Introduction
It’s been approximately 2023 years (4 BC to 2019 AD)
Since Jesus left this earth to return to HIS Heavenly Abode
Where HE sits at the right hand of HIS Father Mediating to HIM on our behalf
GOD the Father sees us through Jesus;
HE doesn’t see us as we are, imperfect in every way.
Thank YOU Jesus!
Before Jesus’ Ascension back to Heaven
HE said to HIS followers:
“And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:22-24)
There’re many denominations among Christian assemblies today but there’s only one Way to Heaven and that is through Christ Jesus.
We’re saved from what?
We’re saved from the powers of Satan.
We’re saved from the sting of physical death.
We’re saved from eternal damnation.
Believe and be Saved
Now that Jesus is back in Heaven, what’s next?
—The Next Event will be the Rapture-Catching Up of the Saved—
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)
“our gathering together unto him” (HIS Church goes to Heaven to be with HIM)
“the day of Christ” (Jesus receives HIS Bride)
“that man of sin be revealed” (the antichrist)
“so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (the antichrist defiles the Jews altar during the Greatest Tribulation known to mankind.
The Coming Events
The Rapture—The Catching up of the Church to Heaven
Some people are quick to say that the rapture isn’t mentioned in the Bible; that’s not true. But! It’s true that the word Rapture is not cited. My Bible was written in English. The English term is: Caught Up. In John 14:3-4, Jesus Promised HIS Disciples that HE would come again to take them back the Heaven with HIM; Jesus said: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” And, in I Thessalonians 4: 16-18, Paul confirms that Promise when he says: “16For the LORD himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” Some people try to argue that the Rapture wasn’t mentioned before John Darby brought it up; that’s not true, Jesus HIMSELF talked about coming to receive HIS Followers. Yes, the Bible teaches us that Jesus is going to call us from the clouds to join HIM in the air.
{Romans 14: 10; II Corinthians 5: 10}
The Judgement Seat of Christ is in Heaven. It is a place where we will be rewarded for the good deeds we did while on this Earth. Not all of us will receive rewards because some of our bad deeds might outweigh our good works. But! Heaven is a Free Gift from GOD given only to those who Accept Christ Jesus to be their LORD and Savior during this our Grace Period [Jesus’ Ascension — the Rapture].
A list of some early Church thinkers (outside the Bible) who believed that the Church would be taken out of this world, before or during the Great Tribulation Period:
Irenaeus (120/130-202)
Hippolytus (185-235)
Francisco Ribera (1537-1591)
Morgan Edwards (1722-1795)
Emmanuel Lacunzao (1731-1801)
Edward Irving (1792-1834)
John Darby (1800-1882)
Margaret MacDonald (1815-around 1840)
-And many others-
It’s a mystery (to me) why some Christian denominations deny that the Catching Up– the Rapture, of True Believers will happen someday (only the Father knows when).
Now that Jesus has returned to Heaven and we’re in our Grace Period (Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ), the next big event in GODS plan is the Catching Up to Heaven, of Jesus’ Church—Bride—Body of Christ—Christians—Assembly.
We know that many people hate the term: Rapture, they would rather believe that Jesus is going to come back to send everyone to hell except Christians, and then He’ll take all the Christians back to Heaven to live happily ever after. But, that’s not what the Bible teaches. {I Corinthians 15: 23, 52; I Thessalonians 4: 16-18; 5: 4-28; II Thessalonians 2: 1-6; Revelation 3: 21, 22}
Repeat: Before Jesus returns (second coming), True Believers mysteriously disappear from the face of this earth and the world will be surprised.
Again Paul says: I Thessalonians 4:16-18; “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Remember, this will take place before the 2nd Coming of Christ Jesus.
The FIVE FUTURE EVENTS
The Rapture (catching up to heaven)
The Great Tribulation period; seven years of Trouble on Earth
The Second Coming of Christ, with HIS angels and HIS wife
The Millennial kingdom; 1000 years of Peace on Earth
The New Heaven and New Earth; Eternity begins