In continuation of the subject we started on Sunday, we examined the difference between the ‘appearing of Jesus Christ (rapture) and His second coming’. The essence is to grasp the bible stand concerning rapture as against the misconception of men who are denying such. The only reason why we have people saying Enoch died somewhere, or that Elijah was thrown somewhere in Uganda or wherever, and other false doctrines related flying around is all an attempt to make believers relinquish their expected lively hope –rapture. Thus, it becomes necessary to have ourselves grounded in the faith of the bible so we won’t have to surrender to the jamborees of mockers.
The Rapture and The Tribulation Saints I
The Rapture
Text; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1Timothy 6:13-14, Titus 2:13.
The rapture is the catching away of the bride of Christ to meet their groom in the air –thus, Christ is not coming down to the earth, rather He will appear in the air, and His appearance would cause the magnetization of His bride to Himself.
It is the lively hope that we were promised in scriptures as saints. Judgment awaits this world, but Christ has got plans to take his bride on a lovely honeymoon in heaven for seven years. The seven years period will be the remaining time for the Jews to receive the gospel through Moses and Elijah, and the great tribulation after the first three and half years. But before this seven years commence, the bride (wise virgins) would be caught up to meet the Lord. For just as Enoch didn’t experience the deluge of the antediluvian world, the wise virgins would not experience the period of the great tribulation.
If you look at the past precedence, like Enoch and Elijah, you would see the difference between what they prefigured to Lot. For the former, they were caught up whilst for the latter; God himself came down to save them, prefiguring the rapture saints and the tribulation saints respectively.
Let’s see a few scripture that speak of rapture.
1 Timothy 6:14 KJV
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Titus 2:13 KJV
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 1:7 KJV
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
2 Timothy 4:8 KJV
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The Second Coming
Text: Jude 1:14, Matthew 16:28, 2Timothy 4:1, Titus 2:13, 1Peter 1:7, 2Thessalonians 2:3, 1Thessalonians 3:13.
In the second coming as prophesied in the Bible, He would come down to the earth with thousands of His saints. More so, whilst Jesus was being taken up in Acts 1:11, two angels appeared to the men of Galilee, affirming to them these words, “…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go to heaven”. This means that the same way he was ciphered up from the earth, someday, he would be deciphered down back to the earth; He would stand upon the earth’s crust again as when he came at first. That is the second coming.
At Mount Transfiguration, Jesus also prefigured his second coming, prior to that time, he told his disciples that there are some of them who would not see death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. And after six days, Peter, James and John witnessed this, they saw Him coming in His kingdom with two other angels; a perfect reaffirmation of Enoch’s prophecy of the Lord coming with ten thousands of his saints. Jesus would appear alone, but when he’s coming, he won’t come alone.
In the second coming of Jesus, He is coming to execute judgment, and the brides are the army that would come down with Him when coming to fight the Armageddon war.
Your Responsibility
If your focus is the rapture, stop looking for fleshly convenience, there are prerequisites. Just like Jesus, before his ascension, instructed the 120 to tarry in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father; if you read Luke 24:49, some things are quite obvious for us to see. The first is that it was a promise; second, he was going to send it to them, but still, they had to tarry in Jerusalem. Consider that no precise time was given to them; they must remain until the Holy Ghost comes. This will make you realize that Grace has work, and the work of Grace is Obedience. Would anyone have the excuse of not being around for some time whilst in the waiting process; he would be jeopardizing his chance of receiving the Holy Spirit. As the time approaches, Paul admonished us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves, right. You don’t want to have any excuse for missing the rapture, do you? Then, be responsive to the grace you received with prompt obedience. That’s all you need. It’s neither by power nor might. The grace of God will help us. Amen!