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Today,
lets consider the mini-events of the Rapture. There are
more than 300 Bible references to “The Second Coming”. Some
of these refer to the Rapture itself, and some refer in
general to “The Second Coming” or specifically to the
“Glorious Appearing.” For now, we will consider only the
Rapture.
In
their book “Are We Living in the End Times?” Tim LaHaye and
Jerry Jenkins list a number of “Events of the Rapture”:
1.
The Lord Himself will descend from His Father’s
house, where He is preparing a place for us (John 14:1-3 and
1 Thessalonians 4:16)
2.
He will come again to receive us to Himself (John
14:1-3)
3.
He resurrects those who have fallen asleep in Him
(deceased believers who we will not precede; 1 Thessalonians
4:14-15)
4.
The Lord shouts as He descends (“loud command,” 1
Thessalonians 4;16, NIV). All this takes place in the
“twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52)
5.
We will hear the voice of the archangel (perhaps to
lead Israel during the seven years of Tribulation as he did
in the Old Testament; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
6.
We will also hear the trumpet call of God (1
Thessalonians 4:16), His last trumpet for the church.
(Don’t confuse this with the seventh trumpet of judgement on
the world during the Tribulation in Revelation 11:15)
7.
The dead in Christ will rise first. (The corruptible
ashes of their dead bodies are made incorruptible and joined
together with their spirit, which Jesus brings with Him; 1
Thessalonians 4:15-17).
8.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be changed
(made incorruptible (or imperishable) by having our bodies
made “immortal” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53)
9.
We shall be caught up (raptured) together (1
Thessalonians 4:17).
10.
With them in the clouds (where dead a living
believers will have a monumental reunion; 1 Thessalonians
4:17)
11.
To meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
12.
To “receive you to Myself.” Jesus takes us to the
Father’s house “that where I am, there you may be also”
(John 14:3)
13.
“And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1
Thessalonians 4:17)
14.
The judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). At
the call of Christ for believers, He will judge all things.
Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ
(Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10), described in detail in 1
Corinthians 3:11-15. This judgment prepares Christians for…
15.
The marriage supper of the Lamb. Just prior to his
coming to earth in power and great glory, Christ will meet
His Bride, the church, and the marriage supper will take
place. In the meantime, after the church is raptured, the
world will suffer the unprecedented time of the wrath of God
which or Lord called the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).
The
question then, is: Are we prepared for the Rapture? How do
I know for sure? And the answer is: If you have accepted
Christ as your personal savior and have given your life to
Him, you are assured that will not be left behind if the
Rapture occurs during your lifetime. You’ll be in heaven
with Jesus and those who have departed ahead of you during
the time of tribulation on the earth. More on this subject
in a later issue
Monday:
“The Glorious Appearing”
(c) 2007 Bob Johnston
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