Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Today’s lesson is entitled Caught Up and is part 2 of my series on the End Times.

While sometimes not taught or preached in many churches today I feel that Christian eschatology is especially important in the times in which we live.

The word eschatology derives from two Greek root words meaning last and study or the study of the last things or as we would say the end times.

Last week in part one I used Daniel Chapter 9 to illustrate and explain the literal accuracy of the Bible with a focus on how it relates to end times prophecy.

We also discussed why we study end times prophesy.

First of all the primary and most important reason we study end times prophecy is because as part of the Bible prophesy is God’s Holy Word.

We do have have the authority to choose what parts of the Bible we study and which ones we do not.

There is not anywhere in Scripture where the Lord says to study part of my word or get to know me a little bit rather He tells us to meditate on His words day and night and to be holy for He is holy meaning be more Christlike in both our knowledge and actions.

And while it is true for all believers that some parts of scripture will touch us on a personal level more than others and some parts we study more than others the idea that some Christians have that it is some how ok to not study the whole word is simply a misguided and incorrect thought pattern.

The Bible is approximately 27% prophecy and many of it surrounds Jesus Christ and the end times so again it is important to know and understand.

With that being I do realize that since the early days of the church and still today there are different people with varying interpretations on end times prophecy.

These different interpretations surrounding end times prophesy are similar to different interpretations in other ares of the Bible as well.

The reason is that people generally fall into a few different categories which are those who read the Bible literally, those who read it figuratively or non-literal, those who come up with their own ideas all together or those who just don’t read it and instead follow the traditions of their particular denomination.

Just to make it crystal clear the Bible is the literal infallible Holy word of God Himself.

God means what He says and He says what He means and we are not to alter His word for any reason but rather we are to study it and apply it literally to our lives.

And while it is ok to grow and learn meaning to change a position as your understanding grows always remember the literal study of God’s word is our anchor point.

Don’t be confused or lead astray by people who claim to be super spiritual, or super intelligent or that manipulate a person’s lack of understanding of the deeper things of the word.

Stay away from such people and instead know that there are no super spiritual people because Jesus has sealed all His people with the same Holy Spirit.

There are no super intelligent deeper thinking scholars because the word of God is the ultimate in wisdom and written plainly so that all who seek Him will find Him.

While yes it is true that many prophetic books such as Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation are Apocalyptic style literature which contain elements of symbolism as a believers we are not intended to be left confused to the true meaning of the scriptures.

Rather a primary point and design of prophecy is not to make us confused but rather to help avoid confusion about God’s word.

Yes it does take some extra study on our behalf at times but it is time well spent.

Because once we understand the whole word of God and trust that Bible prophesy is as accurate as the rest of scripture then we as Christians can be comforted despite what’s happening in the world around us.

Prophesy is designed to provide a warning about events to come so that we can understand and prepare.

Not be fearful and not to pretend they are not happening rather to be prepared and to rest in God’s peace and promises.

The Rapture of the Church

In today’s lesson I am going to be speaking to you about the Rapture of the Church.

It is an extremely important doctrine to understand and as with other parts of scripture there are varying interpretations of this doctrine.

For example, some groups of Christians such as the Catholic Church, Anglican Community, Lutheranism and Calvinists who favor an amillennial viewpoint.

An amillennial doctrine means that Christ does not have a millennial reign on earth at all.

A post millennial interpretation meaning that Christ does not return until after the millennial time frame because most people will be saved and be good based on the good works of the church so Jesus doesn’t need to come to restore but only to judge.

In contrast Pentecostal churches, most Baptist churches, Bible churches, Brethren churches and non-denominational churches support and teach a pre-tribulation Rapture viewpoint.

A pre-tribulation rapture viewpoint means that Christ will call the church to meet Him in the sky prior to the seven year tribulation on the earth.

My personal conviction based on much study and prayer is that of a pre-tribulation rapture and this is also the official position of the Church of God which is our denomination at this church.

So now let’s take a closer look at exactly what is the rapture of the church according to the Bible.

What is the Rapture of the Church?

Let’s begin with the book of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 versus thirteen through eighteen.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

In this scripture the Apostle Paul is seeking to comfort those believers who are concerned that their deceased loves ones will miss the Second Coming of the Lord.

He explains to them that those who fellow believers who already died are with the Lord in spirit and will return with the Lord when He comes for His bride the church.

When Jesus comes on the clouds the dead in Christ will have their spirits which have been with the Lord since they died reunited with their physical bodies which are raised to meet their spirits in the clouds which is the catalyst to receive their renewed spiritual bodies.

Then those Christians who are still alive will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and receive our renewed spiritual bodies.

The spiritual bodies we receive make us like Jesus when He rose from the grave meaning they are bodies that do not age.

They are bodies that are incorruptible and free from sin, death and disease.

And they are bodies that can exist both in the supernatural realm as well as the natural realm.

It is very important to understand that the rapture and the second coming are two different events.

The rapture is a private event between Jesus and the church which is His bride.

It occurs in the sky where we meet Him and He brings us back to heaven to join Him in the marriage supper of the Lamb.

This event takes place before the tribulation or the wrath of God is poured out on the world.

The second coming which I will speak on in the near future is a very public event where every eye will see Jesus and it occurs at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Again Paul is sharing this to comfort the believers that all Christians will get to be with Jesus in heaven when He calls us.

Rapture means caught up and is from the Greek word Harpazo and the Latin word Rapturo.

And contrary to what some people claim yes the word rapture is in the Bible it is in the Latin Bible.

But regardless of that the Greek word Harpazo is in the Septuagint and means to seize, catch or take away.

Jesus is rescuing the church His bride from the wrath that is to come on a sinful and corrupt world.

So don’t be deceived by those who claim the rapture is not in the Bible.

They most likely are just repeating what they have been taught or did not fully accept or understand what the Bible was saying.

Another scripture describing the rapture can be found in

1 Corinthians 15:50–53 NKJV

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—

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.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Moment

Verse 52 says in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

The word moment is the Greek word atomos which means an indivisible amount of time.

This means that we need to be ready brothers and sisters because when Jesus comes for His bride it will be in an instant.

There will not be time to repent of sins.

There will not be time for anyone to quickly get saved.

There will not be time to start serving others instead of thinking only about ourselves.

We will either be ready or we will not it is as simple as that.

So please hear me today and make sure that Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life before it’s too late.

This knowledge that Christ can return for us at literally any moment should not only create a sense or urgency in us as believers to get it right but also motivate us to help lead as many people as possible to Jesus Christ.

Does Jesus Speak About the Rapture?

So we just read two very specific verses from Paul concerning the Rapture of the church which is sufficient but according to the laws of Biblical interpretation the words of Jesus are the most important words in the Bible because He is God and is the word made flesh.

So what does Jesus say about the rapture?

Luke 17:24–37 ESV

24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,

29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—

30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.

32 Remember Lot’s wife.

33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed.

One will be taken and the other left.

35 There will be two women grinding together.