Part One
WHY IS IT CRUCIAL FOR YOU TO KNOW JESUS IS COMING SOON?
If you are interested in the eternal destiny of your soul and spirit then it’s very important, even critical, to read on.
ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!
There are two times that Jesus comes to earth and one “appearance.” The first Jesus comes to save the world from sin and death. The second Jesus comes to judge the world for unbelief and set up His Kingdom. The appearance is when Jesus comes in the clouds to receive all believers unto Himself to live with Him forever.
Each one is completely different in time, audience, purpose, and desired results. Each time God tells us what is going to happen before it happens. God tells us in the Bible what is to come in the future, it’s called prophecy. The Bible has a perfect record of predicting the future, which means everything it has predicted up to now has come true. What’s amazing is that these prophecies were written from 1,900 to 3,500 years ago. Therefore, today we can expect prophecies regarding future events to be true as well. Only the Bible prophesies future events with perfect accuracy. In fact, no other book written on the planet even tries to predict the future. Why, because the Bible is inspired and God-breathed.
“I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols (false gods). Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them” (Isaiah 42;8, 9).
FIRST COMING OF JESUS CHRIST
The first time Jesus came He brought love, redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life, which is Salvation, to a dying world. This is where Jesus, who is God in heaven, comes to earth to save His creation from sin and death. He is the prophesied Emmanuel or “God with Us”. He is born by the miraculous union between a virgin (Mary) and God the Holy Spirit. This makes Jesus fully man and fully God.
As fully man, He was tempted in every way, just like you and me, but He was perfect and never sinned. He chose to die on a cross, taking the place of every human being. His sacrificial death brings the forgiveness of sins to anyone who believes in Him. His resurrection on the third day has given believers eternal life in His presence. He ascended to Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father with a promise that He will return for His children (John 14; 1-3).
HIS APPEARANCE IS AT THE RAPTURE
There is a time, very soon, I might add, that Jesus is coming back to gather His Church (all believing Christians). The church is referred to as the called-out ones and the body and bride of Christ. This event is called the “Rapture,” which the Bible says can happen at any moment. It is called the imminent return of Jesus Christ, which means it can happen at any moment. This event happens before the 7-year tribulation and the coming of the antichrist-lawless one, son of perdition. Both of these preceded the 1,000-year reign of Jesus on the earth called the Millenium. As you can see, I believe in a literal translation of the Bible!
Is the Church ready to be “caught up with the Lord” in the air to meet Jesus forever?
MORE IMPORTANTLY, ARE YOU READY?
Are you ready for the rapture and God’s wrath to be poured out across the earth on all people who have rejected Jesus? Are you ready for the end of the age?
Caught Up with the Lord
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (dead), so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope (unbelievers). For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 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. 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. 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 (in heaven). Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thes 4:13-18).
As you can see, verse 4:17 speaks of an event called “the Rapture”, Latin “rapio and rapturo,” Greek “harpazo,” which means “to catch up, to snatch away, or to take out.”
“…we who are still alive and are left will be caught up (snatched away, taken out of the earth) together with them (those who have died) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.”
Therefore, the Rapture is characterized in the New Testament as a “translation coming.” (1 Cor 15:51- 53) This is where the Lord comes for His church, taking her to His Father’s House (John 14:3). Paul states that the concept of the Rapture is meant to encourage believers during these End Times.
“Behold, I show 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:51-53).
The Rapture is Described as Occurring at Any Time Without Warning
Jesus stated about the Rapture in Matthew 24:42,44,
“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… So, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Not only do believers in Christ not know when to expect Him, but the Father Himself has sole control over the exact time His Son is to return. As Jesus stated in vs 36,
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
This is what Christians call the "Imminence" of Christ's Return. This means according to the pre-tribulation view, nothing needs to happen or be fulfilled, Jesus can return for His Church at any moment in time (imminence).
"so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:7). "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20). "and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:10). "that you keep the commandment without fault or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Timothy 6:14). "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of [a]our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus" (Titus 2:13).
According to any other Rapture view there is no imminence. Christ's return would be a predictable moment in time, such as in the middle or end of the tribulation.
Therefore, Christians are to...
KEEP WATCH
“Therefore, be on the alert (keep watch, stay awake), for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).
REMAIN IN CHRIST
“Now, little children, remain (abide, continue) in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not draw back from Him in shame at His coming” (1 John 2:28),
LOOK for the BLESSED HOPE of HIS APPEARING
“Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13),
COMFORT ONE ANOTHER
“Therefore, comfort (encourage) one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST
Because the Rapture could happen at any moment and without warning and the Second Coming is preceded by so many signs, then the Rapture and Second Coming must be different events.
The second time Jesus comes, He will bring the justice and wrath of God the Father to an unbelieving world and redemption to an unbelieving unrepentant Israel.
It is preceded by many events, such as the rise of the Antichrist (Rev 12:13-17), a peace treaty with Israel (Dan 9:27), the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple (Matt 24:15 & 1 Thes 2:3-4), as well as plagues, judgments, and persecutions destroying much of the world’s population (Rev 6:18). All of these occur during the 7-year Tribulation, which also precedes the Second Coming.
However, at Christ’s Second Coming with His saints, He descends from heaven to set up His Messianic Kingdom on earth (Zechariah 14:4-5; Matthew 24:27-31).
Clearly, the Scriptures teach the Rapture and Second Coming as different separate events that do not occur at the same time for two completely different reasons and purposes.
THE FIVE REASONS WE BELIEVE IN A PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE
ONE: The Rapture is Taught by Jesus at the Last Supper
TWO: The Rapture and Second Coming Are Two Different Events
THREE: Christians Are Not Appointed To God's Wrath
FOUR: The Restrainer or Holy Spirit-Filled Church Is Removed
FIVE: The Galilean Wedding Tradition
ONE: JESUS TAUGHT A PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE AT THE LAST SUPPER
The first reason we believe in a pre-tribulation rapture is that Jesus teaches the Rapture to His Disciples at the last supper in the upper room on the day He died.
The idea that Jesus taught the pre-tribulation Rapture was intriguing to me. I had never heard it taught. The critics and mockers say it is a new doctrine, and the apostles and early church fathers didn’t teach it. But, if it were true, it would be my game-changer, just one more iron-clad reason to believe and be comforted. It has become MY TOP reason to believe in the pre-tribulation Rapture. Why? Because Jesus said He was the truth and the only way to be with Him in Heaven was to believe Him—Truth.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
Also, I give thanks to two Bible teachers and their sermon video presentations, C.J. Lovik [i] and John Barnett [ii]. I encourage you to watch both YouTube videos. They are the ones that convinced me Jesus Christ first taught the pre-tribulation Rapture.
The Rapture is a doctrine started and taught by Jesus, continued and spread by His disciples, and believed and passionately lived out by His Church. Jesus imparted a comforting, hope-filled message of His return for the sole purpose of rescuing His Church before the Great Tribulation. Jesus taught His born-again children of the faith (Christian believers) four foundational truths about the Rapture or snatching away of His Church. These truths are that:
only believers will be Raptured,
the Rapture will be a source of comfort;
the Rapture will be similar to His Ascension.
and the Rapture will be an intentional rescue of born-again believers
This truth constitutes the doctrinal basis for all that the Apostles later taught the early church regarding its departure—Rapture. For more details, watch the following two videos.
[i] C.J. Lovik, The Rapture According to Jesus (whiteboard animation),
[ii] John Barnett, The Rapture According to Jesus & Understanding and Embracing the Hope of the Early Saints, CLW-24, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfWK6emvOq0
Reason One - Only Believers Will Be Raptured
The first reason I believe Jesus taught the pre-tribulation Rapture is that it is only for born-again Spirit-filled believers. Before the Great Tribulation, they will be Raptured. Let’s begin with what Jesus said to His disciples just hours before He was crucified.
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come that He would depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end (John 13:1).
He was going to depart from the world and return to His Father. At this precise moment in time, He was about to reveal a new doctrine only hinted at in the Old Testament. The genesis of the Rapture, or the church’s departure, was introduced at the Passover meal in the upper room, by Jesus, to the disciples—true believers. He did not give it to Judas, a non-believer who betrayed him.
“When Jesus had said these things, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me” (John 13:21).
“So (Judas) after receiving the piece of bread, he left immediately; and it was night" (John 13:30).
It is essential to understand that Jesus addresses the disciples; only after Judas is no longer in the upper room. He says,
“Little children, I am still with you a little longer. You will look for Me; and just as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’ (John 13:33).
The disciples respond.
Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later” (John 13:36).
This is the first hint of the doctrine of the Rapture according to Jesus. They cannot follow Him now; they will follow Him later. But the unbelieving Pharisees can never follow Him or go where He is. Jesus said to them,
“You will seek Me and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” (John 7:34).
We know that Jesus was crucified and laid in a tomb later that day. On the third day, He was resurrected from the dead. He revealed Himself to over five hundred believers during the next forty days.
Jesus' Rapture Truth # 1—Only Believers in Jesus Will Be Raptured
Reason Two - Rapture Will Be a Source of Comfort
The second reason I believe Jesus taught the pre-tribulation Rapture is it will be a source of comfort to Christians. Earlier in the week, Jesus told them the temple would be destroyed, which confused and bewildered them.
"Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down” (Matthew 24:1,2).
They thought He planned to defeat Rome now, and they would rule with Jesus in the temple. They were even more perplexed and mortified when Jesus told them He would leave them—be put to death. Under this duress, extreme anxiety, and sorrow, Jesus offered them a new doctrine, a blessed hope, a fresh promise, and a new revelation. Jesus answered them at the Passover meal in the upper room.
“Do not let your heart be troubled” (John 14: 1a).
Why? Because He has a plan for them better than what they could ever imagine. These words of comfort were meant for all believers who put their trust in Him.
"You believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14: 1b).
He was revealing that God the Father indwelt Him; they are One. He only does what the Father tells Him to do; because of this, He has divine authority. We know that Jesus bore testimony and perfectly fulfilled the Scriptures. Although they didn’t understand at that time, they would later.
“So, when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken” (John 2:22).
Jesus will now give them a brand-new revelation, the doctrine of the Rapture.
“In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you” (John 14:2).
He is not referring to any previous Old Testament teaching. He is giving them a new vision of the End-Times. It replaced nothing but added something unknown to the disciples of Jesus and was not disclosed in the Old Testament Scripture. And He was revealing it by the authority of His Heavenly Father. This truth was to be appropriated as part of the very fabric of the Gospel. This truth unveils the mystery of the church, born-again Christians, the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, and their final home—heaven. He was giving a progressive revelation that the spirit-filled Apostles would fill in. Therefore, the Rapture, in a nutshell, is,
“Because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be” (John 14: 2c-3).
Jesus is going back to heaven. God the Father has a house, and Jesus is preparing a room for those who love Him. He is coming again for Christians—His Own. He will take believers to Himself in Heaven, and we will be with Him. I think that it is literal, straightforward, and easy to understand.
Jesus' Rapture Truth # 2—It Will Be Comforting To Christians
Reason Three - Rapture Will Be Similar to His Ascension
The third reason I believe Jesus taught the pre-tribulation Rapture is it will be similar to His Ascension. So, how did Jesus Ascend into Heaven, and why is this similar to the Rapture? 40 days Jesus rained or showered His blessing on the Disciples. Their discouragement turned to joy. He had been in and out of their lives for the last 40 days revealing Himself to over five hundred believers (1 Cor 15:6), blessing and teaching them about the kingdom of God. He had told them who He is, prophesied future events, and fulfilled everything He said would happen. Now, he showered them with blessings and miraculously ascended into the clouds with the promise of His return lingering in their minds.
“And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:50-52).
The early church called this event the “Blessed Hope” of His return. They were to carry this message to the world, and they did. Paul taught,
“Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds” (Titus 2: 13,14).
The Blessed Hope of the Rapture cannot be separated from the Gospel, the cross (death), the resurrection (Ascension), and the return (Rapture) of Jesus Christ. Teaching the Blessed Hope along with the Gospel was the Apostles’ message. They go together and should not be separated.
“The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:1-8).
We see this event, where Jesus was taken up to heaven, as an invitation only to the Apostles whom He had chosen. All the disciples would receive the Holy Spirit to be set apart for His own possession, guidance, and the power to witness the whole world. They responded by following, worshiping, and believing His promises. If this were not enough, they would be comforted by the Blessed Hope of His return.
“And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight” (Acts 1:9).
“And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing (angels) stood beside them, and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1: 10, 11).
Jesus was taken up into heaven, seen only by the Apostles, where two angels appeared and told them He would return in the same manner—in the clouds. An obvious question would be who was not invited. Did the Pharisees witness the Ascension? NO! Did the Romans witness the Ascension? NO! Did the Sceptics or fence sitters witness the Ascension? NO! The disciples only saw it. They were a select, private, and invitation-only group of men. The difference from the others is that they were all born-again, Spirit-filled Christians. To top it off, God sends two messengers to confirm the Ascension and encourage them that He would return in the clouds for His own.
Jesus' Rapture truth # 3—The Rapture Will Be Similar to His Ascension
Reason Four - Rapture Will Be an Intentional Rescue
The fourth reason I believe Jesus taught the pre-tribulation Rapture is that His return is intentional, purposeful, and imminent. It’s intentional that He only comes for His own. It is purposeful because the church must be removed before the Seven-year Tribulation can begin. It is imminent because nothing needs to happen for the Rapture to take place. The Rapture will be a deliberate rescue of His church, the called-out ones, the body, and the Bride of Christ. In John’s Book of Revelation, Jesus and His wrath are revealed upon unbelieving earth-dwellers and the un-believing Nation of Israel. The church is not mentioned in chapters 6 through 19. These are the chapters referred to as the Great Tribulation or Jacob’s Trouble. First, Jesus reveals the heart of the actual seven churches of the past, representing the characteristics of all churches throughout history.
Revelation 3:7-13
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
The church in Philadelphia was the only explementary one. For this church which I believe represents the remnant church, God’s actual authentic body, He offers an open door that no one can shut—a promise and a guarantee. But first, Jesus reminds us of who He is:
The Holy One,
the true One speaks the truth, reveals the truth, and is the truth.
He has the key of David; He is the Messiah who has authority over David’s domain, Jerusalem, and Israel.
when He opens a door, no one can shut it; and
when He closes a door, no one can open it.
“He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens, and no one will shut, and who shuts," and no one opens, says this:
Then He says, I know your deeds, I know who you are, I know your innermost being.
Even though you have little strength.
you have followed My Word,
you have not denied My Name,
I will make believers of Satan, liars, bow down before your feet because I love you,
nothing can shut My open door of love, and
you have kept My word of perseverance.
‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down before your feet and make them know that I have loved you.
Therefore, the Rapture is an open-door Jesus has walked through and is coming back to take all born-again Christians, the church, home. Even the skeptics, mockers, liars, and demoniacs can’t shut this door open for those whom Jesus loves. Even though we have little power, we have followed His word, have not denied Him, and continued to persevere in His name. Because of these things, we are rescued from the coming test/temptation/wrath. This rescue is not a personal, family, regional or national wrath. It is the wrath of God poured out on the whole world to test those who live on the earth—earth dwellers, unbelievers. Jesus’ promise to the remnant church is that He will keep, or take out, them from the 21 judgments in Revelation. He says I am coming quickly; hold firmly to your faith and belief in Me!
‘Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have so that no one will take your crown.’
Then the promises are fulfilled to the ones who overcome and remain in Christ.
‘The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.’ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:7-13).
It includes all churches’ past, present, and future. It also includes you and me if we are born-again, Spirit-filled disciples, followers, and believers of Jesus Christ.
Jesus' Rapture truth # 4—It is an Intentional Rescue of the Church
Before the Tribulation
There is a Part Two of Jesus Is Coming Soon - Are You Ready for the Rapture?
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Only Jesus plus nothing saves you from sin and death. This blog will show you why. Jesus is God and the only one capable of forgiving sin and offering eternal life.
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We All Have the Same Dilemma, We're Dead in Sin
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe Only Jesus plus nothing not only saves you but answers these three questions.