Sermon Central
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Rapture Proof
Contributed by Leslie Trombly on Jun 19, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: Proof that the rapture will occur!
There has been much disagreement over the rapture and when it will occur or even if it will occur. I think that it is high time that this was clarified by the Word of God. The Bible gives many details associated with Christ’s coming which have given rise to different interpretations. While there are disagreements about the time our Lord is coming, there is little disagreement over the fact that He will return. The Lord promised us he would return, as did
the angels and his disciples. Paul mentioned communion only twice in his epistles, and baptism 13 times, but he mentioned the return of the Lord 50 times! (I Thess. 4:17; Matt. 25:31-32; Rev 19: 15-19; Zech 14:4,9 and Mark 13: 33-37)
These are not to coming of Jesus but only one separated into two phases. The first phase of his coming is "in the air" for believers - a secret coming that will be a great blessing to all who participate in it, called by, bible scholars as "the rapture". It has come to mean the phase of our Lord’s return just for Christians, who are "caught up" together with the resurrected saints who have died in Jesus. (I Thess.
4:13-18 and I Corinthians 15:50-58) this is the first phase of his "one coming". The first is for his children and the second phase is for the world of unbelievers. (Matt. 24: 29-31; 25:31-46 and Rev. 19: 11-21) The "catching away" of the saints "behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book" (Revelation 22:7
kjv). What may not be common knowledge is that the bible speaks of this exact event. This event is known as the Rapture. The Rapture is described in several passages in the bible and a major rapture event is
on the horizon. and in one instance, a famous biblical character is transported from the desert to a major city instantaneously! surprise! The word "rapture" isn’t found in the bible! But the event known as "The
Rapture" is clearly there. you might also be surprised to learn that "Holy Trinity" isn’t found in the scriptures either; but no one doubts their existence (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
Let’s examine the scriptural basis for the rapture. (Genesis 5:21-24)It’s the case of the missing Prophet! According to the Book of Genesis,ENOCH was 65 years old when he became the father of Methuselah, the longest-living man in the Bible. During the next 300 years ENOCH had other sons and daughters (300 years of child rearing!). and so, ENOCH lived a year’s worth of years: 365 years (though biblical years are often 360-day years). History’s first demonstrated rapture event occurs as God takes ENOCH. One moment he’s dwelling on earth and in the blink of an eye he’s translated to Heaven:
Genesis 5: 21-24
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rapture # 1: ENOCH lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then ENOCH walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of ENOCH were three hundred and sixty-five years. ENOCH walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Not convinced that Genesis 5:24 demonstrates the Rapture of a living human being? Well, perhaps we’d better offer more proof, eh? and what better place for more Rapture Proof than the new testament?: By faith ENOCH was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 2nd Kings 2:1-12
Rapture number 2 - is found in the book of 2nd Kings as the premier prophet of God has finished his earthly ministry and is turning over his office to his protege’ Elisha. Elijah, in his wisdom, knows that
Elisha’s faith will be tremendously strengthened by witnessing the taking of Elijah from earth to heaven right before his eyes:
2nd Kings 2:1-12
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"And it came about when the Lord was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "stay here please, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel". But Elisha said, "as the Lord lives and as you, yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?" and he said, "yes, I know; be still". Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho". But he said, "as the