R437 The Rapture Pt.1

We're always excited to share the message of Dr. Don Wilton with you, but today a message on the rapture is coming up.

We are ecstatic to see Dr. Wilton has many different areas of expertise in Scripture, but the end times is just one of those where he spent a lot of years studying and today as we open the Thessalonians chapter 4 and Revelation chapter 1 will begin a two-part series on the rapture excited about opening God's word together. Another were open to you. Love to talk when you pray with you and connect on our website at tewonline.org RG that's TW online.org why you're there, see the resources available and sign up for the daily Encouraging Word email from Dr. Don will be blessed if you need to call 866-899-WORD number that's 866-899-WORD 9673 and out. Today's message the rapture with Dr. Don Wilton. I want to speak to you this rep rapture of the church and I'm going to try to do four things for you to die going to find on, so full questions number one what is the rapture. What is number two. When will the rapture occurred when is going to happen. Number three. Why do I believe what I'm saying to you today.

What is my source of authority. Why do I have convictions. Why do you have convictions about this number full. What does this mean to me and to you how relevant is it for us to go now again to begin this morning by turning to a wonderful passage and I'm going to ask you to turn in the Bibles to first Thessalonians chapter 4 I made awesome.

Every person we had a good to have access to God's word. It's vitally important that you see what the word of God has to teach us again to begin in first Thessalonians chapter full. There is a Bible provided for you by the way, in the pew rack in front of you. You might want to take a copy of that first Thessalonians chapter full and verse 13 now. Needless to say I'm going to stop a number of times in this first passage because it has so much and I believe that we need to understand some things very clearly concerning the rapture.

As we tried to discover what it is because what Paul says in verse 13 brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of the man who have no hope.

All right, let's talk like that. It is very important to understand that the Bible makes a distinction between two groups of people who die now, death is something that we are all faced with the Bible has data into categories. First of all, the Bible talks about believers who die and they all pulled those who have fallen asleep. The wonderful picture here and right throughout the Scripture you going to find this when you get into the book of Revelation you going to find those who have fallen asleep. I wish I had time to get into details today, but obviously I cannot but just think about it. You see, the Bible says that we have no fear of days when we love the Lord Jesus. When you die as a believer you going to open your presence eyes in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You are going to fall asleep. It's just like falling asleep.

It's a wonderful picture there's no pain involved in that no agony no separation.

So that's the first category but then those who have no hope of those who die outside of Jesus Christ.

The Bible calls them the rest of the day. The rest of the day so you got to categories you got those who have fallen asleep on the one side and you have the rest of the dead.

On the other side, and in fact we read about the rest of the day.

For example, in Revelation chapter 20 the Bible talks about the rest of the day.

In Revelation chapter 19.

When the battle of Armageddon Takes Pl. in God in Jesus Christ speaks the word in the armies of the world and the kings of the world are annihilated.

We find a reference to those people who are killed, they being categorized as the rest of the day off to Jesus comes back again for the second time and he sets up his thousand year reign upon the earth. He talks about the rest of the dead, not being a participant in the thousand year reign, why because they are outside of Christ Jesus.

That's very important to understand this as we come to try and understand what the rapture is now, let's continue your brothers, we would not want you to be ignorant about those who fill asleep. Believers, on the other hand to grieve because it's funny nonbelievers who have a reason to grieve or to grieve like the rest of the man and why did I agree there it is because I have no hope. Look at verse 14. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have who fallen asleep with him, not you notice there.

The Bible tells us exactly who the people that are going to be with Jesus Christ. It's those who have fallen asleep, and in fact the apostle Paul makes a great theological statement of deep theological significance because he tries the hope of the believer into the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see that they are tied together the he's basically saying that as believers hope in Christ despite day is because of Jesus resurrection, he just puts those two things together.

Now let's read that verse again. Verse 14, we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him according to the Lord's own word. He said it many times John's Gospel and other places we tell you that we who are still alive and who are left at the coming of the Lord.

Now let's hold off all right, first of all, have you ever heard someone say that the world is going to destroy itself.

I have, you know. Recently, India detonated some nuclear material and there's a big funeral going on. Will has the capability to destroy herself but not according to Scripture that we can hurt ourselves, we can obliterate a lot of people we can do major damage to know what folks, the Bible says that there are going to be people alive at the rapture of the church. Garrett is very clear. There are going to be in verse 15, according to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive and who are left till the coming of the Lord.

Hold on right. Watch me Bible talks about death in two ways Christians are fallen asleep. Those who have no hope, and grieve all the rest of the bid. But the Bible also talks about two Cummings of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is called the day of the Lord in Scripture, or the coming of our Lord and folks, the coming of our Lord all the day of the Lord refers to the rapture of the church. The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is called just that the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is going to take place at the end of the seven year tribulation.

Just before the marriage supper of the Lamb and the battle of Armageddon that we read about in Revelation chapter 19 and it's called the second coming. Why because Jesus has already come the first time has me remember when he was born in Bethlehem's manger to Mary and Joseph, and he grew up. Then he was crucified on the cross put in a grave then you seem to be seated at the right hand of the father. Jesus was the one who said hold on.

Do not let your heart be troubled you believe in God you believe also in me. In my father's house there are many mansions and if it were not so I would've told you. And if I told you I'm going to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and I will receive you unto myself that where I am there.

He may be also in the acts of the apostles the disciples stood there gazing up into heaven, and the Angels came to them and said to them. Men of Galilee, why you standing there looking up into heaven.

This same Jesus has ascended up into heaven is going to come back in exactly the same way.

This is the second coming. He's going to come and land on the Mount of olives just as he ascended going to set up his millennial kingdom.

The thousand year reign upon this earth that we read about in Revelation chapter 20 all right. Are you with me not the rest of the dead, those who fallen asleep. The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, as opposed to or in relation to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The second coming is when Jesus will put literally landed back upon this earth now beloved this morning. It is very important to understand these if we going to understand the rapture the coming of the Lord all the day of the old refers to the rapture of the church.

Now let's read about the rapture showing verse 15 again. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep while we not precede because they were already in the presence of the Lord Jesus.

Even though their bodies are integrated not listen to what happens for the Lord himself will, down from heaven with a loud, come on, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God.

I want you to remember that trumpet and the dating Christ will rise first off to that, we who are still alive and are left will be court together. Now that word. As the word that we get rapture from I'm going to come back to it in a minute. It literally means to be snatched up to be court away it means to be delivered from just I should imagine my parents would notice something on television and then I would go and switch it off because they want to prevent their children from watching something that's not good for the it is the parental protection of those that plug it is the deliverance of the child from something that is untoward the rapture of the church literally means that God in Christ Jesus is going to protect us from the roster, he's going to catch up. He's going to snatch us away. Now look what happens here offer that we who are still alive and are left will be court up together with them where where we going to be called up in the clouds. All right, remember this is the day of the Lord and we all being.

In the clouds.

Now let's notice with them in the clouds to meet who who we got to meet the Lord Jesus Christ. Where are we going to meet in the air.

Are you with me. No forecastle should I say we, with God's word this morning. All right there is a difference between the second coming and the day of the Lord the day of the Lord is the rapture of the church. It is the time at which we are going to be court up to meet him in the air.

The second coming is when Jesus Christ is going to come back to earth.

This is going to be with you. Love the Lord, the small would you raise your hand if you love the Lord this morning. You got to be with Manon Scott. You love the Lord would you put up your hand this morning. You are going to be rapture. That's what the Bible says you going to be court up you going to be taken away. All right, let's read your verse 18. I love that. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Now, brothers, about the times and dates we do not need to write to you since Paul and then he goes ahead and writes anyway, for you know very well that the day of the Lord, you hear that, not the second coming, the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying peace and safety, destruction will come on them suddenly cannot put that in the modern terminology while Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is running a shuttle diplomacy between Jerusalem and Washington calling for the peace of Jerusalem. While the under Secretary of State, representing Pres. Clinton is running over the Pakistan and India and asking them not to settle the nuclear bomb while President Clinton of the United States of America is deplaning Air Force One in Birmingham, England to undergo a new treaty of cooperation with the European common market. While there are announcements going on at the moment about the beginning of the U Rd. E. you are owed on 1 January 1999. Guess what Europe is going to have one single currency all of Europe you going to go to Europe. From now on, you don't have to get Deutsche Marks in French francs and Italian leaders and all the other things you just go in there with one currency is controlled by one central bank but folks let this is very important in understanding. Look what he says. He says while this verse three of chapter 5. While people are saying peace and safety, destruction will come on them suddenly just as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

You will all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the mind or to the darkness so they let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled, for those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer loss. I'm going to say to you, just little while later, why do I believe these things about the rapture is one of the reasons God did not appoint us. God did not determine that believers would have to suffer the raw to come, but rather to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are awake or whether we have actually died physically. We may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing is not an amazing past. It is absolutely action-packed folks. I want to say several things to you to this so much I want to say I want you to turn over the book of Revelation. It's the lost book in the Bible, Revelation, I want you to turn with me to chapter 4 Revelation chapter 4. Now, let's just understand something here this morning. There are many passages in Corinthians in Matthew in first Thessalonians chapter 1. First Thessalonians chapter 4 in Revelation chapter 1 through three which deals with the letters to the seven churches in Asia, which is the church I there are announcements all pronouncements rolling off the warning about the rapture of the church in Revelation chapter 4. We actually read about the time that the rapture occurs.

Revelation chapter 4 begins the rapture of the church and the rapture of the church signals the beginning of the seven year tribulation.

Well, it's just read about it. Revelation chapter 4.

Off to this. I look now often walked what is the right to sign you what is drawing inside often walked well after the church age. That's the age in which we live through all these things that have happened since Jesus ascended into heaven to be with God forever author these things you see chapters 1 through three in the book of Revelation deal with the letters to the seven churches, and the seven churches are you and me. This is the day of grace. This is the time that we live in when every person has an opportunity. Folks, I'm going to say something I want to listen.

I will guarantee you that there is at least one person here today may be a young teenage man, maybe a young lady might be a boy or girl might be a grandparent. I'll guarantee you God for bid, but I'll guarantee there's at least one person got a guy who's not paying attention. I'll guarantee you today that there is at least someone here today who is scoffing at even the thought of this guarantee you that there is someone here today who assign lesson man I don't need all this man I not listen to all the stuff I cannot let too many other things to do.

I bought a beautiful girlfriend man.

I don't need to worry. I'm building a I'm raising a family. I'm trying to get my bank balance stripe. I was pleased to hear about this.

You see we living in the day of grace, folks. It's as simple as saying to you right now.

Would you would you give your heart to Jesus. Would you do it right now. Would you say to that issue because you cannot afford not to. And so it is that John writing in chapter 4 of the book of the Revelation. Let me show you something to watch me all I buy had a heart attack thought I was going to jump on this is this is what happens in the book of Revelation, the book of Revelation is pointing from point a to my brother Jim over there to direct all and from me to Jim over there is the revelation of God and what Revelation is all about. It is the systematic unfolding of the revelation of everything the Lord has for us to give you an option. I told you would be a great day of opening God's word together and gaining insight together. There's more where this came from.

Perhaps you just now tuning in and haven't heard all of this and didn't realize Dr. Wilton was such a such an expert. That's the wrong he would not like music where he such an authority in the sense that he studied so much on the book of Revelation in times is a lot of resources on our website@twonline.org the kind of bears out that heart.

You just need to know we're here to open God's Encouraging Word and gain insight.

While we do so, the resources are available online@twonline.org or if you call the resources at 866-899-WORD. The greatest resource we have to offer is the power of prayer. If you like to have someone print with you and for you want to call us at 866899 word number Chinatown distort yourself Dr. Don Wilton they would be happy to be one of your 2 AM friends at 866-899-9673 about today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton.

It's slowly opening the pages of God's book and telling us who we are and where we going and how we going to get there and the reason why we going to get. That is the revelation of God and the overriding message of the book of Revelation is that Jesus Christ was he is and he always will be totally victorious. We know the brother Jim from the beginning we know what happens at the end because God's word tells us well here in Revelation chapter 4. We have the announcement about the rapture off to this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like what was that say they excuse me like I trumpeted you heard that before. The voice speaking to me like a trumpet said, here now wait a minute now, folks. What is the second coming. That's Jesus coming down to hear the trumpet sounds in line with what they told the church at Thessalonica and John is told to come up here and I will show you what must take place. Often these things. In other words, what is about to happen is just the beginning of what is about to happen. Now you say to me right a minute foster care in chapter 4 we begin the rib we begin the tribulation. There's going to be a time of unmitigated disaster and pain and torment upon the people who are literally left behind. What about us will look back at Revelation chapter 3 in verse 10, just look back at verse 10. Since you have kept my Kaman to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the olive trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live upon the earth. God's word is absolute. It is absolutely precious and absolutely assuring. We can have absolute confidence in the word of God. Why, because God's word says if you love him and you believe in him and you receive them in your heart you are going to be enraptured you going to be snatched away. So what is he say there in verse two at once that word once is the is the rapture of the church at once. Immediately I was in the spring and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it and so we go on into the rest of the description of the throne room and what happens in the book of Revelation, and it begins.

Not unsurprisingly, in verse eight by the angel standing around the throne room saying holy, holy is the Lord Almighty was and is and is not something something in order so much more study.

In this two-part series on rapture will begin again tomorrow with more of these details. But before we go to tomorrow before we leave today.

Could it be that the Lord has done more than give you insight about the rapture and more than drawing you closer to Scripture in Revelation, and Thessalonians, perhaps the Lord is opening your heart to a decision needs to be made is Dr.leave the pulpit, so to speak, and comes in the studio. I pray you'd open your heart to what he wants to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that on the center and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross.

Today, I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart in Jesus night, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting new just afraid to dedicate your life to Christ or give your life to Christ for the very first time. We are so excited about what God is doing to the power of his living word The Encouraging Word. The Bible's resources in your hands. Dr. Don's prepare these for you if you call us at 866899 word 866-899-9673 anytime day or night to not only pray with you but also connect sources help you grow. We are spiritual warfare. We are in a battle. These resources will help you equip yourself to be prepared for our use spiritually dressed for today's battles Christians the word of God equips us to prepare insight spiritual. The apostle reminds us in Ephesians 612 that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. Join Dr. Wilton explored the powerful message series to help you understand the spiritual battle hearing can teach you how to put your spiritual armor on Frederick with you. You will receive the bonus strategies of Satan how to detect and defeat in Warren, 76699 word 866-899-WORD 96 sending three strategies of Satan for a gift of $25. Thank you for supporting The Encouraging Word as we proclaim the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Powerful resource that and so much more is available on our website@twonline.org tomorrow, live in the park to the rapture missed parts of today's program you need to know the video and audio versions all these teachings on her website. A great resource of activity TE WR online.org that's the place to be while you're there, sign up for the daily devotional and so much more resources that's TE WR online.org