Sermon Central
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The Rapture Lesson 1 Series
Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 12, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: “We who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
A. FUTURE MAIN EVENTS
? Rapture – Jesus fulfills His plan to return.
? Crowns/Rewards – God keeps His promise to reward.
? Tribulation – God will allow evil to run its course.
? Glorious appearing – Jesus returns to earth.
? Millennium/1,000 years – God restores the earth to His original design.
? Judgment/hell – God’s obligation to punish evil.
? Heaven – God fulfills our expectation and more.
B. VERSES ABOUT THE RAPTURE: UNDERLINE TWO IMPORTANT TRUTHS
“I will come again and get you, so that you will be with Me.” (John 14:1-3)
“We shall be changed in the moment of a twinkling of an eye.” (1 Corinthians 15:51)
“The dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52)
"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
C. RAPTURE – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1. The word rapture means to “catch away.” “We who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17, NLT).
2. Words to explain:
a. See Jesus.
b. In the air.
c. Dead in Christ raised first.
d. Alive taken next.
e. Comfort.
f. Unexpected.
g. Any moment.
h. Given transformed body.
i. Live in heaven.
j. Things continue on earth.
k. Cf. I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
3. Signs. No some say none. “He will come as a thief in the night.”
a. Israel (Jews) return to land Ex. 37.
b. Nature reestablished.
c. Growth of internationalism.
d. Growth of false religion.
e. Illustrations of “signs” to Lynchburg.
4. Abuses.
a. Date setting.
b. Caught up in details and forget Jesus.
c. Make it dominate theme.
5. Why study the Rapture?
a. The certainty that He is coming again.
b. He could return at any moment.
c. Motivates us to cleanse life of sin.
d. Motivates us to evangelism of lost relatives.
6. Questions:
a. What will happen to believers’ children who are not saved?
b. What will be response when Christians disappear?
c. Will backslidden Christians be taken?
d. What will the antichrist do after Christians caught up?
e. What type of church will be left?
f. What happens if some in family are saved and some are not?
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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