Why should we study prophecy? Because we
are commanded to study---Is. 34:16 and John 5:39; Is. 34:16, "Seek ye
out the Book of the Lord, and read---." John 5:39, "Search t he
Scriptures--------" . "Rev.1:3, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they
that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written therein: for the time is at hand."
We should study prophecy, because God
considers it important or He would not have had it written. Much of
the Bible is prophecy fulfilled, and much is yet to be fulfilled.
God wants us to know something
about the future or He would not have told us to study, II Tim. 2:15,
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." God did not say,
study all but prophecy and just skip over it. No, my friend we
displease God if we ignore any part of His Word. Many do not study
prophecy, therefore know little, if anything about the Coming of the
Lord.
God's Word declares in II Tim.
3:16, "All Scripture 'is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness;" Vs. 17 says, "That the man of God may be perfect
(complete) thoroughly (completely) furnished unto all good works."
The study of prophecy gives
light in these dark days, God's Word gives light. II Peter 1:19 tells
us, "The more sure Word of prophecy" is called "a light that shineth
in a dark place--." The prophetic Word is the only ray of light by
which we can know the future as the Holy Spirit blesses us with an
understanding heart as we prayerfully study God's precious Word.
If it were not for the Truth
that Jesus Christ is "Coming Again" for the Church (true born-again
believers), there would be no hope and nothing to comfort our hearts.
I Thess.4:13-18,
"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 (precede) 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 (the bodies) 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these
words."
It has been said that in
Thessalonica many tombstones had engraved on them "No Hope." The pagan
greeks had no assurance, no hope of being reunited with their loved
ones in the after-life, for they were unbelievers, they did not
acknowledge the God of the Bible. To the Christian greeks Paul gives
assurance to them through the "Word of God", the hope of reuniting
with their loved ones, the saved who had gone on to be with the Lord.
Paul, I believe in essence was
saying to the people then and is speaking to Christians today; Sorrow
not, for there is coming a Resurrection of the saints---Sorrow not,
there is coming the Rapture of the saints---Sorrow not, there is
coming a reunion of the saints.
The Coming of Christ in the
Rapture will be a signified event (the most important ever) for the
saved. It will be a sudden event, no one knows the day nor the hour He
will return. We just know that He will return, but according to the
signs of the times, it could be soon. We do know His Coming imminent
(it could happen at any moment). Matt. 24:44, "Therefore be ye also
ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
The Order Of Christ's Coming
For The Church:
- 1. The Lord descends from Heaven.
2. He shouts from the air.
3. The archangel utters his
voice.
4 The trumpet is sounded.
5. The dead in Christ are raised
first, (speaking of the bodies).
6. The living saints (true
believers in Christ) are changed.
7. Together all these rise to
meet the Lord in the air.
Jesus said in Rev. 3:10 & 4:1,
"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. After this I looked, and, behold ,
a door was opened in Heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as
it were a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I
will show thee things which must be hereafter."
Jesus is coming for the Church
(true believers in Christ), before the Tribulation period of seven
years, then He returns to end the tribulation, judge the nations, and
set up His Millennium Kingdom, and rule the world on the Throne of
David for one thousand years.
Rev. 20:1-6, "And I saw an
angel come down from Heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and
a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old
serpent, which is the devil, and satan, and bound him a thousand
years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set
a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the
thousand years be should be fulfilled: and after that he must be
loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and
judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were
beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which
had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received
his mark upon their fore-
heads, or in their hands; and
they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of
the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This
is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that
hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no
power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign
with Him a thousand years."
Luke 1:32,33, "He (Jesus) shall
be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God
shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: And He shall reign
over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no
end."
Isaiah said in Chapter 9 verse
7, "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end,
upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to
establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for
ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (zeal-burning
desire)
Before we get too far along is
this study, let us look at some words and their meaning.
Rapture; According to Websters
New World Dict., 3rd College Edition means the state of being carried
away with joy, love, etc., also great delight; a carrying away or
being carried away in body or spirit, etc.
Rapture also means to be
"caught up"; to carry off by force; Rapture comes from the Latin verb
(rapto), to seize and carry off; the Latin word (translatio) means
transporting, transferring from one place to another. This is what
happens when the Lord returns for the church. This is called the
Rapture of the Church. This word is used to describe what happens
when the Lord returns. Some
will argue that this word isn't in the Bible. It isn't, but it is a
proper word to use. Grand-father isn't in the K.J. Bible, neither is
the word Trinity. But there were and are grand-fathers. And we know
the Bible teaches there is a Trinity, Father , Son and Holy Spirit.
Therefore, to say the word rapture isn't in the Bible is a very poor
argument against the Rapture. Unbelief does not nullify the dotrine in
the Scriptures relating to the Rapture. There are those who do not
believe in the Trinity, but the Bible teaches that there is a Trinity.
Therefore we can trust the Bible, all the doctrines, and every word
God saysMillennium (Latin for "thousand years"). Christ will rule for
one thousand years upon this earth. During this time period the world
will experience universal peace. This will happen after Christ returns
to this earth in the Revelation. Seven years earlier He returns in the
Rapture. The seven year period is spoken of in Daniel, chapter nine.
It is called The Tribulation Period. The last half (three and one half
years) is called the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation will be
the most awful time this world has ever seen and it will never be
repeated. There has never, no never been such a terrible time since
the beginning of time. Thank God He has promised to take His Church
(true born-again believers)out before He pours His wrath out upon this
present evil world.
To teach that the Church will
go through the Tribulation that is to come, is to nullify the Biblical
teaching of the imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for the
Church.
In conclusion, God has a plan
for every person;
- Step number one is for you to come
to Christ and receive Him as Savior and Lord.
Step number two is for us to be
submissive to His will, serve Him faithfully.
Step number three is for us to be
faithful witnesses for Him, anticipating His Return.
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