Must Christians Believe in the Rapture?

Will all Christians be rapture during the end times or will some not be best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Our phone lines are open right now and you can call us during the next 25 minutes with your question.

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There are couple of places in the Old Testament where where we typically go to describe or where the fall of Satan, the evil one is described in those places her in the prophets Isaiah chapter 14, that's one place and then also in Ezekiel chapter 28 and there it is talking in Isaiah chapter 14 for example, about this arrogant king.

The king of Tyre, who essentially fell, but there are some some allusions there. Also to to Satan.

We read in Isaiah chapter 4 TV 14 verse 12 how you are fallen from heaven, oh DayStar, son of the Dawn, how you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high. I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the North. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the most high, and so really the issue here is pride and arrogance and I think that this is also alluded to. Actually the New Testament in first Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 of Paul's writing to Timothy about the qualifications for elders or pastors and any talk about the importance of humility not being arrogant not being full of pride, lest they fall into the condemnation of the devil. So as far as you know, what was it that got Satan kicked out of heaven and also another New Testament passage you can look at his Revelation chapter 12 where this is where this is talked about this war in heaven about what typically we would we would point to pride that arrogance wanting to ascend above the stars of God, you know, above all the angels wanting to be like the most high and and that's impossible. And so the evil one was cast down.

Thank you for that question and check out those passages of Scripture again Isaiah chapter 14 Ezekiel 28 and then Revelation 12 a great reminder for all of us about pride for those one of the things the Lord detests more than anything else right yeah I know absolutely and in that's I think precisely why I mentioned that that passage in first Timothy chapter 3 why Paul brings it up in this discussion about Christian leadership pastors you know that that has to be something that all of us are watching out for is to sort of pride that can begin to well up within us. God resists the proud, and and so we we humble ourselves before the Lord. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Here's the number to call if you have a question it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Opal in St. Louis Missouri over what your question for pastor a drill and no say in Roman 826 and 27 Lake colony. What growing. One of the things I love about here we see in Romans chapter 8 is were called to pray and because the spirit lives in us were told in Romans eight we cry out to God above father. We recognize that we've been adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ, but were also told here that the spirit is interceding for us. Likewise, verse 26, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words and he who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God is over one of the wonderful things here's either right. Sometimes we don't know what to pray will guess what the Spirit himself is interceding for us. According to God's will and you know who else is is praying for you Opal, who's praying for the church.

Jesus is praying for the church. You see this and in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 says that he ever lives to make intercession for us or or you remember what Jesus said to Peter in a Satan wants to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you and so the spirit and the son intercede, pray for us and that's what the apostle Paul is getting out there in Romans chapter 8 and what I do Opal when I'm wrestling with with prayer and II don't know what the prices go to the Scripture pray as Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew chapter 6, or open up the Psalms. For example, pray with the psalmist. I think we don't have the words God gives us his word so that we might pray it back to him. Thanks for your question. Thanks Opal so much for calling core Christianity great to have you as one of our regular listeners. Let's go to Danielle in Choctaw, Oklahoma. Daniel well done you welcome to the program what your question for Pastor Israel and I had all this getting old and 19 years that nothing alarming and loving and a peace that passes all understanding and and having where in seventh grade I had anything to this welcome exchange rate and I got older I sent in my life and about 19 years like bad health. I turned away like an Iranian farmhand. I thought hand and I'm just wondering my love went so cold for the Lord and I become the person that committed the unforgivable thing in our DNA and it's just it's really scary is I Mike I know salvation and eternal that people saying they went out for my state in my life that I might go like I I can explain anything that happened in my life. If it wasn't you that the time they Daniel I'm so so glad that you reached out to say something to you our love does grow cold at times it shouldn't, but we let sin in we we stop pursuing the Lord.

I mean the reality is, none of us love the Lord as perfectly as we got to and even for genuine Christians. There can be seasons of grievous sin. It doesn't make it okay but times where we will return were we wander away even like you said what we run from him now is that the unpardonable sin know the unpardonable sin is unbelief rejecting Christ and his gospel, wanting nothing to do with that.

That's what the religious leaders were doing when Jesus rebuked them what I can say to use that even when your love grows cold for the Lord his love Danielle does not grow cold for you. He has a perfect love for his people. That is steadfast. That's one of the ways it's described throughout the Bible, in particular in the Old Testament, this steadfast love and faithfulness that the Lord has for his people and one of the ways he demonstrates that love to us is by continuing to pursue us and to pursue you you think about the parable of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15, he turns away he runs from the father.

He engages in all all sorts of sinful behavior. He thinks him and how many go back. I don't even know if if my father will accept me as a son anymore.

Maybe let me in as a servant, you have I done something that's going to keep them from loving me and what does the father do their Danielle. He runs to his son.

He clothes him in the best robe.

He throws a party for him and when you turn to the Lord even after years, five years, seven years, 10 years of running from him. He runs to you and he lavishes his gifts, his grace, his forgiveness upon you, through his son Jesus. And so you can rest in that receive that embrace it by faith in Christ. God bless you Daniel. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. By the way, we should let you know that some stations air our program on a delayed basis. So if you'd like to talk to Pastor Israel live make sure to call us at these times 11:30 AM Pacific 1230 Mountain 130 central time or 230 Eastern time for that 30 minute. We were on. We are on the air live that you can't call or listen during that time, you can always leave us a voicemail at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to James in Newport, Arkansas.

James what your question for Pastor Israel girl in Judges 16, for it shows that Sampson told all the sacred and when you get the right thing you know they married and didn't get forgiving the main terror burn novella because that's that's a great question. You read the story of Samson in the book of Judges and it's absolutely tragic isn't it, because over and over again.

Sampson disobeyed the Lord in very clear ways Remi and it's almost as if � how did you not know better Sampson amines, yet your your so easily deceived. Your your acting so foolishly. One of the things that I think that the story of of Samson illustrates for us changes how blinding sin can be literally at the end of his life. Sampson was blinded right before his death, but the fact of the matter is sin. Has this stupefying effect upon us brothers and sisters it blinds us to help it cause this to not be able to see clearly. That's what sin does a docent will do in your life. Now the question of was Sampson saved, I think, is answered for us in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 11, where the author the Hebrews talked about that the hall of faith was so encouraging to me, is that despite the fact that Sampson had this very tragic life where he continually rebelled and and and failed in miserable ways. At the end of his life. He cried out to the Lord and you know what he's he's described in Hebrews 11 in the hall of faith as one of those who belonged to the Lord and so I thought. Yes I would say despite the fact that you know he he met this tragic ending that up throughout a lot of his life he he did things that were just outrageous foolish. He should've known better.

God was still merciful to him and he still had faith and so I would say look at that that text in Hebrews chapter 11 the hall of faith and and that would be a good place to go for your answer. Thanks for that question James Ray question James. You know when I was a kid, Israel, and I first read about Samson. I was always afraid to go to a female hairstylist because I thought you know what could happen yeah well that would be the wrong application of the story to good but you know that now.

All right, let's go to Paul from Johnston Road, I would.

Paul what your question for Pastor Israel. Would you say right and beneficial for us to unknowing cells would oil for healing daily. Hey Paul, thank you for that question will you know James in James chapter 5 he talks. If anybody is sick, let them call the elders of the church and let them anoint the sick individual with oil praying with faith that there that there would be healing. I don't think you see in Scripture places where people were anointing themselves in the Old Testament. Typically the you know this.

This anointing had to do with being placed in a in a prominent position in a particular office and service to the Lord so the kings of Israel. For example, they would be anointed, the priests would be anointed, the prophets would be anointed was a sign of God's blessing and a sign of God's spirit that the ghetto wasn't magic oil or anything like that was a picture of God's presence and of God's spirit, and so in Scripture you have even in the New Testament.

As I said examples of being anointed, praying for healing.

I don't know that I would. I would say at something you should do to yourself every day. I don't I don't think you have examples of that in the Bible say save your oil for cooking and for and for other things but if you're if you're sick to what James said in James chapter 5 and go to the elders of your church and ask for prayer and and asked them to anoint you with oil and and pray for healing. Now we don't know whether or not God will always heal us at something that's in the Lord's hands.

But it is something that were encouraged to do and so that's what I would encourage you to do. Rather, thank you for that question.

Your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez, one of the books of the Bible that can seem very mysterious and confusing to Christians is the book of Revelation.

Well we have a free core guide. Would love to send you that will help you understand that book it's called five things you should know about the Bible's final book again Wheatley and we've been offering this resource for a few days now because we get a lot of questions about the end times and in particular about the book of Revelation. How do we understand you know these numbers and that this sort of apocalyptic symbolic imagery. It's hard to make sense of and so this resource can help you sort of go through the weeds in the book of Revelation and understand really why it was written and how can benefit you called five things you should know about the Bible as a final book and it's yours for free.

Would love to send that to you.

Just go to our website.

Core, Christianity.com/final book core, Christianity.com/final book. You can also call us for that.

At 833-843-2673. That's 833 the court let's go to a voicemail we received yesterday. This has to do with the end times will leave or not believe in the rapture director will thank you for that question.

And for those who are unfamiliar with, you know some of this that were talking about the end times and there are all sorts of different views about the end times.

One view is that there is this thing called the rapture the rapture of the church. Minutes held by Bible believing Christians. The idea is that it at any moment Jesus can come appear in the air and that those who are believers. Those who belong to Christ are to be caught up together with the Lord in the air and the rest of the people on earth are going to be left behind and experience tribulation trial period of judgment. Now this comes from the book of first Thessalonians chapter 4 where Paul talks about the coming of the Lord. Next want to read those verses first Thessalonians 4 beginning in verse 13, Paul said, we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope for since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive and who are left until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words is really worked. Words of encouragement from the apostle Paul.

Now there are others who believe you know that there's not can it be you know the rapture of the church first and then a later second coming of Jesus, but that the these events. What what's being described there in first Thessalonians chapter 4 is really just referring to the day of the Lord, the final judgment. The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and action that make sense to me because later in first Thessalonians.

And in chapter 5 the apostle Paul begins talking about the day of the Lord concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night and now your question is if someone doesn't believe in that. That first view that art articulated. The rapture will they be enraptured.

Still, well, I think for those who hold that view and I don't want to speak for them to so but I have a lot of friends who do take that position they would say yeah if you have faith in Jesus Christ, you, you would be.

But again, this is this is something where there is difference within the church. What we do what we need to affirm, though, in terms of core Christianity as it relates to the end times that Jesus is coming back and we need to be ready, that Christ is going to return bodily to judge the world and to redeem his people and and I think that those those events happen. Actually, at the same time.

This is articulated in second Thessalonians by the apostle Paul. Second Thessalonians chapter 1 verses seven through 10 that the redemption of God's people and the judgment of the world.

They are contemporaneous events that happen at the same time and so that's how it answer your question brother thank you so much for that question and may the Lord bless you and again we have a great resource available for you on the book of Revelation, which will help explain even more about the end times and what the Bible says about that five things you should know about the Bible's final book you can find out our website which is core Christianity.com go to Jason in Goodman, Missouri Jason what your question for Pastor Israel: and the doctors. The six months to live. And the third edition must get right with God and in between the time before I got search. I live my life horribly. My question is is there a limit or time on the dog give you before you don't listen to you anymore Jason.

II want to take some time to pray for you as well but let me just say brother God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and the mercy of Jesus Christ is far greater than our sin. There is an ocean of mercy for those who turn to God by faith. Jesus the redemption that Jesus accomplished is sufficient to cleanse all of our sins.

All of your sins this matter how bad you live and you think in the New Testament about the people that God brought to himself.

People like Saul of Tarsus, a murderer, someone who was persecuting the church of God, you think about God's mercy on King David in the Old Testament, a man who committed adultery and and and murdered as well.

God is merciful. When we turn to him and so you can turn to the Lord brother in you and you can look up you can raise your eyes to him and all those who trust in Jesus Christ will be saved. That is the promise of the gospel so you can take that to the bank and and you know sometimes it we turn to the Lord because of circumstances we don't know why those things happen. We know we live in a world that's full of sin and our bodies are broken there deteriorating.

We experience disease and sickness. Things like cancer, but that doesn't mean that God does not love you and that doesn't mean that God has rejected you. I would say look up to him look to Christ and receive the grace that he has for you and when you do. There is just like I said Jason there's there's all the recent to be hopeful. Let me let me pray for you.

Father I pray for Jason. I pray that you would give them an overwhelming sense of your love. I thank you that that he called that he reached out to us. We do pray for healing in his body, but most of all, or even healing in his spirit as he looks to you that he would know beyond a shadow of a doubt your love, your forgiveness, the free grace that you have for him in your son Jesus, who bled, who shed his blood for the forgiveness of all of our sins may may Jason truly grasp that I pray in Jesus name, amen Jason. We will continue to pray for your brother thank you so much for your call. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez time for one more question, this is Donald from Wichita, Kansas, Donald, what's your question for Pastor Israel wanted to know my responsibility for transgender person. I will speak lovingly, but I want to the ration will I do know I appreciate the fact that you want to speak, loving, and that your engaging your engaging someone who maybe doesn't get a lot of engagement with with other Christians. I would say Jos� love this person in a get to know get to know them get to understand kind of what's going on their history, there is there is you know such a thing as gender dysphoria, then it's a it's a condition that that really is devastating. People need people need help and ultimately what you what you want to do is you want to be a friend you want to be someone who can share the love of Christ with those who desperately need and we all desperately needed and sought I would say the Scripture is very clear. As far as things like gender are concerned, we know that we also live in a fallen world, and so I think you can talk about that reality. The fact that we we live in this world that is broken and where our desires are broken, our sense of identity is broken and that's why it needs to be renewed and where is it renewed well. Paul tells us in in Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 it's renewed in Jesus Christ as we put on the new man by faith and so love this person and point them to Jesus and to the grace of Jesus for everyone.

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