GIANT NEWSFLASH - RAPTURE - PLEASE READ!

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

I am now very glad that I haven't been able to sleep. I'm thinking of a saying, "When it rains - it pours." I didn't have to look very far for some beautiful material on this same subject. Please remember again that I don't believe in coincidence. One of the authors is a dear friend of my family, and I've known him all my life.

Please take some time and study the next five pages with an open heart and mind. I think you will agree that they are beautiful, and they explain some very difficult material in a common sense manner. I sincerely hope that you enjoy them as much as I did.

Love In Christ,
Tom

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Tyndale (1534)  Let no ma deceave you by eny meanes for the lorde commeth not excepte ther come a departynge fyrst and that that synfnll man be opened ye sonne of perdicion

[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~ THE RAPTURE Part One APRIL 7, 2006

THE RAPTURE - Part One
Part One
by James R Gray

One-fourth of the Bible contains unfulfilled prophecy. That means there are a lot of events still coming, for God will not permit His Word to remain unfulfilled. The next major event is revealed in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and is referred to by students as the Rapture of the church. Some object to the word rapture because the word does not appear in any reference of Scripture. Because the word does not appear in the Scripture some try to discredit the word and the truth it represents. The word "rapture" comes from the Latin word "rapere" meaning "to size," or "to snatch."

Thus the term "rapture" is applied to the doctrine of the "catching up" of believers. Paul uses the term in 1 Thess. 4:17 when he declares that we "who are alive and remain shall be caught up together" to meet our Savior in the air. The Greek word is harpagesometha, which comes from the verb harpaso meaning to snatch or catch away. The word is found 13 times in the New Testament and almost always implies a change of location of an object or a person (Acts 8:39; 2 Cor. 12:2-4).

PARTICIPANTS OF THE RAPTURE

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 presents four participants.

      First, is the Lord Himself. The Word "Himself" is in the emphatic position, meaning the "same" Jesus who died and was resurrected will begin this great event.

      Second, we see the Archangel. This is perhaps Michael (cf. Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1; Jude 9 ; Revelation 12:7).

      Third, believers who have died before this event takes place. This is not a general resurrection of all the dead, but a particular resurrection of believers. These believers are those who are "asleep," that is, who are "dead in Christ." The Spirit of God places us into Christ upon the act of faith in Christ as our Saviour.

      Fourth, believers who are alive at the time of his event. Twice Paul uses the phrase "we who are alive and remain" (v.15,17).

The student should note, however, that while the passage gives us four participants, the emphasis is upon those who are alive and remain. The main purpose of this passage is to show the relationship between those who have died and those who are alive at the time of this event. They were not ignorant of the resurrection. "Paul writes, not to teach the fact of resurrection but rather the fact that at the rapture the living would not have an advantage over the dead in Christ. "

THE PUZZLE OF THE RAPTURE

Why were the Thessalonians puzzled about this relationship? Because what Paul taught them about the rapture was new. Until the time of Paul, Scripture gives no indication that believers would be "caught up to meet the Lord in the air," nor that their bodies would be "changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:51-52). It was a revelation given to Paul alone. It was a "mystery," hidden in God, until it was revealed to Paul.

The revealed mystery is that, at the time of the rapture, those who are alive and remain will be changed. The word in the Greek verb allasso, meaning to make other than it is, to transform, change. The character of this change is described as "incorruption" and "immortality." The word incorruption means unable to destroy, and immortality means deathless. In Colossians 3:4 Paul tells us; When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then we will appear with Him in glory.  Philippians 3:2 tells us this change of our bodies will entail being "fashioned like His glorious body." Nowhere else, except with Paul do these truths become known. They were written distinctively to the Church, the body of Christ.

continued

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~ THE RAPTURE Part Two APRIL 8, 2006

THE RAPTURE - Part Two
Part Two
by Pastor James R Gray


THE PLACE OF THE RAPTURE

While almost all believers believe in rapture, there is a great division on the place or time it will occur. Some believe it will occur before, some after, and a few during the Tribulation Period. The real question is: Does Scripture teach where or when the rapture will occur? While some say there is no direct Scripture evidence to the question, I disagree. Paul gives us the place of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians. The context of the rapture and end times does not stop at the chapter division so continue to read. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 reveals the following facts:

     First, the context deals with end time events. This is clearly seen in the phrases "times and seasons" and "the day of the Lord." Note also the word "but" (Greek:de) this is a word of contrast. Paul is beginning a new subject that is in contrast to the events that he has just described. The subject is clearly another end time event: The day of the Lord.

     Second, we see the description of the Day of the Lord. It is described as a "thief in the night," and "darkness" (v. 2,4-5.) It is also a time of "destruction" and "travail." This refers to the Tribulation Period and is confirmed by Scripture. Compare the great passages on the tribulation in the Old Testament. There we read:

     "Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both, with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners out of it. For the stars...of heaven shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine. And I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible" (Isaiah 13: 9-11 ).

     "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hastenth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord; the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness" (Zephaniah 1:14-15).

     Also see Zehariah 14:1-8 and Joel 2:1-2; 3:14-21. From this comparison it should be clear that Paul is writing about the Tribulation Period, a time of darkness and Wrath.

     Third, note the believers' relationship to this time of darkness and wrath. There is a contrast between "you," "us," "we," (5:1-2,4-6,8-11) and "they" and "others" (5:3, 6-7). There are two groups of people, those who are in or a part of this darkness, and those who are not. It is Paul and his readers that are "not in darkness" (v 4), "not of the night, nor of darkness (v 5), "not appointed us for wrath (v 9). The believer is appointed to salvation. Salvation to or from what? To be delivered from this darkness; the day of the Lord. The word, "salvation" in this context, is used of physical deliverance, not simply spiritual. The context demands that salvation be a physical deliverance from the wrath of God.

     Paul is clearly showing that believers are not a part of that coming day of wrath and darkness. Why? Because the believers are raptured from that day of wrath and darkness. This is the message of comfort (4:18,5:10).

     Another passage that may indicate the place of the rapture is 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul is writing to assure them that the Day of the Lord had not come, as some were teaching. In verse 3, he declares: "let no man deceive you by any means; for the day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." Thus, the day of the Lord will not come until two events happen. One is that the Antichrist must be revealed and the other is the apostasia. Two things the student should note: First, the Greek Text has the article, thus, it should be translated "the apostasia." Second, the word apostasia means departure. Kenneth Wuest tells us;

     The A.V.offers an interpretation of the Greek word,"apostasia" instead of translating it and allowing the Spirit taught believer to interpret the context. The words are "a falling away," the thought being of "a falling away from the true doctrine," which is a case of exegesis (reading into the text that which is not there). The word considered in its historical background and context should be translated, "departure,"...the definite article occurring before the word makes it apply to a particular departure, one known to the writer and the recipients of the letter. It is the departure of the church spoken of in 2:1, "our gathering together unto Him," and previously described in detail to the Thessalonians in Paul's first letter to them (4: 13-18 ).

     It is interesting to note that a modern translation translates the word apostasy, but not in the early versions. Almost all of them, such as the Cloverdale Bible, Wyclifffe Bible, Tyndale Bible, Beza Bible, and the Geneva Bible translated the word as "departure." House notes that the "key is that it (apostasia) does not inherently carry the meaning of defection or revolt. It does so only because of the contexts in which it is found."

Continued 4/9/06

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~ THE RAPTURE Part Three- Conclusion APRIL 9, 2006

THE RAPTURE - Part Three
Part Three - Conclusion
by  Pastor James R Gray

PURPOSE OF THE RAPTURE

     The purpose of the rapture is at least threefold:

      First, to gather together in one, all members of the body of Christ, His Church, to be taken to Heaven. We have a heavenly calling (Phil. 1:20). Positionally we are there now seated with Christ (Eph. 1:3, 6). We are a part of God's heavenly Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18 ). That is our hope. Our purpose in the heavenlies will be to make known God's wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph. 3:10).

     Second, to judge and reward the Church (2 Cor. 5:10).

     Third, to remove the Restrainer from the earth (2 Thess. 2:7). The Restrainer is the Holy Spirit through the church. He has always been exerting His restraining influence (Gen. 6:3). He indwells believers and restrains the work of evil. At the rapture, this restraining power is taken out of the way, Walvoord reminds us:

     If the Spirit of God indwells the church and the church is taken out of the world, then the Spirit of God will also be taken out of the world.  This does not mean that the Spirit will not continue working in the world in some way, but no longer as the Restrainer.

     The very removal of both the church and the Spirit from the world will release the world to sin as it never has before. The presence of believers in the world exerts a great influence upon the wicked world. Christians who have stood for civic righteousness and law and order will no longer be in evidence. For the time being at least there will be no one except unsaved people to run government. The net result will be that evil will be manifested beyond anything known in the history of man. The "mystery of iniquity" is, of course, already working, as mentioned in verse 7, but the Holy Spirit is now restraining until He is taken away at the translation of the church. When this occurs, it is revealed in verse 8 that "then shall that Wicked one be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming."

     We as believers should be "looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~ WHY IS HEAVEN SILENT? Part One of Two April 10, 2006


WHY IS HEAVEN SILENT? - Part One
Part One of Two
by John D. LaVier

After the tragic event of September 11th a few years ago, we often hear the question "Where Was God?" or "Why did God allow this to happen?" The believer knows that God is still on His eternal throne, that He is sovereign, and nothing happens apart from His direct or permissive will, but for a season He has withdrawn from this earthly scene. He does indeed work on behalf of His own, and otherwise as well, but He acts covertly and His action seen only with the eye of faith. Bloody wars take place among the nations, thousands perish from famine, flood, earth-quake and storm, but no voice or action is heard from above. In one of Sir Robert Anderson's books the opening words are: "A silent heaven is the greatest mystery of our existence."

What is the answer to this mystery? For two thousand years the heavens have been silent and this is strange when we compare it with Old Testament times. God was then dealing with the Hebrew nation and they saw marvelous displays of His person and power. He brought them out of slavery, making a path through the sea, and for forty years He fed them and led them and brought them into the land of promise with mighty victories over all their foes. Isaiah saw the Lord; Daniel fell at His feet; angels walked to and fro in the land; God fought for His people; heaven was not silent.

When Israel is enjoying the favor of God the heavens are open, but when Israel is in disfavor with God the heavens are silent. Between the two testaments, when Israel was being judged for their sins, there was a period of time which is often referred to as "the four hundred silent years." God spoke His last word through Malachi and then 400 years of silence. This silence was finally broken by the appearance of the angel Gabriel to  Zacharias announcing the birth of John the Baptist. Then Gabriel spoke to Mary, telling her of that Holy One which should be born of her, even the Son of God. Later the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of the Christ-child and from the opened heavens they heard the heavenly host praising God.

Heaven was not silent during the earthly ministry of Christ when He was presenting Himself to Israel as their Messiah nor was heaven silent after His resurrection and on into the Acts period, when Israel was given opportunity to repent. There were miracles, wonders, signs, angelic visitation, jail deliverances, sudden judgments, etc. The heavens were not silent. However, Acts 28:28 marks a great change. Israel no longer stands as a nation before God. They are set aside for a reason and a season. The reason was their rejection of Christ both in His incarnation and in His resurrection. The season is this present dispensation of the mystery.

Continued

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~ WHY IS HEAVEN SILENT? Part two of two April 11, 2006


WHY IS HEAVEN SILENT? - Part Two
Part two of two
by John D. LaVier

After the close of the Acts period we find a great man of God sitting in the Roman prison, but no angel comes to liberate him. An age of silence has begun. A silent God. A silent heaven. This silence has already lasted two millenniums. The nations rage and we see war, sin suffering and sorrow on every hand. The people of God oft suffer at the hands of their enemies, and we see the ever-increasing and God-defying masses sinning and sinning and sinning. And yet in the midst of it all, God remains silent.

When God turned away from Israel, that nation through which His earthly purposes are to be realized, He then and there withdrew from this earthly scene. C.H.M. wrote "So long as there was any ground of hope in connection with Israel, the heavenly mystery was held back; but when earth had been abandoned and Israel set aside, the apostle of the Gentiles, from his prison at Rome, writes to the Church, and opens out all the glorious privileges connected with its place in the heavens." God has for a season abandoned earth but we are here as His ambassadors in enemy land and we are asked to walk by faith and not by sight. God is allowing man's day to run its course and is permitting the full development of the mystery of lawlessness. The mystery of iniquity is working. Soon the whole will be leavened. Man's day will be replaced by the Lord's Day. Then...

THE SILENCE TO BE BROKEN

This is promised everywhere in Scripture. The psalmist declared: "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence!" Just as the silence of the 400 years was broken by His first coming, so the present silence will be broken by His second coming. But before He manifests Himself to the world, He will manifest Himself to His own. This is the bright and blessed hope of the Church, the rapture, and it will be the opening rift in the silent heavens. After the Body of Christ has been removed from the scene God will begin to deal again with Israel and the nations. The silence will be broken and God will speak again, not then in grace, but in wrath. The heavens will be opened, not to pour out blessing, but disaster. The judgments of the Apocalypse will be visited upon the world, when the seals will be broken, the judgment trumpets sounded, and the vials of God's wrath poured out.

Finally, the heavens will be fully opened and the blessed Lord Jesus Christ will return. The Apostle John saw Him as the rider on a white horse, followed by the heavenly armies, and He wrote: "He hath on his vestura and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." The silence will be broken. The King will return and have His rightful place upon the throne, with all beneath His feet. Every eye shall see Him and the earth will be filled with His glory. And never again will their be silence for the lines of communication will always be open between heaven and earth, both as to the millennial earth and on into the new earth.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Click Below For FREE Email Subscription:
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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[Soldier4Christ]

Hello Young Megatron and Pastor Roger,

Pastor Roger, I'm cross-eyed from checking the ancient languages to see if Brother Stam is right. I think that he is, especially in light of many other portions of Scripture that indicate the same thing. We have enough material for several books already on the forum, and I'm far to tired to try summarizing them. I would say that everything meshes now completely:

1.  The Seal of the Holy Spirit on our hearts can't be broken.

2.  The Great Restrainer (Holy Spirit) must be out of the way for the devil to do his worst.

3.  Daniel's 70th Week was determined against Israel, not THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

4.  THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST was not formed for condemnation or wrath.

These were just a few thoughts. My biggest thought is this issue is no longer one of contention for me. That doesn't mean that I will stop studying Bible Prophecy, just that I won't spend any time arguing about it.    That might make many folks happy.

Pastor Roger, I didn't say that I no longer have a list of questions on this issue, mainly because I still do. I think that a complete study on this one word could easily take several pretty long days, and it would take you all over the Bible. I think that I did enough to satisfy myself on this one Verse, and the rest will have to wait for another day.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Brother, I am not disagreeing with what the author of this article is saying. In fact I am pointing out that he may very well be right based on the use of the plural form of the word, the Greek word that was translated to English as divorcement. This is a wonderful study and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

Thank you for posting it here.