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                                                     The Rapture of the Church

Jesus is here presented as a victorious king, beginning his last battle for victory over the forces of evil. We are in a spiritual battle today with the forces of hell. But I'm glad to say Christ is the victor, and glorious leader of the Church. The voice of the archangel may be Michael he is the one who leads the attack against the devil in heaven (Rev 12:7), scripture doesn't tell us? But nevertheless his voice is different from the signal shout of our Lord. When God revealed Himself on Mt. Sinai their was the sound of a trumpet exceedingly loud (Exodus 19:16). Its the trumpet call of God (Ps 47:5). Also (Psalms 50:1-5; Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52) reveals to us a trumpet will be used to call us together at Christ's coming.

This is not only a gathering together of Gods faithful, but also a resurrection. Paul was addressing a problem the Thessalonians were having that arose while waiting on the Lord to come back. Actually two problems arose one he addresses here in chapter four the other in chapter five. In chapter four our text he was dealing with the issue that some were now saying those who died before Christ's return would miss out on all the blessings. Paul assured them that we who are alive and remain till the coming of the Lord will have no advantage over those who have died serving and waiting for Christ. They will be raised first from the dead. Then we who are alive will be caught up together with them to ever be with the Lord. They are safe with Christ now (2 Cor 5:8), and will be physically resurrected and receive their glorified bodies at the time of Christ’s return (1 John 3:2).

Paul reminded them that they had been fully taught about the DAY of the LORD. That He would come upon the children of darkness as a thief (1 Thess 5:2). Peter spoke of one day being as a 1000 years with the Lord. Scripture reveals that at the time of His coming their will be the catching away of His Church. Followed by a seven year period of tribulation upon all the world  In which afterwards He will return again .This time putting His feet down on the Mt of Olives. Coming to rule and reign for a 1000 years. Then after the 1000 years are up there will be a final judgment of Satan casting him into the lake of fire where the antichrist, and false prophet already are. Then their will be a new heaven and new earth after all things are judged Rev 20. Then God will dwell with man on the new earth Rev 21-1-5). The Day of the Lord will begin at the seven year tribulation, and extend to the end of the 1000 year millennium. Ending the judgments of God and begging  eternity only after Christ offer's up all things to the Father (1 Cor 15:21-28).

(1Co 15:24) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

(1Co 15:25) For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Concerning the time of the rapture Paul assured them that the Day of the Lord would not come except their be first a falling away, and the man of sin be revealed- the antichrist (2 Thess 2:1-3). The falling away literally means defecting from the truth (“apostasy”). That is the time we are living in. Also its important to note the antichrist going into the Temple declaring himself to be God, and exalts himself above all that is called God. Some were saying the rapture had already happened. Their had even been some kind of false letter written. And Paul's concern was straitening out the issue concerning the timing of the rapture. That it hadn't happened yet. Though they were in great affliction, and persecution Paul was giving them assurance that the rapture hadn't happened yet. The rapture couldn't have taken place yet, because the Antichrist hadn't been revealed. Today there's nothing that has to happen in scripture, no prophecy has to be fulfilled the Lord could return at anytime to catch away His Church. This was the early  Churches hope, and it is ours also today. Emphatically we see through out the scriptures that Jesus is coming back for a people that is not only waiting and watching, but also loving His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).

Our Blessed Hope - The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).

 Paul assured the Thessalonians that we are not appointed unto the wrath of God three times (1 Thess 1:10, 1 Thess 5:9-10, and 2 Thess 1:5-10).  Traditionally and scripturally the Church has always taught the rapture must take place before the wrath of God would be poured out upon the earth in the seven years tribulation period prophesied. The middle of that seven years is spoken of by our Lord in (Matt 24:15-21) as great tribulation, but the full seven years are considered the wrath of God and the tribulation that will come upon the whole world. He assured the Thessalonians and us that we are not appointed unto wrath. The signing of a peace treaty with Israel by the antichrist will start the 70th week of Daniel and begin the seven years prophesied as the wrath of God.

In chapter five they as down through Church history have tried to give a date as to when the Lord would return. They were concerned about the times, and seasons of His coming. In Paul's address (1 Thess 5:1-11) he speaks of Christ's coming as a thief upon them who are in darkness, and drunken as in the night. But not upon them who are walking in the light, who are true children of the light. That is it should not happen to us as it will many. Israel is Gods time clock, and when Jesus said you see all theses things happen (fulfilled prophecy) look up for your redemption draweth nie (Luke 21:28). Paul said that day should not overtake them as a thief vs-4 speaking to us also. Jesus gave a warning to the Church in Sardis (Rev 3:1-3). That He had not found there works perfect before God. That they needed to remember what they had received and herd ,and repent. That if they didn't He would come upon them as a thief and they would not know what hour He would come upon them( Rev 3:3)! We can not know the day or the hour but we can the season because of unfolding prophecy in these last days.

More on the timing, and spiritual condition of these last days. In (2Thess 2:6-8) He speaks of the mystery of iniquity or lawlessness that is now working in the world. And also of the Spirit of God who is being taken out of the way. He is being taken out of the way as has already been given reference to by the falling away from the truth. Also our constitution being reinterpreted. The ten commandments being taken out of our schools. All that is godly is being attacked, and the foundations are being moved in these last days. We also as Gods children can grieve the Spirit and remove Him in many ways. The Church at large in these last days is prophesied as having a form of godliness, but denying the power of the Spirit in godly submission. Peter on the day of Pentecost spoke of the Spirit being poured out on all flesh in theses last days (Acts 2:17). But at the same time their is apostasy taking place in the Church. Perilous times iniquity abounding, evil men waxing worse and worse. Scoffers in the last days walking after their own flesh, and the love of many waxing cold (2Tim 3:1-5, Matt 24:12, and 2 Pet 3:3). A line is being drawn by the Spirit, you'll be on one side or the other. There will be no in-between.

There's coming an explosion of evil in theses last days. The Bible has prophesied the antichrist and false prophet along with a spiritual birth from hell. When they take the mark there's no turning back they will have given themselves to demons and devils. Even now the Spirit is being taken out of the way. But just as history has proven and men who have given themselves to devils in the past have shown such as Hitler,  Binlodin and Hussein. There's nothing people won't do after they've cross a curtain line. There's coming a time when the earth will celebrate the death of two godly prophets with a satanic Christmas, exchanging gifts and making merry  in celebration of  there deaths (Rev 11:10). The Spirit is holding everything in check today, and things are pretty bad, but there's coming a time when the restrainer will no longer restrain no longer strive with the spirits of man as in the days of Noah. Immediately following the rapture after Gods people are taken out. There will be unprecedented evil such as never has been before. Brother against brother, nations against nations, deception famine pestilences and much more.

It dose not say the Spirit is taken out of the world, but out of the way. We are the salt and light of the world its the Spirit of God that dwells in us. We are His Church that is to stand for righteousness in these last days. The Spirit will still be here during the tribulation period. As seen in (Rev 7:3) the same Greek word as is used for us being sealed by the Spirit, and also the 144000, being sealed anointed ,and commissioned to go and preach the Gospel in all the world (2 Co1:22, Eph 1:13, Eph 4:30, Rev 7:3-8). Yes He the Spirit is the agent that restrains sin and keeps those who's heart is right, but He dose it through the will, and choice of man (Gen 20:6, 2Chronicals 16:9).

If we are living in accordance to the hope of His coming. The Bible says we are purifying ourselves even as He is pure (1 John 3:3). Paul addressing the Thessalonians was assuring them and us that if we are walking in the light of God's Word .Truly having this hope in us then be assured we are not appointed unto the wrath of God that is to come upon all the world(1 Thess 5:9). The judgments in the book of Revelation is clearly the wrath of God. The wrath of God against sin must come and will come. But we are not appointed to it our sins are covered by the blood of Christ. Who took the wrath of God upon Himself for you and me. In (Gen 7:1-4) we see that God had commanded Noah and his family to get into the Ark vs-1, but in vs-4 we see He caused it to start raining seven days later. I believe this is a beautiful prophetic picture of the Church being in the Ark of Christ in heaven safe with Christ during the seven year period of the wrath God. The Lord bless you and keep you as you study His Word Amen!

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