“Are You Ready For The Rapture?”
INTRODUCTION: I begin this morning a SERIES on “The Rapture”. In the weeks ahead we will take a look at “The Signs of His Coming” … “What Jesus Expects Us To Do Until He Comes” … “What It Will Be Like For The SAVED/LOST Immediately After The Rapture”.
Do you really believe that the Rapture of the Church is soon? If you really want to be honest with yourself, your answer is probably “No!”. While we might believe that He COULD come at any time … we really don’t believe that He WILL.
There are probably some here today who don’t believe that Jesus will come in their lifetime.
• MAYBE within the next 20 years.
• CERTAINLY not this YEAR … or this MONTH … or this WEEK.
• DEFINITELY not before midnight tonight.
• NO WAY He will come before NOON today (before the end of my message).
We are like those in 2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9 – all turn.
We don’t know WHEN the Lord will come. Jesus says this, in the CONTEXT of His coming at the REVELATION, but it also holds true for the RAPTURE. Matthew 24:36 – “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
HOWEVER … there are several things that we DO KNOW:
I.- HE WILL COME
We might not know WHEN … BUT … we do know that He WILL. LISTEN to the words of an angel, as he saw Jesus ascending from this earth. Acts 1:11 – “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” As soon as Jesus left, He gave us the assurance that He would come back.
TURN to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.
TURN to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
Jesus leaves us NO DOUBT that He is coming back. John 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.”
I.- He Will Come.
II.- HE WILL COME QUICKLY
LISTEN to what Jesus said in Rev. 3:3 – “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
In the last chapter of the Bible, LISTEN to what Jesus says:
• Revelation 22:7 – “Behold, I come quickly.”
• Revelation 22:20 – (Next-to-last verse in Bible) - “Surely, I come quickly, Amen.”
When Jesus comes at the Rapture, there will be no warning. It will be INSTANTANEOUS. 1 Cor. 15:52 says that it will be in the “twinkling of an eye” … as long as it takes you to blink your eyes. There will be no time to get ready. No time to get your life straightened out. No time to repent. No time to be saved.
The Bible tells us that there WON’T be a 2nd CHANCE for salvation, after the Rapture. If you’re left behind, your eternal destiny has been sealed. You will believe the lie of the Anti-Christ during the Tribulation Period. 2 Thes. 2:11-12 – “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.”
If you weren’t saved BEFORE the Rapture … after being exposed to the Bible, the preaching of the Word, the church, the witness of Christians, the conviction of the Holy Spirit … what makes you think you’ll be saved AFTER the Rapture. All the Christians will be gone. Churches will no longer be preaching the truth. The Holy Spirit will no longer be convicting you. The Anti-Christ will be in control. That’s why the Bible says in 2 Cor. 6:2 – “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
I.- He Will Come
II.- He Will Come Quickly
III.- WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
What are we to be doing in the meantime … until Jesus returns?
1.- Live Right So As To Not Be Ashamed When He Comes.
CHRISTIAN … Someday, Jesus is coming back for you … AND … you will meet Him face-to-face. You will have to look at Him straight in the eyes … eyeball-to-eyeball. Are you going to be ASHAMED?
The Apostle John has some ADVICE for us – 1 John 2:28 (NLT) – “And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame.”
Jesus even talked about this. Mark 8:38 – “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
If you KNEW that Jesus was coming before MIDNIGHT tonight … are there some SINS for which you would need to REPENT? Some RELATIONSHIPS that you would need to REPAIR? Some SINS that you would need to CONFESS? There’s no need to DREAD the coming of Jesus.
As a matter of fact, Jesus has a special reward for those who are READY for His return. The Apostle Paul was READY … he had nothing to be ashamed about, when he would meet Jesus face-to-face. LISTEN to what he says in 2 Tim. 4:8 – “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Do you “love His appearing” … OR … do you DREAD His appearing?
1.- Live Right So As To Not Be Ashamed.
2.- Live Right With Your Fellow Man.
LISTEN to Philippians 4:5 (NLT) – “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” Jesus will hold us accountable in our relationships with other people. When He comes, will He find a GOSSIP … a GROUCH … a PESSIMIST … an UNLOVING, UNCARING, SELFISH person … a PRODIGAL SON? OR … will He find an ENCOURAGER … the heart of a SERVANT … a GOOD SAMARITAN?
Jesus is coming again! AND … when He comes … He will deal with us according to our RELATIONSHIPS … with our mate … our family … our children … our parents … our friends … our enemies.
2.- Live Right With Your Fellow Man.
3.- Live Right In Your Faith.
Jesus has given us ample warning about His coming again. In Revelation 3:11, He says, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Jesus tells us that we can be in danger of losing our rewards (“crowns”) if we don’t “hold fast”.
Satan knows that, if he can’t have your SOUL … he can at least cause you to lose your TESTIMONY … your EFFECTIVENESS as a Christian … your REWARDS. Satan wants you to stand before Christ EMPTY-HANDED … and ASHAMED. He wants you to lose your faith … to make your Christian life frustrating & miserable. He wants to make you stumble … AND … keep you down. He wants you to be discouraged & depressed. He wants you to worry … forsake the Lord … forsake your faith … forsake your commitment to Christ.
While you wait for the return of Jesus, you need to “establish your faith”. James tells us in James 5:8 – “Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” You can’t do that by neglecting time in PRAYER … time in the WORD … time in WORSHIP. You can’t “establish your faith” by leaving Christ out of your daily life. You CAN’T!
3.- Live Right In Your Faith.
4.- Live Obedient To God’s Word.
In the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus has some insight as to how to be ready for His return. Rev. 22:7 – “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Paul also has some words of insight into how to prepare for the Lord’s return - 1 Tim. 6:14 – “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
The Christian life is really VERY SIMPLE, isn’t it? OBEY GOD … OBEY HIS WORD. While we are waiting for His return, we are to live our lives in obedience to His Word.
Let’s not be hard of hearing, when it comes to God’s Word.
STORY – An elderly couple was driving across the country. While the woman was behind the wheel, the couple was pulled over by the Highway Patrol. “Ma’am, did you know that you were speeding?” the officer said. The woman, hard of hearing, turned to her husband and asked, “What did he say?” “He said you were speeding!” the old man yelled. The Patrolman then asked, “May I see your license?” The woman turned to her husband again, “What did he say?” The old man yelled back, “He wants to see your license!” The woman then gave the officer her license. “I see you are from Arkansas,” the Patrolman said. “I spent some time there once, and went on a blind date with the ugliest woman I’ve ever seen.” The woman turned to her husband again, and asked, “What did he say?” The old man replied, “He said he knows you!”
Have you ever, when you were a child, disobeyed your parents? You did something that they told you not to do … AND … something bad happened? THEN … you had to wait until they got home … knowing that you had to face the consequences when they found out. It can be a long, painful, agonizing wait, can’t it? Our meeting … and waiting for Jesus … will be a lot more pleasant … IF … we just obey what He says in His Word. WON’T IT?
4.- Live Obedient To God’s Word.
5.- Live Non-Judgmental Toward Others.
LISTEN to what the Apostle Paul has to say about this. 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NLT) – “So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns, as to whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, He will bring our deepest secrets to light, and will reveal our private motives. And then, God will give to everyone whatever praise is due.”
SOMETIMES … we judge others unfairly … before we get all the facts. We will criticize and condemn … SOMETIMES … falsely. ONLY GOD knows what is in a person’s heart. THEREFORE … only HE can judge … AND … His judgment is fair & true. We often look for the WORST in others … don’t we? We assume they are guilty … UNTIL … they are proven innocent.
When Jesus returns, He will judge us for judging others. Let’s leave the judging up to the Judge.
5.- Live Non-Judgmental Toward Others.
6.- Live Busily In Your Christianity.
Jesus gave a parable about this in Luke 19:13 – “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” To “occupy” means to ‘be busy’. In this Parable, Jesus tells us that He has given each Christian certain talents, abilities and gifts. Not everyone has the same ones … some of you are more gifted than others. To those whom He gives more … more is expected.
The servant who NEGLECTED his abilities, was highly CONDEMNED by our Lord … BECAUSE … he wasn’t BUSY in the Lord’s business. We ALL have our life to live. We ALL are BUSY. We’ve got family, work, leisure time. Our plates are full. BUT … we need to make time for Christ … AND … HIS BUSINESS. OR … we will be severely judged … when He returns.
God doesn’t like lazy Christians. “Occupy, till I come.” Make time for Jesus. He will hold us each accountable, when we see Him face-to-face at the Rapture. If you’re “too busy” for the things of Christ … you’re TOO BUSY!
6.- Live Busily In Your Christianity.
7.- Live Blamelessly.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thess. 5:23 (NLT) – “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” “blameless” speaks of our REPUTATION. Everyone here has a REPUTATION. You have spent your whole life developing it. It’s not something that you have given yourself … it has been given to you by others. AND … it will follow you the rest of your life … UNLESS … you change it.
Your REPUTATION will either give glory to God … OR … shame His Name. Jesus tells us … “While you’re waiting for Me to return, live blameless lives … live up to My Name, “Christian” … don’t let me come and find My reputation soiled, because your reputation is soiled.”
I.- He Will Come
II.- He Will Come Quickly
III.- We Have A Responsibility
IV. WE ARE TO BE EAGERLY EXPECTING HIM
• Titus 2:13 – “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
• Philip. 3:20 (NLT) – “But we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.”
The very last book of the Bible, ends with the EAGER ANTICIPATION of the return of Jesus. Is that your testimony this morning? Are you ANXIOUS for Jesus to return? We CAN BE … IF … we live like Jesus could come again at ANY TIME.
CONCLUSION:
Jesus IS COMING … He will COME QUICKLY … We have a RESPONSIBILITY while we wait. AND … we are to look for Him with EAGER EXPECTATION.
Are you living your life as if Jesus will come at any time? Are you ready?
STAND – PRAY
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“Are You Ready For The Rapture?
INTRODUCTION: Jesus could return at any time … do you really believe He will come SOON? 2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9
- We don’t know WHEN Jesus will return – Matthew 24:36
I. HE WILL COME
- The angel said He will return – Acts 1:11
- Paul said He will return – 1 Thess. 4:16-18, 1 Cor. 15:51-52
- Jesus said He is coming back – John 14:3
II. HE WILL COME QUICKLY
- Jesus told us – Revelation 3:3, 22:7, 22:20
- There won’t be a 2nd chance– 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
- Now is the time for salvation – 2 Corinthians 6:2
III. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
1.- Live Right So As To Not Be Ashamed When He Returns
- John tells us not to be ashamed – 1 John 2:28
- Jesus tells us not to be ashamed – Mark 8:38
- Paul tells us that there is a reward – 2 Timothy 4:8
2.- Live Right With Your Fellow Man – Philippians 4:5
- When Jesus returns, He will judge us for our relationships.
3.- Live Right In Your Faith – Revelation 3:11
- Satan wants you to stand before Christ empty-handed.
- James tells us to “establish your faith” – James 5:8
4.- Live Obedient To God’s Word – Revelation 22:7
- Paul tells us how to prepare for His return – 1 Timothy 6:14
- Obedience means not dreading His return.
5.- Live Non-Judgmental Toward Others – 1 Corinthians 4:5
- Only God knows the heart, and can judge the heart.
6.- Live Busily In Your Christianity – Luke 19:13
- “occupy” means to ‘be busy’.
- If you’re “too busy” for Christ … you’re TOO BUSY!
7.- Live Blameless – 1 Thessalonians 5:23
- You have spent your life building a reputation.
- Your reputation either gives God glory … or shames Him.
IV. WE ARE TO BE EAGERLY EXPECTING HIM
- Are you anxious for Jesus to return? Titus 2:13,
Philippians 3:20
CONCLUSION:
• Are you ready for Jesus to return?
PRISCILLA BAPTIST CHURCH – Ray Scott, Pastor
