The New Testament reveals to us the signs to look for, leading up to the rapture of the church age. Even though we do not know the day or hour, when Jesus Christ appears, we now know what to look for and discern the signs of the times accurately.
Because Jesus Christ wants us all to know the truth and respond to His call to salvation before that great and terrible day when He appears in the clouds with great power and glory and sends His angels to gather His elect!
Great for the children of God on that day who are ready to meet the Lord in the air. But terrible for those who rejected Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And refused to learn and abide in Him according to His standards spelled out for us all in the entire Holy Bible.
As Christians, we are to know the signs pointing to His appearing in the clouds known as the rapture of the church age. And Christians are commanded by Jesus Christ to be already… ready for that day and hour unknown. Since we do not know when the last sign will occur. What we do know for sure is that the last sign will be sudden.
So far in our past studies, Revelation 6 concurs with what Jesus Christ has ministered in Matthew 24:3-13. Giving us a better understanding that the “beginning of sorrows” the Lord Jesus Christ referred to are in fact, these days now. Proving to all that we are living the Book of Revelation 6 as we speak, which is the beginning of the global judgments of God as we have thoroughly established in our last message, ‘What Chapter of Revelation Are We Living In Right Now.’
What should be emphasized more here than we have in past studies is a major sign known as Apostasy. If you haven’t noticed, when apostasy happened in the church age, then the world went with it. A falling away of morality and virtue and the fear of the Lord (respect/reverence for God). And Jesus Christ was and still is concerned about it that He ministered much on Apostasy in,
Matthew 24:10-13 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Jesus Christ starts out in this passage “many be offended.” Offended means to backslide or fall away; which is what apostasy is. It comes from the Greek word Apostasis: Apo- away – Stasis- a standing. So the simple understanding of the word translates, “falling away, walking away from a strong standing of faith, convictions, of belief and truth.This also connects to what the Holy Ghost ministered through the Apostle Paul in,
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, 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. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,
“Apostasis” also implies that you were once prepared and ready to meet Jesus Christ face to face in eternity, but now no longer. Which then leads to apathy. And the Lord ministers on this very line,
Matthew 24:36-39 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
And what is the consequence for apostasy and apathy?
Matthew 24:40-41 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Jesus Christ is going to appear in the clouds and only take born-again Christians who love Him, kept His commandments (John 14:15), readied and sanctified themselves unto that day (1 John 3:1-3).
Apostasy violates a command Jesus Christ ministered about being ready. The Lord ministers on this line time and time again to be ready, stay alert, be on your guard. Be sober and vigilant, Watch and pray.
“Watch” is a very powerful word. It means to be on the lookout, on guard, staying alert! Always being ready, prepared and staying right with God. Saved and born-again by God’s Holy Spirit as Jesus Christ suggests, “he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
The remedy for apostasy in your life or in your church is as Jesus Christ preached seven times in Revelation chapters 2-3, “REPENT! and OVERCOME!” Recognize what apostate condition you or your church is in. Turn away from those apostate conditions, Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and strive to be ready!
Because at any moment, as the last sign of the rapture will occur, Jesus Christ will suddenly appear in the clouds with great power and glory and shall send His angels to gather His elect (Matthew 24:31). The dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we, which are alive and remain (continually abide in Christ) 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18). The Lord will only gather Born-again Christians who are ready!
The rapture will happen so fast, there’s no way anyone can get right with God at that moment. As the word of God warns us
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
In the twinkling of an eye, is how fast the rapture will occur. Mathematicians today say it cannot be measured. However, fast a twinkle of an eye occurs, I can safely say, no one can blink that fast! This is how fast we will meet the Lord in air (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) when His angels gather His elect (Matthew 24:30-31)!
That’s why Christians must stay ready because this last sign could occur at any moment now as did swift destruction of the flood occurred in the days of Noah. This is one of the reasons why Jesus Christ compared the rapture to the days of Noah. Be not deceived! Noah, a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), had warned people every day during the building of the ark, the pending judgment from God to come.
Noah preached the same Gospel that Jesus Christ preached, “Repent or perish!” Same thing today. People are hearing the gospel message of salvation of Jesus Christ, and multitudes ignore it, disbelieve it or are apathetic to Jesus Christ’s invitation to salvation. And carry on like tomorrow is guaranteed and carry on in life as if generations will be forever without end just like the days of Noah, as Jesus Christ describes it,
“they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
The rapture will occur! It doesn’t matter if you believe it or not! It doesn’t matter if you are ready or not! Jesus Christ is not waiting for anyone. He is only waiting for His Father’s instruction. There is nowhere in the Holy Bible that teaches that God is waiting on us to get right with Him in order to send His Son, so He can send His angels to gather His elect. As the Scriptures specifically points out that there is a day and a time that only God the Father knows, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” So therefore, He’s waiting for no one, only that specific day and time He appointed to send His only begotten Son to gather His elect.
And its blasphemy to proclaim that the church are the ones who are stopping the rapture from happening. Jesus Christ is not waiting on you or me, He’s waiting for the instructions from His Father (God) only! This is why He revealed, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
IT IS WRITTEN! The Holy Bible is humanities warning. God is sending out His ministers to warn the world and you, what’s coming up ahead quickly. Ahead of time no doubt! This is God’s mercy on display. Giving all humanity an opportunity to repent and get right with God through Jesus Christ now… There is no other way! And if you have heard, and not responded, I encourage you to heed and harken unto the warning as Jesus Christ concludes,
Matthew 24:42-44 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Missing the rapture and going through the great tribulation period is the consequence for unbelief. Unbelief and apathy are the reasons why people drag their feet on salvation. Jesus Christ continues to minister on this line in Matthew 25:1-13. Where five wise virgins before they fell asleep, prepared themselves ahead of time. While the five foolish virgins fell asleep likewise, unprepared for the appearance of the bridegroom (Jesus Christ) and fell away. And when the bridegroom came, He only took the ones who were ready.
The Last Sign Right Before The Rapture
These are those days now, in which Jesus Christ has warned us about. So, what is the last sign as the rapture is happening. What is that sudden event that will occur? The best way to describe it is what I like to call, “Cosmic Disturbances.
Revelation 6:12-14 And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
How do we know this is the last sign pointing to the “rapture,” since the Holy Bible does not use that specific term or verbiage? When you compare Revelation 6:12-14 with Matthew 24:29-31, you can’t help but notice that these two passages of Scripture concur with each other of all that’s going to happen pertaining to His appearance in the clouds.
Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from Heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven:
and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory, And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.
Comparing the two Scriptures together, It’s describing the same event. Notice first, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days.” The word tribulation is not referring to the “Great Tribulation” period. If Jesus Christ meant it that way He would have said, ‘Immediately after great tribulation of those days. But He didn’t say it that way at all. Why do I mention this? It’s to silence a long debate whether the “rapture’ is pre, mid or post great tribulation.
The correct “Biblical definition for the word “Tribulation” simply means: ‘Times of distress, trouble.’ And Revelation 6 absolutely highlights that very fact that we are living right now in distressing, troubled times, which Jesus Christ Himself calls the ‘beginning of sorrows.’ And if the Lord actually meant that His appearance will happen after the “Great Tribulation period; He would have used that actual term like He did in Matthew 24:21.
(Now those events He ministered about from verses 15-28 are instructions for Jews in the great tribulation period. He’s referencing a specific period of time there in verse 21. And we will get further into those details in future studies, Lord willing.)
And as a side note for all you who have disbelieved, scoffed, mocked, discouraged and divided other Christians to doubt the rapture doctrine being Biblical; all because the term “rapture” is not found in all the Holy Bible, doesn’t mean the event is not mentioned or described in the Holy Bible. All we need to know about it is in the Holy Bible. You just have to pay attention.
Why The Word “Rapture” Not Found In The Holy Bible
So first of all, the reason why the word “Rapture” is not found in all the Holy Bible is simply because that word started to be used in the 18th century and the last Book of the Holy Bible, which is the Book of Revelation was written sometime in 96 ad.
You see, The Apostle John who wrote the Book of Revelation was also the original disciple of Jesus Christ who wrote “The Gospel of Jesus Christ According To John; and is the same guy who wrote the 1st; 2nd and 3rd Epistles of John by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. And he literally outlived all the original disciples of Christ and the Apostles of the first Century.
He died by natural causes at the age of 100 in 100 ad. The Book of Revelation was written after John’s release from Prison off the Isle of Patmos in 96 AD and ministered the Book of Revelation in all seven churches mentioned in Revelation chapter 1 in the last 4 years of His life by the power and guidance of the Holy Ghost, The Spirit of God.
Therefore, the word rapture was NOT used in the first century. It started to be used in the 18th Century. And why do we use this word today if it’s not found in the Holy Bible? It’s the best word in all human language, to describe an event mentioned in the Holy Bible. In fact, the rapture event was first taught by Jesus Christ and followed up by a brief mentioning all throughout the New Testament by the inspiration and revelation from the Holy Ghost.
The word Rapture is the Latin word Raptura (and it means), ‘A state of being carried away’ or ‘Caught up swiftly in a moment.’ It specifically means ‘abducted.’ And that’s exact what Jesus Christ will do to His followers in a day and hour we do not know (Matthew 24:32-42), when He appears in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory and shall send His angels with a great trumpet blast, to gather His elect (Matthew 24:30-31). The dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain (continually abide in Christ) 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18).
And yes, the rapture will take place before the “great tribulation” period begins. All because the 6th seal is describing the rapture first, and the Great Tribulation period doesn’t begin until the opening of the 7th seal as revealed in Revelation 8:1.) So immediately after the tribulation of these days:
The works of the horsemen of deception:
The workings of the horsemen of war:
The works of the horsemen of inflation:
Intensified natural disasters in diverse places:
The works of the horsemen of death:
comes the opening of the 6th seal where the sun will be darkened on one side of the world where it will be day, and the moon suddenly shall not give her light on the other side of the world that’s in the hours of night, as is described, “the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;” and “the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light”
And if you think this will be impossible, think again? This moment will be exactly like the moment when Jesus Christ was being crucified, the whole earth became dark from the 6th to the 9th hour (which is from noon to 3 in the afternoon according to Matthew 27:45-46). Meaning the sun and moon will stop shining suddenly!
The only difference is, Jesus Christ isn’t being crucified again, He’s coming down with the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory! And every eye shall see Him! This is why Jesus Christ concludes… “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:8-28).
Both Scriptures also testifies before the appearance of Jesus Christ in the clouds, stars will fall from heaven and all the heavens shall be shaken meaning Heaven itself where the throne of God is, all the universe and the sky of earth shall be shaken, “And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” And “the stars shall fall from Heaven.”
And what is that immediate sign right before Jesus Christ Appears in Heaven? Revelation 6:14 (reveals it), “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together;’” After that, another great earthquake happens where all the earth quakes at one time, “and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”
And after all these signs occur… at that moment, “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory,”
How do we know the Son of man is Jesus Christ? He actually said so in, John 5:19-47
“And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.”
“I’ve read the stupidest comment on the internet I’ve ever heard, of someone who was defending their reason why they don’t believe the Holy Bible is true using this passage of scripture, “four winds.” He says, “there is no such thing as four winds, this is why I don’t believe the Holy Bible.” The “four winds” is the first century’s common term for the four directions of the earth, North, South, East and West and there’s nothing fiction about direction!
This is telling us simply, and anyone can understand, even those with an IQ deficit that When Jesus Christ appears, He will send His angels to gather His elect from all over the earth in all directions. And who are His elect? Born-again Christians who are ready to meet the Lord in the air…
And you too can be ready and participate in the rapture. But you have to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. For He is the only way to salvation. He is the only way of escape from the judgments of God that is coming upon this earth in the great tribulation period. He is the way of escape from eternal Hell fire and damnation.
The condition to eternal life in Jesus Christ is simply giving your heart; mind; body and soul to Jesus Christ. All of your mistakes, all of your sins. He wants all of you. So he can give a new heart and aright Spirit within you. A new life in Jesus Christ of love, power and of a sound mind.
To mold and fashion you in His image and likeness as a new creation, where the old sinful man passed away…behold all things have become new. With true peace within your mind and soul. And all that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
No matter what you have ever done, Jesus Christ can forgive all your sins and deliver you from the bondage and slavery of all sins and spiritual death, if you would just lay down all your sins and give all of them to the Lord. If you would just ask Him in faith with the right motives. And the right motive is desiring sincerely to establish or to re-establish a relationship with Him that He so desires us to have. He didn’t just die to save us from Hell. He saved us for the “remission of sins.” to reconcile us back to God our Creator.
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: Turn ye, turn ye from your wicked ways;
So therefore, the requirements to be saved is:
Repentance, meaning to turn, run away from all filthy, worldly abominable sins of all types and shadows completely. For the real evidence of the Holy Spirit living in a born again Christian is to hate all sins in our own walk with the Lord Jesus Christ as He has walked.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Therefore “Come out from among the them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.
Romans 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
As Jesus Christ has ministered, “by our words we are justified, and by our words we are condemned.” Our sincere words from the heart unto Christ can lead to salvation and justification,
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Re-dedicate: your life back to Jesus Christ and be faithful to Him all the days of your life He blesses you with.
Luke 9:23-26 And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Ask: God our Father through the Lord Jesus Christ for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit of God is just as important to have as salvation,
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?
Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ calls us to a marriage covenant between us and God. So, there is a difference between believers, and believers who follow Jesus Christ. The difference is knowing God vs. knowing about God.
Follow: the call of sanctification: God calls us to holy living:
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The Lord Jesus is the gate into heaven! there is no other way (John 10:1-10/John 14:6). Now, your first step of salvation in Jesus Christ is a continual living, active walk in Jesus Christ and that starts with reading the Holy Bible faithfully, daily. This is how we get to know God personally as we also experience His physical presence and empowered anointing. Pray: talk to Him faithfully as if 2 people talk to each other. And go to a holiness, full gospel; Holy Bible preaching, Holy Spirit filled Living and active Church faithfully. For this is how we get strong in the Lord and stay saved and ready for the rapture that can happen at any moment.
