The Rapture of the Church (part 3)

 

How will the Rapture happen? We look at several verses to tell us. As we read in the last lesson from 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Jesus will come to the clouds above the earth. In John 14:2-3 Jesus says, “…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will [receive] you to Myself...” Please note, this is Jesus calling us away from the earth. Every government that cares about its people serving in other countries, will call their people home when they know war is about to happen. We are Jesus’ ambassadors here on earth, and He loves us too much to leave us here when the real war of evil is about to begin – Revelation 3:10 and John 17:15.

In our last lesson, from 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4, we have already read there will be a great shout and the sound of a trumpet to call us.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-15 tells us that all believers in Jesus who have died will rise first, and then we who are still alive here will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet Him.

How do we know such a Rapture is possible? God has given us examples of them in the Bible.

Enoch - Genesis 5:24 “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”

Elijah - 2 Kings 2:11-12 “And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it …”

Philip - Acts 8:39 “And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”

Jesus - Acts 1:9-11 “And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.”

The promise of this Rapture, before we enter the terrible time on earth as Jesus judges the nations of this world, is a “blessed promise” for us who believe. 2 Thessalonians 2 gives us a great picture of what these last days before the Rapture look like – and all we need to do is set the Bible alongside our newspapers or news programs to see how accurately Jesus has told us ahead of time what to look for. This chapter also warns us about the powerful deception coming, which we can already see all around us. The deception of the one-world government and one-world religion are knocking loudly at our gates. The world’s cry for peace at any cost is roaring at us from governments and schools and even many churches. We who are believers must cling to the truth and keep praying against the evil forces we see.

Prayer: Almighty Father, as You have prophesied, evil is nearer than ever before. But we choose not to fear, for You have promised You are greater than this enemy in the world is; so we join You in prayer to hold back the evil that wants to destroy. Purify us so we can stand with You whole-heartedly until You are ready to call us to Your side. We say with Your Spirit, “Come Lord Jesus!” In Your name we pray, Amen. 

From Global Media Outreach 

The Rapture of the Church (part 2)

 

As we read in the last lesson, the importance of understanding to whom a prophecy is given has much to do with how well we can understand the prophecy. For us, in our study of the Rapture of the Church in this lesson, this is very important. The seven years of Great Tribulation are part of Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks – a prophecy specifically stated to be about Daniel’s people, the nation of Israel. 

Daniel 9:24: “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to a most holy place.”

Therefore, the prophecies of the terrible things happening in Revelation do not seem to be about us, the Church. This makes it easier for us to understand the two appearances of Jesus prophesied in the end times – the Rapture, and His Second Coming.

The Rapture happens in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

The Second Coming happens as every eye on earth sees Him coming (Revelation 1:7 and Acts 1:11)

Rapture – Jesus meets His saints in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Second Coming – Jesus sets foot on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4)

Rapture – He rewards us for our deeds (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

Second Coming – He comes to judge the unrighteous (Revelation 19:13-16)

Rapture – we don’t know when it will happen, there is no prophecy to tell us when

Second Coming – Daniel 12:11 tells us the number of days from a specific event till Jesus comes

How will the Rapture happen? We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Who will be raptured? We read the answer from Paul, speaking to believers in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52: “Behold! I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your promise to come to get us one day very soon. We long for You to come, and say with the Spirit of God in us, “Come!” Help us to purify our hearts and lives so we are ready for this moment. And until that day, may we be about Your business...calling sinners to repentance and living in obedience and love. In Your name we pray, Amen. 

From Global Media Outreach 

The Rapture of the Church (part 1)

  

The rapture of the Church – it being taken out of this world to be with Jesus – is something easily misunderstood when we misunderstand some of the central issues of the Bible. Just as parents treat their children differently as they grow through different stages of childhood into adulthood, so God has treated humanity differently as He has given us information about Himself. The more information He has given us, the greater is our responsibility to Him for what He has revealed. In 2 Timothy 2:15 we read that we are to study and handle the Bible rightly so we can follow Him faithfully.

There are four different kinds of people in earth’s history from God’s point of view:

* All those who do not believe in God/Jesus

* Three groups in history of those who believe in God/Jesus:

- Israel

- Church

- Believing Gentiles

It is these three groups of believers we need to understand in order to understand God’s prophecy program. In the Old Testament time, the Church did not exist. God’s work was with Israel, even though there are notable believers who were not of the nation of Israel. Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20), Job and his friends (book of Job), and the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-13) are just a few of these. But God’s prophecies center on Israel because it was through Israel He would bring salvation. This lack of prophecy about these Gentile believers does not change the fact of their believing in God nor does it change His love and care for them.

In the New Testament, all believers become part of the Church. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Prophecy in the New Testament is either about the Church or about Israel, and this is where we need to be discerning to know how to understand it correctly. For example, Matthew 24 is Jesus’ answer to His disciples’ questions about the Kingdom which had been prophesied in the Old Testament – so Jesus’ answer is about this coming Kingdom in which Israel is the main subject. The event around which this focuses then, is His second coming when this Kingdom on earth will be established.

The promises contained in John chapters 13-16, however, are promises which contain prophesies for the Church. In this last evening before He knew He would die, He was preparing His disciples for this new group in which they would become the leaders. Much of His ministry to them after His resurrection was also concerning the Church – for example, His charge to Peter to feed His sheep (John 21:15-19). His disciples did not understand then, but later did, that building His Kingdom was not all about Israel; it was about Gentiles as well. We will continue this in our next lesson.

Prayer: Father, teach us by Your Spirit how to rightly handle Your word of Truth. Thank you for giving us some indication of what will happen in the future so we can always be watching and ready for Your return. We love you Jesus! In Your name we pray, Amen 

From Global Media Outreach 

The Ezekiel War

  

Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 give a prophecy about a war coming and names the countries which will be coming against Israel to destroy her. While there is some disagreement, most Biblical historians believe the countries named are Gog, Rosh (Russia), Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia or Sudan), Put (Libya), Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Togarmah (Turkey).

This war is described in some detail. In verse 38:8 it says this war will come after the people are gathered from many nations – telling us it is a war which follows the prophecies of chapters 36 and 37. In the following verses we see several statements that the people of Israel are living in peace, and these nations are coming to take something of value. The remainder of chapter 38 describes how God alone will protect Israel. Chapter 39 continues with a description of the end of this war on the very day it is set to begin.

God also tells the way in which this army will be destroyed. In verses 17-23 of chapter 38, He says a great earthquake will come. Mountains will come down, and there will be fire and brimstone – perhaps a volcano with the deadly poisonous gasses will kill many of these people. The people of the earth will know it was God who destroyed this army.

In our world today, we see for the first time in history a pact between these major nations – Russia, Iran, and Turkey. It is, however, not a peaceful pact, as each of these countries has a definite personal gain it wishes to achieve. It is easy to see how these armies will fight against each other when survival will be in question (verse 21).

Why would God destroy an army in this way? He will do so to show the entire world that He is God and He protects His people. He will also demonstrate His power over what will be one of the greatest armies to ever be united against Israel. He wants people to know there are consequences when they turn away from Him. His judgment of sin, by the death of Jesus on the cross, is the only way to escape His curse for sin. Anyone who does not accept Jesus’ payment must face God’s judgment for themselves.

We can see in our world today how these nations are already in place, and since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent war, they are uniting even more in their hatred for Israel. As the world has seen in the last few months, the tides of war can sweep suddenly. This should never be a cause for fear for anyone who trusts in Jesus, because He will care for every one of His own. Our responsibility today is to make sure we are one of His, and then to tell as many others about Him as we can.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, if we did not know Your love, we would shake in great fear for what is coming. But we trust You to keep every promise You have made, and You have promised to bring us to Your side when our life here on earth is done. Thank You for Your great faithfulness. We love You Jesus. In Your name we pray, Amen. 

From Global Media Outreach

For further reading on this topic go to https://comfortoneanother.com/2019/05/07/why-would-russia-turkey-and-iran-invade-israel/ 

Israel Born in a Day!

 

In Ezekiel 37 we read the prophecy of a valley filled with dry bones which are scattered, but God brings them back together, restores muscle and skin, and then breathes life back into these people to make them live again. Anyone who has seen pictures of the Jewish people who were rescued from Hitler’s death camps during World War II can clearly see in these people the images of this valley of dry bones.

God has always loved the Jewish people, even in those times when it has seemed as if He has forgotten them. This prophecy, in verse 14, tells of Israel’s return to their land – and was fulfilled in the years following the close of World War II. 

Isaiah 66:8 says: "Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children." This was exactly fulfilled when, on one day...May 14, 1948...the country of Israel was established. 

They are truly, as also prophesied in Ezekiel 37:15-22, a united nation of all twelve tribes as they had not been in thousands of years since after Solomon was their king.  ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. 

Part of verse 22, There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms, has not yet been fulfilled – that they will have one king over them again. This will be fulfilled when Jesus physically returns to this earth in the near future. There is still a time of judgment coming, which Jesus called the time of Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:21. This day when Jesus will return is also the time, stated in Romans 11:26, when all Israel will be saved.

Israel still has a powerful enemy, Satan. And Satan still stirs up other nations in this world to try to destroy Israel. But God is protecting, and will continue to protect Israel with His hand – just as He also protects us, His Church, from things which are not in His plan. His protection does not mean we cannot die at the hand of someone who hates us, or that we will succeed in everything we set out to do in this life on earth. After all, His plan for us is not that we are successful in this earthly kingdom – His plan for us is for our far greater success in His heavenly kingdom.

There is also, still in the future, a great judgment coming for the nations which have oppressed Israel through the centuries. As the hatred for Israel grows in our world today, so God’s judgment for those who hate Israel will also be great – see the promise/prophecy in Genesis 12:3 - "And I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse [that is, subject to My wrath and judgment] the one who curses (despises, dishonors, has contempt for) you. And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.”. While this promise can be seen demonstrated in many incidents throughout history, it will be brought into full completion during this time of Great Tribulation.

Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, help us to see clearly how the events of our world today are a warning from You that this judgment on the nations which have hated Your people is coming just as You have given prophecy and promise over thousands of years. Help us who are Your people, whether Church or Israel, to be faithful to You and Your kingdom in these days – faithful without fear. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. 

From Global Media Outreach