The Church Raptured - A Concise And Biblical Study Of The Doctrine Of The Rapture Of The Church Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD, USA

www.mycrossway.org

View this and other messages at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com

Introduction

Revelation’s introduction and outline

Write down:

The things that you have seen (Revelation 1)

The things which are (Revelation 2, 3)

The things which are to come (Revelation 4-22)

Illustration: Herbert Washington, whom co-workers at Significant Plastics Inc. say was unduly concerned with the rapture and the second coming of Christ, suffered a serious heart attack when co-workers pretended they’d been caught away without him. "We didn’t mean to scare him to death," said one woman. "He’s just always talking about it, so today we decided to turn the tables on him." Washington underwent bypass surgery and is recovering well and "digging into the Bible like never before," says his wife.

Biblical prophesy more than a series of predictive events through Scripture. Hebrew prophecy always uses patterns to establish what is happening. Why we must study and study to understand. Revelation is heavily connected to the Old Testament, especially the Book of Daniel.

The Mount Olive Discourse

Luke 21

Speaking to a Gentile Audience

These things must take place before

Describing the fall of Jerusalem

False Christs, Wars, Famines, Death, Martyrs Global Chaos

Man’s Wrath to God

Matthew 24

Speaking to a Jewish Audience

These things take place after

Abomination of desolation

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble (The Great Tribulation)

False Christs, Wars, Famines, Death, Martyrs Global Chaos

God’s wrath being poured out on man

The fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple took place in 70AD

The Book of Revelation was written around 96 AD

John’s Rapture

This is a significant transition in the Book of Revelation

No mention of the church “after this”

Showing John the things that are going to take place after the rapture of the church

1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1 ESV)

70 times, John writes “I looked and behold...”

This time there is an open door into Heaven and a voice says, “Come up here...” (Rev 4:1) This is a clear transition from the things which are (the 7 Churches) to the things which “must take place after this” (Rev 4:1).

“A door was opened...”

The transition from one place to the next

A mental event happens when you walk through a door

Heaven is a real place

God opens doors for us

The Thessalonian Church

Concerned

What about those who died?

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 ESV)

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:50 ESV)

Rapture vs. Second Coming

Jesus returns for his church (1 Cor 15:51-52) vs. Returns with the Church (Rev 19:11-16)

Jesus comes in the clouds (1 Thess 4:16-17, Rev 1:7) vs. Jesus comes on a horse (Rev 19:11-16)

Translation of Believers (1 Thess 4:16-17) vs. No Translation (Rev 19:14)

Saints go to Heaven vs. Saints Return to Earth

Jesus Appears in the Air vs. Jesus Physical Return

Saints are Delivered (1 Thess 4:13-17) vs. Earth is Judged (1 Thess 5:9)

Imminent (Titus 2:13, 1 Thess 4:14-18) vs. at a designated time (2 Thess 2:4, Matt 24:15-30)

Believers Only (1 Cor 15:50) vs. for All People (Matt 24:29-30, Rev 1:7)

Before God’s Wrath (1 Thes 5:9) vs. the Conclusion of God’s Wrath (Rev 3:10)

Referred to the Day of Christ (1 Cor 1:8, 2 Cor 1:14, Phil 1:6,10) vs. Referred to the Day of the Lord (Joel 1:15; 2:1-2, 2:11,30-31; Zech 14:1-5; Isa 13:6,9; Ezek 30:2-3; Amos 5:18,20; Obad 15; Zeph 1:14-15; Acts 2:19 -20)

Do Not Be Troubled - Believe in God!

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1–3 ESV)