The Blessed Hope
The rapture of the church is the next great event on the horizon of time, perhaps the greatest in history. What a glorious event when the church will suddenly disappear from this earth to rise through the air, past the clouds to meet their Lord and Savior in the air. Millions will go missing when this event occurs. No wonder Paul called it the “blessed” hope. Hope is the theme of our study and this is actually the main theme of Revelation, the Second Coming of Jesus.

 

By Chris McDonald
 

 

TEXT: Titus 2:13 - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
 
The rapture of the church is the next great event on God's prophetic timetable yet also one of the most neglected and rejected doctrines of study within the modern church. Satan has never been able to stop the gospel of Jesus Christ so he seeks to pervert it and water it down instead to make men not believe what God says is true and prepare for what is coming. This is one such event that the child of God cannot afford to be ignorant of - whether that ignorance is because of no understanding or willful ignorance, which is the case of most who know the truth but still reject it. God winked at this in times past but now commands ALL men to REPENT:

 

Acts 17:30 -  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: [31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  [32] And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

 

What a glorious event when the church will suddenly disappear from this earth to rise through the air to meet our Lord and Savior in the air along with the sainted dead - the "cloud" of witnesses who have witnessed this grand drama called salvation from the portals of glory. Millions will go missing off the earth when this event occurs as a stunned world and apostate church left that has been behind will little know that it sits on the eve of the advent of the one of the darkest times of human history known as the Great Tribulation, the rise of the Antichrist and an outpouring of wrath and judgment unprecedented in human history. For those who make the rapture this is not a concern or fear for we will taken out of the way of such. Some may mockingly say this is "escapism," theology, I say it's "HOPE," a BLESSED HOPE that we as the church have not been appointed to wrath!

 

Hope is the foundation of the Christian faith. If we lose hope we lose heart and faith, which is such a beautiful term and under girds all end time theology. Hope is also the main theme of the book of Revelation, the book of Daniel and all other passages in Scripture concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
 
Rev 1:7 - Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

The rapture is one of seven "mysteries" listed in the Word of God, or something that is not totally revealed at the moment but is something that will be unveiled at a later time. We see through a glass darkly now but one day the veil will be removed and we will see the Lord Jesus Christ "face to face" in the air when the Trump of God sounds and the dead in Christ rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be "caught up" in the air to be gathered together with the Lord and them "in the air." The Holy Spirit through Paul declares such in 1 Cor. 15:51-54:
 
1 Cor 15:51-54 - 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.
 
This mass disappearance of the saints of God could take place at any moment. There is NOTHING that needs to take place to hinder this great event from happening. The great dearth of preaching about this glorious event may make the backslidden more at ease but for the true child of God we know this mockery and rejection is actually one of the "signs" we are actually drawing precariously close and rapidly to its advent. Peter declared under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost that in the last days there would be "scoffers" in the last days who would mock and laugh at the doctrine of the rapture and the Second Coming. We are not just living in the last days, we are living in the LAST of the last days. The curtain is about to come down on the church age and the advent of the Antichrist is about to take center stage on this Planet long in rebellion against God. Israel, who has been blinded in part for so long, is about to face her darkest hour, but an hour not without a ray of hope - a hope and promise she will at the end of the Great Tribulation period accept Her Messiah - Jesus Christ - and once again be the center of all nations with Jesus ruling as Her King as well as the King of ALL other nations as well.

 

Acts 17:30 -  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: [31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  [32] And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

 

2 Peter 3:3-4
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, [4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Although the word “rapture” does not appear in scripture as such, the fact is clearly taught and those who "mock" and "scoff," walk after their own lusts and selfish ambition seeking to find reasons why the church needs to stay on this earth longer and longer. It used to be we preached the rapture of the church and men would at least take a look inside their hearts and make sure they were ready to go at any moment should the trump sound. Today, the idea of a rapture is nothing more than a punch line and a joke in many churches and made fun of to the detriment and peril of those who embrace such foolishness. When Paul preached "the resurrection of the dead," i.e. the rapture of the church, those in Athens mocked him 2,000 years ago and men are still mocking today.

 

One reason, not the only, but a main one, is what we would term the doctrine of "dominionism," which has shaped the modern theology of many mainline denominations - both Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal i.e. Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian - and has implanted this erroneous idea that somehow the church can change society for the better through social, economic and political means without preaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ, i.e. the message of the Cross.

 

The true gospel declares that this world system and society as we know it is under a sentence of Judgment without remedy which makes our job as preachers of the gospel simply to preach the Word of God under the anointing of the Holy Ghost to win men's souls and take as many who will hear and believe OUT FROM this wicked society! Peter on the day of Pentecost said "save yourself from this untoward generation," meaning don't get immersed in this system you see around you. This system is destined for God's wrath and destruction because it is opposed to Him and everything Godly. We're not called to be part of this world system but to be SEPARATE and be a light to those in darkness. Darkness cannot cast out darkness and bondage cannot cast out bondage. We are not to LOVE THE WORLD or the things of the world but be a LIGHT to men in the world and clearly declare the path of salvation as being Christ and Him Crucified and Christ ALONE!

 

1 John 2:15 - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Acts 2:40 -  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

 

When men seek to build an earthly kingdom instead of pursuing a heavenly one, it is easy and quite "vogue," to use a term my wife gave me this week to deny the rapture of the church! The entire foundation of dominionism is centered around the church being in union with world instead of the church being in union with God.

 

Jesus Spoke On The Rapture Many Times

 

Jesus referred to the rapture Himself many times, including this great promise in John 14:
 
John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] 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. [3] 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.

In other passages the Lord  referred to the “raising of the dead at the resurrection.”

The angels consoled the disciples of Jesus at His ascension with news that Jesus was coming again - FOR THE SAINTS in clouds the same way He was taken up:
 
Acts 1:11 - Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
 
As stated, the Apostle Paul called the rapture a great “mystery” that is, “something previously hid but now revealed," but a mystery that carried a promise of change for those who had died and also those alive on earth at the time of its occurence:
 
1 Cor 15:51- Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

 

The statement "we shall all be changed," tells us that the first resurrection and the rapture are the same and that our great salvation process cannot be completed without the "glorification," or "translation" of the saints! This is yet another important and very vital reason we should be preaching this glorious message and blessed hope! The message of the rapture is part of the message of the Cross, but because the church has abandoned the cross of Christ and perverted the gospel message of salvation to begin with - this means little to most in the modern church. Neighbor, hear this writer: without the rapture, we're not saved!! If those who have died have no hope of glorification when the trump sounds, they are "men most miserable!"

 

1 Cor. 15:13
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

 

The Holy Ghost said through Paul in Romans 8:19:

 

Waiting for the rapture or the resurrection of the saints is an "earnest" expectation for the child of God! The Holy Spirit tells us that while we are presently in Christ, justified, sanctified and washed, all of these aspects of our salvation will be complete when we are GLORIFIED and changed into our glorified bodies! This change takes place at the rapture of the church - or the first resurrection. The resurrection of the saints and the rapture of the church are the SAME event! We cannot stress that enough for many who want to deny the rapture have no answer when you ask them about the resurrection!


Rom 8:17-19
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

 

We "wait" for the adoption," to wit the "redemption of the BODY," when corruption puts on incorruption, mortality puts on immortality and we then become "like Christ," as the Holy Ghost declares in 1 John:

 

1 John 2:28-3:3
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. [29] If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.  3:1-  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. [2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

 

Paul says this is a "hope," for the child of God, just Titus said we have a "HOPE"  of the blessed appearing of Christ for the church:

 

Romans 8:20-24 -For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, [21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

The Rapture Is A Purifying Hope

 

1 John 2:28-3:3
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. [29] If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.  3:1-  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. [2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

 

Everyone who HAS THIS HOPE purifies HIMSELF! Do you want to know why the church is so steeped in so much humanistic psychology, new age humanism, idolatry and wickedness? Do you want to know why the church promotes "Celebrate Recovery," the "Purpose Driven Life," rehab centers, Christian rock concerts and all sorts of other foolishness and error??? It's not because we don't have the Word of God to tell us what we should be preaching and proclaiming; it's because we have rejected the message of the BLESSED HOPE and stopped preaching the rapture of the church! We have stopped warning men to watch and wait for the coming of the Lord. We have stopped warning men to get their lamps all trimmed and burning without a shadow of a doubt and to keep their garments spotless and clean through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The rapture is the BLESSED HOPE, it is the blessed HOPE, the blessed HOPE! It's a PURIFYING HOPE and those who look for the Lord are very concerned about having all sin under the blood and their garments spotless and white, watching, being ready for the trump of God that could sound at any moment!

 

Jude 1:1-3
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: [2] Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

Jude says we are "sanctified," "preserved," and "called" in Jesus Christ and as a result of the Cross we have been given "MERCY," peace and Love," which the Holy Ghost says is "multiplied" to those who believe. Glory to God. This glorious salvation is a not some bargain basement event at Wal-Mart; it's a "great salvation" as the Holy Spirit declares through Paul, the writer of Hebrews,  with but it will be just that more glorious when the saint of God is changed from mortality to immortality and corruption puts on incorruption!

 

Hebrews 2:1-3
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. [2] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

 

The sin nature within all believers will be gone at the sound of the trump! That's why the rapture is so vitally important to the child of God. It signals an end to the struggles of our earthly sojourn and transports us into the presence of God forever and ever to enjoy the benefits of enduring to the end and exhibiting the "patience of the saints." I get tickled at the number of websites who go to such great lengths to disprove a Pre-Tribulation rapture of the church and in some cases try to disprove the rapture in general. As stated, those who deny a rapture of the church have no answer when you ask them, "what about the resurrection?" They don't have a clue as to what you are talking about. Not to sound redundant but the preaching of the Cross means that we preach the imminent, soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ for the church at the rapture!

The Mysteries of Scripture
 
As stated, the rapture is one of several mysteries in scripture. This word mystery" occurs 27 times in the Bible, all in the New Testament. In short summary, here are the other mysteries in Scripture and the passages which state such, many of them related to end time events and that which we speak:
 
1. The Mystery of Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God -  
 
Mat 13:11,16,17 - He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
 

Mark 4:11 - And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
 
2. The Mystery of Israel’s blindness –
 
Rom 11:25 - For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
 
3. The Mystery Of Salvation in Christ
 
Rom 16:25 - Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
 
4. The Mystery Of The Wisdom of God
 
1 Cor 2:7 - But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
 
5. The Mystery of God’s Will
 
Eph 1:9 - Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
 
6. The Mystery of The Church
 
Eph 3:3, 4, 9  - How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 - Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
9 - And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
 
Eph 5:32 - This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
 
7. The Mystery of the Gospel
 
Eph 6:19 - And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
 
8.  The Mystery of Christ In Men
 
Col 1:26 - Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 - To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
  
9. The Mystery of the Doctrines of God
 
Col 2:2 - That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
 
1 Tim 3:16 - And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
 
10. The Mystery Of All Knowledge
 
1 Cor 13:2 - And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
 
11. The Mystery of Speaking in Tongues As The Spirit of God Gives The Utterance
 
1 Cor 14:2 - For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
 
12. The Mystery of the Doctrines of Christ
 
Col 4:3 - Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
 
13. The Mystery of Iniquity
 
2 Th 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
 
14. The Mystery of the Faith of the Gospel
 
1 Tim 3:9 - Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
 

15. The Mystery of the Seven Golden Candlesticks


Rev 1:20 - The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
 
16. The Mystery of God's Delay In Dealing With Satan
 
Rev 10:7 - But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets 
 
17. The Mystery of Babylon and Her Judgment
 
Rev 17:5 - And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
 
The Holy Spirit through Paul called the teaching on the rapture of the church also a mystery in the sense that the Old Covenant prophets had not seen this glorious catching away of the saints. The rapture of the church was a special revelation given to Paul by the Lord who also  gave the apostle the details of this disappearance of saints prior to the Tribulation as seen in several passages (1 Cor. 15:23, 51-58, John 14:1-3) and the following passage in his first letter to the Thessalonians:
 
1 Thes. 4:14-17
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] 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. [16] 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.
 

Despite all the teaching, however, there are many who remain ignorant of this glorious event - some because of no light on the matter, but others are WILLFULLY ignorant and unbelieving despite the truth.

 

1 Thes. 4:13
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.

 

The Holy Spirit says through Paul to the church, "I don't want you to be ignorant of these things!" That is why this passage clearly outlines what will take place when the trump of God sounds. Those "who are asleep," refers to believers who have died IN CHRIST and will be brought with Christ to meet the living redeemed "in the air." The Holy Spirit also addresses "those which have no hope," or those who do not know the Lord and who will have no part in the First Resurrection of Life and, therefore, no hope for heaven. When the child of God dies, he goes immediately into the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. When the sinner dies, he goes immediately to the regions of the damned, a place called Hell, which is not a joke or a curse word or a figment of the Christian world's imagination as I read one news commentator state the other day.

 

The Holy Spirit clearly is speaking here to two classes of people - the saved and the lost. For the saved we have a blessed hope for which the Holy Spirit tells us He "would not have us to be ignorant." For the lost there is no hope!

 

Yet because of the mockery and outright rejection of the doctrine of the rapture, many sit in darkness without this blessed hope and will do so unless the LIGHT of the gospel of Christ shines in their heart! Moreover it is grievous to see those who are supposedly God's people listening to and echoing the words of the unsaved in this regard rather than the Word of God. Instead of looking for and hasting unto the day of God, the church has become threatened by it, or is succumbing to the "new" doctrine of a Pre-Wrath/Post-Wrath rapture, or ignoring the rapture completely all together.

 

2 Peter 3:12
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Instead of looking for the new heavens and the new earth, most of the world and sadly many Christians are encumbered and drunk with the cares, riches and pleasures of this life.

Luke 8:14

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Instead of warning those who are unsaved of the approaching Great Tribulation and using this opportunity to present the gospel -- so that by receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior they can be saved from this terrible period of time and the coming wrath of Almighty God -- the Church has become lukewarm in proclaiming the message of the Blessed Hope.

 

I want to share a portion of an email I got from Jan Merkel's ministry the other day I thought was very timely concerning the church's attitude on the rapture!

 

Here is what it says:

 

Over a year ago Christianity Today ran a story I will never forget. It was titled, "Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon." You can read between the lines of the story. Some were saying, "I want to enjoy life here a bit longer"; I want to see my kids and grandkids grow up and get married"; "I'm just not ready to say 'good-bye' to this life quite yet"; or the classic, "People have been predicting the Lord's return for centuries, yet it has never happened," which is just another way of saying, "Those goofy date-setters spoiled it for me." I have always said, shame on the date-setters.

If Muslims can be revved up by their Mahdi's soon return, why are some Christians too earthly minded to care one whit about Jesus' return? He is the "blessed hope" of Titus 2:13. Or maybe they care, but earthly business for now comes first.

I am not painting with a broad brush. I am encouraged by the e-mails I get from people waiting, longing, and praying for His return! There is a special crown for all those who long for His appearing (2 Tim. 4:8). Many of you will have it but I would like to see all Christians get that crown. Yet, the majority remain apathetic and lukewarm and Jesus does not say good things in Revelation about those who are lukewarm, about anything, and most of all, His return.

Just watch some sports fans today. They are about out of their minds with enthusiasm. So are the Muslims about the Mahdi. But many Christians are out of their minds with earthly pleasures and even suggest that Jesus delay His return.

So the enemy is having a field day with Muslims getting them to believe a lie, and he is scoring big points with Christians to make them apathetic about the truth.

Don't be totally discouraged. The "last days" are compared to "the days of Noah." Nobody wanted to hear Noah's warnings either. They laughed and scoffed and ignored the thunder in the distance. Thus, such an atmosphere leading up to His return should be expected. In the Bible, the "signs of the times" are usually negative but that does NOT mean that we need to be."


I don't agree 100% with everything Jan Merkel teaches or says on her site but I do feel the spirit of this article is very timely and hits squarely in the middle the attitude of MILLIONS in the body of Christ today.  The church as a whole is not looking for Jesus to return! We need to shout it from the roof top - Jesus is coming soon! May be morning, night or noon; many will meet their doom; TRUMPETS will sound, oh, Glory to God! I can't sing as my dear dad can sing this song but I feel the words and melody ringing in my heart as I write these words. It's getting late neighbor; Jesus is about the appear the second time without sin unto salvation! Salvation for the those watching and wanting His return; judgment for those reject Him and are not looking for His coming!


Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Jude 1:3-4
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. [4] For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, we should speak these truths with the love of Christ, rather than being contentious, even knowing that our words may not received, but SPEAK these words we must! Many times the contention comes from those who don't believe in a rapture and create great controversy and confusion in the Body.

...If We Believe

 

1 Thes. 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

 

1 Cor. 15:51 - 55 - Behold, I show 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. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] 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. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
 

The Holy Spirit says this promise is available "if we believe," that Jesus died and rose again, meaning that the rapture is a promise to the saint, not the sinner or unbeliever.  The very foundation of all Christianity is the Death and Resurrection of Christ, which is the proof there is life after death in a glorified state for ALL saints, which incidentally will never end. If Christ be not risen from the dead, "then there is no resurrection." However, we know He IS risen from the dead and neighbor because He is Risen- we can be SURE we're going to rise too!

 

John 5:28-29
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

 

The term, "even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him," refers to the Resurrection of all believers. Both phrases mean the same thing, even as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15. At death, the soul and the spirit of the Child of God instantly goes to be with Jesus while the physical body goes back to dust. At the Rapture, God will replace that was the physical body with a GLORIFIED body, united with the soul and the spirit. In fact, the soul and the spirit of each individual will accompany the Lord down close to this Earth to be united with a GLORIFIED body, which will then make the believer WHOLE! If there is not rapture, Paul said we are men "all most miserable!"

 

1 Cor. 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

 

Philip. 1:23
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

 

The resurrection of Christ guarantees the resurrection of all Saints. When the Holy Spirit says, "we shall not all sleep," means that some will be alive when the trump sounds - a state this writer hopes to find himself in instead of the grave! Either way however, this writer is looking and watching and waiting for the rapture of the church and listening for the TRUMP OF GOD to sound at any moment!

 

1 Thes. 4:15
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.
 

Paul defended the doctrine of the Rapture of the Church as the "word of the Lord," and confirms that ALL believers who are alive at the coming of the Lord will be taken off the earth to heaven. The living saints will not precede or go before the dead saints, who will rise first.

 

...For the Lord Himself

 

1 Thes. 4:16
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:
 

The "Lord Himself," refers to "the same Jesus," which the Angels proclaimed in Acts 1:11 would return the same way He left - "in the clouds."  Jesus is not leaving this great event in the hands of anyone else - He's coming to get the church PERSONALLY because it was HIM, the Lord Jesus Christ, who paid for and purchased us with His precious blood on the Cross 2,000 years ago.

 

The rapture will also be accompanied "with a shout," "with the voice of the archangel," and "with the trump of God." The Archangel refers to Michael, the only one referred to as such. Sounds like heaven is going to be a very noisy place! For those who worship in morgues on Sunday I'm not sure what you all are going to do to be honest.

 

Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

The term "with the trump of God," means that the trump belongs to God irregardless of whoever actually signals the blast. Trumpets are mentioned quite a bit relating to end time events. When God came down on Mt. Sinai there were thunderings, lightings, and "the sound of the trumpet." Every time God has "come down" to meet man there has always been a trumpet sounding. During the great tribulation there will be seven trumpets heralding God's outpouring of wrath and judgment upon a sinful world for those left following the rapture of the church.

....The Dead IN CHRIST Shall Rise First, Then We Which Are Alive and Remain

 

1 Thes. 4:16-17
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.
 

The criteria for being ready for the Rapture is to be "in Christ," which means that all who are truly Born-again will definitely go in the rapture! After the dead are raised, we which are alive and remain shall be "caught up," or raptured, together with them i.e. the Resurrected dead "in the clouds," meaning "clouds of saints, not clouds as we normally think of such. We are going to have a homecoming unlike any homecoming we've ever known as the church of the Living God. Those who have gone on before us and are now a "cloud of witness," to our fight of faith on this earth are coming with the Lord to meet us in the air at the rapture! The Greek word for "air," is "aer," and refers to the lower atmosphere, or from about 6,000 feet down; so, the Lord will come at least within 6,000 feet of the Earth, perhaps lower, with all the saints meeting Him there; but He, at that time, will not come all the way to the Earth, that awaiting the Second Coming, which will be seven or more years later.

 

This presents the greatest meeting humanity will have ever known and we are told in verse 18 to "comfort" one another with these words.

 

1 Thes. 4:18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
 

Now I ask you. If there is not going to be a rapture and the church is going to have to go through the Tribulation period, what is there to comfort each other with? What comfort is there to be teaching that the church is destined to go through living hell on earth to be "purified," or to be made ready or whatever other reason those who deny the rapture claim. Actually, most who deny the rapture also deny there is going to be a Great Tribulation period claiming the world is going to get better and better and the drama outlined in Revelation has already taken place historically.  There is a mainline denomination in this nation located in Indiana that actually proclaims that as part of their doctrinal statement. They do not believe in either the rapture or the Great Tribulation period. Neighbor, there is no greater message in this hour than the message of the rapture of the church, the next great event, the blessed HOPE of the church!

 

Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
 

Differing Viewpoints
 
As we bring this journal to a close I want to look at four main views of the rapture that exist in the Body of Christ today. We don't mind stating it here that we as a ministry believe in the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ FOR the church PRIOR to the Great Tribulation period. I guess that makes us a Pre-Tribulationist by the standards of those who argue over this. The Word of God is not an argument; it's the HOLY-GHOST breathed Word of Almighty God!

Many modernists have completely rejected the idea of a rapture. In addition, they have completely rejected a notion that Jesus will ever come and reign and rule for a thousand years on planet Earth. They base their claim on a “literal” interpretation of scripture. This is so absurd it’s almost funny. The sad thing is that millions believe this. As a result, there is no urgency in preparing one’s self to meet the Lord and purify himself as the Lord is pure. This is a lie. Jesus told a parable in Matthew 13 about the woman and the leaven. This leaven, which represents false doctrine and evil in the kingdom age (today) has increased dramatically in the last century. But it’s a lie! Jesus is coming and coming soon.
 
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spoke he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

We who adhere to this point of view believe that the Lord will return to earth about seven years prior to His return to the Mount of Olives to assume His throne. At this time He will remove His church from the world so that it will escape completely the Great Tribulation outlined in Revelation, Daniel and other scriptures. This is the viewpoint this writer believes the Word of God teaches if we but study the scriptures and not tinker with the original text.  We will discuss this more later.

Those who support a mid-tribulation Rapture believe that Jesus will return for His Church, but they time the event somewhere around the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation period. One reason for this is that they fail to recognize that there are other raptures in scripture which we will discuss later. Some of the events of the tribulation signal a “catching” away of saints and others involved in the panorama of events outlined in John’s vision. These are Tribulation saints who will be saved AFTER the rapture, not the Body of Christ on earth today, the CHURCH.

Bible scholars with this school of thought contend that the Church will remain here on earth for the Great Tribulation after which its survivors will “rise…to meet the Lord in the air” and land (along with the dead in Christ) upon the Mount of Olives where they shall “ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thes 4:16-17) There seems to be growing support among the Christian community for the argument that if the Church is going to be taken out, and a person has made plans to go through the Great Tribulation, we will have lost nothing by preparing himself for this eventuality. On the other hand, if the Rapture is not to take place before the Great Tribulation, and he has not prepared for it, he stands to lose everything. While this is logical, IT IS FAITHLESS.  This view supposes that the Church needs to experience the wrath of God to be purified.

 

There is also a school of thought called the "pre-wrath," rapture which is basically a mid-Tribulationist view stating the "wrath" of God during the Tribulation actually don't take place until the trumpet and bowl judgments and that is when most in this camp believe the rapture will take place.   This thought again places a great deal of responsibility for end time events in the hands of man, instead of submitting ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus! It is this same spirit that causes many to deny the rapture of the church, which stated again, is one of the most attacked fundamental doctrines of Christendom today. It's amazing how the rapture, along with preaching and teaching on Hell and the mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit are the most opposed and rejected doctrines of the church world today. This rejection and resistance does not come from the world but from within through men who want religion and in some cases not even born again!

 

Satan has deluded us into living a lifestyle that’s not preparing or ready to meet Jesus in eternity and one that is void of TRUE spiritual power. 
 
**WE CANNOT PURIFY OURSELVES! THE IDEA THAT WE MUST EXPERIENCE WRATH TO BE PURIFIED IS PUTTING THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHURCH IN THE HANDS OF MAN (THE ANTICHRIST). THE TRUE CHURCH DOESN’T NEED JUDGING, ITS ALREADY JUDGED ITSELF AND MADE ITSELF READY FOR THE BRIDEGROOM! THE ONLY THING THAT PURIFIES THE CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST PERIOD!**

 

Ask the church in China if they need to go through persecution to purify it? Ask the church in Iran if it needs greater persecution to purify it? Ask the church in India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Burma, Vietnam, or any other non-Christian nation if it needs more persecution to purify it? The sad fact is the American church has put such a false face on true Christianity, many think the entire true church worldwide acts in the same selfish and lukewarm manner we do - it does not!  The American church is spoiled, selfish, rich, increased with goods and lukewarm to the point of making the Lord vomit with it's refusal to preach the cross and embrace the demands of the gospel. We are going to be held so accountable for what we've been given and the resulting false doctrine that has come forth.
 
Paul said a “little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” He went on to tell the Corinthians and the Galatians that if someone came preaching another gospel that gave credence to any other method of cleansing other than the blood and any other way to God beside being crucified with the Son, for that person to be an anathema or accursed. The Greek word for accursed is even stronger – damned.
 
Gal 3:7-12 - Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.  A little leaven Leaventh the whole lump.
 
2 Cor 11:4 - For if he that cometh For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
 
Gal 1:6 - I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
 

Gal 1:8 - But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
 
We cannot see a great and loving God pouring out His wrath upon His own children – children bought and paid for by the precious power of the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus didn’t come to die so that we may have to hide in hills and caves until He came! He died that we might be free from sin and one day be GLORIFIED with him when He comes for His Body prior to the Tribulation period. I want to shout! Hallelujah. Glory to God. This is going to be a great event. It’s the next event on the horizon for the church!
 
Scriptural Support for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture
 

Why do we believe in a Pre-tribulation rapture? Well I can assure it's NOT because we've read the "Left Behind" series or seen the movie. We don't judge scriptural things by what Christian movie makers try to portray in film. The foundation for ALL doctrine is not TBN, Tim LaHaye or any other Christian leader. The foundation for all doctrine is the Word of God. The first reason we believe in a Pre-Tribulation rapture is from the mouth of Jesus Himself who proclaimed we are to "watch" and pray that we be accounted "WORTHY" to ESCAPE all these things that shall come to pass upon planet Earth. The "things" He referred to was the coming Great Tribulation period.
 
Luke 21:34-36 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  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.

The “things” which shall come to pass are given in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Revelation 6-19.
 
1. War
2. Famine
3. Death
4. Religious Persecution
5. Earthquakes
6. Signs and Wonders in the Heavens
7. Hail, Fire and Blood
8. Sea and Rivers Turned to Blood
9. Falling Stars
10. Sun, Moon and Stars Darkened
11. Demons Loosed Upon the Earth
12. Scorching Sun
13. Dense Darkness
14. Demons Working Miracles
15. Satanic Deception
16. The Antichrist
 
2. The Word of God assures us that the saints have not been appointed to wrath. A wicked, sinful world has been. The Church, however, has been destined to be glorified with and reign with Christ!
 
1 Th 5:9 - For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
 
1 Th 4:16 - 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.
 
The exhortation is to receive "comfort" from these words and to comfort others, but we cannot do that by telling them that they are going though a terrible, horrible wrath first. Can a person have a real, vibrant, assuring, joyous salvation if he does not have the assurance that he is a child of God and that he is going to spend eternity in heaven? How can it be a blessed HOPE if we have been ordained to go through a horrific seven years of hell on earth to attain it?

3. We are assured that the Church as a body of believers will be taken out of the way BEFORE the Antichrist is revealed and the Great Tribulation occurs.
 
2 Th 2:6-8 - And now ye know what withhold that he might be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
 
What hinders the powers of darkness from having full sway today? What prevents the power of darkness from revealing the Antichrist at this time? There are three forces that impede the revelation of the Antichrist:

Obviously the governments of the world will not be removed from the earth because eventually they will become more prominent during the Tribulation Period. Governments will not really hinder the Antichrist. They in fact, will aid and abet his rise to power and programs. The Holy Spirit certainly will not be taken out of the world during the Great Tribulation, because in Revelation 7:9-17 establishes that multitudes of people will be saved during this period. John 3:5-8, Romans 8:9 and Ephesians 2:18 attest that NO MAN (be it now or in the ages to come) is saved except through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
 
John 3:5-8
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
 
Eph 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
 
Rom 8:9 - But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
 
Acts 2:17-21 states that the Holy Spirit will be present on earth. Some teach the “he” in 2 Thessalonians is the Holy Spirit. It is not! The “he” is the church of the Lord Jesus. We are the salt of the earth. Even though the days we live in are evil, they would be MUCH worse if the church was not present. We are hindering the forces of Antichrist and darkness because we are Light. When we are removed, mankind will get his wish – a world without Godly influences..
 
The Church is the other restraint on the Antichrist. Since governments and the Holy Ghost will be here, once the church is taken away, THEN the Antichrist will come. The term “THAT WICKED” is referring to the Antichrist.
 
2 Thes 2:8 - And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
 

4. From Revelation 4 through Revelation 19 we observe a marked change in God’s attitude toward mankind. It changes from mercy, which has been expressed for thousands of years to that of judgment. The Body of Christ is not seen on the earth at this time when judgment is being poured out upon sin and iniquity. Absolutely nothing is said about the Church on earth after Revelation 4:1. The Church is mentioned one time in heaven, but NOT on the earth.
 

One of the reasons for such confusion is that Israel, which is often referred to during this time, is wrongly referred to as the Church. Jacob is a reference to Israel, and comment is made about “Jacob’s trouble.” Jesus referred to it as great tribulation.
 
Jer. 30:7 - Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

The Great Tribulation will be a time of great trouble for non-saved Jews and Gentiles and National Israel. Israel will be brought to a place of national repentance. The wrath of God is not intended to bring the church into submission. So, the next great event on the horizon of time will be the Rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ. Nobody knows the time it will take place, but we do know it will be BEFORE the Great Tribulation period.
 
Zech 12:10 - And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
 
The Purpose of the Rapture
 
Some may ask the question, why a rapture? There are seven basic reasons for why the rapture is important and what it means to the Child of God. Some of these statements below have already been dealt with but it don't hurt to hear them again.
 
First, the rapture is to Resurrect the Dead In Christ - This will be the first great resurrection.
 
1 Cor 15:52-53 - 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.
 
2. The rapture will take place to Take the Saints to Heaven.
 
2 Tim 4:8 - 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.
 
Rev 19:9 - And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
 
3. The rapture will take place to Transform the Body of the Saints from a State of Mortality to One of Immortality; it's called the Resurrection of the Saints
 
Rev 21:4 - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
 
1 Cor 15:53 - For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
 
4. The rapture will take place to Present The Saints Before God The Father To Be With Him Forever.
 
Rom 14:11-12 - For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
 
5. The rapture will take place to Make the Saints Whole In Spirit, Soul and Body.
 
1 Th 5:23 - And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
6. The rapture will take place to Cause the Saints to Escape the Great Tribulation and the Coming Wrath and to Stand Before the Son of Man.
 
Luke 21:36 - 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.
 
7. The rapture will take place to Remove The Hinder of Lawlessness; i.e. To Get The Church Out Of The World
 
2 Th 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
 
8. The rapture will take place to set the world stage to receive the revelation of the Antichrist
 
2 Th 2:8 - And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

 

The church faces its most dangerous hour since the time of the Reformation. Within our present society it is a perilous practice to utter a true prophetic word of warning. Most people rebel at hearing the truth of the Word of God, especially the modern atmosphere we call church today. The Holy Spirit warned us through Paul that men would "heap unto themselves teachers" because they would no longer want the truth but to have their ears "tickled," and their flesh put at ease. I've never sat in a meeting where the true gospel was preached where my flesh was put at ease.

 

2 Tim. 4:1-4
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

1 Tim. 4:1-4
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Those seeking worldly acclaim and recognition would do well to shun the true messenger and prophet of God. The world and even those in the church heaps little praise or reward on those who hold up the mirror of God' Word to sins that are controlling many within the Body. John 3:19 tells us that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light. There's the condemnation! If the gospel remedy for sin is available, which it is through the Cross,  and men obstinately reject it, where shall they turn for salvation? To secular humanism? To humanistic psychology? To the Purpose Driven Life?

 

One of the largest Protestant denominations in the world is split right down the middle at this very moment and sinks daily into greater spiritual depravity by and large because the leadership at large have denied the working and moving of the Holy Ghost. Many so-called Pentecostal denominations are following suit because we have abandoned the power that birthed this great movement to begin with as well! Most denominations started out RIGHT - in the fires of Holy-Ghost revival and on the backs of men and women pleading, crying out to God for an outpouring of His Spirit. The reason men and women prayed and interceded is because they knew the hour was late and Jesus was coming soon! How sadly have we lost such today. How sad is it that the fear of God no longer drives us to our knees to weep over a lost and dying world!?

 

The Holy Spirit will not be dictated to or told whether He can do certain things and not do certain things by ANY denomination or any individual. I don't care how many members the denomination boasts or how many well-known authors claim their affiliation with this group. God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh, but if He is rejected there is nothing left but spiritual stagnation and apostasy. This apostasy has bred the denial of the rapture of the church!

 

There is no greater message of this hour we can be preaching than Jesus is coming soon. The rapture of the church is not some punch line or a joke as many make it out to be. It is the completion of the great salvation process. We need to return to the preaching of the gospel in these precious hours prior to the Lord's return. The next sound we're going to hear child of God is the trump of God and those who are "looking" for the hastening of the coming of the Lord will hear that sound!

 

As I close this journal I remember the words of a grand old song from the mid-1980s  that states, "only the redeemed will hear the trumpet on that day; when He comes in clouds of glory to take his bride away; and only the redeemed will rise, to meet our Saviour in the sky; and only the redeemed, will be taken to heaven some sweet day."

 

Those words may not be exactly right but they're close enough (Smile) Only the redeemed friend, ONLY the redeemed who are listening for His voice and the SOUND of the trumpet are going to make the rapture of the church! It's a BLESSED HOPE, a blessed hope, a BLESSED hope! The Spirit and the Bride Say "come," and He that is a thirst says "come!" I pray you're watching and ready today and are also praying "even so COME, quickly, Lord Jesus." It's getting late friend and it's harvest time. Praise God.

 

It's getting late and it's harvest time

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