The Rapture
Notes
Transcript
Intro; Last week we began an introduction into “The Second Coming of Christ” by looking at scripture that shows there is a difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ [Review Scripture and Chart].
In these scriptures we realized that there are signs that are given by the Lord to help man prepare for these coming days. Signs are a warning of information that will help one make good decisions. One sign that we talked about was about “birth pangs”.
Do you remember anything about that? [Mic. 5:3, Mark 13:8, 1 Thes 5:3]
Birth labor begins with small contractions and begins to increase with intensity until the child comes. Labor pains cast a shadow of something that is coming!
Signs that we see being fulfilled in the scriptures today are casting a shadow of the Second Coming of Christ. But one tell tell sign of the Second Coming is the Rapture of the Church.
There is no specific sign for the Rapture. It can happen at any moment. But the signs that we see now [labor pangs] are a foreshadow that the baby is on the way!
There are three chapters in the New Testament that are the core teaching on the Rapture. They are [John 14:1-3, 1 Cor. 15:51-58, 1 Thes. 4:13-18]. But tonight I want us to define the Rapture and look at the reason for it.
1. The Rapture;
1. The Rapture;
The word “rapture” doesn’t actually appear in scripture.
Paul uses the Greek word harpazo [1 Thes. 4:17], “caught up”. When the NT was translated into Latin, the translators used the word raptura, which means “catch up or snatch up”, and that’s how we get the English word rapture.
Harpazo is used 13 times in NT, with various meanings which help us understand the nature of the Rapture.
To carry off by force- Satan and his demons will do all they can to keep christians grounded at the Rapture, but Jesus will overpower them.
Revelation 3:9–11 (NKJV)
9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
To claim for oneself eagerly- Jesus will come to claim His own
John 14:3 (NKJV)
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
To snatch out or away speedily- Jesus will come like a thief in the night and in a split second take His church out of this world
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
To rescue from the danger of destruction
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
We can’t even imagine the chaos that will take place in that moment here on earth. Cars will suddenly be without drivers. Planes will crash because of no pilots. Sporting events will loose many of the contestants. Surgeries will be interrupted by patients being removed or doctors being removed. Churches will loose some members and some might not miss a soul. Government will still be operating! LOL.
2. Purpose of the Rapture;
2. Purpose of the Rapture;
The Rapture will end the church age and trigger the events of the End Times.
The Tribulation, the Millennium, and the Second Coming of Christ
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
The first three chapters of Revelation deal with the letters to the churches [Church Age]. Beginning in chapter 4 the church is not mentioned again until [Rev. 19], the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and then the Second Coming of Christ with His bride.
The Rapture is for the purpose of God delivering His children from His wrath that is to come on the earth during the Tribulation.
Matthew 24:21 (NKJV)
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Revelation 3:10 (NKJV)
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
3. Five Other Raptures;
3. Five Other Raptures;
There are 6 total raptures in the scriptures including the Rapture of the Church. i want to show you the other five.
Enoch
22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.
23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Elijah
11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Jesus
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Paul
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
The Two Witnesses
12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
Close;
Three things happen in all the 6 Raptures in the scriptures.
The people raptured are blessed as they are caught up into the presence of God
God is glorified in each instance
God’s promises are fulfilled