ARE YOU READY FOR THE
RETURN OF JESUS AND THE
MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB?
RETURN OF JESUS AND THE
MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
New King James Version
The above text is the main Scripture concerning the rapture. Notice the very first thing Paul said was do not be ignorant of this.
God does not want us to be ignorant concerning the soon coming of the Lord. He does not want us to miss out. There is evidence in the Bible of people disappearing. Let's examine them.
ENOCH
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
New King James Version
Enoch was the first person in Scripture that left the earth without dying. We are told it was "by faith." Enoch believed he would be taken. The second thing we need to notice is that no only did he have faith but he pleased God. it was a combination of faith and pleasing God that Enoch was taken. Obviously there were people to tried to find him because this verse says he was not found.
We know the rapture is a possibility because of what happened to Enoch.
ELIJAH
2 Kings 2:11-12
Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out,"My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
New King James Version
Elijah experienced a rapture like event. He was on earth one moment and gone the next. Noticed that it happened suddenly. Without warning, Elijah was gone. This is what will happen when the rapture will occur. People will be gone. And those who remain will see them no more.
PAUL
2 Corinthians 12:1-4
It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
New King James Version
Paul experienced a rapture like event. In fact the Greek word Paul used for "caught up" is the same word he used in 1 Thessalonians for "caught up." Paul was taken to the third heaven which is where God lives. This is where believers who are raptured will go.
PHILIP
Acts 8:39-40
Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
New King James Version
Philip is another person who was caught away. The same Greek word that is used in verse 39 when Luke says Philip was caught away is found in the 1 Thessalonians 4:16 verse.
JESUS
Jesus experienced two rapture like events. Let's look at them.
Acts 1:9-11
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
New King James Version
Jesus was on earth and He went straight up to heaven. The disciples saw Him leave. It was like the rapture happening in slow motion.
The next verse in its context tells of a woman, which is either the church or Israel, and she bore a male child who was caught up to God. The Greek word for caught up is the same word Paul used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
Revelation 12:5
She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
New King James Version
Luke 24:30-31
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
New King James Version
Jesus vanished from their sight. This is how it will be at the rapture. People will vanish all over the world. And people will be wondering what happened.
HOW FAST WILL THE RAPTURE HAPPEN?
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
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.
New King James Version
The Greek word Paul used for moment in verse 32 is "atomos" which is where we get the words atom and atomic from. The word atomos is really two Greek words put together. The word really means "no cut". A measurement of time that is so short that it cannot be divided. One second is short, but one second can be divided into milliseconds and nanoseconds. Atomos is so short it cannot be divided so atomos is much faster than one second.
So how fast will the rapture happen? Lightning travels 186,000 miles per second. So the rapture will happen faster than light can travel. When the rapture happens there will be no time to get right with God. You will either be going to meet the Lord in the air or you will be remaining here on the earth to deal with the chaos and the Antichrist.
Matthew 24:27
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
New King James Version
NO ONE KNOWS THE TIME OR DAY OF THE RAPTURE-- NOT EVEN JESUS
Mark 13:32-37
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning — 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
New King James Version
PEOPLE WILL DISBELIEVE JESUS WILL RETURN IN THE LAST DAYS
2 Peter 3:3-4
knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
New King James Version
Peter also gives us the reason why it seems that Jesus is slow at coming.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
New King James Version
God does not want you to perish in hell so He is giving you every possible chance to receive Jesus and be ready for Jesus' coming.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE RAPTURE
There is only one way to be ready for the day Jesus returns to take His church out of the earth.
Romans 10:9-10
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
New King James Version