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