Print

I THESSALONIANS 4: 13 -18

"THE RAPTURE"

Intro: In as much as there are many voiced beginning to say, " The Lord delayeth His  coming"
       I felt impressed to once again review the scriptures relative to the  "catching up" or
       rapture of the Church.

I. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING OF  JESUS CHRIST.

  A. At the rapture He is coming for His saints.
                1. "I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am  there..."
                2. I Cor. 15 "I shew you a mystery."
                3. "Beloved now are we the Sons of God, but..."
                4. Phil. 3:20 "For our citizenship..."
        B. The second coming, He is coming with His saints.
                1. "And when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also
                        appear with Him in glory."
                2. Jude 14 "The Lord cometh with 10 thousands of His
                        saints."
                3. Rev. 19 speaks of the armies that came with Him.
        C. The rapture of the Church is imminate.
                1. "But of that day or hour knoweth no man."
                2. "Watch ye therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth  come."
        D. The second-coming must follow the great Tribulation.
                1. The anti-Christ must first appear.
                2. The day of the second coming can be reckoned from the day the
                        anti-Christ causes the daily sacrifices and oblations to cease.
                        1,290 days.

II. WILL THE CHURCH GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION?
        A. Difference between tribulation " In this world."
                1. Origin.

a. Satan.
b. God.
                2. Objects.
                        a. The church.
                        b. Those which obeyed not the truth.
        B. Why some people believe the church will.
        1. Matt. 24:30,31.
                a. Gather His elect from the four winds
                b. His elect refers here to the Jews as He has been  addressing them in Chapt.
                   24 "Pray that your flight be  not in winter or Sabbath day" Abomination of
                   desolation's."
        2. Rev. 13:7 re: Anti Christ "And it was given unto Him to make  war on the saints,
           and to overcome them."
        C. The promises to the Church.
        1. Rev. 3 10 "Because ye have kept the Word."
        2. Luke 21:36 "Watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may  be accounted worthy to
           escape..." and to stand before the  Son of Man.
        3. To the unfaithful church He warned Rev. 2:20
        4. I Thess. 5:9 "For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to  obtain salvation.."
                        5. II Peter 2:9 "For the Lord knoweth . . . "
        D. The order of the Book of Revelation.

Those that would say: "The Lord delayeth His coming" are called "evil servants" by our Lord
                      Jesus Christ.

They would have you preparing for the Tribulation instead of preparing for our Lord.

They would rather have you watching for the antichrist instead of watching for our Lord Jesus
 Christ.

There is not a single prophesy remaining to be fulfilled before the catching of the Church

Jesus said, "Watch ye therefore" Jesus said, "Be ye ready."

Are you watching? Are you ready?