Rev. 4:1,2 Come up here –Rapture?

 

In the year 1189 in England, Richard the Lion Heart was King

A.)          Richard was a beloved King: born leader, good fighter, wrestler,           runner, poet, handsome & gracious man

 

B.)           While on a military crusade, Richard was captured, imprisoned, and

            held for ransom by his arch enemy Leopold of Austria

 

C.)           Back home in England - Richard's wicked brother John seized the

          throne

1.) John was everything Richard wasn't – John was crafty and cruel,  wicked and selfish king

 

D.)          During his rule England suffered - they longed for the return of           their BELOVED king RICHARD

 

DD) And one day he returned - Tales were told how he marched straight

        for the throne overtook wicked brother

1) Laid claim to what was rightfully his - and the people shouted           their delight - long live the king!  Richard Lion Heart

 

E) The People of England – Had their INDEPENDENCE AGAIN!!

      1) Free From the Cruelty of John

 

 

Today we TOO are waiting for A King to Return /A greater King than Richard  who is going to reclaim a greater throne than England's.

A.) Jesus the Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Conquering One!/ Oh, how      we are going to praise - Long live the king!

 

B) Now we are to be anxiously awaiting His prophesied return !

1)  As we look around at what His world has become our hearts to long for his return - set up a kingdom that has no end -

 

The Book of Rev. is about the 2nd Coming of this King / J.C. 

A)   Two comings – 1st as a LAMB /  2nd as a Lion

 

B) In Between those two comings is an event known as the Rapture of

       the Church –

1)   When Jesus comes not to the earth - but to the clouds and the        church is caught up to meet Him in the air!

 

C)We are given a Description of this Event in the Book of 1 Thess. Ch.4

16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

 

C.)    That is what Paul is talking about there in 1 Thess 4:17 -

          1.)          Caught up  in Grk is "Harposo" - Latin Raptous - English                            word Rapture

 

D.)          Means to be caught up or snatched away!

          1.)          Describes a time when the Lord comes - trumpet sounds -               believers are snatched  / caught up to meet Him in the air

 

Paul also spoke of this event in 1 Cor. 15

50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

51     Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

 

A) Twinkling of an eye - now see me now you don't!   The Lord comes at an unexpected time - but we need to be ready!       

This morning we are going to take an in-depth Look at this event Called the Rapture of the Church – Next event on Prophetic Calendar

A)   Now I believe the Bible clearly and directly teaches that the rapture will take place before the Tribulation

 

B) This morning look at 8 Reasons why this event will take Place

     before the Trib. / How we should Be Living

 

Reason #1   Flow of the book of Rev.  Turn to Ch. 1

We have Noted that Rev. is the only book w/ a Divine outline

A)          Understanding this is a key to understanding the book

          of Rev.   ( Often confusing but never meant to be )

 

V.19   3 part outline 19  "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

A)This is a key to Understanding the book of Rev. / -   1ST SECTION The things that you have SEEN – VISION OF CH. 1

 

B)   SECTION 2 / The things that ARE / The letters to the Churches – We just finished last week – Represented the whole Church age !!!!!

1)                 Ephesus – Early church – to Present day / Phil. & Laodecia

 

A)   But the 3rd section Write the things that will take place  After this – after what? – after the Church age is completed /

 

B)   It is interesting that – the Word Church is used 19 times in the first 3 Ch.’s of the book of Rev. / From ch. 4 on never used again/ Why ?

1)                 Church is not seen again – Not here on the earth / In fact the next time that we see the Church is when the Lord coming Back Ch. 19

 

 

So the 3rd Phase of the Book deals w/ this section that John is writing about that takes place after the Church age / After these things 

A) That Phrase in Grk   Meta tauta  ( Important ) – see it again Ch. 4

 

4:1  After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."

A)   Now Catch this – Ch. 4 Begins Meta tauta / After these things – WHAT THINGS –       After Ch. 2,3 which represent the Church age

 

B)    After the Church age is completed John sees a door standing open in Heaven – voice like a trumpet – says Come up here and I will show the things that must take place after this

 

C)   Now what does this remind you of Voice like a Trumpet – Read 1thes. 4 / 1 Cor. 15 – trumpet of God – Calling us up

1) Voice says I want to show you what is going to take place after this -

       again - Meta tauta-  after the Church age is completed

 

D)   This I believe is a wonderful picture of the Rapture – Trumpet sounding & John being called up to meet the Lord

1) See the things that take place after the Church age – Church is not seen again in Rev. on the Earth – until 2nd coming  

 

Dd)   Ch. 4 &5 deal w/ the Church in heaven  Ch. 5:9   Redeemed

          who is the redeemed ?  Only we can sing that !

 

E)          Follow this Ch. 1  Have seen / Ch. 2 Are  Church age / Ch. 4,5

          Church is called up & is in Heaven  around the throne !

 

F)     What takes place after This ?   Ch. 6-19 deal w/ section Known as  

          the great Trib. The WRATH OF THE LAMB    

1) Church is not seen end of Ch. 19:11 At the 2nd coming

 

 

Important to Understand that the whole time of the Trib is a time when God is pouring out His wrath on a Christ rejecting World

A)   Ch. 6 – See the opening of the first 6 Seals / 1st – AntiChrist comes on the Seen / Solve Problem of the Rapture /

1)                 Solve Problem in the Middle East – Arab / Israeli Conflict -  He will make Peace w/ Israel

 

A)   This is going to take some time – for things to come together

1)But it is evidenced by the following  Seals that there is going to be Cataclysmic events taking place on the earth

 

B)   Resulting in Wars / Famine / Disease – Ό of the earth is Killed –

That is approx. 1.5 Billion People – 6 Billion

1)                 And all of this is originating from Heaven – / which is evidenced by the response after the 6th Seal V.15

  

15  And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

16  and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne/ and from the wrath of the Lamb!

17  "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

 

A)   Note they associate all of the things taking place w/ the Wrath of the Lamb being poured out on the Earth

1)                   Note that last line – V. 17  "For the great day of His wrath has come,  

    and who is able to stand?"    ( God the Father & Son seen in Unison)

 

A)   There are those who try to say well – this is the Wrath of the Lamb or of Jesus & the 2nd 31/2 yrs is the Wrath of God !!!!

1)                 First of all the Bible makes no such Distinction – there is not a Warning of Two Judgements / 2 Wraths– Always the Day of the Lord

 

A)   One time Period – Because THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE -  The Wrath of the Lamb is the Wrath of God – Because Jesus is God !!!!

So Reason #1 is the flow of the Book of Rev. as we will clearly see as we continue to go through this book

Reason #2 – Message in 1 Thess 4:18 - "Comfort one another w/ these words"

A.)           We noted that in 1 Thess. 4 Paul is talking about the Rapture when we are Caught up to meet the Lord in the Air

 

B) He ends that thought w/ this Exhortation 18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 

C)See Key thing / This Teaching is to comfort us - not freak us out!

 

D)     Now if rapture is at the end or middle of Trib - that is not very           comforting!  Flee and hide – try to avoid  Anti-Christ - Martyred

1.) I would rather die now!

 

E) No Comfort in that Message :  Bear up / get Ready / SURVIVAL

 

 

REASON #3 Not appointed unto Wrath

A)    In 1 Thess. 5 Paul continues discussing this theme of the Rapture of the Church – which He says comes as a Thief / also the day of the Lord

 

B)    Day of the Lord Begins at the Rapture & ends at the end of the 1000 yr. Reign of Christ

1)                 So it includes the time of Trib. When the Wrath of God is being Poured out –

 

A)   And on that thought Paul offers these words of Encouragement

9  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,10  who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.11  Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

 

D.)    Now why hasn't He appointed us to wrath?

          1)          The wrath we deserve was paid for at Calvary!  It was                                  poured out on Jesus absorbed by Jesus!

Reason #4     Pre-Trib is Escapism - your right!!!!!!!!!!

A.)    Luke 21:34-36 - Talking about end times parallels Matt.24/ talking about the events of the Tribulation

 

B.)    And in v.36 - Jesus says watch and pray that you will be           counted worthy to escape and stand before the Son of Man

 

C) Now if this wasn't an option   Jesus would have said - watch and buy

      weapons, gold, store food, get ready go through it!

          1.)          but He doesn't - He says - pray counted worthy to escape!

 

 

REASON #5 Trib. Is Known as the Time of Jacobs Trouble Jer 30:7 -

A) Purpose of that time is To shake up Israel - called time of Jacob's           trouble - not the churches trouble

 

B) In ROM 9-11 - God not through with Israel - time coming

          Jews will be saved some now!  All then

1) Zech where wounds?  House of friends { JACOB’S TROUBLE

 

C.)    Matt 24   Makes this clearer- Talking to Disciples about the Rapture & the Trib. / how Trib. Is going to be Difficult especially 2nd 31/2 yrs

1)                           Note – Division : 1st 31/2 yrs – Anti- Christ is at peace w/ Israel 2nd

31/2 yrs beginning w/ the  Abomination desolation / Persecutes them

 

A)    Explain Abomination desolation

 

That event & the Persecution that comes upon Israel is going to cause the Wrath of God to be increased - Talking about that time – the Lord says A) In Matt. 24 :15  "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place 16  "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17  "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18  "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19  "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

20  "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

A) Note this is very Jewish - - pray not Sabbath? Why? Can't go     far?         doesn't apply to us!/ Much of Israel closes down

 

B) So Trib is a time when God works in and through     Israel

 

 

Reason # 6 – We are to be Looking for the Coming of Jesus Christ

Titus 2: 11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

13  looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

 

A)    So here in Titus we are instructed on how we are to be looking for the coming of Jesus Christ

 

B) But those who embrace the mid & Post Trib. view points are

      not looking for Jesus appearing / but AntiChrist

1)      No where in scripture are we -told to be looking for Anti- Christ  ! 

Why? not going to be here

 

 

Reason #7    The types in the O.T.

A)     Luke 17  Like the Days of Noah :  In the story of Noah we           have a beautiful picture of what will take place in last days

 

B)     At the time of Noah God was judging the earth w/ the flood .           God's  wrath is being poured out on wicked mankind!  Gen. 6

1)                           A world – forsaken God – Given over to Sexual Immorality /  

      Violence – Selfishness – Perversity – just like our World

 

C)     Now during the flood the Lord protects Noah & his family in the

          ark – Now they are a type of the nation of Israel

1)      Who God is going to protect during the time of the tribulation.

 

D)     Ok where is the church in this picture ?  Gen. Ch. 5 the church is

seen in the person of Enoch / a contemporary of Noah

          1)          Enoch   walked w/ God & was not .....took Him !   Rapture!

                  

E)          Enoch is a type of the church taken out before judgment. begins!

 

 

2nd Type look at found in Gen. 18,19   Story of Lot!

A)           Again in Luke 17 Jesus said it would be like the times of Lot

          rampant ( Homosexuality )   We see that growing as well

 

B)     In the Story  God sends angels to destroy the cities of Sodom           &

         Gomorrah for their wickedness!

          1)          There wasn't 10 people in that city who worshipped God!

                    Abe said spare it for 10 righteous /God said yes

 

C)     2 Pet.2:7 IT SAYS THAT the Lord delivered Righteous

          Lot  from the destruction .

          1)          Lot & His daughters are a picture of the church that is

                    not preserved through the judgment

 

A)    But are taken out - removed before the  judgment can begin!

 

 

3rd illustration in the book of Daniel 3 / Shad/ Mesh/ Aben.

A)     King Neb. makes a statue . demands to be worshipped

          much like the anti Christ will during the Trib.

 

B)     Shad. ...... Abendgo  refuse & are thrown into the fiery furnace

          Neb.  Didn't we throw 3 men into .......... like the Son of God!

          1)          A beautiful picture of What the Lord is going to do for

                    Israel during the Trib. time

 

C)          Question where is Daniel ? He is absent from this story most

          likely taken away on Business / Dan. is a type of the Church.

So we have the Diff. types in the Bible that also pt. to the

fact that the Rapt. will take place before the Trib.

A)     God taking out Enoch , Lot , Dan. ( The Church ) Before

          the judgment begins

 

B)     And Preserving/  Noah Shad. .....Abendego ( Israel ) through the time

          of Judgement !

 

 

Reason #8   The Jewish wedding Ceremony  

AA)       Beautiful picture  In Jewish culture marriages were most often

Arranged    ( EXPLAIN)

 

A.)    Kids came of age where they could actually be married - one    thing that

         needed to take place first was home prepared

 

B.)    So the boy - bridegroom would begin to build a dwelling place for           he  

             and his bride

          1.)          the wedding couldn't take place until it was finished! Now Who                      determined when it was finished?  - Father

 

C.)    This is so great in comparison to our situation

John 14 - Jesus says - going to heaven prepare a place for you - my bride - (betrothed to the Lord)

 

D.)    He said - I will come again and receive you to myself

          1.)          but also says - no man knows the day or the hour of that             coming except - Father!

 

E.)     But Jesus said - we should know the times and seasons -           understand when things are getting closer!

 

 

 

Now the bridegroom would be working on the house and the bride would get reports from friends – relatives   ( Times / Seasons

A.)    Walls are up / roof is on / windows in / front door is up/ it could           be any day now! - finished

 

A.)           Over the years it became the custom of the bridegroom to surprise his  

          bride in the middle of the night - early morning

 

C.)    He and his groomsmen come into town to her house making a lot     of

        noise!  Awaken Bride and her bridesmaids -needed to be ready

 

D.)          Check this out!  Bridegroom and bride would then go to this           house he prepared - stay 7 days!

          1.)          family and friends - party - celebrate - at the end of the 7                days - bride would be presented!

 

 

Incredible picture of what the bible teaches of Christ and His church

1.)          betrothed to Him

2.)     Gone to prepare a place

3.)     No one know day or hour except Father

4.)     Bride gets reports - we know times and seasons

5.)          Bridegroom comes - 7 year feast - presented at 2nd coming

 

 

So there You have 8 Reasons why the Bible Clearly teaches that the Rapture will take place – before the Trib.

A)   Today is the 4th of July – the day we Celebrate our Countries Independence – our Freedom

 

B)    Restaurant – Courson – 1988 – Who better to talk about on this day of Independence than the one who……………true INDEPENDENCE

 

C)    We have been given Victory – Freedom & a Hope in Jesus Christ – Hope that He is coming to take us to Heaven – Before the Trib. Starts

1Pet.1: 3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

 

 

Those who have that Hope / their Lives will be affected in 3 ways

A.)    It produces a cleanliness in lifestyle. In other words - a holiness is 

          produced

          1.)          John said in 1 John 3:3 - Hope (coming) purifies, He is pure!

 

B.)If you expect Jesus come soon - live in a way to please Him      

- realize need to be ready when He comes - 2 Peter 3:11

 

11  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

12  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

 

b) Knowing Jesus can come any moment - Holy fear in you

     1) like when a mom says - "Wait until your father gets                       home" - I'd better straighten up

 

C.)    Not just a holy fear – but ALSO  a healthy expectation

          1.)          My kids, daddy's home - car pulls up - expectation, anticipation

a.)                                                              fun, play, wrestle - "whine's when is daddy coming home?"

 

So knowing Jesus could come at any moment will cause me to live godly and to anticipate His coming.

 

 

 

#2 - Knowing Jesus can come at any moment - produces comfort in sorrow

A.)          Christians - death - loved ones die

          1.)          When loved ones die - great grief - loss, big hole is left in                             our emotions

         

B)     But if we know the Lord and believe in promises - great comfort because Jesus said - John 14 -"Let not your hearts be troubled ... mansions - place for you"

 

B.)    So - comfort in sorrow

 

 

#3 - Conviction in Service

A.) Knowing He could pop in at any minute not just gets my act together - but also serve diligently

 

A)    knowing Jesus can come back - minute seeing signs, watching news, 

       reading paper - one message - our mind - Let's get busy!

 

C) Be about sharing the gospel - because some of our friends and           family

     don't know Christ

1.)                                     Jesus said - "night is soon coming when no man can                    

          work - let's do it while still today"

 

D) conviction for service - get busy-  Looking forward to future reward:  Hear "Well done ...enter into   joy of your Lord"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Barclay - fictional story - meeting Satan held w/ demons where trying to figure out how to trick people into eternal damnation

A.)    1st demon: "There is no God" - no Satan said - creation declares           the reality of God. People too smart to deny His existence

          1.)          A few idiots might get sucked in but not the masses

 

B.)    2nd demon: "No Hell". No said Satan - "People understand there           needs to be retribution and judgment - people won't buy that

 

C.)    3rd demon: "Instead of saying no God or no hell - no hurry!

          1.)          Satan responded that is it! no hurry!  Spread the word

 

D.)    Sad but true many have lost their sense of urgency but the cry will soon come.  "The bridegroom is coming"

          1.)2 Pet 1:10 - Brethren, give diligence to make your  calling                           election sure, if you do these things you will never be made to stumble

                    .