The Rapture and Revival

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org so were talking about the Jesus revolution you know in the day.

We call that the Jesus movement but either phrase is great because you know what it was about Jesus. It wasn't called the God revolution. Though God did it wasn't called the Bible revolution. Though we read the Bible a lot and still do. It was called the Jesus revolution because it was about Jesus and sometimes in the church. We forget what our message is our message is Jesus Christ. It's a relationship with God. We want to introduce people to them.

It was actually time magazine that came up with the phrase Jesus revolutionized on the cover of the one I'm holding here right now in what is a revolution. Generally, we think of a revolution in a negative sense that all people in the can be that. But this was a positive revolution I would revolution also means a turning around a rotating or returning to something into returning to something.

What is it a return to it to return to New Testament Christianity and to return to being like the church of the first century that turned their world upside down God's will be: a revival to revive is to restore to original condition once someone as the great evangelist Billy Sunday about revival and he said they tell me revival is only temporary.

Temporary said so is a bad will do you some good and some of you need to take that literally. And I will tell you not. Maybe I'm not so good.

I don't know but not on the stage. Of course, but you know we need a revival. We need a bath if you will a cleansing of returning to something that God did many years ago I did write a book about it. Shameless book promotion. Jesus, revolution, and that this is actually not in my voice. I had a lady help me. Her name is Ellen Vaughn is a very gifted storyteller and I said Ellen we need to tell the story and why tell the story because the fame of revival spreads the flame of revival so we thought we could tell what God did to describe it is sort of take people there than maybe the Lord will do it again.

I wrote it as though I were sitting at a table over a cup of coffee with the young person. 10 years ago I did a my generation. My prayer is that God will do it in your generation as well. But the first century church. You know they walked the world. I was Giacomo Morgan.

He said quote organized Christianity that fails to make a disturbance is dead. That's true everywhere. The apostle Paul was there was either a riot or a revival, and sometimes I wonder if it's time to rescue Jesus from modern-day Christianity. One person put it this way and I love it. Revival is when God get so sick and tired of being misrepresented.

He shows up himself and were similar to that again.

And there were some earmarks of the Jesus movement of things that I remember a one of them was there was a sense of expectancy in the services. By the way, no one was ever late for church because if you were or you wouldn't get a seat and there was a sense that God is going to do something here in this service so we came with open hearts and with open Bibles and I get for importing the way we go to church that we come saying I want God to speak to me today. I'm open to that, and in it was a move of the Holy Spirit, the Jesus movement was. It was the Holy Spirit of God working through the word of God in the hearts of the people of God. It was the work that he did then and that the work he still wants to do today. America needs an awakening. But the church needs revival and awakening is something God sovereignly does, we read for great spiritual awakenings in America, but a revival can happen locally can happen in a single church revival can happen. Personally, it can start with you as an individual. So were praying God will do that in our own lives, so we came with a sense of expectancy that was passionate and heartfelt worship. You know, people would engage in the worship together and effectively contemporary Christian worship was born before our eyes. Another thing is man. We love the Bible affect I have my Bible you're from those days.

It's all beat up as a suede cover on it here together the camera is get a tight shot of it here.

Are you can see that a page is missing and that's not because I ripped it out. It just came out because the Bible was use and I rode all over it. I have notes in the margins you know it said in a Bible that's falling apart is usually an indication of a life that isn't. And I love peanut Bibles I love marked up Bibles by the way, is not how you mark your Bible to tell your Bible marks you. However, it's a good thing to mark your Bible and underline verses together so we love the word of God and we studied the word of God together and you know another thing is we would see people come to Christ in every service.

We would they give invitations and people would respond and that's what we still do that here today because our church harvest Christian Fellowship was born in a revival. This church has revival roots and were very thankful to God allowed us to come into being in that way, and it was one of the thing we talk a lot about back in those days and it was the return of Jesus Christ.

But it was in a lot of messages near single Greg was in your timing a little bit off what was up 45 years ago yeah maybe we were a little early but guess what it impacted us in the way that we live and consider this. We've never been closer to the return of Jesus Christ than we are right here right now he is coming back again. I still believe it and will do a song together disorders that the state and never get to see what the Bible says about what I believe is the next event on the prophetic calendar. It's called rapture causes radiation causes and only the changes being go and saying that he can see playing a and God. We may be. This is hard to cross Riverside Orange County and may be an the way the being a a a she.

We the Lord, we pray that you will prepare her heart. Return I pray that every person here every person watching and listening wherever they may be, will be ready for the return of Jesus Christ. Before this service is over with because you could come back at any moment. So speak to us from your word. We pray in Jesus name, amen. You can be seated. The rapture for that before some people would say we you can find the word rapture in the Bible all that's true in a way, but you can also not find the word Bible in the Bible nor can you find the word Trinity in the Bible and those are all things that we know are true. So let's understand what the rapture is there is a Greek word harp so that she is many times in Scripture. This word harp also describes I catching up of people into the presence of the Lord.

If you have a Latin translation it's translated rapturous when we get our English word rapture from China care if you call it the rapture or if you call it the harp. Also they call it the great escape. If you want to.

Whatever you call it, it's a real biblical event. Jesus said in John 14. In my father's house are many mansions over were not Troy would've told you if I go I will come again and receive you on the myself, that where I am, you may be also.

Word received is harp. Also, I'll catch you up into heaven, so it is a real event that is coming in a minor, sending a Bible prophecy. It could happen at any moment looking at the big picture. I think the next event on the prophetic calendar is the rapture on the heels of that will be the emergence of a world leader who will be charismatic will be a great peacemaker come about with economic solutions when in reality the Bible says he will be the antichrist and the prefix anti-doesn't just mean against it also means instead of the come is a false Messiah. Some people think he is the Messiah will rebuild the third Temple in Jerusalem and then ultimately he will perform what is called the abomination of desolation or erects an image of himself and commenced people to worship him and I marks effectively. The halfway point of the seven year tribulation. The tribulation period ends with the battles of Armageddon and then Christ comes back in the second coming and then there's the millennial reign of Jesus, and last for a thousand years and then finally heaven comes to earth. The new Jerusalem like a bride adorned for her husband and we just think it like a bride waiting to meet our group and some guys are saying I don't want to be a bride.

Your bride deal with it in the church for the bride of Christ that the Bible calls us in so this moment this up in this rapture can happen at any time and that brings us to our text. First Thessalonians 416 the Lord himself of the seventh sent from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first and then we which are alive and remaining will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air social we always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. This phrase caught up is from the Greek word harp also that phrase so that word is used 13 times in the New Testament it means to take forcibly to snatch catch up. So here's a few questions. Why is there a rapture will call Dave this teaching in response to the believers in Thessalonica who had loved ones die and they wondered will we ever see our loved ones again. So Paul is telling them you're going to be reunited with your loved ones affected. First Thessalonians 413. He says we don't want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have died so that you will not grieve as those who have no hope. Very important thing pulsing. We don't want you to be uninformed, brother. So he talks about Bible prophecy, and I bring this up because sometimes people say no one can understand these things and so it's just a waste of time and we even try. No. Why would Paul have said we don't want you to be uninformed, brothers. If God did not want us to know about the events that are coming and coming back to that event. I mentioned the abomination of desolation.

Jesus referred to in Matthew 24 says and when you see the abomination of desolation.

Then he had let the reader understand we need to understand what these things me in the book of Daniel and the 12 chapter. It is said that the things of Bible prophecy, the understanding of Bible prophecy will increase in the last days. One of the signs of the end times is one of a better understanding of what all of these things me well and talk about the book of Revelation.

What is Revelation mean it means the unfailing. It is God's desire to reveal not to conceal and then Paul goes on to say, so comfort one another with these words. Why will because when a loved one dies. We missed many of you have loved ones in heaven right now, but Kathy and I do of course our son is there and and our mothers are there and my father is there.

So you know that that kinda connects you to heaven you think about it and you wonder about having conversations with them and what it will be like to be reunited. So this is what Paul is saying this is why this should comfort us. He says will be caught up together to meet them in the air who loved ones who preceded us was talking with a dear saint the other day yesterday. Actually, she's 95 years old and she wanted to know when she dies.

You know what happens to her body and what happens to her spirit is able what happens when you die is your spirit goes in the presence of God in your body goes into the ground but out the rapture. Your body is going to be resurrected, so your body will be resurrected in a perfected state. So that's when that all is going to happen. So this is this great hope no look. The rapture can happen in our lifetime, but we need to always be ready to meet the Lord. So we need to get to heaven through rapture you get to heaven through death cab or over. I don't care. I'm just going to go to heaven. So the idea is to be ready and this brings comfort to you because you know you'll see your loved ones again. Imagine what it would be like to suddenly be reunited with a loved one. You'd been cut off from for so long and to be in their presence again. Husband's reunited with wives wise reunited with husband's parents reunited with children. Children with parents, brothers were sisters sisters with brothers, friends with friends.

That event is going to happen and it's a glorious events and I want to be just think about how fantastic it's going to be so Joe's going to do a song right now about that day. This was written by love song of when the morning finally comes. This is about that day of reunion that they may all day, all the day the all the day of show where saying is she she and the all is an and the and all the and a and D. G's the try looking forward to that day.

That's what's going to happen. The believers were caught up to meet the Lord in the air awesome reunited with loved ones of the preceded us not so good for people that don't believe Jesus said to men to be in the field. One will be taken. The other left shall be sleeping in the bed.

One will be taken and the other left wants.

Therefore, you don't know what our Lord is coming, and so this is kind of a scary thing that there will be people that would be left to face the tribulation. Because they've not put their faith in Jesus Christ. When the rapture occurs one of the popular songs back in the days of the Jesus movement was written by Larry Norman Larry Norman was a very prolific singer-songwriter many ways, the father of contemporary Christian music is certainly a pioneer of it and so his signature song. I wish with all been ready really sums it up perfectly. So we asked Brenly to sing this song for you now and see a pain in the and we need you. Try this. How can you be ready for the rapture to be simplified in the statement. Get right or get left by get right. I don't mean right politically.

I mean, right spirit to get right with God or you be left truly your choice. When is the rapture. All this is one the people of asked for many years.

When is it will.

Here's what Jesus says no one knows the day of the hour, not even the Angels nor the sun. Only the father to go back to the original language and translate that it would come out to say, no one knows the day or the hour and actually what it means is, no one knows the day or the hour. When I say that because every now and then someone comes along and they say I've cracked the code. I know when the rapture is no they know no one knows the day of the hour. It could happen today, it could happen tonight. It could happen tomorrow to get up in the month of the year in a decade. We don't know what will happen, but we want to watch and be ready, but I'll tell you this one it out the dilemma so quickly.

You can even measure it in time were told over in first Corinthians 15 I tell you a mystery will not all sleep, but will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. The twinkling of an eye, not even the blinking of an eye. How long is the twinkle of and I will.

I don't know if from the Greek word after most we get our English word Adam from it's something that's very small. I guess the twinkling would take as long as maybe would take to say the word.

At the most. It's just that fast though some will say all accept Christ from the rapture happens really fast.

You see people get rapture clergy.

Oh, that's way too long, Lord know to look no good. It's too late and you will be left behind and you don't want that to happen. Sometimes people are confused about the rapture and the second coming there two separate events one happens the rapture before the tribulation, the other the second coming happens at the end of the tribulation. The rapture is effectively a stealth event, Jesus describes is coming. That's a thief in the night, the second coming is a very public event, Jesus said of the lightning signs in the east of the West, so will the coming of the Son of Man be in the rapture. He comes in the air in the second coming, he returns to the earth and the rapture becomes for his church and the second coming, he returns with his church in the rapture.

He delivers us before judgment.

In the second coming, he returns with judgment. So why is it important to believe that as well. If I believe it and I really should've. I believe the Bible, it will have an effect on me spiritually.

In first John three it says he that has this hope purifies himself, even as he is pure.

So I really believe this is going to impact the decisions I make things that I do everything really. Someone once as the great evangelist DL Moody if you knew the Lord would return tonight. How would you spend the rest of the day, Melanie Zappa, if you knew that Jesus worked you woke up just in it were you asleep a little bit. The little you are. I saw you kiss Kelly Melanie if you knew Jesus was coming back tonight.

How would you live the rest of the day. Think I'd check check 12 check. I think I get to all of my relatives that don't know Jesus and I would tell them hey it's coming now you have no more time.

There is nothing left to lose.

So why not just give it all to Jesus.

I think I'd straight up.

Tell them that's right. That's very good, good answer, Melanie. So someone asked DL Moody, the evangelist, if you knew he was returning the night out would you spend the rest of the day. Without hesitation he said I wouldn't do anything different than I do every day to this is the whole point. If I really believe this only if you believe Jesus could come back okay.

If you believe that if I believe this if we believe this, we should be living like well like Melanie just said have you told anyone about Jesus. Do you know relatives, friends, others and need to hear this good news live every day as though it were the last day because one day it will be Martin Luther once said there are two days of my life there is this day.

Others of that day and that day he was referring to was a return of the Lord. So we want to be ready know why has Jesus not already come back. Well let me take a quick poll.

How many of you have become a Christian since 1970.

You've accepted Christ since 1970 razor again. Okay, that's a lot of you I would even say a majority of you. We were pretty back in 1970 that Jesus would come back. Aren't you glad he didn't answer our prayer. It says in first Peter the Lord is not late as some men count lateness is long-suffering toward us. Listen, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The Lord is waiting for the final people to believe it's even possible that someone on this earth, possibly even in this service are watching somewhere is that final person the Lord is waiting for to get saved and then the rapture is going on but can you imagine if you knew who that person was Julia attempted to apply pressure elected. Could you get saved like now so we can get out of here, but the Lord is waiting why because he loves us. He wants us to have a relationship with him. But here's our prayer. When that day happens only the Lord knows what we want him to said at least one more spiritual awakening to America we need 1/5 awakening, I would be so bold as to say we even need a six and the seventh of the Lord. Terry lesson revival that can happen for you right here right now. We can talk about how the church needs revival, but you can just also say or ask yourself the question, do you need revival.

Do I need revival what is revival, it's been restored to original condition. You know, if you want to see your revival, you should do revival like things and that's were sort of doing here today were remembering things, things that happened before were saying do it again, and of the same way if you want to see revival in your life do revival like thing in Revelation chapter 2 Jesus talks to the church and he says you know what I I know you guys are discerning in you work hard and you test those who say they are apostles and are not, but I have this against you, you left your first love. So remember therefore from where you have fallen, and do the first works quickly.

Very interesting. He says you know you're doing a great job at there's a problem you've left your first love suffered, she should remember I would ask you to remember right now. Think back in your life. Some of you been a Christian for a while. Some of you. Not as long but was there a time in your life where you are stronger spiritually than you are now. Was there a time in your life as a follower of Jesus were your passion was greater in the fire burned hotter than it is burning right now K remember that it's a point of reference.

Now repentance, he says, remember from where you fall in the repent and it's interesting uses the phrase were you fallen to me think of falling away from the Lord is something dramatic all the abandon their faith and their doing all these horrible things don't yell that that the form of it. But Jesus said if you plug your first love.

You fallen short like a slow-motion fall sun is dramatic but it still falling. Remember from where you will fall and then he says and do the first works quickly, so the 3Rs of revival.

The 3R's of getting right with daughter. Remember, repent, and repeat. Go back and do those things again heard about a lady that wanted to divorce her husband, but she didn't want to just divorce him she wanted him to suffer so she went to an attorney and say what it said what can I do when I divorce my husband to bring the most pain possible. The lawyer said evil laugh. He said I have the solution. He says for the next six months.

I want you to smother your husband with affection. Tell them how wonderful he is, how responsible he is, how much you respect them how much you care for him and then at six months and with the divorce papers, he won't know it yet available because like visible, she said to have other sex six next six months. She told her husband a much you love them how great he was so much he respected them how much she adored him and the lawyer calls at six months and says okay let's get this divorce going Jesus divorce going on our second honeymoon. So the point that she was doing what she should have been doing all along and in the same way if we want revival just do revival like thing if you want to restore a marriage that feeling goal bring the romance back in your marriage to the things you did in the beginning. The same is true of your relationship with God, and I wonder if some of us need revival in our life. Look it can happen. We just say Lord I need to be restored to that original condition. I need to get back to that walk.

I once had with you in other some of you here the might of been around of the days of the Jesus movement that's great. What a wonderful thing that was but this is now how is your relationship with God now are you walking with the Lord today and are you ready for his return now all of not this is a great opportunity to get right with God. You know we saying you been left behind if you want to be sure that you're ready to meet the Lord. If you want to be confident that you'll be ready to be caught up to meet him in the air you need to ask Jesus Christ to come in your life. He died on the cross for you.

2000 years ago. He shed his blood for you. We paid the price for everything you've ever committed. If you put your faith in him and asked him to forgive you. You can be confident your sin is forgiven and you can know for certain that you go to heaven when you die and you can also know for certain you'll be ready for the rapture. You'll be rapture ready and if you are not sure if you are now. There's an opportunity for you to make that commitment or recommitment to Christ.

Let's all pray together.

Father I pray now for every person that is here on every harvest campus.

Every person that is watching.

If they don't know you, Jesus. If they're not right with you. Help them to get right with you now. We ask nobler heads about her eyes are closed and were praying together. Maybe God is spoken to your heart maybe you need Jesus in your life you want to forgive you listen if you want Jesus to come of your life today if you want to know that you go to heaven when you die if you want your sins forgiven. I want you to raise your hand up right now and I'm in a pray for you wherever you are. God bless you lift your hand up. God bless you. Anybody else raise her hand up wherever you are. God bless you.

You guys are watching the one of our campuses watching the screen. Raise your hand up know I can see what the Lord sees you as raise your hand up wherever you are, you can make the same commitment to Christ. God bless all of you. Anybody else you want to make sure your life is right with God and you're ready for the Lord's return. Raise your hand up in a pray for you today.

Combustion what I had just about maybe there's some of you that have fallen away from the Lord, your walking closely with them at one time but you let other things crowd about you need to return to your first love that you if you need to come back to Jesus today, would you raise your hand up right now.

Let me pray for you – come bless everyone all right now and ask everyone to be that if raise your hand. I want you to stand your feet and I'm the lead you in a prayer everyone to be there. Raise your hand stand up, lead you in a prayer even if you did not raise her hand but you want to make this commitment or recommitment to Jesus Christ that wanted to stand up wherever you are, wherever your hearing my voice, stand up and will get a pray.

This is a commitment you're making to Christ. It doesn't matter if I see you are not anybody else.

Even if you didn't raise your hand you want to make this commitment or recommitment to Jesus stand up will pray only one more moment. I think there's a few more of you want to do this. Anybody else then now let me lead you in this prayer. God bless you. Anybody else away one more moment stand up will pray together. All right you that are standing pray this prayer out loud after me again as I pray pray this out loud after me. Pray these words Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but I know you're the Savior. Forgive me of my sin I choose to follow you, Jesus.

From this moment forward as my Savior and Lord is my God and my friends.

Thank you for sharing this prayer in answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray a man. God bless each one of you there. Pray that prayer hey listen all of you that just stood and prayed the prayer with me. I want you to get a brand-new seat and walk over to a room over here in the corner working to give you a Bible that looks like the one I'm holding… With my bubble by want Jake to give you a Bible looks like the one I'm holding here is called the new believers Bible. This is designed for someone like yourself that just prayed that birds are get in front of your see him walk over to the room see in the corner and see what I'm pointing go back that direction drop in the balcony.

Come on down the stairs and wherever you are. Don't leave the campus today without your own copy of the new believers Bible. This is a very important commitment. You've just made a moment Pastor George, coming close the service with the couple of announcements but I want to lead you in a prayer for personal revival before he does so let's all stand up and this is a prime and lead you in. I'm an evangelist. I like to lead people and prayers. I can't help myself so you don't have to pray this prayer if you don't want to. In fact I would say if you don't mean this prayer don't print limited with the prayer will be to prayer. We did as Jesus to revive you spiritually so that something you want. You pray this after me that something you feel Yorty have it you don't need any more of our accident. Something you don't want them. By all means don't pray this prayer, but if you want to experience using personal revival identical now for almost 2 months and I'm the kid is crazy appreciate your prayers. But if this is something you want the Lord to do for you.

Who knows my voice will be by the system stupid.

Okay really get through this focus is this what you want the Lord to do pray this prayer after me. Let's all pray pray these words Lord Jesus, I need a personal revival I want to be on fire for you. I want to return to my first love and be ready for your return.

I want this hope to purify me, even as you are pure so revive me.

I pray in Jesus name I ask it a compass to guide