1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

The Scriptures tell us that the days leading up to the rapture of the church age is much like a woman in labor. As the time draws closer for a woman to give birth, the contraction becomes more frequent, and more painful. So are also the signs pointing to the rapture. This is how we know that that day is truly upon us.

All the signs written in the holy Scriptures leading up to the rapture have been fulfilled. The only sign we are waiting for as Christians is as what Jesus Christ ministered in Matthew 24:29-31, is the same sign in Revelation 6:12-14.

The Apostle Paul opens 1 Thessalonian chapter 5, not assuming that Christians know the times and season, But actually knows the truth about the rapture doctrine, since it was common knowledge to all Christians in the early church. Because the original disciples of Christ never forgotten the words that were spoken to them by two holy angels, when Jesus Christ ascended back into Heaven:

Acts 1:11 Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.

Which concurs with what Jesus Christ said in John 21:22. So they believed He was going to appear in the clouds with great power and glory in their lifetime as Jesus Christ ministered. And were ready and waiting for that day to happen. So the doctrine we call the “rapture” was common knowledge then and should be today as well among all Christians.

Because it will happen! We do not know the day or hour when He will appear in the clouds. But what we should know is that He will come suddenly as a thief in the night. And we must already be ready for that day. Jesus Christ expounded on this in:

Luke 12:37-40 Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

“Then sudden destruction cometh upon them,” sudden destruction will come in both the rapture and the second advent of Christ. The reason why I say this, is because, after the rapture of the church age suddenly occurs, which is the breaking of the 6th seal. The Great Tribulation period begins at the breaking of the 7th seal. And all throughout; there will be destruction of things on earth. And in the second advent of Christ, the Lord will step foot on earth and put an end to Armageddon! He will suddenly destroy all the world’s military, which is satan’s army. And establish His reign and rule as King for a thousand years.

And why does the Lord liken Himself as a thief? He’s describing the rapture to be sudden, and He will come to take; to abduct Christians who are right with God and ready for His appearing to be taken up into Heaven right before the “Great Tribulation” period begins. Remember what the word “rapture” means in Latin and French: ‘carried away, seized, kidnapped, abducted.’

And 1 Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5 instructs Christians on how to get ready and be ready. For Jesus Christ is not coming for all those who call themselves Christians. He is coming for a glorious church! Not a specific denomination or Christian sect. He’s coming for His true sanctified church body of believers and followers of Christ. The Glorious Church! The faithful, the anointed of the Holy Spirit of God! Which is the powerful church body of the Lord Jesus The Christ!

Ephesians 5:26-27 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Who Is The Glorious Church?

As the Scripture points out, “A glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.” The glorious church according to the Holy Bible, is a sanctified, living and active church body of believers, lovers and followers of Jesus Christ who is purified by His blood! Baptized and born-again by the Holy Spirit of God (Matthew 3:11)! And is continually washed by the washing of water through the word of God. Striving to stay clean in a dirty, sinful fallen world!

The glorious church are overcomers (Revelation 12:11)! More than conquerors (Romans 8:28-37)! The glorious church is faithful to Christ, without compromise and without corruption of the world, nor of the flesh and of the devil! The Glorious church is the light of the World (Matthew 5:14-16). And Jesus Christ; the glorified Son of God of the Book of Revelation had promised the faithful, glorious church body that He’ll keep us from the “Great Tribulation” period in,

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

The Holy Bible gives Christians specific instructions how to be ready for that day of the rapture to come since Jesus Christ will so come as a thief in the night suddenly. Again, 1 Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5 instruct us how to get ready and be ready specifically.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit.

Being Pleasant Unto God

How do we please God? The Scriptures tells us that living by faith pleases God as Enoch had, Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Notice also, the Holy Ghost through the Apostle Paul pointed out, “How ye ought to walk and to please God.” According to the Holy Bible, “Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him (Genesis 5:24).” How did Enoch walk with God? God is Holy (1 Peter 1:13-16) and no sinner can have fellowship with God apart from righteous, holy living (Isaiah 59:1-2). And God has not changed (Malachi 3:6). Jesus Christ is still the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Walking with God means he had a close relationship/communion with God, without spot of sin, wrinkle (Imperfections, shortcomings or faults), or any such thing; but that he was holy (sanctified; purified) and without blemish. He walked with God as a glorious church and he was raptured by God! Enoch walked with God as Jesus Christ had walked with God His Father on this earth. And as the Holy Ghost points out through the Apostle John, of those who truly abide in the Lord Jesus (John 15:1-10) ought to walk as He has walk with God

1 John 2:3-6 And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.

And how Jesus Christ walks is by faith and lives holy and righteous. Obedient to God in all matters. Continually abiding in God, and is faithful to His Father, is how we should walk with God also! Pleasing God is living by faith…! What is faith? Faith is not just belief only. It is putting your complete trust in God and obedience like Joshua was.

Living holy according to Gods’ Biblical standards. It is also putting action upon your personal conviction and relationship with Christ with what you believe correctly according to the Holy Scriptures of God (The Holy Bible). And we are to abound more and more in pleasing God according to His standards…! Daily…! Striving unto God’s way of perfection (Matthew 5:48), meaning living in the perfect will of God for you as a mature Christian (1 Thessalonians 4:4).

This is why the Holy Ghost through the Apostle Paul reminded us of the commandments of the Lord. Because the commandments of the Lord are all Jesus Christs’ teachings, and He taught what holiness and righteous living is and that’s the will of God; our sanctification! He also taught what faith is, and to live in the power of faith. Living a sanctified life in Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost from the bowels of our soul: is living the complete opposite of sinners, who know not God. Living the opposite of sinners is:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Love One Another Sincerely Without Hypocrisy

The Holy Spirit of God gives us further instructions to Christians in how to live rapture ready and being right with God from depths of our souls sincerely. And if we lack in this area of our spiritual walk with the Lord Jesus, then we must examine ourselves if we are in the faith.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

Love all Christians, (the brethren). For this is another commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:12-17). Not busy bodies! Not slanderous, gossipers stirring up strife and divisions among the brethren. Because that’s not of God.

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Stay close to God in relationship and busy with the work of the Lord, to those whom Jesus Christ has called into His ministry or a Job. Keeping your nose in the Holy Bible and to the grindstone. Because when you are busy you have no time for sin. You stay out of trouble, nor do you have the time to be entangled in the affairs of this life, meaning distracted away from the Lord Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

Nor to be entangled to the cares of the world (Mark 4:18-19). For as Jesus Christ warned all His disciples, that the cares of this life will choke the word of God from our hearts. Strangle you to spiritual death (John 15:6). If that happens, you will lose your salvation and miss the rapture and end up in Hell.

Walking honestly and providing for the needs of your family and of the brethren that are poor and destitute is bearing fruit, loving one another, glorifying Christ and honoring God’s word. We do these things from the bowels of our soul, because we truly love the Lord and keep His commandments. These are outward signs of abiding in Christ Jesus our Lord and living by faith.

Be Alert, Watch And Pray

1 Thessalonians 5:6-17 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

What’s interesting about the instruction of, “putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation,” he’s referring to Ephesians 6:10-18. We are to put on the full armor of God and stay clothed in the full armor of God daily. To protect us from the ways of the sinful fallen world, the temptations of the flesh and the influences and fiery darts of the devil. Because any of those ways can draw you, entice you away from the path of righteousness (Psalm 23), the highway of holiness (Isaiah 35:8), and the narrow way that leads to eternal life that few will find (Matthew 7:13-27).

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.

Hold Onto Jesus Christ For Dear Life

1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.

Backsliding to reprobation is another dangerous place for Christians. And it all starts without glorifying God as God and being daily thankful to God in all things. As it is written to Christians in the Roman church, 

Romans 1:21-32 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

A backslidden Christian can be given over to a reprobate mind if you continue down God’s three step program away from the narrow way that leads to eternal life, unto the broad way of destruction. And when that happens, There is no turning back unto repentance. As the Scripture says, they “being filled with all unrighteousness” because why? God Gave them over!!! And He gave them over because they loved the world, the flesh, resulting in worshiping the devil rather than loving, worshiping and deeply desiring after God our Creator! In which Hebrews 6:4-8 shows us the final conclusion of a reprobate Christian to Hell

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

And God will reject habitual sinning Christians to reprobation (Hebrews 10:15-31)! All because apostate sinning Christians rejected God and His holy, righteous way first! They desired their own flesh over God! They desired sinning which is the way of Cain whom God rejected to the point of impenitence! To the point of no return! And his bloodline was suddenly destroyed in the flood (Genesis 6).

1 Timothy 6:11-14 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

And finally, 1 Thessalonians 5:20-23 Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And only you can preserve your own soul unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ by staying close to God and follow these instruction unto eternal life as the Scripture says, for a blessed reminder, or a convicting warning, “Be ready, Jesus Christ is coming as a thief”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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.