WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?
This is when Jesus Christ comes for His saints, does who have by faith completely trusted the eternity of their souls to His saving power with nothing else added.
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:
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. 4:16-17
WILL YOU BE LEFT OUT?
Those left behind will cry out for help and comfort. Questions will rise in every heart. Where did “Christian” go? One man, Satan’s souls-incarnated, the anti-Christ, will have all the answers.
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonian 2:9-12
THE GREAT TRIBULATIONS
Peace will reign for 3 1/2 years. Then, in this time called the great tribulation in Rev.7:14, all of God’s judgment will be meted out on this world as Satan’s emissaries, the beast, the ant-Christ, and the false prophet wreak havoc on mankind.
Revelation 16 records 7 great judgments poured out on a God-forsaking world and satanic leaders! Purifying painful sores, seas of dead men’s blood, rivers filled with blood, and the stench of dying aquatic life will plague man and beast. The sun will scorch the flesh of blasphemous man, and then disappear into the blackness of full darkness, as men gnaw their tongues for pain. The Euphrates River is dried up and God sends great earthquakes, as huge hail stones pound the remnant of earth’s inhabitants. “It is done”, thunders from Heaven as God’s wrath is satisfied.
THE SECOND COMING
And the, the second phase of Christ’s coming transpires!
“…the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
1 Thessalonian 3:13b
He comes and defeats the armies of the anti-Christ. The Lord Jesus will then reign for 1000 years!
You say, “I just can’t believe it. I’ve so many questions.”
Let’s allow God’s word to answer them for you.
WHEN WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE SOON!
“…for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
Matthew 24:44b
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
Matthew 24:36b
WILL IT AFFECT ME? YES!
“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
Matthew 24:40b
If you miss the rapture you will be left behind to go through the great tribulation, then, as a deluded non-believer, you will end up in hell for all eternity.
HOW CAN IT BE TRUE? JESUS SAID SO!
“I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
JOHN 14:3B.
Jesus Christ would not lie. He promised to come again and He will, for those who are ready, THE SAVED
WHAT SHOULD I DO? REPENT-BELIEVE-BE SAVED!!
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,”
Acts 3:19a
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”ACTS 16:31B.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Ephesians 2:8.
DEATH TREATING TO THE BELIEVER
unless a Christian plainly knows his work is finished and he no longer is required by the Lord to remain, he should by all means resist dearth. if the symptoms of death have been seen already in his body before his word is done, he positionely should resist it and its symptoms.
to concede-by sizing up of our environment, physical condition, and feeling-that our time has come is an error on our part; we instead need to possess definite indications from the Lord as we live for Him, so must we die for Him. any call for departure which does not come from the Lord ought to be opposed.
to overcome death believers must alter their attitude from one of submission to one of resistance towards it. unless we cast off our passive approach we will not be able to overthrow death but will be mocked by it instead and finally come to an untimely end. numerous saints today misapprehended passive for faith. they reason that they have committed everything to God. if they ought not to die, He verily shall save them from it: if they ought to die: let the will of God be done. such a saying sounds right, but is this faith? not at all. it is simply lazy passivity. when we do not know God’s will, it is fitting for us to pray: ‘not my will, but thine be done’ (Luke 22:42). this does not mean we need not to pray specifically, letting our requests be made known to God. we should not submit passivity to death, for God instruct us to work together actively with His will. except we definitely know God want us to die, we must not passivity permit death to operate us. rather we must actively cooperate with God’s will to resist it. why should we adopt such an attitude as this? the Bible treats death as our enemy. (1 cor. 15:26) shalom!
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
No doubt you have witnessed or experienced judgment in the past. This is a common experience in homes, schools, offices, courts and many other places. That is, to see someone who has erred being punished after he would have been tried and found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Things are no less different in God’s plan for humanity. The white throne judgment is the final judgment that God will bring upon those who rejected His word and lived as they pleased. The doctrine opens our eyes to the time when all the wicked and ungodly people (the living and dead, small and great) who neglected God’s salvation will face the final and terrible judgment of the living God (Romans 14:12).
A number of separate judgments are clearly taught in the Scriptures for different times. The Lord God has always been just in His judgment; condemning Sodom and Gomorrah and Korah’s company. Since He never changes (Hebrews 13:8) He will keep to the same principle in the future.
It is clear from the Scriptures that believers have been judged and declared justified in respect of sin. This took place on Calvary’s cross when Jesus became the sinner’s substitute (Isaiah 53:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:18; Romans 8:1-2). When the repenting sinner personally appropriate the vicarious scarifies, reposes his faith in the Saviour and accepts His Lordship, he becomes judged and declared justified. This is the first type of judgment. Then, as he lives the Christian life, he daily judges (examines) himself in the light of God’s words. This is the second type of judgment, though in type. The third type of judgment will be experiences also by believers at the “BEMAH” seat of Christ (Romans 14:10); 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Revelation 22:12). This will take place after the rapture and the purpose will be to distribute rewards for “the things done in the body”. No one will be condemned there, for all are saved, but rewards will be burnt. The other types of judgment will be with the intent of punishing sin. These include the judgment of Israel during the great tribulation and the judgment of the living nations at the judgment of the rebellions angels (2 Peter 2:4; Jude vs 6-7).
The white throne judgment is the last and final judgment. It is the judgment that concludes the affairs of this present evil world. It is white because of the purity of God and He is the greatest King who will be on the Throne. The setting is magnificent and of great splendor and glory that befits the eternal King. The Judge is God Almighty, the omniscient and Omnipresent. He knows everything, and so there will be no miscarriage of justice. He is everywhere so all things are open unto Him. His sight will be so terrible because it is going to be judgment time.
All those who died in sin from the time of Adam till the time of the great white Throne judgment will be resurrected. They will all stand before God for judgment. Everyone will be judges according to his deeds. It will be done in righteousness. It will be open and everyone on trial will know why he or she is going to the lake of fire. No one can influence nor bribe Him. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” “…God is a consuming fire.” “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Shalom! (Revelation 20:15; Hebrews 12:29; 10:31).
THE QUESTION WHICH THE
DISCIPLES COULD NOT ANSWER
“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:8b
This question was asked by the Lord Jesus, that when He returns will He find faith on the earth? We should provide answer to this question, since we are in the end time. We are the generations of the perilous time- in 1 Tim. 4:1-4 and 2 Tim. 3: 1-9, unfortunately, the peril of the end has overcome and upon many Christians today. There is no more Christianity of the narrow way, but broad way – Matthew 7: 13-14. People practice Christianity of eye – service and show off. They are against holiness life. No more zeal for spiritual things. “Few people, who have zeal for spiritual things, are giving room for sin in their lives. There is no more preparation for the second coming of Jesus. Satan has used false teachings to drag us away from the narrow way, and leading us through the broad way. The church has not been careful about this. Gradually sin is having its way through into the hearts of the Christians. They has turned pulpit to stage for comedy and playing theaters. Many people now oppose the sound doctrines of the Apostles. The church is only known with noise nowadays, but no assurance of real salvation experience in most of the churches but den of wolverines. The ministers of God are not exempted from the mess, heart of many so-called man of God are holes of bat. Sin reigns in the heart of many and dominated their destiny as cancer dominate the lung. Gospel singers have become worldly in their rendition without vision and revelation to sing through message. Sunday school teachers have abandoned the work of the Lord, in search of money and merchandise teaching. It became terrible that the instrumentalists bill the church before playing their instruments and the church don’t care who they are spiritually! Where are the elders now? On this way to Heaven, what God considers is different from ours. Multitudes of people attend vigils without knowing Jesus! What a pity! The church focuses money making and accountancies more than the mission handed over to her. If Jesus returns now, will He find the living faith in you? What is the situation in the church today? Has the name of the church turned ICHAOD? The glory of salvation, purity, sanctification and power of the Holy Spirit is fading away. Have we forgotten that the fruits of the Spirit more important than spiritual gifts. Through the spiritual gifts, we receive help to serve God while the fruits of the Spirit open the door of paradise for us. Therefore, as you reason in this lesson, think today, even if the whole world is corrupt, you should determine that old time religion will not slip off your hand.
It is a pity that all corruptible manners are found in you, (church) at this time when our salvation draws near. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Rom. 13:12. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1Cor.15:19.
Why do you want to use your life to affect eternity? Many people practice the religion of Esau today. Our behavior and attitude are showing that we are yet to be born again. You are always involved in conspiracy in the church. You commit sin against knowledge. Things which you have forsaken are now becoming your joy, fornication and adultery has taken away your glory. Where are you ending the race???
WAY OUT
- Remember – where you have fallen – Rev. 2:5
- Repent – Rev. 2:5
- Return to your first love – Rev. 2:4
- Restitution your way as you read through this lesson. The bible says, “Whosoever come to me, I will not cast out.”
MARANATHA – JESUS COMING
“Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12. If Jesus comes today, will you meet Him with joy? At the judgment seat, the work we do for Jesus shall be tried with fire. Will your work survive the test of fire? Those who not value the Kingdom of God, will be losers because Jesus will say, ‘go away from me, I know ye not, you workers of iniquity.’ Mat.7:23 shalom!