RAPTURE: TRUE OR FALSE? This article is for those who believe in rapture and those who don’t. I have several people posting on our different ministry FBs that they do not believe in the doctrine: rapture. So I just can’t keep my mouth shut anymore about this claim that rapture is a lie… So here we go… The rapture of the church to come—is not the first rapture—take a moment and go to your Bible and look up Enoch who was raptured alive—Ezekiel who was taken up alive in a whirlwind, and CHRIST WHO ascended to heaven. Three “rapture” events. So rapture concept is ALIVE—and well so-to-speak. The truth whether people like it or not is that GOD is about “warning”—“redemption and restoration”—“salvation and rescue.” HE is not going to just prove this at the time of the rapture of the church—HE has already proven it previously. It is HIS very nature to WARN—redeem and restore those who want to be redeemed and restored and to rescue and save. Let’s think about this concept: GOD is about WARNING people: HE WARNED: Pharaoh; Nineveh; the Israelites; Adam and Eve; the Jews: Pharisees as well; Abraham; Noah; Disciples; Apostle Paul; the seven churches in Revelation; and US. He sends prophets and other messengers—human and angelic. GOD is about redemption and restoration: Noah; Abraham; John the Baptist; Jeremiah; Isaiah; Jonah; CHRIST were all those who pleaded with people to repent, turn to GOD and to be redeemed and restored before it was too late. GOD IS STILL PLEADING TODAY WITH THE LOST TO REPENT AND SEEK REDEMPTION before it is too late. GOD is about SALVATION and RESCUE: parting of the red sea; Noah’s ark; Salvation of Nineveh; Joseph saving of HIS people during famine in Egypt; Esther saving her people from destruction in Persia; CHRIST DYING ON THE CROSS TO SAVE US ALL—and the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH—GOD’S NEXT GREATEST RESCUE MISSION. If you don’t want to believe in rapture—this is your coming fate because GOD won’t force anyone’s hand and deciding there is no rapture is a choice: Revelation 20:4(KJV): 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. And if you don’t want to believe that GOD’s nature is to WARN—REDEEM—RESCUE even today’s generation then you will be living a self-fulfilling prophecy: YOU won’t be raptured because WATCHING for the event is a REQUIREMENT to be “raptured.” Luke 21:36 (KJV): WATCH ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the SON of man. Why is the “WATCHING FOR RAPTURE” so significant to GOD’s plan of redemption versus the plan of NO RAPTURE DOCTRINE AND NO WATCHING FOR IT? HAS IT HIT YOU YET?—well the reason is GOD HAS SET THE WHOLE THEME TO “WATCH” FOR HIS RAPTURE RESCUE—because people who believe in rapture BELIEVE in WATCHING—BEING READY AT ALL TIMES—COME WHAT MAY: and believe me things come: look at the crisis in THESE COUNTRIES ALONE: SRI LANKA; PHILIPPIANS; CHILE; JAPAN; HAITI. Now if you are NOT “INTO” the watching for the rapture and you are into the NO NEED TO WATCH—WE ARE GOING THROUGH TRIBULATION—then YOU HAVE NO SENSE OF URGENCY—not like the people looking for rapture—and so when people leave the planet whether it be death; disaster; or rapture—they are either spiritually ready or they are not sitting on the edge of their seats waiting or watching for anything. How often might that happen? A lot because the Bible says the road to hell is BROAD and MANY GO THERE. So below are the scriptural references that show there are two distinct events: rapture and the second coming when the bride of Christ who was raptured returns with CHRIST. Also if you are looking for scriptural references to the rapture—go to any search engine and enter the words: “rapture scripture” and see what comes up. NOW HERE IS ONE OF MY PERSONAL ALL-TIME FAVORITE RAPTURE VERSES: 1 Corinthians 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. I have yet to figure out how 1 Corinthians 15:52 can apply to any other scenario but RAPTURE of the church. As for me: I vote for the “twinkling of an eye” event and the GOD WHOSE NATURE IS TO WARN—REDEEM—RESCUE. RAPTURE Vs. SECOND COMING in the Scriptures: Two Separate Events: RAPTURE: the Rescue of the True Church to Safety to be with CHRIST AND The SECOND COMING: The Return of the True Church to Earth WITH CHRIST WHO will finally deal with the evil on Earth. Scriptural clarity: Rapture 1. The church will meet Christ in the Air (1 Thes. 4:17) Second Coming The church will return to the earth with Christ (Zech. 14:4) Rapture 2. The church will be taken to heaven (1 Thes. 4:17; John 14: 1-3) Second Coming The church will return to the earth from heaven (Jude 14; Matt. 25:31) Rapture 3. Christ will come for His saints (2 Thes. 2:1, Thes. 4:13-18) Second Coming Christ will come with His Saints (Rev. 19:14) Rapture 4. Seen only by believers (1 Cor. 15:51-52) Second Coming Every eye will see HIM (Rev. 1:7; 19:11-16; Matt. 24:30) Rapture 5. Christ Himself will gather the saints (1 Thes. 4:16) Second Coming The angels will gather the elect (Matt. 24:31) Rapture 6. Believers will be caught up out from among unbelievers (1 Thes. 4:16-17) Second Coming Unbelievers (tares) will be gathered out first (Matt. 14:41-43) Rapture 7. Satan will not be bound (Rev. 13:2) Second Coming Satan will be bound (Rev. 20:1-3) Rapture 8. The righteous will be removed (1 Thes. 4:17) Second Coming The wicked will be removed (Matt. 25:40-41) Rapture 9. Earth not judged Second Coming Earth judged (Rev. 20:4-5) Rapture 10. A Mystery (1 Cor. 15:51) Second Coming Foretold in Old Testament (Dan. 12:1-3; Zech. 12:10; 14:1-4) Rapture 1. The church will meet Christ in the Air (1 Thes. 4:17) Second Coming The church will return to the earth with Christ (Zech. 14:4) Rapture 2. The church will be taken to heaven (1 Thes. 4:17; John 14: 1-3) Second Coming The church will return to the earth from heaven (Jude 14; Matt. 25:31) Rapture 3. Christ will come for His saints (2 Thes. 2:1, Thes. 4:13-18) Second Coming Christ will come with His Saints (Rev. 19:14) Rapture 4. Seen only by believers (1 Cor. 15:51-52) Second Coming Every eye will see HIM (Rev. 1:7; 19:11-16; Matt. 24:30) Rapture 5. Christ Himself will gather the saints (1 Thes. 4:16) Second Coming The angels will gather the elect (Matt. 24:31) Rapture 6. Believers will be caught up out from among unbelievers (1 Thes. 4:16-17) Second Coming Unbelievers (tares) will be gathered out first (Matt. 14:41-43) Rapture 7. Satan will not be bound (Rev. 13:2) Second Coming Satan will be bound (Rev. 20:1-3) Rapture 8. The righteous will be removed (1 Thes. 4:17) Second Coming The wicked will be removed (Matt. 25:40-41) Rapture 9. Earth not judged Second Coming Earth judged (Rev. 20:4-5) Rapture 10. A Mystery (1 Cor. 15:51) Second Coming Foretold in Old Testament (Dan. 12:1-3; Zech. 12:10; 14:1-4)
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 21:12:29 +0000
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