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The
Rapture:
The Coming of
the Lord for His
Bride
The Rapture is
a prophetic doctrine which has differing
interpretations.
These are subject to doctrinal debate.
The rapture as described in the Bible
is a supernatural event which includes
the physical resurrection of persons
who were dead. The lifeless bodies are
transfigured in a resurrection body
an incorruptible immortal form. Coinciding
with this those in alive "In Christ"
shall be transformed into their immortal
form and taken up to be with the Lord.
The
Rapture when it occurs, will introduce
a new dispensation, the dispensation
of Judgment, upon the unrighteous. This
period has been also called 'the day
of the Lord' or 'the day of Jacob's
trouble.' Until this time vengeance
of God -- has been postponed, the dispensation
of 'Grace'
< Read Isaiah 61:>
Jesus refers to the time of judgment
to be like
the time of Lot and Sodom and the pre-flood
days of Noah.
THE TIME OF Noah - - IS
A TYPOLOGY FOR GOD'S JUDGMENT
Genesis
7:16 "And they that went in, went in male and
female of all flesh, as God had commanded him:
and the LORD shut him in."
AS
IN THE TIME OF LOT AND SODOM &
GOMORRAH
AS TYPOLOGY OF JUDGMENT
Genesis 19:13
"For
we will destroy this place, because the cry
of them is waxen great before the face of the
LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy
it."
Genesis 19:14 "And Lot went out, and spake
unto his sons in law, which married his daughters,
and said, Up, get you out of this place; for
the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed
as one that mocked unto his sons in law." (Many
are so deceived in this present time)
Genesis 19:16 "And while he lingered, the men
laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand
of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters;
the LORD being merciful unto him: and they
brought him forth, and set him without the
city."
Genesis 19:22 "Haste thee, escape thither;
for I cannot do any thing till thou be come
thither. Therefore the name of the city was
called Zoar."
Notice in the above text: The angels are the
agents of deliverance. They have physically
removed the family out of Sodom. They could
proceed with the destruction until they were
removed.
THE
ATTACHMENT TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD:
SAVING ONE'S OWN LIFE
Genesis
19:26 "But his wife looked back from behind
him, and she became a pillar of salt."
The nature of cares, lusts, attachments are
shown by Jesus who reminds us again of the
results of not letting go of this present life:
WILL THE RAPTURE BE BEFORE OR DURING THE TRIBULATION
PERIOD:
Luke 17:27 "They did eat, they drank, they
married wives, they were given in marriage,
until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
and the flood came, and destroyed them all."
Luke 17:26 "And as it was in the days of Noah,
so shall it be also in the days of the Son
of man."
Luke 17:28 "Likewise also as it was in the
days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they
bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;"
Luke 17:29 "But the same day that Lot went
out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from
heaven, and destroyed them all."
Luke 17:30 "Even thus shall it be in the day
when the Son of man is revealed."
THE
ABOVE VERSES CLEARLY DESCRIBE A SEPARATION
OF HE PEOPLE OF GOD FROM THE JUDGMENT WHICH
HE VISITS UPON THE LAND they also describe
how life was in a sense of normality and routine
ness until the separation of the righteous
remnant who were spared from the wrath.
Luke
17:31 "In that day, he which shall be upon
the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let
him not come down to take it away: and he that
is in the field, let him likewise not return
back."
Luke 17:32 "Remember Lot's wife."
Luke 17:33 "Whosoever shall seek to save his
life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose
his life shall preserve it."
The
preceding and following passages describe how
people who are apparently in close fellowship
(i.e. church members of professing believers)
may experience different judgments. See Matt
25.
Luke 17:34 "I tell you, in that night there
shall be two men in one bed; the one shall
be taken, and the other shall be left."
Luke 17:35 "Two women shall be grinding together;
the one shall be taken, and the other left."
Luke 17:37 "And they answered and said unto
him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Where
ever the body is, thither will the eagles be
gathered together."
WHERE
WILL THE BELIEVER BE TAKEN? Out of this world
to Join the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians
4:17)
Luke
21:20 "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed
with armies, then know that the desolation
thereof is nigh." The near fulfillment of prophecy
came in 70 AD and but there will be a future
fulfillment during the final conflict of Armeggedon.
Israel is THE target.
Luke 21:21 "Then let them which are in Judaea
flee to the mountains; and let them which are
in the midst of it depart out; and let not
them that are in the countries enter there
into."
Luke 21:22 "For these be the days of vengeance,
that all things which are written may be fulfilled."
The Second Coming will be visibly witnessed
by all as an awesome natural phenomena: This
same Jesus who you saw leave will in like manner
return and set his feet upon Mount Olivet.
Luke 21:27 "And then shall they see the Son
of man coming in a cloud with power and great
glory."
THE
WARNINGS AND THE ADMONITIONS
Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest
at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this
life, and so that day come upon you unawares."
Luke 21:35 "For as a snare shall it come on
all them that dwell on the face of the whole
earth."
Luke 21:36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always,
that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all
these things that shall come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of man."
THE
COMING OF THE LORD AS A THIEF IS A SECRET AND
SURPRISE RETURN
1 Thessalonians 4:16 "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:"
1 Thessalonians 4:17 "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."
1 Thessalonians 4:18 "Wherefore comfort one
another with these words."
1 Thessalonians 5:1 "But of the times and the
seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write
unto you."
1 Thessalonians 5:2 "For yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief
in the night."
1 Thessalonians 5:3 "For when they shall say,
Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them, as travail upon a woman with child;
and they shall not escape."
1 Thessalonians 5:4 "But ye, brethren, are
not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief."
1 Thessalonians 5:5 "Ye are all the children
of light, and the children of the day: we are
not of the night, nor of darkness."
EXHORTATIONS
1 Thessalonians 5:6 "Therefore let us not sleep,
as do others; but let us watch and be sober."
1 Thessalonians 5:7 "For they that sleep sleep
in the night; and they that be drunken are
drunken in the night."
1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But let us, who are of
the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate
of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope
of salvation."
1 Thessalonians 5:9 "For God hath not appointed
us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ,"
1 Thessalonians 5:10 "Who died for us, that,
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with him."
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Wherefore comfort yourselves
together, and edify one another, even as also
ye do."
A MIRACULOUS RE CREATION: AT THE TRUMPET OF
GOD
1 Corinthians 15:50 "Now this I say, brethren,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."
1 Corinthians 15:51 "Behold, I show you a mystery;
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed,"
1 Corinthians 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed."
1 Corinthians 15:53 "For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put
on immortality."
1 Corinthians 15:54 "So when this corruptible
shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory."
1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
WHO
WILL OUR HEARTS CHOOSE? WHERE IS OUR TREASURE?
Matthew 8:12 "But the children of the kingdom
shall be cast out into outer darkness: there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 13:30 "Let both grow together until
the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will
say to the reapers, Gather ye together first
the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn
them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
Matthew
13:40 "As therefore the tares are gathered
and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the
end of this world."
Matthew 24:42 "Watch therefore: for ye know
not what hour your Lord doth come. Watch and
Pray lest you enter into temptation"
Matthew 24:43 "But know this, that if the goodman
of the house had known in what watch the thief
would come, he would have watched, and would
not have suffered his house to be broken up."
Matthew 24:44 "Therefore be ye also ready:
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son
of man cometh."
Matthew 24:48 "But and if that evil servant
shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his
coming;"
Matthew 24:49 "And shall begin to smite his
fellow servants, and to eat and drink with
the drunken;"
Matthew 24:50 "The lord of that servant shall
come in a day when he looketh not for him,
and in an hour that he is not aware of,"
THE
BRIDE AWAITS THE BRIDEGROOMS UNEXPECTED RETURN:
Matthew
25:1 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened
unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and
went forth to meet the bridegroom."
Matthew 25:2 "And five of them were wise, and
five were foolish."
Matthew 25:3 "They that were foolish took their
lamps, and took no oil with them:"
Matthew 25:5 "While the bridegroom tarried,
they all slumbered and slept."
Matthew 25:6 "And at midnight there was a cry
made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye
out to meet him."
Matthew 25:10 "And while they went to buy,
the bridegroom came; and they that were ready
went in with him to the marriage: and the door
was shut."
(The door of the ark closed by God)
Matthew 25:11 "Afterward came also the other
virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us."
Matthew 25:12 "But he answered and said, Verily
I say unto you, I know you not."
Who will fellowship with the Lord? Who will
seek to know Him?
Matthew 25:13 "Watch therefore, for ye know
neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son
of man cometh."
Matthew 25:32 "And before him shall be gathered
all nations: and he shall separate them one
from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep
from the goats:"
Matthew 25:34 "Then shall the King say unto
them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world:"
MATT
25:32 -- ARGUMENTS TO SUPPORT PRE TRIBULATION
RAPTURE
Hal
Lindsey points out in recent teachings that
the above passage is a second sorting which
occurs as the remaining population upon the
earth is separated into believers and unbelievers.
The first sorting is the rapture itself when
a distinction is made between those whose lamps
are burning and those without oil. In the great
tribulation which follows many come to Christ
and many are martyred for his namesake. The
remaining are the enemies of God, followers
of Anti Christ or unbelievers.
MORE
ON THE TRIBULATION AND THE REVEALING OF THE
ANTI CHRIST
2
Thessalonians 1:5 "Which is a manifest token
of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may
be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for
which ye also suffer:"
2 Thessalonians 1:6 "Seeing it is a righteous
thing with God to recompense tribulation to
them that trouble you;"
2 Thessalonians 1:7 "And to you who are troubled
rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,"
2 Thessalonians 1:8 "In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
2 Thessalonians 2:1 "Now we beseech you, brethren,
by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
by our gathering together unto him,"
THERE
IS A SPIRITUAL FORCE PRESENT ON EARTH WHICH
PREVENTS ANTI CHRIST FROM ASCENDING TO POWER:
THE POWER WHICH WITHHOLDS MUST BE REMOVED.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 "Let no man deceive you
by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away (POSSIBLE
INTERPRETATION CATCHING AWAY) first, and that
man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
2 Thessalonians 2:6 "And now ye know what with
holds that he might be revealed in his time."
2 Thessalonians 2:7 "For the mystery of iniquity
doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way."
THE
PERIOD OF GRACE IS A CERTAIN PERIOD (DISPENSATION)
JESUS ANNOUNCED THIS AS 'THE YEAR OF THE LORD'S
FAVOR --ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD' (Isa 61:2)
God is not the author of confusion: God is
a God of order . The age of Grace has a finite
and fixed time period. It begins with Jesus
declaring father forgive them they know not
what they do. The Gospel of the Kingdom can
be correctly understood as good news when we
are aware that we are not judged for our sins
if we accept the price the Lamb paid.
This acceptable year of the Lord is followed
by the day of Judgment and wrath in the Isaiah
prophecy. Jesus did not read that portion when
he announced the mission of grace. It remained
a time to come -- a separate dispensation.
THE
BOOK OF THE REVELATION WARNS THE "CHURCHES"
in chapter 2, THEN TAKES THE BELIEVERS OUT
Revelation 2:16 "Repent; or else I will come
unto thee quickly, and will fight against them
with the sword of my mouth."
Revelation 3:8 "I know thy works: behold, I
have set before thee an open door, and no man
can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied
my name."
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."
The
heavenly door is opened at the beginning of
Chapter 4. The remaining scriptures view the
events from a heavenly not an earthly viewpoint.
Revelation
4:1 "After this I looked, and, behold, a door
was opened in heaven: and the first voice which
I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking
with me; which said, Come up hither, and I
will show thee things which must be hereafter."
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