The King is coming

We are currently living in unprecedented times. Who would have thought that our lives could change so quickly. The media are creating fear and panic among all the nations of the world. I believe they are unknowingly supporting the agenda of The new world order. The mark of the beast that the Bible talks about is truly close at hand.  I believe that Christians will be raptured out of this world before the rise of the antichrist. God's word tells us that in the last days a man will arise to take control of the world. So for believers this is a high watch time. All that is happening in the world right now was predicted thousands of years ago in the word of God. 

The return of Jesus Christ is a very exciting prospect for a lot of Christians. However there are some who doubt he will return in their lifetime, and sadly there are those who doubt he is coming at all.

Christians have been mocked over the years particularly by the media who love to jump on another false end of the world prediction. Unfortunately these false prophets give rise to extreme scepticism as another doomsday date comes and goes.

However for those who mock about his coming, they are actually fulfilling scripture.
2 Peter 3:6  Knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming ? For since the father's fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the very beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of  the water and in the water. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished. )

The Bible is clear with regards to the things that will be taking place in the end days.

Our time-clock is the nation of Israel. In 1948 something remarkable happened. The nation of Israel became a land. The Jews finally had a place to call home, just like God promised they would. This sign is absolutely astounding, and one of the reasons I know we are living in the time of the end. Jesus said that those who see this happen will be the Terminal generation. This single event started the time clock ticking. Ezekiel 36:24  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you into your own land. The gathering of God's people is setting the stage for Christ's return.
Jesus said we would not know the day or the hour. However he did say when we see signs we can be sure summer is near. Well I believe we are on the verge of summer.

For those who are prepared for the Lord's return it will be glorious.
Can you even imagine what it will be like when we hear that trumpet and the Lord's voice calling us.

CAUGHT UP!
by J. H. McConkey

Suddenly, in one swift, intense instant, the jubilee moment of the waiting centuries, the descending Lord Himself shall shout. Up from the quiet valley, from sunlit hillsides, from village burying grounds, from the yawning depths of the sea, from the distant battlefields where Christian patriots have laid down their lives, from the jungles of India, from the swamps of Africa, from the islands of the sea, from every lonely spot where His children have passed away in suffering and service, shall the glorified, radiant host spring up "like pyramids of flame;" to meet their coming Lord.

What a vision for tear-stained eyes; what a hope for waiting hearts; what a spur to lagging service!

Caught up? Who can picture it? While men and women walk the busy streets, they shall be caught up! While they bow in the secret chamber of prayer, they shall be caught up! While with burning hearts they ponder the Word that tells of His coming, they shall be caught up! While patient, suffering ones lie on beds of pain, they shall be caught up! While in the graves of the dead, they shall be caught up! And, as the startled world wonders, the only records left shall be that of Enoch's - 'And they walked with God, and were not, for God took them!'
Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour the Son of Man cometh! We look for no signs. We know of no prophetic event between us and the coming of the Lord. We know not the hour He will come, but we know not any hour in which He may NOT come. It may be years from now; it may be tomorrow; it may be today.
It may be at morn, when the first faint flush of awakening day tints the horizon; it may be at high noon, when the busy world, deaf with the din of traffic, hears not His shout; or it may be at eventide, when the twilight hours are solemnizing the souls of His children with the hush of its own waiting. It matters not; no man knows. But "the Lord is at hand"; "the judge standeth at the door."

Each generation stands in eager expectancy as on the very brink of the mightiest miracle of the miracle-working God since the resurrection of His Son from the dead. And the veil of our mortal flesh trembles under the anticipating touch of Him who may at any moment rend it asunder for the outshining of His glory for the manifestation of the sons of God.
"Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

It is after the rapture that the tribulation will occur. A period of 7 years on earth that you don't want to be here for. The Bible calls it the time of Jacob's trouble. It will be a time when the Jewish nation finally yields and accepts that Jesus is indeed the Messiah that they have been waiting for.

Songwriters: Charles Millhuff / Gloria Gaither / Willam J. Gaither

why I believe in the pre-tribulation rapture

One of the most debated topics in the church is when will the rapture take place in relation to the tribulation period. It is the most discussed issue among Bible scholars. No denomination of Christianity has ever really debated about whether there will be a rapture, but when it will actually occur is a hot topic.
Let me say this, don't let anyone try to convince you that there is no rapture. The catching away or taking up of the church is a sound Biblical doctrine. As believers it is up to us as to delve into the word of God to find out what it says about this very important event that will soon take place.

Some say the word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. Well the word in Greek is Harpazo which means to be seized or extracted by force. We are going to go from having a physical body to a spiritual glorified body in a moment.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Behold I tell you a mystery, We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal body must put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory.

In Titus 2:13 it is called the blessed hope. It says we are to be looking for the glorious appearing of our God and saviour Jesus Christ. As believers we should be looking and anticipating his return.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus Christ, which delivers us from the wrath to come.

The rapture truly is our blessed hope. When the rapture happens the Christian will be delivered from the wrath of God, through faith in the son of God. This is mentioned in both the old and new testament.

Isaiah 26:20-21 
Come my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself, as it were, for a moment, until the indignation is past. For behold the Lord comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will also disclose her blood, And no more cover her slain.
This verse can be referenced to Daniel 12:1-2 At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people, And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation. Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered. Everyone who is found in the book.

It is clear that Isaiah seems to be talking about the church, while Daniel is making reference to the Jewish nation. The church will be rescued before a time of terrible trouble. But God also promises that during the tribulation the Jewish nation will be also be delivered.

Zephaniah 2:1-3 Gather yourselves together, yes gather together, O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued, or that day passes like the chaff, before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you. Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld his justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger.

The rapture is not just a new testament idea, it is refenced throughout the whole bible. It is an imminent event that can occur at any time. The apostles themselves awaited his return during their lifetime. The early church taught the imminent or sudden appearance of Jesus Christ himself to receive his church.

You may wonder why will there be a rapture. Well it is a direct promise from Jesus Christ John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if a I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

After Revelation chapter 4 the church is no longer mentioned
The rapture is a gentile event. It is the church age that will experience it. The tribulation is for the purpose of the Jewish nation so that they also may be redeemed. Unfortunately because of their refusal to believe Jesus is the Messiah, they will experience a time which the Bible calls Jacob's trouble.

What does it mean when we say the second coming of Jesus? There are two appointments regarding his return. His appearing is described as being atmospheric or in the sky, while his return is geographically limited with a bodily or physical arrival in Jerusalem (Israel).

Some say that the church has to go through the tribulation to be perfected and purified, I don't see that in the Bible. Jesus Christ has paid for our purification. If you have placed your faith in him you will not experience his wrath. Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 tells us that the antichrist will not be revealed until after the rapture has happened. These and many other bible references conclude that the church does experience wrath. The church will have tribulation on the earth, as we have seen through the last two thousand years. but God's wrath is a whole new ball game.

We are told not to be angry but to comfort one another with the blessed hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:18

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

2 Timothy 4:8 Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Amen