What about the Rapture?

1
What about the Rapture?

• What rapture?
• Will Jesus return to earth and reign for 1,000
  years in Jerusalem?
• March 13 - AM

2
It is everywhere

• Almost every denomination teaches some form of
  the Premillennial doctrine
• Most of this teaching is a figment of mans
  imagination.
• Some of it seems to be supported by obscure
  passages in Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation

3
It is everywhere

• What is this teaching all about?
• What does the Bible teach?
• How can I refute this confusing doctrine?

4
Several Difficulties

• There are so many forms and variations of this
  doctrine
• Pre- mill, Post-mill, A-mill
• Rapture Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post-trib
• Resurrections 3, 5, 7
• Judgments 1, 5, 7
• What are the signs of Christs coming?

5
Simple Answers

• Trying to summarize this doctrine is impossible
  but I will try
• It is taught that
• All the faithful will be raised (the rapture) and
  taken to heaven
• A wicked anti-christ will rule the world
• Christ will come with his saints (army) and
  overthrow the anti-christ

6
Simple Answers

• It is taught that
• All Jews will be returned to Israel
• The temple will be rebuilt
• Jewish worship and priesthood will return
• Jesus will reign over all the earth on the throne
  of David in Jerusalem
• How can I answer all of that in a few minutes?

7
The Kingdom

• Didnt John and Jesus preach and promise a
  kingdom at hand? Matthew 32 417
• Was it promised in the lifetime of the apostles?
• Mark 91 - And He said to them, Assuredly, I say
  to you that there are some standing here who will
  not taste death till they see the kingdom of God
  present with power.
• Did God Fail?

8
The Kingdom

• The kingdom was to come in the days of the Roman
  Empire
• Daniel 244 - And in the days of these kings the
  God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall
  never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be
  left to other people it shall break in pieces
  and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall
  stand forever.

9
The Kingdom

• Jesus prayed Thy Kingdom come
• Did that prayer of Jesus fail?
• Has the kingdom planned from the foundation of
  the world come?
• OR Did the Jews foil the plan of God and cause
  the Kingdom to be delayed?

10
The Kingdom Is Here

• Colossians 113 - He has delivered us from the
  power of darkness and conveyed us into the
  kingdom of the Son of His love,
• Hebrews 1228 - Therefore, since we are receiving
  a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have
  grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with
  reverence and godly fear.

11
The Kingdom Is Here

• Revelation 19 - I, John, both your brother and
  companion in the tribulation and kingdom and
  patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that
  is called Patmos for the word of God and for the
  testimony of Jesus Christ.

12
The Mission of Jesus

• Why did Jesus come to earth 2,000 years ago?
• QUESTION Did Jesus come to set up a kingdom and
  reign forever?
• OR Did Jesus come to die on the cross, be raised
  the 3rd day and ascend to heaven?
• NOTE Both cannot be correct.

13
The Mission of Jesus

• Did Jesus come to set up a kingdom and reign
  forever?
• What if Jesus has succeeded in becoming king on
  Davids throne?
• Still under the Law of Moses
• Still offer animal sacrifices
• Not have remission of sins, salvation
• No hope of eternal life, resurrection

14
Here is the Answer
Events Prophecy Fulfillment
Die for our sins Isaiah 535 1 Corinthians 153



15
Here is the Answer

• Isaiah 535 - But He was wounded for our
  transgressions, He was bruised for our
  iniquities The chastisement for our peace was
  upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
• 1 Corinthians 153 - For I delivered to you
  first of all that which I also received that
  Christ died for our sins according to the
  Scriptures,

16
Here is the Answer
Events Prophecy Fulfillment
Die for our sins Isaiah 535 1 Corinthians 153
Raised from dead Psalm 4915 Romans 14


17
Here is the Answer

• Psalm 4915 - But God will redeem my soul from
  the power of the grave, For He shall receive me.
• Romans 14 - and declared to be the Son of God
  with power according to the Spirit of holiness,
  by the resurrection from the dead.

18
Here is the Answer
Events Prophecy Fulfillment
Die for our sins Isaiah 535 1 Corinthians 153
Raised from dead Psalm 4915 Romans 14
Ascend to Father Daniel 713 Acts 19

19
Here is the Answer

• Daniel 713 - I was watching in the night
  visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man,
  Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the
  Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before
  Him.
• Acts 19 - Now when He had spoken these things,
  while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud
  received Him out of their sight.

20
Here is the Answer
Events Prophecy Fulfillment
Die for our sins Isaiah 535 1 Corinthians 153
Raised from dead Psalm 4915 Romans 14
Ascend to Father Daniel 713 Acts 19
Receive a Kingdom Daniel 714 Acts 233
21
Here is the Answer

• Daniel 714 - Then to Him was given dominion and
  glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations,
  and languages should serve Him. His dominion is
  an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass
  away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be
  destroyed.
• Acts 233 - Therefore being exalted to the right
  hand of God, and having received from the Father
  the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out
  this which you now see and hear.

22
What about the Rapture?

• Coming of Jesus will NOT be for a few but for
  all.
• John 528-29 All will be raised at the same
  time
• Revelation 17 Every eye shall see him
• All will be judged
• 2 Corinthians 510 All will appear good or
  bad
• Kingdom is already here
• Kingdom is the church Matthew 1618

23
The Bottom Line

• Here is the simple test
• Did Jesus come to reign forever OR did He come to
  die for our sins?
• You cant have both.
• Jesus came to die, to be raised, to ascend to
  heaven.
• There, in heaven, he was crowned as king of His
  Kingdom.

24
The Bottom Line

• Are you a citizen of that kingdom?
• Today you can be a part of the great, eternal
  kingdom of God, with Jesus now reigning as King
  of Kings.
• The same faithful obedience that adds you to the
  church (Acts 247) places you in the kingdom.