Matthew 24:14 ................ and then shall the end come.

[ibTina]

Matthew 24:14
And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.   Is this "the end"  happening before/after the rapture ( if you believe in the rapture) or is it when Jesus comes back to Earth physically? Or where does it 'fit' into the "end times"?

   Thanks... God Bless.. Tina
             

[linssue55]

Matthew 24:14
And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.   Is this "the end"  happening before/after the rapture ( if you believe in the rapture) or is it when Jesus comes back to Earth physically? Or where does it 'fit' into the "end times"?

   Thanks... God Bless.. Tina
             

Hope this helps...........


{4th sign - Evangelism in the Tribulation}
24:14~~"And this good news {euaggelion} of the kingdom will be preached throughout the entire world as a testimony to all the {Gentile} nations, and then {after the full evangelization of the world} the end {of the Jewish age} will come."

{Note: 'Euaggelion' is the Greek word for 'good news' and is used for 'gospel'. When it refers to the Good news that Jesus Christ died for YOUR sins on the cross and all you need do is put your Faith in Christ for salvation, then it is the GOOD NEWS or Gospel of Christ.}

{Note: There will be four methods of evangelism in the Tribulation: the 144,000 Jews of Rev.7, the witness of Tribulational saints (Rev.14: 12-13), the two witnesses will evangelize the world, apparently by television (Rev.11: 1-14), and the angels at the end of the tribulation (Rev.14: 6-7).}

{5th Sign of the Tribulation - International Religion infiltrates Israel}
24:15~~"So when you see 'the abomination of desolation'-spoken about by Daniel
the prophet {Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11} . . . standing {histemi} in the holy place (whoever reads/discerns/studies/analyzes . . . keep on understanding it {an order}!) . . . "

{Note: The abomination of desolation is an image of the Roman dictator who commands a Ten (10) nation confederation of Western Europe. He will hold together his empire just as the Augustus Caesar held his empire together as a god. His image will be put up in the Holy of Holies at the halfway point of the tribulation.}

{Note: 'Histemi' does mean to stand. It is in the perfect tense and that makes it have a strong meaning. It means when the Jewish believers in Jerusalem in the Tribulation see this sign . . . they should head for the Mountains! SideNote: At the end of the Tribulation, they are told to stay and fight (Zechariah 14:1-4). The can survive IF they keep their heads and can apply the right doctrine to the right situation!}

[nChrist]

Hello Sister Tina,

There are many various opinions about the Rapture and the timing or sequence of end of this age of Grace events. "The End" does definitely refer to the end of this Age of Grace, not the end of the world. We are told by the Holy Bible that God will make everything New, the Heavens and the Earth, at His appointed time. There are also other ages to come that are clearly mentioned in the Holy Bible, AND we have the Promises of GOD that His children will live for eternity with JESUS CHRIST. So, there really is no end, just beginnings of future events and ages.

I'll give you a brief of my opinion about the end of this age, but I won't debate it. Many sweet Christians have various opinions about this.

My Opinion:

1 - The Church which is the BODY OF CHRIST will be raptured before the beginning of the 7 year Tribulation Period. JESUS CHRIST Himself will catch His CHURCH up to meet Him in the clouds. The dead in CHRIST will rise first, and then those who are alive will be caught up. One key in this description is that JESUS CHRIST does not come all the way down to the earth, rather HE catches the CHURCH UP to meet HIM in the clouds.

2 - The Tribulation Period of 7 years will start. Again, there are various opinions by sweet Christians about the events and their sequence. Generally, most believe that the first half of the Tribulation Period will not be nearly as horrible as the last half of the Tribulation Period. The anti-Christ will rule and reign over the earth from Jerusalem for the last half of the Tribulation Period, and that time in the Holy Bible is know as the Great Tribulation or "Jacob's Trouble". It will be a time of horror, violence, and blood shed like the world has never known. Great hosts of people will be saved during the Tribulation Period, but they will be hunted, persecuted, and even beheaded for failure to take the mark of the beast (devil), actually representing the rejection of JESUS CHRIST as Lord and Saviour. Those who take the mark of the beast will face eternal damnation in the fires of hell.

3 - The Second Coming of Christ will happen at the end of the Tribulation Period. HIS First Coming involved the most precious event in human history, THE CROSS. HIS Second Coming will be all the way down to earth in Great Wrath with Heavenly Hosts as the armies following HIM. GOD will pour out GREAT WRATH on evil and defeat the minions of the anti-Christ. Great hosts of evil will face the Terrible Swift Sword of our Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST! Our Great GOD will lock away the devil for 1,000 years.

4 - JESUS CHRIST Himself will rule and reign over the earth from the Throne of David in Jerusalem for 1,000 year. This is known as the Millennial Kingdom or the 1,000 year rule and reign of CHRIST. JESUS CHRIST already rules and reigns as KING in Heaven and in the hearts of HIS children, but HE has not yet claimed HIS Throne as KING over Israel. HE most certainly will, and the promises of GOD to Israel will be perfectly fulfilled at GOD'S appointed time.

Sister Tina, this is just a brief, and it still doesn't go to the end, as there is no end. Many sweet Christians will disagree with the opinions that I have listed, and that's fine as these opinions are not Salvation issues. There are five general opinions about the Rapture of the Church:  1) There is none, 2) It is Pre-Tribulation, 3) It is Mid-Tribulation, 4) It is Pre-Wrath, 5) It is Post Tribulation. I most also note that many sweet Christians believe that the Tribulation Period already happened in 70 A.D., and others believe that there won't be a Tribulation Period at all. There are many reasons for these various opinions, but the biggest one probably involves what is literal and what is not in the Holy Bible. I consider Bible Prophecy to be literal and future events that will be fulfilled perfectly at GOD'S appointed time.

I would conclude this brief by saying that disagreements about Bible Prophecy should never cause divisions between Brothers and Sisters in Christ. However, it does, and it many times involves Christians calling other Christians heretics and other names. The Holy Bible doesn't say that one must have a certain set of beliefs about Bible Prophecy to be Saved. In fact, the study of Bible Prophecy is one of the most difficult and time-consuming Bible studies that one can attempt. I doubt you will find any two people who are in 100% agreement about Bible Prophecy. This is only one reason why the Holy Bible states that no man will know the day or the hour. This should be a logical warning for those who try to set dates for end of the age of Grace events, but many men ignore this warning from the Holy Bible.

Sister, I hope this helps some.

Love In Christ,
Tom

1 Thessalonians 4:13 NASB  But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 NASB  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 NASB  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 NASB  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 NASB  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 NASB  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

[ibTina]

Thank you both so much for your thoughts on this. With everything happening in todays world,  I think I need to do some studying on the topic of the End Times. Years ago I had read some books on it and I really enjoyed it.  One book talked about the different opinions about Pre-trib, post- trib ...etc and gave the "positives" and "negatives" on each one.  After reading each one... I found myself agreeing with that particular opinion. By the time I finished reading that book.... I was so confused, I didn't know which way I believed!!! LOL  Just keeping my eyes on JESUS... is all I need to do. That is what brings me strength and Hope!

             

[Shammu]

Sister, my own opinion is that Russia, and the mid-east (Iran, Syria, Jordan, ect., ect.) will be attacking Israel first.

Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. (Edited to add; I see this as happening right now.)

Matthew 24:14 And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.

Ezekiel 38 & 39 Gog and Magog attack Israel.

Worldwide rapture of all Christians. 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 3:10
Two witnesses start their ministry.  Rev 11:3

White horse with Antichrist, who comes in conquering power and promises peace. Rev. 6:1-2
Antichrist makes a covenant with Israel, officially beginning the seven-year Tribulation. Dan 9:27
Red horse—war and bloodshed Rev. 6:3-4
Black horse—famine Rev. 6:5-6
Pale horse—pestilence and death Rev. 6:7-8
Souls under the altar—martyrs of the Tribulation Rev. 6:9-11
Great Earthquake – Wrath of the Lamb Rev 6:12
144,000 witnesses Rev. 7:1-8
Silence in heaven—golden censer with fire hurled to earth—lightning and earthquakes Rev. 8:1-5
Hail, fire, blood upon the earth burn one-third of the earth, trees, grass Rev. 8:7
Burning mountain plummets into the sea Rev. 8:12
Star called Wormwood falls upon rivers and streams Rev. 8:10-11
Sun, moon, and stars darkened by one-third Rev. 8:12
Plague of locusts from the abyss Rev. 9:1-11
Plague of horsemen kills one-third of the people Rev. 9:13-19
Worship of Christ in heaven; lightning, earthquakes, hailstorm on the earth Rev. 11:15-19
 
Two witnesses killed, resurrected after three-and-a-half days. Rev. 11:7-12
Antichrist killed; Antichrist rises again. Rev. 13:3

Painful sores on worshipers of the Beast Rev. 16:2
Sea turns to blood Rev. 16:3
 
Mark of the Beast begins. Rev. 13:16-18
Antichrist enters and desecrates the Temple—Abomination of Desolation. Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15

Rivers turn to blood Rev. 16:4-7
Sun burns with intense heat and scorches people Rev. 16:8-9
The Antichrist's kingdom plunged into darkness Rev. 16:10-11
Euphrates River dried up for armies of the East gathering for battle Rev. 16:12
Great earthquake, huge hailstones Rev. 16:17-21
 
Gog and Magog and Armageddon are the same last battle of the Church. Rev. 19:19-21
Beast and False Prophet thrown into Lake of Fire. Rev. 19:20
Satan bound in the abyss. Rev. 20:1-3
Return of Christ to earth with Christians who were raptured. Rev. 19:11-21
Christ rules from Jerusalem. Rev. 20:4-6, 9

The Millennial Kingdom 1000 years


And like brother Tom, I am tired of debating this with others. So if y'all want a debate, don't count on an answer from me. And again this is my own opinion, of how everything is going to happen.

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

I just noticed something that I didn't notice before, and it hit me right between the eyes as a very intelligent thing to do regarding the end of this age of Grace.

Sister Tina, I apologize for missing it, and I give thanks that you mentioned it:

Keep Our Eyes On JESUS!

If we Keep Our Yes On JESUS, the end of this age events and their timing won't make any difference. GOD will be with us. Thanks Sister Tina!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 6:10-14 NASB  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

[linssue55]

Thank you both so much for your thoughts on this. With everything happening in todays world,  I think I need to do some studying on the topic of the End Times. Years ago I had read some books on it and I really enjoyed it.  One book talked about the different opinions about Pre-trib, post- trib ...etc and gave the "positives" and "negatives" on each one.  After reading each one... I found myself agreeing with that particular opinion. By the time I finished reading that book.... I was so confused, I didn't know which way I believed!!! LOL  Just keeping my eyes on JESUS... is all I need to do. That is what brings me strength and Hope!

             

DOCTRINE OF THE RAPTURE
A.  Definition.

      1. While the Rapture is defined as the act of being transported, it is also defined as the state of being rapt or carried out of oneself. However, these definitions do not apply here. Rapture is used here in a technical theological sense for the resurrection of the royal family of God.

      2. Since the Church or royal family of God is the first spiritual building to be completed, it is resurrected after our Lord. It is the second phase of the first resurrection following the resurrection of Christ.

      3. Christ is resurrected, ascended, and seated at the right hand of the Father as part of the strategic victory of the angelic conflict.

      4. This is known as our Lord’s battlefield royalty. This is His only royalty with no family. Therefore, God interrupted the Jewish Age with the Church Age to call out and provide a royal family of God.

      5. Once the royal family of God is completed, the Church is resurrected as the body of Christ to become the bride of Christ.

      6. The Church Age is that period of human history when the royal family of God is being formed on earth, Eph 1:22-23, 2:16, 4:4-5; Col 1:18, 24, 2:19.

      7. When the royal family of God is completed, then the Rapture occurs, 1 Thes 4:16-18; 1 Cor 15:51-58.

      8. During the conclusion of the Jewish Age (the end of the Jewish age---Mat 24:14), the bride is prepared in heaven by receiving a resurrection body exactly like that of the Lord. Then comes the Big Genuflex and acknowledgment of Christ. Then comes the Judgment Seat of Christ, when all Church Age believers are evaluated and rewarded, 2 Cor 5:10.

B.  The Promise of the Rapture, Jn 14:1-3. “If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself.”

C.  The Imminency of the Rapture.

      1. Imminency means impending, or threatening to occur immediately. It does not mean immediately.

      2. Rapture is used technically for the fact that no prophecy has to be fulfilled before the Rapture occurs. The Rapture will occur when the last member of the body of Christ is saved.

      3. The Church Age is the only dispensation in which there are historical trends and no prophecy. The Church Age began with an event prophesied—the baptism of the Spirit. Our Lord prophesied this in the Upper Room Discourse and just before He ascended. The Church Age terminates with the Rapture, which was also prophesied. There is no prophecy between these two events. This is the dispensation of the mystery doctrine.

      4. No prophecy between the baptism of the Spirit and the Rapture means that the Rapture is imminent. It could occur at any time; no one knows the day or the hour.

      5. The resurrection of the Church, like our dying, is completely out of our control. Just as we have no control over the time and manner of our death, so we have no control over the time and manner of the Rapture.

      6. The resurrection of the Church is totally beyond our control because resurrection is the Lord’s victory. 1 Cor 15:57, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

      7. While the Rapture is imminent, the Second Advent is not. Before the Second Advent occurs, there are many prophecies which must occur, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Judgment Seat of Christ, Rev 6-19.

      8. The Rapture could have occurred at the time of James or Paul because no prophecy had to be fulfilled before the resurrection occurs.

      9. Distortion of the imminency of the Rapture results in instability and foolish explanation or speculation about the time of the Rapture; hence, James gives us an admonition in Jam 5:7-8. “Therefore, brethren, have patience until the coming of the Lord (Rapture). The farmer waits with anticipation for the valuable production of the soil, constantly being patient until it has received the early and the latter rains. Have patience! Furthermore, all of you become stabilized in your right lobes because the coming of the Lord  has approached with the result that it is drawing nearer and nearer.”

           a. To have patience means to apply what you know. Patience is a system of thinking Bible doctrine, a system of concentration, the application of doctrine to experience. In effect, that application says, “As long as I’m alive, I have control over my life. I can, by positive volition, execute the protocol plan of God or, by negative volition, be a cosmic believer and be my own worst enemy.”

           b. The farmer invests by sowing seed. He must break up the soil and sow the seed, then he must wait. There’s nothing he can do while waiting; the seed will either come up or not. Either he will have production or he will not. In the time of this writing, that depended upon the soil and the rains. The farmer did not have control over those elements.

           c. Verse 8 goes on to tell us how to have patience. You cannot have patience without a stabilized mentality.

          d. “Drawing nearer” means to be approaching. Every day in the Church Age, the Rapture

[linssue55]

d. “Drawing nearer” means to be approaching. Every day in the Church Age, the Rapture draws closer. Every day that the Rapture approaches, you still have control over your life as long as you live. You have control in the sense that you can be a winner or a loser.

     10. Because there was no unfulfilled prophecy before the Rapture could occur, the early Church anticipated the Rapture under the concept of imminency, 1 Cor 1:4-8. “I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched by Him by all the doctrine and all the knowledge, even as the testimony concerning you was confirmed among you. You were not lacking any of the spiritual gifts. You should be eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ  who will strengthen you to the end (of Church Age), blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

          a. The Corinthian church was made up of losers, yet Paul thanked God concerning them because they were the beneficiaries of phenomenal grace, were in union with Christ, and most of all, were “enriched by Him.” Each had:  a portfolio of invisible assets, his very own palace—the operational divine dynasphere, the indwelling of the Father, Son, and Spirit, and the 100% available divine omnipotence of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

          b. Enrichment in the Christian life is not measured in terms of work and Christian service, but in terms of doctrine and knowledge. Yet most of the Corinthian believers rejected that doctrine.

           c. To be “strengthened to the end” refers, not to the end of their lives, but to the end of the Church Age. Since they died before then, what does this mean? Every believer has equal privilege and equal opportunity to execute the protocol plan of God. But it cannot be executed in human power, dynamics, energy, works, or personality; it is executed in that knowledge of doctrine and in the omnipotence of God the Father, in the omnipotence of Jesus Christ, and in the omnipotence of God the Holy Spirit. The omnipotence of Jesus Christ personally preserves history and perpetuates it, and so guarantees that the Church Age will run its course.

           d. In a resurrection body, you will be “blameless” forever.

     11. So while the Rapture is imminent, no one really knows when it will occur. In the meantime, the royal family of God lives in this dispensation of historical trends, Rev 2-3.

     12. Three times in Revelation is the phrase, “I am coming soon”: Rev 22:7,12,20. Remember that, to the Lord, a day is a thousand years and a thousand years as a day. This statement was made in A.D. 96, and this is now A.D. 1990. Therefore, “soon” connotes imminency, not immediacy.

     13. The Rapture of the Church is the next prophetical event to occur in history.

     14. Titus 2:13, “Waiting with keen anticipation for that blessed hope (Rapture), even the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”

          a. How do you wait with keen anticipation? You wait through thinking; you wait with patience, which is the application of doctrine. You know the Rapture is coming. It may not occur in your lifetime, but you still know it’s coming. In this way you apply doctrine, are occupied with the person of Jesus Christ, utilize plus happiness, virtue-love, hope 2 and hope 3, so that you have a wonderful life and death.

           b. The glory of this world passes away  because it is based on the achievement of man, on visible heroes. But we are called to become invisible heroes by advancing to spiritual maturity.

           c. Jesus Christ is the glory, the resurrection, and the life.

     15. The imminency of the Rapture is a doctrine for mature believers only. A mature believer is eager for the Rapture to occur. He is so occupied with Christ that he looks for the Rapture.

     16. Only the Trinity knows when the Rapture is going to occur.

D.  The Power of Resurrection.

      1. The power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the same power that resurrects each of us at the Rapture or resurrection of the Church.

     2. Both the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union and the great power experiment of the Church Age terminate in resurrection. Our Lord’s resurrection at the end of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union was the first resurrection in history. The Rapture of the Church is the first mass resurrection, when all Church Age believers receive their resurrection bodies.

      3. Between the first two resurrections in history is the unique Church Age, the time when maximum divine power is available to every believer.

      4. 1 Cor 6:14, “Now God has not only resurrected our Lord, but He will raise us up through His power.”

          a. The omnipotence of God the Father restored our Lord’s human spirit in heaven to His body in the grave and thereby became an agent in the resurrection of the humanity of Jesus Christ, Acts 2:24; Rom 6:4; 1 Cor 6:14; Eph 1:20; Col 2:12; 1 Thes 1:10; 1 Pet 1:21.

           b. The omnipotence of the Holy Spirit restored our Lord’s human soul in Hades to His body in the grave and thereby became an agent in the resurrection of the humanity of Jesus Christ, Rom 1:4, 8:11; 1 Pet 3:18

           c. Because the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union has been extended into the Church Age, the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is now available to every Church Age believer.

      5. After His physical death, our Lord’s human spirit went to the third heaven into the presence of God the Father. His human soul went to Hades. His body went into the grave. Three days and nights later, the omnipotence of God the Father restored His human spirit to His body, the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit restored His soul to His body, and He received His resurrection body.

      6. So the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is not only the same power that will raise us from the dead, but in addition, it is the power made available to us today. The omnipotence of God the Father is available to your through your very own portfolio of invisible assets. The omnipotence of Jesus Christ is available to you, for He daily preserves and perpetuates human history. The omnipotence of the Holy Spirit is available to you inside the divine dynasphere.

      7. Because the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union has been extended into the Church Age, the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is now available to you. But that requires postsalvation epistemological rehabilitation. 

 

E.  Scriptural Documentation.

      1. Phil 3:11, “If by any means I might arrive with reference to the exit resurrection, the one from the dead.”

      2. 1 Jn 3:2-3, “Beloved, now we are the children of God, and what we will be He has not yet revealed. However, we know that if He should appear, we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who keeps on having this hope in Him purifies Himself even as He is pure .”

      3. Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope (the hope of blessing, hope 3) and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

[linssue55]

4. 1 Cor 6:14, “Now God has not only resurrected the Lord, but He will raise us up through His power.”

      5. 1 Thess 4:13-18.

           a. 1 Thess 4:13, “But we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, about those who are asleep that you may not grieve, as to the rest of the world who have no hope.”

               (1) The worst thing that can happen to you is to be ignorant of Bible doctrine.

                (2) The Thessalonian believers were very confused. They had learned about the imminency of the Rapture very early. Yet people were dying before the Rapture occurred, causing them to conclude that those who died wouldn’t be included in the Rapture. Their ignorance led to distortion.

                (3) Being asleep is an analogy to the body sleeping in the grave, waiting for the resurrection.

                (4) The unbeliever has no hope, for after death there is nothing for him but the Lake of Fire.

           b. 1 Thess 4:14-16, “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again , even so God  will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this doctrine we communicate to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord  shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God; in fact, the dead in Christ shall rise first.”

                (1) In the angelic order of battle, two archangels or army commanders of angels are mentioned in the Bible:  Michael and Gabriel.

                (2) Since Michael is called the “prince of Israel” in Dan 10:21 and seems to be associated with Israel in Dan 12:1 and Jude 9, this must be a reference to the voice of the other archangel, the voice command of Gabriel.

                (3) Gabriel seems to be associated with the Church. He makes the announcement of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union in Lk 1:19 and 26.

                (4) There were two sources of command for military activity in the ancient world:  the voice command and the trumpet command. The trumpet command assembles the dead in Christ at the Rapture.

                (5) The omnipotence of God the Father raises the dead in Christ by replacing their former bodies of corruption with resurrection bodies of incorruption 1 Cor 15:53-54.

           c. 1 Thess 4:17, “Then we who are living who remain on the earth 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.” The omnipotence of the Holy Spirit provides a resurrection body for the living believers at the Rapture, replacing their bodies of mortality with resurrection bodies of immortality 1 Cor 15:53-54.

           d. 1 Thess 4:18, “Therefore, comfort each other with these doctrines.” These doctrines are a source of comfort when you have lost a loved one. These doctrines are a source of blessing as you face the adversities of life and realize that there’s something far beyond this life, and that God has given you an eternal state in a permanent body that will never experience pain or deterioration in any possible way.

      6. Rev 3:11, “I will be coming soon; seize  what you have, so that no one may take away your crown.”

           a. The present active imperative of the verb KRATEO tells you what you should be doing if the Rapture occurs. The word means:  to seize, to grasp, to get possession of, and to become the master of something. You should be learning Bible doctrine consistently in preparation for the Rapture.

           b. Seizing, grasping, or becoming master of what you have is a reference to perception, cognition, and application of Bible doctrine on a consistent basis. This is how you prepare for the Rapture, as well as how you keep other people from distracting you from attaining your escrow blessings for eternity. Losers participate in the resurrection of the Church but lose their escrow blessings for eternity.

 

F.  The Rapture and the Big Genuflex, Phil 2:9-11. The entire royal family of God will identify Jesus Christ as the head of the family to the glory of the Father. The Church in resurrection body makes a formal acknowledgment of the Father’s function in the resurrection, ascension and session of Christ. The Big Genuflex occurs after the Rapture and before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

G.  Characteristics of the Rapture.

      1. Cognizance and application of the doctrine of the Rapture provides stability for the royal family in phase two of the plan of God, 1 Cor 15:58.

     2. The Rapture takes the sting out of death. 1 Cor 15:54-57, “O death where is your victory, O death, where is your sting?”

      3. The Rapture removes hysteria and the hopelessness of bereavement,   1 Thes 4:13-14.

      4. The Rapture is a source of comfort in time of bereavement, 1 Thes 4:15-18; Phil 1:6.

H.  The Rapture is a part of ultimate sanctification, Eph 5:26-27. The royal family of God is purified at the Rapture. Human good and evil are burned and the old sin nature is removed.

I.  The Rapture is the basis for confidence.

      1. The metabolization of doctrine and resultant growth to maturity results in occupation with Christ, whereby the believer waits with keen anticipation for the Rapture, Tit 2:13; Phil 1:6; 1 Pet 1:3.

      2. The Rapture is categorized under three kinds of hope.

           a. Living hope, 1 Pet 1:3.

           b. Blessed hope, Titus 2:13.

          c. Purifying hope, 1 Jn 3:3.

J.  Chronology of the Rapture.

      1. The Rapture takes place, 1 Cor 15:51-58; 1 Thess 4:13-18.

      2. The Big Genuflex occurs, Phil 2:9-11.

      3. The Judgment Seat of Christ, 2 Cor 5:10; Rom 5:10.

      4. Bride returns with Christ at the Second Advent, 1 Thess 3:13.

      5. The manifestation of the Bride, Rom 8:19; Col 3:4.

      6. Operation Footstool, Ps 110:1; Zech 13:2; Col 2:15; 1 Cor 15:24-25.

      7. The Coronation of Christ, Rev 19:6.

      8. The Wedding Supper of the Lamb, Rev 19:7-9.

      9. The purpose of the Rapture is to get the royal family of God prepared for the Second Advent and the Wedding Supper.

K.  The Rapture and Reward, Phil 2:16. Paul wants to have esprit de corps on the day of Christ as he sees his congregation rewarded. This esprit or “boasting” comes from the rewards that the royal family of God receive.

 

L.  The Rapture and the Two Resurrections.

      1. The Rapture is part of the first resurrection, which has four parts.

           a. The resurrection of Christ at the First Advent.

           b. The resurrection of the Church or royal family of God at the Rapture.

           c. The resurrection of all Old Testament believers and tribulational martyrs at the Second Advent.

           d. The resurrection of Millennial believers.

      2. The second resurrection is for unbelievers only.