The Rapture

1. Eph 3:4 By reading this, you will be able to grasp my understanding of the secret about the Messiah, Eph 3:5 which in previous generations was not made known to human beings as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret: Eph 3:6 The gentiles are heirs-in-common, members-in-common of the body, and common participants in what was promised by the Messiah Jesus through the gospel. Eph 3:7 I have become a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. Eph 3:8 To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given so that I might proclaim to the gentiles the immeasurable wealth of the Messiah Eph 3:9 and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things. Eph 3:10 He did this so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm

2. The Rapture Very Clear Series of Statements about the Lord coming back to get us, specifically us.

3. Promise John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

4. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

5. Eschatology Pre-Millennial Amillennial Post-Millennial Pre-Tribulational Post-Tribulational Mid-Tribulational Many Denominations Fundementalists Literal Allegorical Hermeneutics

6. The Promises The Process • The Place – Upper room • Judas just left In order to live in Heaven with Jesus there will have to be some changes made. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God – and we are flesh and blood. There will have to be a “Process” where we will be changed in order to be able to be with Jesus forever. Jesus made promises to us. He told us that He was going to get a place ready for us and He would come back to get us. When that happens we will be with Him forever.

7. Promise John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

8. The Promise #1“I go to prepare a place for you” • Many mansions • A specially tailored environment just for you • God created Universe in 6 days • We only know universe AFTER the curse • Evenso, it is breath-taking • We cannot imagine what is in store for us

9. The Promise #2“I will come again and receive you unto myself” • Pattern Prophecy • Jewish Wedding

10. Jewish Wedding • Ketubah(Betrothal, Engagement) • Payment made • Bride is “set apart” (sanctified) • Bridegroom leaves for His Father’s House • Prepares room addition • Bride prepares for the Groom’s return • Surprise Gathering (Matthew 25:1-13) • Huppah(Wedding) • Seven day Marriage Supper Judges 14:12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

11. Our Wedding 1 Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Thes 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. • Engagement Established • Purchase Made • Bride set apart (sanctified) • Bridegroom leaves • Preparing room • Bride prepares • AND watches for surprise return • Wedding • 7 Day Marriage Supper Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 1 Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Thes 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

12. Process Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Job 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

13. Process 1 Thess 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. 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: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [harpazo; catching away] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

14. POST Tribulation Believers? • We’ll get married… • Then I will persecute you for seven years • Then we’ll go have dinner • (18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.)

15. Latin Vulgate Deindenos qui vivimus qui refinquimursimulrapiemur sum illis in nubibusobviam Domino in aero et sic semper sum Domino erimus

16. 7 “Raptures” in the Bible • Enoch Genesis 5:42 • Elijah 2 Kings 2:1, 11 • Jesus Acts 1:9-11, Rev 12:5 • Philip Acts 8:39 • Paul 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 • Body of Christ 1 Thessalonians 4:17 • John Revelation 4:1 Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 2 Cor 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught upto the third heaven.

17. The Problem 1Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and bloodcannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

18. The Problem • Yes, we are saved, but we can’t go to Heaven like this! • Changes have to be made. • For those that have died  At the Resurrection. • For those who remain  At the Rapture. • All God needs is your DNA (and He created it)

19. The Transition 1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1Co 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. 1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

20. Dimensions! • We will be like Him. • The only way to get a 3 dimensional representation of a two dimensional person is to be a 3 dimensional person. • If Jesus has now 11 dimensions, so will we! • Example - Photograph – 2 dimensional representation of a 3 dimensional world • Jesus has more than 3 dimensions (ability to pass in and out of space and matter) at will • Whatever dimension He enjoys, we will enjoy – therefore – “we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

21. Dimensions! • “House” – oiketerion(2 places) • Tabernacle– Temporary dwelling • Building of God – not made w/hands • Eternal • Be found naked? • What is Paul “groaning” for? • 2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthlyhouse of thistabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2Co 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 2Co 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 2Co 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

22. Dimensions! • “Habitation” – oiketerion(2 places) • Genesis 6 • These angels voluntarily gave up their oiketerionin order to mingle with humans. • Something they gave up is what Paul aspires to have • Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

24. 11  And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?”  12  And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”  13  And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”  2 Kings 6:8  Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.”  9  But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.”  10  And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice. 

25. 17  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  18  And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.  14  So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.  15  When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”  16  He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 

26. The Doctrine of Imminence • The next expectation – the next event; nothing to precede it • Expect Jesus to return at any moment • Immanent (Transcendent God always with us and active on our behalf.) • Eminent – Title of Honor

27. Persecution vs Wrath • The Church will continue to be persecuted • Persecution comes from Satan • Great Tribulation is subject of God’s Wrath

28. 21 Centuries, promise still valid • Christ will reconstruct the bodies • Nothing about Armageddon, Tribulation, Judgment • There will be saved people on earth when Jesus comes back

29. Purpose 1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

30. Purpose  Make the entire family of God a living family, spiritually and physically – all together in heaven, in the Father’s house. • Corruption will put on incorruption • Christian life is not just about living this life, but this life is a temporary preparation for our extended life.

31. The Second Coming • Acts 1:9-11 • Acts 3:19-21 • 1 Thessalonians 3:13 • 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 • 2 Thessalonians 2:8 • 2 Peter 3:1-14 • Jude 14-15 • Revelation 1:7 • Revelation 19:11-20:6 • Revelation 22:7, 12 ,20 • Daniel 2:44-45 • Daniel 7:9-14 • Daniel 12:1-3 • Zechariah 14:1-15 • Matthew 13:41 • Matthew 24:15-31 • Matthew 26:64 • Mark 13:14-27 • Mark 14:62 • Luke 21:25-28 • Comes in Power… • To set up Kingdom… • To Rule… • To Reign… • To Judge…

32. Rapture • Contradictory to Second coming passages • Has to be talking about 2 different things • 2 Thessalonians 2:1,3 • 1 Timothy 6:14 • 2 Timothy 4:1 • Titus 2:13 • Hebrews 9:28 • James 5:7-9 • 1 Peter 1:7, 13 • 1 John 2:28-3:2 • Jude 21 • Revelation 2:25 • Revelation 3:10 • John 14:1-3 • 1 Corinthians 15:1-53 • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 • Romans 8:19 • 1 Corinthians 1:7-8 • 1 Corinthians 16:22 • Philippians 3:20-21 • Colossians 3:4 • 1 Thessalonians 1:10 • 1 Thessalonians 2:19 • 1 Thessalonians 5:9 • 1 Thessalonians 5:23

33. Rapture Vs Return 2 Thess 2:6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Rapture Return With His Own No Translation involved Feet on Earth Return to Earth With His Bride Descend Earth judged After, Millennial reign Many, Many signs After, World is Blessed • For His Own • Translation of Believers • In the Air • Go To Heaven • Claims His Bride • Caught up • Earth not judged • Delivered FROM wrath • After, Tribulation begins • No signs, imminent • Satan cannot produce Antichrist • Look for Christ, not anti • After, World is deceived 1 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

34. Hope Delivered • Promise to be kept from trial Rev 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from[ect; exit] the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

35. Hope Delivered • Church is not the object of Lamb’s Wrath Rev 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

36. Hope Delivered • Jesus tells disciples to “Pray for escape…” Luke 21:36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

37. Hope Delivered • We are Christ’s Ambassadors 2 Cor 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  

38. Hope Delivered • The restrainer will be removed before antichrist appears 2 Thess 2:6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

39. Hope Delivered Rev 12:1 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. 4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. • The woman who bore the male child is the object of wrath

40. Hope Delivered Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. • Marriage supper is in heaven, not on earth

41. 2nd Resurrection 1st Resurrection Great White Throne Judgment for Wicked Judgment Seat of Christ (Righteous) Christ & 1st Fruits Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. New Heaven & Earth The Tribulation The 1000 Years The Church The Grave Lake of Fire And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Wicked Dead But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. Hades Paradise Great Gulf

42. The Resurrections • Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. • 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. • 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. • 1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. • 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. • 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. • 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

43. Jesus Christ • For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; First Fruits Mthw 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many The First Fruits 1 Cor 15:22 Interval – Church /Grace Age The Harvest or Ingathering 1 Cor 15:51-64 1 Thes 4:16,17 Church & Old Testamt Saints Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. II. They that are Christ’s at His coming Interval - The Tribulation First Resurrection Tribulation Saints And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast… and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years The Gleanings Rev 7:14; 20:4 III. Then cometh the end Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. Interval - The Millennium III. Then cometh the end But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished The Tares Matt 13:26-30 Second Resurrection

44. Other References John 5:28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 1000 Year Interval

45. Other References Acts 24:15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 1000 Year Interval

46. 2nd Resurrection 1st Resurrection Great White Throne Judgment for Wicked Christ & 1st Fruits Judgment Seat of Christ (Righteous) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. New Heaven & Earth The Tribulation The 1000 Years The Church The Grave Lake of Fire And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Wicked Dead But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. Hades Paradise Great Gulf

47. Old Testament Saints Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood thatmaketh an atonement for the soul.

48. Old Testament Saints John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

49. Old Testament Saints Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

50. Old Testament Saints Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)