End times (part 3): The timing of the rapture
The timing of the rapture has been subject to many debates over the past centuries.
Furthermore, many movies and ‘man-based’ theologies have determined the timing of the Rapture.
Today, I would like all of us to pay strong attention to what Jesus exactly said about the timing of the rapture. In the first part of this message series, I discussed where to find the rapture in the Scripture.
In today’s message, I will simply discuss the timing of the rapture based on what Jesus said.
There are three characters in the event of the rapture (ref. Matthew 24:29-31):
a) Jesus Himself.
b) The believers who will be raptured
c) The Angels to whom Jesus will order to take the elected believers
The main star of the rapture event is Jesus.
Since He is the main character of the event, we have to believe and honor the timing of the rapture.
Regarding the timing of the rapture, Jesus mentioned two main things:
First,besides God, nobody knows the Day nor the hour of the rapture (ref. Matthew 24:36).
Secondly, in the passage of Matthew 24:1-34 , Jesus mentions a list of bad events that will occur before the rapture. Those events are: ‘deception,false Messiahs, false prophets, wars and rumours of war, famines, earthquakes, the global persecution of Christians, the abandonment of the Faith by many, the increase in wickedness, global gospel revival and the abomination of desolation.
Note as well, that the verse describing the rapture Matthew 25:29 starts with the word ‘After the distress of those days…’
It means that Jesus’ return comes after a series of bad events. It is important that we all be aware of what precedes the rapture so that we do not fall for any deception and for any disappointment. Many will be disappointed because they would have been taught that the Church will not be around to see wars, famines, earthquakes, false prophets and the abomination of desolation.
As you can see by now, the Iranian Church has suffered persecution and is experiencing a war. The Iranian Church has not been raptured. The Ukrainian Church has suffered a five year long war and she has not been raptured. The global Church suffered a pandemic in 2020 and she has not been raptured. Actually, thousands of Christians died during the pandemic. I say this so that you understand that we will witness and experience a lot of bad events before the rapture.
If you are taught otherwise, you will likely lose faith when you witness those bad events.
Jesus said: 'but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.' (Matthew 25:13)
Stand firm till the end.
Furthermore, many movies and ‘man-based’ theologies have determined the timing of the Rapture.
Today, I would like all of us to pay strong attention to what Jesus exactly said about the timing of the rapture. In the first part of this message series, I discussed where to find the rapture in the Scripture.
In today’s message, I will simply discuss the timing of the rapture based on what Jesus said.
There are three characters in the event of the rapture (ref. Matthew 24:29-31):
a) Jesus Himself.
b) The believers who will be raptured
c) The Angels to whom Jesus will order to take the elected believers
The main star of the rapture event is Jesus.
Since He is the main character of the event, we have to believe and honor the timing of the rapture.
Regarding the timing of the rapture, Jesus mentioned two main things:
First,besides God, nobody knows the Day nor the hour of the rapture (ref. Matthew 24:36).
Secondly, in the passage of Matthew 24:1-34 , Jesus mentions a list of bad events that will occur before the rapture. Those events are: ‘deception,false Messiahs, false prophets, wars and rumours of war, famines, earthquakes, the global persecution of Christians, the abandonment of the Faith by many, the increase in wickedness, global gospel revival and the abomination of desolation.
Note as well, that the verse describing the rapture Matthew 25:29 starts with the word ‘After the distress of those days…’
It means that Jesus’ return comes after a series of bad events. It is important that we all be aware of what precedes the rapture so that we do not fall for any deception and for any disappointment. Many will be disappointed because they would have been taught that the Church will not be around to see wars, famines, earthquakes, false prophets and the abomination of desolation.
As you can see by now, the Iranian Church has suffered persecution and is experiencing a war. The Iranian Church has not been raptured. The Ukrainian Church has suffered a five year long war and she has not been raptured. The global Church suffered a pandemic in 2020 and she has not been raptured. Actually, thousands of Christians died during the pandemic. I say this so that you understand that we will witness and experience a lot of bad events before the rapture.
If you are taught otherwise, you will likely lose faith when you witness those bad events.
Jesus said: 'but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.' (Matthew 25:13)
Stand firm till the end.