The Rapture of the Church

1. The Rapture of the Church Louis G. Hulsey August 5, 2012 Casa Grande, Arizona

2. Compare Rapture and Second-Coming • At the rapture Christ comes: • In the air. • To receive His Church. • As “a thief in the night,” a secret. • At an unknown time when “no manknows the day nor the hour. • Christ comes to remove “the hinderer.” • Christ comes to reward His saints.

3. Compare Rapture and Second-Coming • At the Second Coming: • Christ comes to the earth. • Christ comes with His saints. • Christ’s coming shall be public and “every eye shall see Him.” • Christ comes to judge the beast, the false prophet, and their armies. • Christ comes to bind Satan. • Christ comes to save the nation of Israel.

4. Compare Rapture and Second-Coming • At the Second Coming: • Christ comes to judge the nations. • Christ comes to deliver and bless creation. • Christ comes to set up His kingdom on earth.

5. The Rapture • I. Jesus is coming to receive His own, John 14:3. • A. The prerequisites. • 1. The spirits of His own are in His presence. • Hebrews 12:23, KJV, “[But ye are come] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,”

6. The Rapture • 1. The spirits of His own people are in His presence. • II Corinthians 5:8, KJV, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

7. The Rapture • 1. The spirits of His own people are in His presence. • Philippians 1:23, KJV, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

8. The Rapture • 2. His own are conscious. • Revelation 6:9, KJV, “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:”

9. The Rapture • 2. His own are conscious. • Luke 16:24, KJV, “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

10. The Rapture • 3. Although their bodies are in the graves, their spirits are with the Lord. • II Corinthians 5:8, KJV, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

11. The Rapture • 4. His own will be redeemed both body and soul. • Romans 8:23, KJV, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

12. The Rapture • 4. His own will be redeemed both body and soul. • Ephesians 1:14, KJV, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” • Ephesians 4:30, KJV, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

13. The Rapture • 5. His own will be transformed to have glorious bodies like Christ. • Philippians 3:20, KJV, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

14. The Rapture • B. When Jesus descends from Heaven, the dead in Christ shall be raised. • 1 Thessalonians 4:16, KJV, “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:”

15. The Rapture • B. When Jesus descends from Heaven, the dead in Christ shall be raised. • John 11:25-26, KJV, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26, And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die…”

16. The Rapture • B. When Jesus descends from Heaven, the dead in Christ shall be raised. • 1 Corinthians 15:52, KJV, “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.”

17. The Rapture • B. When Jesus descends from Heaven, those living in Christ shall be changed from mortal to immortal. • I Corinthians 15:53, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

18. The Rapture • 1. This resurrection is only of the righteous. There is no general resurrection of all humanity. • 2. All shall rise from the dead. • John 5:28, KJV, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,”

19. The Rapture • 2. All shall rise from the dead, but not at the same time. • Revelation 20:5-6, KJV, “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.”

20. The Rapture • 3. Paul sought to attain to the first resurrection. • Philippians 3:10-11, KJV, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11, If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

21. The Rapture • C. When Jesus descends from Heaven, the ones living who believe in Christ, will be changed. • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, KJV, “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 together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

22. The Rapture • 1. The bodies of the believers will be changed. • 1 Corinthians 15:50-52, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 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.”

23. The Rapture • 1. The bodies of the believers will be changed. • Philippians 3:20-21, KJV, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

24. The Rapture • 2. All of the saved will be taken at the rapture, not just certain ones. • a. It is a body will not be torn apart, I Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:22, 23. • b. It is a temple, the dwelling of God, and shall not be torn apart, I Cor. 3:6. • c. It is the Bride and shall not be torn apart, II Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:24, 32; Rev. 19:6-9.

25. The Rapture • D. Jesus' coming to receive His own shall be the consummation of the wedding with the Bride. • Ephesians 5:27, KJV, “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.”

26. The Rapture • D. Jesus' coming to receive His own shall be the consummation of the wedding with the Bride. • Revelation 19:6-8, KJV, “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.”

27. The Rapture • II. Jesus is Coming to judge and Reward. • A. The believers' judgment. • Jesus comes to judge the works of believers and bestow rewards. • The believer will not be judged concerning his sin. • John 5:24, KJV, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

28. The Rapture • 1. During this life the believer is chastened for his sins that he may not be condemned with the world. • 1 Corinthians 11:31-32, KJV, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32, But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

29. The Rapture • 1. During this life the believer is chastened for his sins that he may not be condemned with the world. • Hebrews 12:7, KJV, “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” • 2 Samuel 7:14, KJV, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:”

30. The Rapture • 2. The believer will be judged as to the use he has made of his talents. • Matthew 25:20-21, KJV, “And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21, His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

31. The Rapture • 2. The believer will be judged as to the use he has made of his resources. • Luke 19:15, KJV, “And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.”

32. The Rapture • 2. The believer will be judged as to the use he has made of his opportunities. • Matthew 20:7, KJV, “They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.”

33. The Rapture • 3. Although we are saved by grace, we are saved to produce good works, and thereby have an abundant entrance into the Kingdom. • Ephesians 2:10, KJV, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

34. The Rapture • 3. Although we are saved by grace, we are saved to produce good works, and thereby have an abundant entrance into the Kingdom. • 2 Peter 1:10-11, KJV, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11, For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

35. The Rapture • 4. All believers will be judged according to their works of faith which they have done. • 2 Corinthians 5:10, KJV, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” • Romans 14:12, KJV, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

36. The Rapture • B. The believers' Reward. Rewards will be given to the righteous when Jesus comes. • Revelation 11:18, KJV, “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great…”

37. The Rapture • 1. Things which produce reward. • a. The believer is rewarded for his stewardship of the mysteries of the gospel, I Cor. 4:2; Eph. 3:2. • b. The believer is rewarded for the stewardship of his possessions, Matt. 6:20; Gal. 6:7.

38. The Rapture • 1. Things which produce reward. • c. The believer will be rewarded according to how many he has led to Christ, Dan. 12:3; I Thess. 2:19, 20. • d. The believer will be rewarded for doing good, Gal. 6:10. • e. The believer will be rewarded for hospitality, Matt. 10:40-42; 25:34-40. • f. The believer will be rewarded for endurance in persecution, Matt. 5:11,12; Luke 6:22,23, II Tim. 2:12; James 1:12.

39. The Rapture • 2. The time of the reward. Rewards will be given to the righteous when Jesus comes. • Matthew 16:27, KJV, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

40. The Rapture • Rewards to the righteous. • Revelation 11:17-18 KJV 17, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18, And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

41. The Rapture • Revelation 22:12 KJV, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” • 2 Timothy 4:8, KJV, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

42. The Rapture • 3. The nature of the reward. Rewards are given as crowns. The crown is conditional and may be taken away. • Revelation 3:11, KJV, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

43. The Rapture • a. An incorruptible crown goes to the temperate, the disciplined. • 1 Corinthians 9:25, KJV, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

44. The Rapture • b. We receive a crown of rejoicing for souls won to Christ. • 1 Thessalonians 2:19, KJV, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”

45. The Rapture • c. The crown of righteousness goes to the faithful. • 2 Timothy 4:8, KJV, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

46. The Rapture • d. The crown of life goes to those who endure temptations. • James 1:12, KJV, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

47. The Rapture • e. The crown of glory shall be given to the elders. • 1 Peter 5:4, KJV, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

48. The Rapture • These crowns represent a glorious and eternal distinction before the Lord. • We have a promise of a place with Christ in His throne. • Revelation 3:21, KJV, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

49. The Rapture • Keep the Faith. • 2 Timothy 2:11-12, KJV, “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12, If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”

50. The Rapture • 4. These may be the crowns which the elders cast down before the throne of God. • Revelation 4:4 KJV And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. • Revelation 4:10 KJV The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,