SERMON:SERMON:

RAPTURERAPTURE

THE WORD “RAPTURE”THE WORD “RAPTURE”

WORD “RAPTURE” IS NOT IN THE BIBLEWORD “RAPTURE” IS NOT IN THE BIBLE

DON’T GET HUNG UP ON WORDS:DON’T GET HUNG UP ON WORDS:

TRINITYTRINITY

MILLENNIAL REIGNMILLENNIAL REIGN

DEMONDEMON

NEED TO UNDERSTAND CONCEPTSNEED TO UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS

ROOT OF THE WORD ROOT OF THE WORD “RAPTURE”“RAPTURE”

1 THESS 4:16-171 THESS 4:16-17 "For the Lord himself will "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the with the voice of an archangel, and with the

sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who

are left, will be are left, will be caught upcaught up together with them in together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we

will always be with the Lord." will always be with the Lord."

GREEK WORDGREEK WORD “HARPAZO”“HARPAZO”

RAPTURERAPTURE = LATIN WORD MEANING SOMETHING = LATIN WORD MEANING SOMETHING HAPPENING QUICKLY HAPPENING QUICKLY “RAPERE”“RAPERE”

JESUS RETURNS ONCE OR JESUS RETURNS ONCE OR TWICE?TWICE?

ONE MORE PUBLICONE MORE PUBLIC

&&

ONE MORE IN SECRETONE MORE IN SECRET

2 DISTINCT 2 DISTINCT APPEARANCESAPPEARANCES

2 Thessalonians 2:12 Thessalonians 2:1 Now, brethren, Now, brethren, concerning the concerning the comingcoming of our Lord Jesus of our Lord Jesus Christ Christ andand our our gathering togethergathering together to Him, to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.Christ had come.

COMING = COMING = PAROUSIAPAROUSIA = RETURN OR MAKE NEAR = RETURN OR MAKE NEAR

GATHERING TOGETHER = GATHERING TOGETHER = ESPEPISUNAGOGEESPEPISUNAGOGE = MEETING = MEETING PLACEPLACE

COMING TO JUDGE THE COMING TO JUDGE THE NATIONSNATIONS

OLD TESTAMENTOLD TESTAMENT&&

NEW TESTAMENTNEW TESTAMENT

LORD RETURNS WHEN ISRAEL HAS NO HOPELORD RETURNS WHEN ISRAEL HAS NO HOPE

JUDGES THROUGH WAR ON THE ISRAEL’S ENEMIESJUDGES THROUGH WAR ON THE ISRAEL’S ENEMIES

MESSIAH WILL SET UP HIS KINGDOM FROM MESSIAH WILL SET UP HIS KINGDOM FROM JERUSALEMJERUSALEM

WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCH?WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCH?

ESPEPISUNAGOGEESPEPISUNAGOGEA greeting place where all the elders and people came A greeting place where all the elders and people came

togethertogether

JEWS = SYNAGOGUEJEWS = SYNAGOGUE

CHRISTIANS = CHURCHCHRISTIANS = CHURCH

Root word for Espepisunagoge meansRoot word for Espepisunagoge means:: To collect something in the same locationTo collect something in the same location

Paul uses the word Espepisunagoge:Paul uses the word Espepisunagoge: We are gathered together or caught up together in We are gathered together or caught up together in

the same location for a specific purposethe same location for a specific purpose

GENERAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY/CHURCHASSEMBLY/CHURCH

Hebrews 12:22-23Hebrews 12:22-23 But you have come But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the innumerable company of angels, to the general assemblygeneral assembly and and church of the church of the firstbornfirstborn who arewho are registered in registered in heavenheaven, to God the Judge of all, to , to God the Judge of all, to the the spirits of just men made perfectspirits of just men made perfect,,

THE GREAT ASSEMBLYTHE GREAT ASSEMBLYGENERAL ASSEMBLY MEANING GREAT ASSEMBLYGENERAL ASSEMBLY MEANING GREAT ASSEMBLY

Great Assembly:Great Assembly: occurred every occurred every 7 years7 years in Jerusalem in Jerusalem

Included Everyone—the woman and children and this is one Included Everyone—the woman and children and this is one that the King actually participated inthat the King actually participated in

They would not use a shofar (rams horn) nor a silver They would not use a shofar (rams horn) nor a silver trumpet which is used on certain occasionstrumpet which is used on certain occasions

They would use a They would use a Gold TrumpetGold Trumpet

Gold can represent deity or divinity in the Word of GodGold can represent deity or divinity in the Word of God

When looking at the scriptures you realize that a trump of When looking at the scriptures you realize that a trump of God is going to sound at the return of the LordGod is going to sound at the return of the Lord

CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORNCHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORNPaul calls the General Assembly of the Church of Paul calls the General Assembly of the Church of

the firstborn which are written in Heaventhe firstborn which are written in Heaven

Who’s names are written in Heaven?Who’s names are written in Heaven?

Your name if you’re are born again is written in Your name if you’re are born again is written in HeavenHeaven

How do you become a part of the Church? How do you become a part of the Church?

The Church of the living God The Church of the living God

Everyone in the World who’s name is in the Lamb’s book of life in Everyone in the World who’s name is in the Lamb’s book of life in HeavenHeaven

We are apart of the Church of the firstbornWe are apart of the Church of the firstborn

DON’T LIKE THE WORD DON’T LIKE THE WORD RAPTURE?RAPTURE?

““ESPEPISUNAGOGE”ESPEPISUNAGOGE”

OR OR

““GENERAL ASSEMBLY”GENERAL ASSEMBLY”

MEETING PLACE & GATHERING MEETING PLACE & GATHERING TOGETHERTOGETHER

THERE’S A CONNECTIONTHERE’S A CONNECTION

DEAD WILL RISEDEAD WILL RISE1 THESSOLONIANS 4:16 1 THESSOLONIANS 4:16 For the Lord Himself will For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the an archangel, and with the trumpettrumpet of God. And of God. And the the dead in Christ will rise firstdead in Christ will rise first. .

EPHESIANS 5:14EPHESIANS 5:14 “ “ AwakeAwake, you who , you who sleepsleep, Arise , Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

DANIEL 12:2DANIEL 12:2 And many of And many of those who sleepthose who sleep in the in the dust of the earth dust of the earth shall awakeshall awake, Some to everlasting , Some to everlasting life, Some to shame life, Some to shame andand everlasting contempt. everlasting contempt.

ISAIAH 26:19ISAIAH 26:19 Your dead shall live; Your dead shall live; Together withTogether with my my dead body dead body they shall arisethey shall arise. Awake and sing, you who . Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew dwell in dust; For your dew is likeis like the dew of herbs, the dew of herbs, And And the earth shall cast out the deadthe earth shall cast out the dead. .

MESSAGE TO BELIEVERSMESSAGE TO BELIEVERS

John 14:2-3John 14:2-3 In My Father’s house are many mansions; In My Father’s house are many mansions; if if it wereit were not not so,so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for youplace for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, , I I will come again andwill come again and receive you to Myselfreceive you to Myself; that ; that where I am, where I am, therethere you may be also… you may be also…

1 Thessalonians 4:171 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive Then we who are alive andand remain shall be caught up together with them in the remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds clouds to meet the Lord in the airto meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall . And thus we shall always always be with the Lord.be with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:50-521 Corinthians 15:50-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery: Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all We shall not all sleep sleep (those who died in Christ),(those who died in Christ), but but we we shall all be changedshall all be changed —in a moment, in the —in a moment, in the twinkling of an eyetwinkling of an eye, at , at the last trumpetthe last trumpet. .

WE WILL ALL HAVE IMMORTAL WE WILL ALL HAVE IMMORTAL BODIESBODIES

I CORINTHIANS 15 & JOEL 2I CORINTHIANS 15 & JOEL 2

SPEAKS ABOUT INCORRUPTIBLE BODIESSPEAKS ABOUT INCORRUPTIBLE BODIES

JOEL 2:14-16JOEL 2:14-16

Who knows Who knows ifif He will turn and relent, And He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him— A grain leave a blessing behind Him— A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? your God? Blow the trumpetBlow the trumpet in Zion, in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assemblysacred assembly; ; GatherGather the people, Sanctify the the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroombridegroom go out from his chamber, And go out from his chamber, And the bridethe bride from her dressing room. from her dressing room.

BRIDEGROOM COMING FOR HIS BRIDEGROOM COMING FOR HIS BRIDEBRIDE

REVELATION 19:6-10REVELATION 19:6-10 And I heard, as it were, And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for and give Him glory, for the marriage of the the marriage of the Lamb (JESUS) has come, and His wife (THE Lamb (JESUS) has come, and His wife (THE CHURCH) has made herself readyCHURCH) has made herself ready.” And to .” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, fine linen, clean and brightclean and bright, for the fine linen is the , for the fine linen is the righteous acts of righteous acts of the saints.the saints.

Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed areare those those who are called to the who are called to the marriage supper of the marriage supper of the Lamb!’”Lamb!’”

JESUS RETURNS JESUS RETURNS W/SAINTSW/SAINTS

REVELATION 19:11-16REVELATION 19:11-16    I saw heaven standing open and I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and True. With justice he judges and wages warwages war. His eyes are like blazing . His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven The armies of heaven were following himwere following him, riding on white horses and , riding on white horses and dressed in fine dressed in fine linen, white and cleanlinen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword . Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:    written:    KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

MARRIAGE SUPPER = WARMARRIAGE SUPPER = WAR

EZEKIEL 39:17-20EZEKIEL 39:17-20 “And as for you, son of man, thus says “And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘the Lord GOD, ‘Speak to every sort of birdSpeak to every sort of bird and to every beast of and to every beast of the field: “, And drink blood till you are drunk, At My sacrificial the field: “, And drink blood till you are drunk, At My sacrificial Assemble yourselves and come; Assemble yourselves and come; Gather togetherGather together from all sides to from all sides to My My sacrificial mealsacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing for you, A great Which I am sacrificing for you, A great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, That you may eat flesh sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, That you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mightyeat the flesh of the mighty,, Drink the Drink the blood of the princes of the earth, Of rams and lambs, Of goats and blood of the princes of the earth, Of rams and lambs, Of goats and bulls, All of them fatlings of Bashan. You shall eat fat till you are bulls, All of them fatlings of Bashan. You shall eat fat till you are full meal Which I am sacrificing for you. You shall be filled at My full meal Which I am sacrificing for you. You shall be filled at My table With table With horses and ridershorses and riders, With mighty men And with all the , With mighty men And with all the men of war,” says the Lord GOD. men of war,” says the Lord GOD.

REVELATION 19:17-18REVELATION 19:17-18 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”

THE LAST BATTLETHE LAST BATTLE

GREAT & TERRIBLE DAY OF THE GREAT & TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORDLORD

JUDGEMENT ON NATIONSJUDGEMENT ON NATIONS

WAR OF GOG AND MAGOGWAR OF GOG AND MAGOG

ARMAGGEDONARMAGGEDON

LORD’S ARMY FIGHTSLORD’S ARMY FIGHTSJOEL 2:11JOEL 2:11 The LORD gives voice before The LORD gives voice before His armyHis army, For His camp is , For His camp is very great; For strong very great; For strong is the Oneis the One who executes His word. For the who executes His word. For the day of the LORDday of the LORD isis great and very terrible; Who can endure it? great and very terrible; Who can endure it?

ISAIAH 13:3-4ISAIAH 13:3-4 I have commanded I have commanded My sanctified onesMy sanctified ones; I have ; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger— Those who rejoice in My also called My mighty ones for My anger— Those who rejoice in My exaltation.” The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of exaltation.” The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations nations gathered togethergathered together! The LORD of hosts musters ! The LORD of hosts musters The armyThe army for for battle. battle.

PSALM 50:4PSALM 50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people: earth, that He may judge His people: ““Gather My saints Gather My saints togethertogether to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. ”Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God sacrifice. ”Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself Himself isis Judge.  Judge. 

TESTED 3 TIMESTESTED 3 TIMES

ENOCHENOCH

ELIJAHELIJAH

JESUS CHRISTJESUS CHRIST

WHEN DOES THE RAPTURE WHEN DOES THE RAPTURE HAPPEN?HAPPEN?

MATTHEW 24:36MATTHEW 24:36 “But of that day and hour no “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. My Father only.

MARK 13:32MARK 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Son, but only the Father.

……Watch therefore, for you do not know when the Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all:

WATCH!WATCH!

KNOW THE SIGNSKNOW THE SIGNS

LIKE THE DAYS OF NOAHLIKE THE DAYS OF NOAH

WARS & RUMORS OF WARSWARS & RUMORS OF WARS

FAMINESFAMINES

EARTHQUAKESEARTHQUAKES

FALSE PROPHETSFALSE PROPHETS

NATIONS WILL HATE YOU FOR HIS NAMENATIONS WILL HATE YOU FOR HIS NAME

THE LORD’S FEASTSTHE LORD’S FEASTS

PASSOVER-FULFILLEDPASSOVER-FULFILLEDFEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD-FULFILLEDFEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD-FULFILLED

FEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS-FULFILLEDFEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS-FULFILLEDPENTECOST-FULFILLEDPENTECOST-FULFILLED

FEAST OF TRUMPETS-UNFULFILLEDFEAST OF TRUMPETS-UNFULFILLED

OCCURS ON A NEW MOONOCCURS ON A NEW MOON

NO ONE KNEW THE DAY OR HOUR NO ONE KNEW THE DAY OR HOUR

DOES EVERYONE MAKE THE DOES EVERYONE MAKE THE RAPTURE?RAPTURE?

GOODMAN OF THE HOUSE-Matthew 24GOODMAN OF THE HOUSE-Matthew 24

Then two Then two menmen will be in the field: will be in the field: one will be taken and the other leftone will be taken and the other left. Two . Two women will bewomen will be grinding at the mill: grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other leftone will be taken and the other left. .

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief

would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, forbroken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at the Son of Man is coming at

an hour you do not expect.an hour you do not expect.

STORY OF 10 VIRGINS:STORY OF 10 VIRGINS:There were 5 wise virgins and 5 foolish:There were 5 wise virgins and 5 foolish:

THEY WERE ALL VIRGINSTHEY WERE ALL VIRGINS

5 HAD GOOD OIL & 5 DID NOT5 HAD GOOD OIL & 5 DID NOT

5 WERE PREPARED WHILE THE OTHERS DECIDED TO GO BUY MORE5 WERE PREPARED WHILE THE OTHERS DECIDED TO GO BUY MORE

THE LORD CAME AND SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND HIMTHE LORD CAME AND SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND HIM

BRIDEGROOM SAYS I NEVER KNEW YOUBRIDEGROOM SAYS I NEVER KNEW YOU

MANY CALLED; FEW WILL GET INMANY CALLED; FEW WILL GET IN

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN COMPARED TO WEDDING BANQUETKINGDOM OF HEAVEN COMPARED TO WEDDING BANQUET(Matthew 22:13)(Matthew 22:13)

EVERYONE INVITEDEVERYONE INVITED

WRONG WEDDING ATTIREWRONG WEDDING ATTIRE

REMOVED FROM THE WEDDINGREMOVED FROM THE WEDDING

MANY WILL BE CALLED BUT FEW WILL GET INMANY WILL BE CALLED BUT FEW WILL GET IN

““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in

Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never

knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’