have received a divine revelation that they will be intentionally left behind during the rapture, and God will use them to help others who missed the rapture. However, this belief contradicts what the Bible states regarding the events of the Great Tribulation.
It's essential to consider my friends' challenges during the tribulation. If they find it difficult to live a holy life for God while the Holy Spirit is still working in believers, how will they be able to live for God during the tribulation? They will not have access to food or medicine unless they take the mark of the beast. It's difficult, but it's essential to trust in God's plan and follow His guidance.
The Bible tells us that during the tribulation, no one will be worthy enough to preach, and instead, God will send an Angel to preach to those who are left behind, warning them not to accept the mark of the beast. (Revelation 14:6-9)
The Bible describes the seven-year tribulation as the hour of God's wrath on the kingdom of darkness. During this time, there will be great suffering and tribulation for those who have rejected God. However, as believers in Jesus Christ, we have been saved from this period of judgment.
Matthew 22 tells a parable about a king who throws a wedding feast for his son. The king invites guests to the feast, but the guests refuse to come. Some guests even mistreat and kill the king's servants who ask them to attend the wedding. The king then sends his servants to invite anyone they can find on the streets, filling the wedding hall with guests.
This parable teaches us about the importance of accepting the invitation of God to partake in His Kingdom. It shows how people often reject God's invitation, despite its significance, and how those who accept it will be rewarded. The king in the parable represents God, while the wedding feast represents the Kingdom of Heaven.
The guests who refuse the invitation represent those who reject God's offer of salvation, and they face the consequence of not being part of His Kingdom. On the other hand, the guests who accept the invitation represent those who accept God's offer and become part of His Kingdom, reaping the rewards of eternal life.
The book of Matthew recounts a parable about a king who guests to his son's wedding feast. The king provided all the guests with wedding garments at the entrance, which was customary at the time. However, one of the guests refused to wear the garment and instead entered the hall in his clothing.
When the king saw this, he was displeased and asked the guest how he managed to enter the hall without a garment. The guest remained silent, unable to justify his actions. The king then ordered his servants to bind the guest hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Beloved, the story is often interpreted to mean that the wedding garment represents the righteousness required to enter the kingdom of heaven. The guest who refused to wear the garment symbolizes those who try to enter the kingdom on their own terms without accepting the righteousness offered to them through faith in Jesus Christ.
Dear reader, the phrase "outer darkness" is significant because it refers to a place of punishment, suffering, and tribulation, or better understood as the darkness of tribulation, and used in this text, the Greek word for outer darkness refers to the darkness of tribulation.
In summary, we should strive to lead a life that pleases God, by demonstrating love and service towards others, and spreading the good news of the Gospel to those in our vicinity. By doing these things, we can be confident that we will be ready to face whatever challenges the tribulation may bring and ultimately be victorious in Christ.
"THE COMING TRIBULATION."
Dear reader, "The Coming Tribulation" is an event that serves as a timely reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and prepared for the uncertain times ahead. To face the challenges of our ever-changing world, staying informed and aware of the potential threats and dangers that may arise is crucial.
The great tribulation will be a time of unmatched distress, pain, and suffering, where people will experience the wrath of God. The book of Revelation describes this period as when the four horsemen, symbolizing conquest, war, famine, and death, will ride across the earth. The Antichrist, an influential world leader, will deceive many and lead them astray.
Beloved, the events of our time have been orchestrated to warn us that the arrival of the Antichrist is imminent. He will make a peace treaty with Israel to rebuild their temple when he comes. However, during the three-and-a-half-year period, he broke the treaty and turned on them, even entering the temple and proclaiming himself to be God.
Church, the Bible is plain that the man speaking dark sentences described in the book of Daniel will be the coming antichrist who will come on the scene speaking dark sentences, causing all, both rich and poor, including the free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or forehead swearing allegiance to his name and power, however beloved, this cannot happen until after God removes his people to safety in what we call the rapture of the church.
(Daniel 11:37) (37) " Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all." (38) "But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things."
(Revelation 13:17-18) (17) "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or their foreheads:" (18) "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
Beloved, the first three-and-a-half years of tribulation will be the wrath of Satan against the people of God that are saved during the tribulation. During this time, believers will face persecution and hardship. However, the last three-and-a-half years will consist of the wrath of God being poured out on the kingdom of Satan. This will be a time of great judgment and punishment for those who have rejected God.
The Coming Tribulation reminds us that we must remain vigilant and prepared for the uncertain times ahead and encourages us to stay connected to God and one other friend; according to biblical prophecy, after the great tribulation, a period of intense hardship and suffering, the Lord will descend from heaven with his saints to put an end to the battle of Armageddon.
This is where the kings of the east will cross the Euphrates River with a massive army of two hundred million men to fight the antichrist and his armies. The Lord will destroy them with the brightness of his coming and step on the Mount of Olives, located in Bethany. As a result, living waters will flow into the Dead Sea, a lifeless body of water that's ten times saltier than the ocean.
Interestingly, the San Andreas fault, which runs through California, also goes through the Mount of Olives, and it's believed that the fault line stops there, waiting for the footprint of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
The Mount of Olives is a significant site in the Bible, as it's where Jesus delivered his Olivet Discourse, predicting the destruction of the Second Temple and the signs of his Second According to the prophecy, the Lord will enter the temple through the east gate, which the Ottoman Empire sealed in AD 1540-41.
The significance of this event is that it is believed to be the fulfillment of the prophecy, which states that the coming messiah will enter the temple through the east gate and sit upon the throne of David. The period in which the messiah will rule is known as the Millennial Reign, a thousand years of peace and prosperity.
Beloved, the Ottomans sealed the east gate to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled and to thwart the messiah's coming. To further prevent the prophecy, the Turks and others buried their dead near the gate. They believed that the Messiah would not be able to enter the temple if he had to pass through a cemetery, as this would make him ceremonially unclean.
Despite the efforts of the Ottomans and others, the prophecy continues to be an essential part of the Jewish and Christian faiths. The cornerstone of these religions is the belief that the Lord will one day return and rule with a rod of iron or swift judgment upon sin.
Beloved, back in the 1970s, the European Union came together, accepting the treaty of Rome as their foundation; they also started building their army with the world's elite, funding their evil plans to form a one-world government, including a one-world religion.
Church, this one-world system is nothing more than the revived Roman empire. They came forth in a statement declaring that all they needed to be complete was to find a man who could bring it all together, and they went so far as to say, "Give us such a man, be he a god or a devil, and we will accept him."
Church, the bible warns us to be ready and watchful, which does not mean hiding out in a cave with weeks of food or gazing at the skies. Still, it means to be prepared for his coming by maintaining a relationship with him, living a surrendered life by submitting to the guidance of His Spirit, and keeping our heart in servitude toward other believers as one who is prepared to meet the Lord when he comes for his church.
In summary, as we see the signs of the times unfolding around us, we should not be afraid but instead be encouraged that our Lord is coming soon. Let us be watchful and prepared so that we may be found faithful when he returns for his church. Still, he spoke that the end is not yet, for men's hearts will fail them for fear of the things coming upon the earth, for the very powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:26)
MY CONCLUSION
Dear reader, according to the teachings of the Bible, the Rapture of the Church is a future event that will happen suddenly and without warning. During this event, Jesus Christ will return to the earth and gather all the members of his church who have died before his return, as well as those who are still alive at the time of his arrival. They will be caught up together in the air to meet the Lord.
This event is regarded as a significant and anticipated moment for Christians, as it marks the end of the Church Age and the beginning of the Tribulation Period. The Rapture is described as a moment of great joy and hope for believers, as they will be reunited with their loved ones who have passed away and will be spared from the horrors of the Tribulation.
The Bible teaches that the Rapture will happen suddenly, without any prior warning, and in the twinkling of an eye. This means that it will happen quickly, and there will be no opportunity for anyone to prepare themselves for this event. Therefore, Christians are encouraged to live their lives in a way that is pleasing to God so that they may be ready to meet the Lord when he returns.
In summary, the Lord is calling His church to make herself ready for His return. Let us heed this call and be vigilant in our faith so that we may be counted among those prepared to meet the Lord when He comes. May God bless us all and keep us in His loving care. His coming.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
