Rapture on SermonAudio

This sermon examines the prophetic sequence described in 2 Thessalonians, specifically addressing the conditions that must precede the Day of the Lord. The central message clarifies that the church will not witness the rise of the Antichrist, known as the man of sin, because believers will be raptured prior to this event. The teaching identifies a great apostasy and the removal of the Holy Spirit's restraining influence as the necessary precursors to the revelation of the son of perdition. By contrasting the current era of the church with the future tribulation, the message encourages believers to remain steadfast in faith and avoid being shaken by false teachings. The sermon concludes with a call to repentance, urging the congregation to reject any spirit of self-exaltation and to actively share the gospel while the Holy Spirit continues to empower the church.

This sermon emphasizes the critical importance of studying the Bible with proper hermeneutical guidelines, specifically warning against adding to or subtracting from the text and advocating for the principle of using Scripture to interpret Scripture. The speaker illustrates these principles by correcting common misinterpretations of 1 Timothy 3:2 regarding pastoral qualifications and by analyzing the symbolic language in Revelation 12, where the woman represents Israel and the dragon represents Satan. The teaching connects the prophetic timeline of the Tribulation, the Rapture, and the eventual restoration of Israel, arguing that a faithful reading of passages like Isaiah 8 and Daniel 9 reveals that the 'flood' mentioned in Revelation is a military force rather than a natural disaster. The tone is instructional and corrective, urging believers to rely on the Holy Spirit for understanding and to avoid the pitfalls of forced interpretations or cultural biases that distort the clear meaning of God's Word.

In Part 2 we see that the Lord gives 3 unique promises to those believers of Sardis and to all true believers that will follow in history. These promises are for His Bride, true believers saved from Acts 2, Pentecost, to the catching up of the church at the Rapture. He promises: She is to be clothed in white garments of righteousness. She will "not never" be blotted out of the Book of Life, eternally His Bride. The Lord will acknowledge her as His eternal Bride before the Father. 0:00 A Charles Schulz "Young Pillars" cartoon 3:55 Three Promises to the Bride - Rev. 3:5 11:35 The 2nd Promise to the Bride - Rev. 3:5b 24:07 The 3rd Promise to the Bride - Rev. 3:5c

This sermon examines the biblical teaching that the specific day and hour of Christ's return are known only to the Father, explicitly rejecting any attempt to calculate or predict the timing of the Second Coming. By analyzing Matthew 24 and supporting passages in Mark, Acts, and 1 Thessalonians, the message emphasizes that believers are called to a state of constant vigilance and spiritual readiness rather than date-setting speculation. The preacher contrasts the error of naming a specific date with the error of assuming the Lord is delayed, urging the church to live as sober witnesses in the present age. The discussion further distinguishes the church's role from Israel's prophetic timeline, noting that the tribulation is a period of judgment for the nation of Israel, while the church is appointed to obtain salvation and avoid wrath. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a life of active faith and evangelism, trusting in God's patience and the certainty of Christ's imminent return.

Dr. Schmidt examines the mental torment that many face and how the Lord can give one victory over negative, destructive thinking.

In this final section of the chapter, the Apostle Paul reaches the climax of his argument for the resurrection of the body. He not only continues with a stirring summary of the truth of the resurrection but now also introduces the truth of the rapture of the living saints. This then leads to a call to faithfulness in light of these wonderful truths in verse 58.

The sermon centers on the church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3, using the metaphor of an open door to challenge believers to actively engage in the Great Commission rather than passively observing the world. It argues that walking through this door requires a commitment to the Word of God and the bold confession of Jesus' name, even in the face of cultural opposition or personal weakness. The message emphasizes that spiritual strength comes from reliance on Christ rather than human effort, urging the congregation to maintain urgency regarding the imminent return of Jesus. By contrasting the lukewarmness of Laodicea with the faithfulness of Philadelphia, the text calls for a life of obedience that results in being kept from the hour of temptation and ultimately becoming a pillar in God's temple.

What does it mean that Jesus delivers believers from the wrath to come in 1 Thessalonians 1:10? This lesson examines the biblical evidence for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture and the promise that Church-Age believers will be rescued before the horrific judgments of the Tribulation begin. Our blessed hope is not the appearance of the Antichrist or the beginning of the Tribulation, but the imminent return of Jesus Christ, who will take us to be with Him forever.

The sermon emphasizes the urgent need for spiritual readiness in light of the imminent return of Christ, using the military unpreparedness of General Rommel on D-Day as a cautionary illustration. It outlines three key aspects of the Second Coming: the certainty of His return, the close proximity of the event, and the necessity of active, holy living rather than passive waiting. The preacher argues that true belief in the Rapture should produce a life of constant vigilance and purity, contrasting the 'watching' of the faithful with the 'sleeping' of the unprepared. By referencing the parable of the ten virgins and the call to keep one's garments clean, the message urges believers to examine their daily conduct to ensure they are found worthy when the Lord returns unexpectedly.