The Rapture - What does the Bible say?

I. Introduction

A. Once we come to faith in Christ our task is take a close look at the Scripture and begin to line our thinking up with the teaching of the Bible.

• • 1. Presbyterians are not so arrogant as to think we know it all and have it all correct.
  • 2. We should all be humble enough to realize that our relationship with Christ is a growing one.
  • 3. we put every thought and every idea on the table and look to see what God's word has to say

II. Review

A. John's readers are undergoing tremendous persecution. Some have even been put to death

B. Rev 11 begins to describe some of the events that will take place in the Great Tribulation

• • 1. The church has the task of proclaiming the gospel to a stubborn and sinful world. And for a while we are protected from Satan, who has been released from the restraints of the abyss.
  • 2. When our task is done, he will attack the church and overpower it. Kill it. (Next week)
  • 3. Rev 11:12 - At the end of the Great Tribulation Christ calls us to heaven.

a. At that very hour - everyone will profess the glory of God. Some through faith. Others terror.

C. John writes to encourage his readers to "overcome" - even to the point of death (Rev 2:10)

• • 1. He never sets their sites on the hope of being raptured out of the tribulation.
  • 2. They are instead called to overcome and persevere through it.
  • 3. And in the process Christ hears ours prayers, has sealed us, and is present with us. Be faithful.

III. The pre-trib rapture idea

A. Rapture: Christ will come quietly, secretly, and invisibly to take the church out of the world before the tribulation.

• • 1. Their reasoning: A thief in the night comes - quietly, secretly and invisibly.

B. After Christ raptures the church the world will continue on and people will have a chance to repent and come to faith.

• • 1. Mt 24:40 - Two in a field - one taken. One left.

C. The rapture is stage one in the second coming of Christ. He will return again another time (and maybe another).

IV. Scriptures

A. Mt 24:42-44 - The thief analogy is that a thief comes "unexpectedly".

• • 1. That is the way the Bible uses the analogy.
  • 2. We don't know the hour (42); the time (43); he will come when we don't expect him (44)

B. I Thes 4:16-5:3

• • 1. 5:3 - like a thief - suddenly
  • 2. 4:16 - trumpet, voice of archangel. Rather loud thief.

C. I Cor 15:51 - trumpet sound

D. Rev 3:3 - Wakeup - you don't know what time.

E. Mt 24:30-31 - Visible to all

F. Mt 24:36-512 - Two taken; one left

• • 1. Note vs. 39. Who gets swept away? It is the unbeliever in Noah's day. Swept away to destruction.
  • 2. The unbeliever is the one taken. The believer left.
  • 3. Mt 24:50-51- the hypocrite sent to the place of weeping and gnashing.
  • 4. The whole idea in Mt 24:36-25:46 - is that a day of separation is coming. A day when Christ separates the believer from the hypocrite. (25:32)

a. Mt 13:28 - He lets the hypocrite stay for now. But a day of separation is coming.

G. There is only one second coming. And when Christ returns (Rev 11:15) The kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of our Lord. When he returns it will be once in victory and in judgment.