The Rapture of Believers
In a previous section, we discussed briefly the return of Christ. A common term used to describe one of the events surrounding His return is the word "rapture". It refers to the time when Jesus will meet His church in the air. No one can tell us when the Rapture will take place because only God the Father knows.
"No one knows, however, when that day and hour will come--neither the angels in heaven nor the Son; the Father alone knows" (Matthew 24:36).
But there are signs telling us that the Rapture is drawing near, Jesus said that just before His return there would be an increase in worldliness, wickedness, and violence. False christs and false prophets would arise; there would be earthquakes, famine, and pestilence. There would be wars and rumors of war. All these signs spoken of in Matthew 24and Luke 21 are happening in our day.
Not everything, however, is negative. In spite of terrible times many people will seek the Lord and find Him. Joel 2:28-29 tells us about it: "Afterward I will pour out my spirit on everyone: your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. At that time I will pour out my spirit even on servants, both men and women."
Christians look forward to the Rapture with joy. Those who have died will be resurrected and those who are alive will be changed. All will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.
"Listen to this secret truth: we shall not all die, but when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised, never to die again, and we shall all be changed. For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal; what will die must be changed into what cannot die" (I Corinthians 15:51-53).
After the Rapture Christians will be judged and rewarded according to their faithfulness to Christ. Then they will go to the marriage supper of the Lamb when Christ, the Lamb of God, welcomes the church as His bride.
"For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. Each one will receive what he deserves, according to everything he has done, good or bad, in his bodily life" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
We know that our sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus, and we will not have to answer for them. But we will be rewarded according to our faithfulness. When trials come our way it is good to remind ourselves that the Lord sees everything.
"Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise his greatness! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it. She has been given clean shining linen to wear. (The linen is the good deeds of God's people.) Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And the angel added, 'These are the true words of God'" (Revelation 19:7-9). Memory Verses
Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise his greatness! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it. She has been given clean shining linen to wear. (The linen is the good deeds of God's people.) Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And the angel added, "These are the true words of God".
- Revelation 19:7-9
God bless You'll....LETS GET READY FOR HIS EMBRACE....SMILE
In a previous section, we discussed briefly the return of Christ. A common term used to describe one of the events surrounding His return is the word "rapture". It refers to the time when Jesus will meet His church in the air. No one can tell us when the Rapture will take place because only God the Father knows.
"No one knows, however, when that day and hour will come--neither the angels in heaven nor the Son; the Father alone knows" (Matthew 24:36).
But there are signs telling us that the Rapture is drawing near, Jesus said that just before His return there would be an increase in worldliness, wickedness, and violence. False christs and false prophets would arise; there would be earthquakes, famine, and pestilence. There would be wars and rumors of war. All these signs spoken of in Matthew 24and Luke 21 are happening in our day.
Not everything, however, is negative. In spite of terrible times many people will seek the Lord and find Him. Joel 2:28-29 tells us about it: "Afterward I will pour out my spirit on everyone: your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. At that time I will pour out my spirit even on servants, both men and women."
Christians look forward to the Rapture with joy. Those who have died will be resurrected and those who are alive will be changed. All will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.
"Listen to this secret truth: we shall not all die, but when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised, never to die again, and we shall all be changed. For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal; what will die must be changed into what cannot die" (I Corinthians 15:51-53).
After the Rapture Christians will be judged and rewarded according to their faithfulness to Christ. Then they will go to the marriage supper of the Lamb when Christ, the Lamb of God, welcomes the church as His bride.
"For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. Each one will receive what he deserves, according to everything he has done, good or bad, in his bodily life" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
We know that our sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus, and we will not have to answer for them. But we will be rewarded according to our faithfulness. When trials come our way it is good to remind ourselves that the Lord sees everything.
"Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise his greatness! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it. She has been given clean shining linen to wear. (The linen is the good deeds of God's people.) Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And the angel added, 'These are the true words of God'" (Revelation 19:7-9). Memory Verses
Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise his greatness! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it. She has been given clean shining linen to wear. (The linen is the good deeds of God's people.) Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And the angel added, "These are the true words of God".
- Revelation 19:7-9
God bless You'll....LETS GET READY FOR HIS EMBRACE....SMILE
