Monday, June 22, 2015

THE TIMING OF THE RAPTURE

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  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.  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" (Jn. 14:1-3).  Question:  Where is Jesus Christ during the Tribulation?  Answer:  He is seated in heaven at His Father's right hand (Acts 2:34; Eph. 1:20; Heb. 12:2; 1 Pet. 3:22; etc.).  It is after the seven year Tribulation that He returns with us, His saints (1 Th. 3:13; Jude 1:14; etc.). 

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  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.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:50-55).  Question:  What does Paul mean when he says living believers will be changed into "incorruption" and "immortality?"  Answer:  I believe the "change" takes place instantly for those who belong to the Lord by faith in Jesus Christ.  While we will not experience the "sting of death" because Jesus "tasted it" for us (Heb. 2:9), the text clearly states that it is "death" that is what leads to victory; it happens so quickly that we are not even aware of it.  This must be the case since the Word says God has appointed ALL to die (Heb. 9:27).  I know what you are thinking:  what about Enoch and Elijah?  I believe those two men are the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-12.  Notice, they too, are raptured (v. 12)!

"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.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  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 them which are asleep.  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:  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.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Th. 4:13-18).  Question:  In 1 Corinthians 15:52 , and in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 , Paul writes of the "last trump," and of the "trump of God"; both are described as single trumps; does this mean he is describing the "seventh" trump of Revelation 11:15?

The Church Age began on one of Israel's seven feast days (Pentecost - Acts 2:1-47).  The feast which follows Pentecost is the Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24).  I believe the Church Age began and ends on the Feast of Trumpets.  We cannot know the day or the hour of His return, but that may well be because it is a world-wide event, crossing all time zones including the International Date Line!  As a result, the time will vary, as will the day of the instantaneous world-wide Rapture!

 
While I cannot be dogmatic about these things, I do believe them to be true. 

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