The Rapture
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (AMP) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
Introduction: Calvary greetings to all my family in Christ. Welcome to another week of Speaking Scriptures as we study at His feet. I pray that His words will fall on our fertile hearts in Jesus name.
As I watched “Left Behind” film from NETFLIX, concerns and fears of being left behind gripped my heart. Despite teaching end times series in at least four parishes as a pastor over the years, watching the film ignited prayer in my heart and I realise that it is important to remind ourselves of the great upcoming event known as “The Rapture”.
To assume that we know and flip over the topic which is scarcely preached on the altar is dangerous to our Christian walk.
Rapture is the sudden departure of Christians found faithful when the Lord appears in the sky.
Matthew 24:37-39 (AMP) As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women] being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah went into the ark, And they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away–so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
My first concern is that normal activities will be taking place when the Rapture will occur.
Matthew 24:38(MSG) Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark.
In that film, there were cars and aircrafts accidents because drivers and pilots were taken away suddenly, meaning that passengers without Christ who missed the rapture and died in the accident had no time for repentance and will face eternal damnation. Matthew 24:40-41(AMP) At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
Are you deeply involved in worldliness to the detriment of personal relationship with God? Are you paying attention to the things of eternal values or ephemeral things of this world has occupied you?
I imagine someone without Christ or lukewarm Christian in business trip inside first-class of an aircraft and the pilot disappeared at rapture, what becomes the man and his business?
Luke 12:20-21(NLT) “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Hear the Master warning us about His coming
Matthew 24:42(AMP) Watch therefore [give strict attention, be cautious and active], for you do not know in what kind of a day [whether a near or remote one] your Lord is coming.
The Rapture is meant to gather the redeemed or elect of the Lord all over the world unto Heaven.
Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The unrighteous must face the most terrible period in the history of mankind when Devil will take total control of the world. Therefore the wicked, the unrighteous without right standing with God will be separated from the righteous by means of Rapture.
Matthew 13:49(AMP) So it will be at the close and consummation of the age. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God)
Are you standing right with God? What are your regular daily activities as regards relationship with God? Only those that have eternal life at the time the rapture takes place will escape wrath of God that will visit the entire world during tribulation period.
What is eternal life?
John 17:3(AMP) And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.
🛑 Eternal life is to know, perceive, recognise, become acquainted with, and understand true God and Jesus Christ His only begotten Son.
Do not jump into conclusions that you know God. Couples that stay together get to know each other and even look alike in the long run. Knowledge of God is directly proportional to regular fellowship with Him through His words and obedience to His commandments.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
1️⃣. Why we ought to examine ourselves whether we have eternal life or not is because some will be so confident to be with Jesus Christ due to what they do in ministries, also being ranked among most influential people in the world BUT Jesus Christ will deny knowing them.
Matthew 7:21-23(NLT) “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.
2️⃣. Another reason all of us need to examine ourselves to ensure we have eternal life is checking if there is still oil in our lamps for continuous burning of fire by the time Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom appears.
Remember the foolish virgins who had no oil when the bridegroom arrived. Hear what Jesus Christ told His Disciples as He told the parable of the ten virgins.
Matthew 25:10-13(NLT) “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Sir, open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘I don’t know you!’ “So stay awake and be prepared, because you do not know the day or hour of my return.
🛑 These foolish virgins in the parable are Christians left behind at Rapture. What will make a Christian foolish is not iniquity unlike the case of religious people above but unprepared attitude towards the coming of the Lord, such as lukewarm relationship or fellowship. Prayers by the foolish virgins or Christians to follow after the rapture is useless. Those Christians left behind will have to be under Satanic rules for seven torturous years.
Rapture is going to be sudden when we least expected.
1Corinthians 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.
✍ Finally brethren, this is to remind ourselves of the imminent occurrence that will be witnessed worldwide. Rapture is nearer than the Apostolic era. Everything is set as the world is now global village for the Antichrist to take over once the redeemed of the Lord is gone. Are you prepared for the unexpected arrival of the Master?
Matthew 24:50(AMP) The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he is not aware,
✋ Maranatha
