Section 1
All Scripture is KJV unless marked NASB
2 GROUPS OF PEOPLE WILL MISS THE RAPTURE
I. Unbelievers in Jesus Christ.
II. Lukewarm Believers in Jesus Christ, in Revelation 3:20, they are still considered by God as Non-Converted Believers.
MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR
I Thessalonians 4:15-18
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 (precede) them which are asleep (dead). 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Rapture – Greek (harpazo)
Rapture – Latin (raptus)
Rapture – English (caught up)
Strong’s #276 ‘caught’, harpazo –Greek
1. to seize 2. catch up 3. catch away 4. pluck 5. pull 6. take by force
NOTE: One point is that Jesus descends from Heaven into the earth’s atmosphere, but not to the earth and the Mount of Olives as He will do later. Also Believers are caught up to meet our lord in the air.
TRUMP OF GOD
CHANGED IN A MOMENT
I Corinthians 15:51-54
Behold, I shew 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 must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (Mystery – Eng/Musterion – Greek)
NOTE: Paul says whatever he is talking about is a mystery. In the Twinkling of an Eye, Believers in Jesus Christ, dead or alive are made incorruptible and immortal. Mystery / Musterion means that something is being revealed that has never been known about up to that moment. The Second Coming of Jesus was already known about. This is something else. (I Corinthians 15:2) Paul says Believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ are saved unless they Believe in Vain.
LAST TRUMP
JESUS RECEIVES YOU UNTO HIMSELF
John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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.
NOTE: When Jesus comes He ‘receives us unto himself’. Those that meet Him in the air He receives unto Himself. (see Matthew 25:31-32, 41 & 34) At the Second Coming Jesus is judging everyone left on earth. Non-Believers, Jesus says they are cursed. Believers inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. Jesus will sit upon the Throne of His Glory one thousand years.
GOODMAN = HEAD OF HOUSE
MARANATHA = OUR LORD COMETH
Matthew 24:42-44
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
PRAY TO BE WORTHY TO ESCAPE
Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
NOTE: Lot and his family escaped out of Sodom & Gomorrah. Approved of by God, that his family would miss the coming Wrath. God’s approval is the same for those that will be caught up to meet Jesus Christ in the air.
WE WILL BE LIKE JESUS
WHEN HE APPEARS
I John 3:2-3
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
NOTE: In the Rapture you are changed when you are caught up in the air to be like Jesus in less than one second, a Twinkling of an Eye. At the Second Coming when Jesus appears, no one on earth shall be like Him at that time.
5 WISE VIRGINS & 5 FOOLISH VIRGINS
Matthew 25:1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.