'Behold i tell you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed' - (1 Corinthians15: 51-52)
I was having a discussion sometime ago with a member of a popular religious denomination and i told him that the problem i had with their group was was their lack of belief and teachings in some important biblical events that will take place like the rapture of the Church for instance. He then asked me to explain to him what the 'RAPTURE' meant and to show him in the bible where it is written that such an event will take place. I gladly opened my
Bible to (1 Thessalonians 4:16) 'For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord'. When i showed him this scripture reading, he was simply amazed and confessed that even some pastors with whom he had this same argument with in the past did not know where this was written concerning the rapture of the saints.
What the Lord will shout as he descends from Heaven at the rapture is actually a command and i believe it was revealed in (Isaiah 26:19). Dear Brethren, the rapture of the Church is an event that will occur at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ where those that are Christ's will be supernaturally removed from the earth to be with the Lord before the great tribulation that is scheduled to occur at the end of time.
Jesus Himself spoke of this event and painted a picture of what it will look like saying, 'Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming' - (Mathew 24: 40-42)
Dear Beloved, let us all try to always be in good relationship with God by acknowledging His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and living our lives in total obedience to His Commandments. For as i mentioned in the first part of this discourse; He is coming a second time to earth for the Salvation of the obedient and Judgement of the disobedient..for it has been written: 'Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of His Power, when He comes, in that day to be Glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe because our testimony among you was believed' - (2 Thessalonians 1: 6-10) see also ( Isaiah 26: 21)
And so Brethren i pray, even as the apostle Paul prayed, that our God would count us worthy of this calling and number us among those whom are to be saved when He returns, for 'the end of all things is at hand, therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers (1 Peter 4: 7). And to those whom are saved, 'wait on the Lord and keep His Way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the Land; when the wicked are cut off you shall see it' - (Psalm 37: 34)
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