Textual
Source: Matthew 24:32-35
Rapture:
Its proverbs and Reality
Introduction:
What is Rapture:
Is the event that precede Christ’s second advent that is the second coming of
Jesus Christ. Rapture is the translation
of the righteous dead and the living saints to meet Christ in the sky. Rapture
is the coming on the air of the Lord Jesus Christ without touching the earth
with the soul of his feet. The language rapture is not in the Bible but there
are scriptural references to buttress its reality. Although, there are events
described in the Bible which could be interpreted as rapture. The
English word "rapture" is derived from a Latin translation by St.
Jerome of the phrase "caught up" in the New Testament (see 1 Thess.
4:17, NKJV). More accurate biblical phrases are "the gathering
together" (see Eph. 1:10; 2 Thess. 2:1), the "catching away" (1
Thess. 4:17), and the "general assembly" (Heb.12:23). The term
"rapture" refers to Christ's return for the living saints and the
resurrection of the dead in Christ, a predicted event whose timing is not
revealed in the New Testament but its reality can be now.
The
proverbs of rapture in the Bible
*The flood and the ark of Noah, mat.24:37-39,
Gen.6:9-7:24, parable of wheat and tares mat.13:24-30,36-43, proverb of the ten
virgins mat.25:1-13, parable of the growing seed mak.4:26-29, parable of the
great supper lk.14:15-24, analogy of two in the field mat.24:40, analogy on two
women mat.24:41, parable of the unfaithful servant Mat.24:45-51.
The
prophesies of rapture
*it
was foretold by Jesus himself.jh.14:3. Mat.25:31, it was foretold by Paul.
1Tim.6:14, 1Thess.4:16-17, it was foretold by angels. Act.1:10,11
The
signs of rapture:
There is no specific sign for rapture. No one
knows the exact hour but there are signs that would indicate how close we are
to it. There are also sign that would indicate if or when it has taken place.
Pre-rapture Signs: According to 2Tim.3:1-7,
there would be:
1. perilous time,
2. men loving themselves,
3. covetous,
4. boasters,
5. proud,
6. blasphemy,
7. disobedient to parents,
8. unthankful unholy,
9. without natural affection,
10. trucebreaker,
11. false accuser,
12. incontinence,
13. fierce,
14. despising good,
15. traitors,
16. heady and high minded,
17. lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God,
18. having a form of godliness,
19. silly women laden with sins,
20. divers lusts,
21. ever learning and never able to come to the truth.
According to Matt.24:5-7, 12-38.
22. False Christ,
23. wars
24. rumours of war,
25. famines,
26. pestilence,
27. earthquake,
28. iniquity to abound,
29. emergence of false
prophets,
30. backslidden,
31. love of many shall wax cold,
32. eating,
33. drinking,
34. marrying,
35. gospel preached everywhere,
36. hatred of the elect and their persecution mat.24:9.
37. The last sign which is also the immediate sign to usher us in to
rapture in the sound of trumpet. This is the last sign to rapture and the
beginning thereof. 1Thess.4:16.
Post-rapture
signs:
1.
there shall be many
opened grave,
2. many people would be missing,
3. there shall be great wailing and regret,
4. antichrist would takeover of the world government,
5. official emergence of the sign of the beast “666,”
How
rapture will look like. 1 Cor.15:52-56
1.
there would be sound
of the trumpet from the ach angel,
2. one shall be taken among two,
3. it would be sudden without notice,
4. the raptured saints will meet Christ in the sky mat.24:31,
5. the grave of the dead saints shall be opened,
6. the dead in Christ shall rise first,
7. the saints that are alive shall be caught up,
The
reality of rapture
The reality of rapture would be when all the
things written concerning rapture is fulfilled. These are the events that would
proof the reality of rapture which some thought it would never happen:
1. There would be open graves in every places: 1Thes.4:16,17. Only
the graves of the righteous saints that would be opened not all graves. It
would happen to proof the reality of rapture immediately the trumpet sound. The
saints are coming back to pick-up their bodies. But at this time, it would be a
glorified body without impediment. That is the reason why graves would be
opened because not only the spirit and soul that is coming out but the body is
included.
2. Massive records of missing people: Mat.24:40,41. In all places
of the earth, there would be record of missing people from young to old. There
would not be any trace to know the movement of these people. There would be no
intelligence report to be gathered to proof if or whether they are still alive
or not. Many of the loved ones would be missing.
3. Withdrawer of children of lower age: there would be missing or
withdrawer of kids in the age of innocence. Probably, it might be between the
age of one day to three years. There has also be speculations that some might
even lost their pregnancy but there has not been rigid indication to buttress
it, but it may happen. This missing of kids of lower age does not mean it would
happen only to the Christians. It would happen to both the Christians and the
None-Christians under the age of innocence.
4. Manifestations of unprecedented incidents: Mat.24:38,39. there
would be lots of mishap, plane crash, road accidents among others. Due to the
fact that some of the controller of this moving vehicles might be raptured,
there would eventually going to be problem that day.
5. Structural damage: what I mean by structural damage is this.
Since that raptured saint are not going to die before been translated that
means they are going to heaven with their translated mortal body. This body
would be transformed but would not be left behind. Just as the righteous dead
have come to pick up their body which resulted in opening of the graves
likewise the body of the translated saint would also do the same. (this is a
contradiction against some who opined that God is only concern about our heart
but not the body, but at rapture both the body and the soul would rise to meet
the Lord in the sky.) There would be structural damage in some building. Don’t
forget that they are not going to be in spirit lie when someone is dead but
this event would happen in physical sense. A dead can pass through wall without
the wall been affected while a living person cannot. Mt 24:30-31; Ac 1:11; 1Co 15:52; 2Th 1:7
Qualifications
fit for rapture:
1.
the pure in heart
Ps.24:3,4
2. the keeper of the law
3. the faithful,
4. the righteous,
5. the courageous Josh.1:9
6. those who endue trials Jams.1:12
7. the believer,
8. must be born of water and of blood Jh.3:5-6
9. those that confess Christ as Lord and saviour,
10. must be genuinely born again,
11. all the fruits of the spirit must manifest in his life
Gal.5:21-25
12. those who overcome Rev.3:5,21
13. those who prepare for His return 2Tim.4:8
14. walk in the light 1Jh.1:7; col.2:6,
15. be without spot eph.5:27,
16. be worthy Lk.21:36,
17. be in Christ Cor.5:17-18, 1Thes.4:14,16
Conclusion:
It does not matter the kind of person you are. It
does not matter the kind of language you speak. It does not matter your colour.
It does not matter the kind of church you attend. It does not matter who your
pastor is. It does not matter what you are doing in the church. Are you born
again? This among other things is the first thing you need to do to secure your
salvation. How prepare are you to meet the Lord Jesus in the sky? Remember,
only few shall be taken Mat.24:40,41. The violent must take it by force
Mat.11:12. Prepare for this rapture!
Mat.24:44.
©March 2016. Pastor Habakkuk Abiodun
+234-703-167-0445, www.touchmespecial.blogspot.com,
biblelifeforall@gmail.com,
www.fb.com/prophethabakkuk
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