1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17 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 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.
Jesus is Coming Again!
The Holy Bible contains 100�s of verses written before Jesus� birth that predicted His death, burial and resurrection. The Holy Bible contains this true account preserved for all mankind, and is the foundation message of all the Holy Scriptures. Christ came to earth as God; for the purpose of dying on the cruel cross as a perfect sacrifice as payment for the sins of all humanity. Because of His pure righteousness, He overcame death and rose again to life, proving to all men that He alone is God Almighty. These events were witnessed by thousands, with as many as 500 people at one time seeing our risen Lord and Savior in their presence. Each of the recorded prophesies concerning our King was fulfilled in the most exact detail, on the specific day foretold hundreds of years prior to each event. Only God could give this perfect account aforetime, because only He knows the future.
And now we await our King�s return. He will come again in His full glory, bringing His saints with Him to rule and reign. But first He will gather His saints from the earth, for the Lamb�s feast in heaven. This is the very next event on God�s calendar. Are you spiritually prepared for what is about to happen? My sincere prayer is that you will be saved from your sins before you meet Him in judgment.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 � 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.
As Christians we have the hope for a better tomorrow and a bright future for all of eternity with our God and Master Jesus Christ. The above verse gives us information on future events, so we will not be ignorant of these facts. During the 2,000 years since Jesus ascended to heaven, millions of Christian saints have died. We are told in this verse that their bodies are asleep in the graves of earth and sea, soon to be resurrected back to life. We have this as our blessed hope in Him. So as Christians we do not sorrow for our dead brothers and sisters as others sorrow, for we shall soon see them face to face again.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 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 them which are asleep.
In these two verses we learn that if we believe Jesus is God we will join Christ upon His gathering of saints at the time of the rapture. This verse also tells us that we will not prevent, or precede into heaven, any of the saints that have died since Christ rose from the dead 2,000 years ago.
16 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 shall rise first:
This verse instructs us that Jesus our Lord Himself will come back from heaven, and his appearing will be heralded with an archangel shout and with the sounding of God. An archangel is one of the high ranking powers in heaven, and God of course rules all. So Christ�s appearing is announced at the very highest level possible.
17 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.
This verse is one of the most exciting promises revealed in the Holy Scriptures. In it we read we that are alive, whom are true Christians, will be lifted up off the ground to meet God in the air, in the clouds. And the promise is that we will be with Jesus Christ our Savior for all eternity. Nothing again will separate us from His love and protection. At the exact same time we will receive a glorified body that will never again become sick. We will never again be able to sin. We will know God as He knows us now. God will give us power above anything we can now know or even understand, because His ways are so far above our ways.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Verse 18 instructs us to be comforted by this promise. And if we are true Christians we will receive comfort from these words, because this is our blessed hope in Him, our Lord Christ.
After the rapture event just discussed in these verses, the Antichrist, which is the false Messiah of the devil, will be revealed. Here are verses from the Bible that certify these following events will happen.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Dear reader, if you reject the Holy Spirit�s calling to you to be saved, once the rapture happens, you will be doomed to hell and eternal destruction. Do not dismiss these warnings from God as not being true. All of God�s word is pure and true, and full of Godly wisdom. Read this warning and have Godly fear for His power and wrath to come.
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
As you read these verses, you must understand that God will send you a strong delusion, so that you will think the rapture and impending doom are all a big illusion, a type of fantasy. But it is not some figment of our imagination. It is a direct word from God Himself, His warning to you to prepare for the inevitable unfolding of His precious word. Ask yourself now, am I prepared to meet my God and maker? If your honest answer is no, it is not too late for you.
Get on your knees now and beg God to forgive you from all your sins. Only Jesus has the power to forgive you through the power of His Holy Spirit. Then repent of your sins by turning from your wicked ways to live a life holy and acceptable to Him. Pray to Him for power to overcome evil in your life and lifestyle. Jesus Christ alone can heal you from all your unrighteousness.
In closing, here is a very sober message from Gods word for you to consider:
Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
May God richly bless as you read and consider this message for you. Your dear friend in Christ, Adbul Noor
GET READY! GET READY! GER READY! because He really is coming back again, and He is getting everything in place therefore, its most important that we be READY and get out house in order. There will be no excuses accepted when He does return!:applause::glow:
There are many different opinions regarding biblical eschatology (end-time events). This page deals with the "rapture"; a supernatural taking-up of Christians to be with the Lord before His wrath is poured out.
This page is to offer some information that may support a rapture before the tribulation period. As we all know, God uses symbolism very often in scripture to convey a spiritual meaning. We also know that God calls the church "The Bride" or "Bride of Christ" (Ephesians 5:22-33, 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, Jeremiah 2:1, Hosea 2:16). It is in this context that we look at the Jewish wedding customs of that day and analyze any likenesses with the church bride.
...In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3)
ANALOGY OF THE JEWISH WEDDING CUSTOM
The first major step in a Jewish marriage was Betrothal. This established the marriage covenant.
Jesus established an eternal covenant through His blood. His Holy Spirit is the "ring" (if you will) - sealing the bride with a guarantee that He will return for her. (Hebrews 13:20, Luke 22:20, *Ephesians 1:13)
The Jewish bridegroom took the initiative in marriage by leaving his father's house and traveling to the home of the prospective bride.
So Jesus left His Father's house in heaven and traveled to the earth; the home of His prospective Church (bride) [John 6:32-33;51]. Jesus came to earth to obtain the church (bride) through the establishment of a covenant.
On the same night Jesus made His promise in John 14, He instituted communion. In this communion, he passed the cup of wine to the disciples saying: "This cup is the new covenant in My blood." (1 Corinthians 1:25)
At the home of the prospective bride, the Jewish bridegroom would negotiate with her father to determine the price (mohar) that he must pay to purchase his bride.
Jesus paid a price to purchase the church (bride). The price He paid was His life blood. (Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Once the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant was established, and the young man and woman were regarded as husband and wife. From that moment on, the bride was declared to be consecrated or sanctified; set apart exclusively for her bridegroom.
So the church is said to be sanctified and set apart exclusively for Christ. (Ephesians 5:25-27, 1 Corinthians1:2; 6:11, Hebrews 10:10;13:12)
As a symbol of the covenant relationship, the groom and bride would drink from a cup of wine over which a betrothal benediction had been pronounced.
The cup of communion serves as the symbol of the covenant through which Christ has obtained the church (bride). (1 Corinthians11:25)
After the marriage covenant was established, the groom would leave the bride's home and return to his father's house. There he would remain separate from his bride for a period of 12 months.
Just as the Jewish groom left the home of his bride and returned to his father's house, so Jesus left the earth, the home of the church (bride) and returned to His Father's house in heaven after He'd established the new covenant and risen from the dead. The church is currently living in this this period of separation awaiting Christ's return. (John 6:62; 20:17)
During this period of separation between the Jewish bride and groom, the bride would use this time to gather her trousseau and prepare for her married life. The groom occupied himself with the preparation of living accommodations in his father's house where he would bring his bride.
Parallel to the custom of the Jewish groom preparing living accommodations for his bride in his father's house, Christ as been preparing living accommodations for the church in His Father's house in heaven. (John 14:2)
At the end of the period of separation, the groom would come to take his bride to live with him. The taking of the bride usually took place at night.
So Christ will come to take the church (bride) to live with Him at the end of the separation period. (John 14:3)
The groom, best man and other male escorts would leave the Jewish groom's father's house and conduct a torch light procession to the home of the bride.
Just as the taking of the Jewish bride was accomplished by a procession of the groom and male escorts from the father's house to the bride's house, so the taking of the church (bride) will be accomplished by a procession of Christ and an angelic escort from heaven to the home of the church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Although the Jewish bride was expecting her groom to come for her, she did not know the exact time of his coming.
So the church (bride) does not know the exact time of Christ's coming for her. (Matthew 25:1-13, Revelation 3:2-3;11)
As a result of the bride not knowing the exact time the groom would come for her, the groom's arrival would be preceded by a shout. This shout would forewarn the bride to be prepared for the coming of the groom.
So Christ's arrival will be preceded by a shout. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
After the Jewish groom received his bride together with her female attendants, the enlarged wedding party would return from the bride's home to the groom's father's house.
Similarly, the church (bride) will return with Christ to His Father's house in heaven after she is taken from the earth to meet Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:17, John 14:2-3)
Upon arrival there, the wedding party would find that the wedding guests had assembled already.
In the same manner, Christ and the church (bride) will find the soul of Old Testament saints assembled in heaven when they arrive. These souls serve as the wedding guests.
Shortly after arrival, the bride (remaining veiled) and groom would be escorted by the other members of the wedding party to the bridal chamber (huppah)
While the groomsmen and bridesmaids would wait outside, the bride and groom would enter the bridal chamber alone. There in the privacy of that place they would enter into physical union for the first time ~ consummating the marriage that was covenanted earlier.
Parallel to the custom of the Jewish groom and bride entering into physical union after their arrival and thereby consummating the marriage that was covenanted earlier, Christ and the church (bride) will experience spiritual union after their arrival in heaven; thereby consummating their relationship covenanted earlier.
After the marriage was consummated, the groom would announce the consummation to the other members of the wedding party waiting outside the chamber. These people would in turn pass this news on to the wedding guests. Upon hearing this good news, the wedding guests would begin the feast and make merry for the next 7 days.
During those 7 days of the wedding festivities (sometimes called "the 7 days of huppah"), the bride remained hidden in the bridal chamber.
In correspondence with the Jewish bride remaining hidden in the bridal chamber for 7 days after arrival at the groom's father's house, the church (bride) will remain hidden for a period of 7 years after arrival in heaven.
While the 7 year tribulation period is taking place on earth, the church will be hidden from the sight of those living on the earth.
At the conclusion of the 7 days, the groom would bring his bride out of the bridal chamber, now with her veil removed, so that all could see who his bride was.
So Christ will bring the Church (Bride) out of heaven in His second coming at the conclusion of the 7-year tribulation period in full view of all who are alive, so that all can see who the true Church (Bride) is. (Colossians 3:4, Jude 14)
