In The Twinkling Of An Eye | Part 1

What were fighting studios students Byron Tyler here with your revolver. See you fighting during what were fighting this month. It may seem. We make the most of the time before Jesus return, we must be about our father's business, or we must maximize the time you know someone once said, if were not witnessing or discipling the question is what are we truly doing and that's a great question.

You know and are we taking every opportunity for kingdom things well. You can find out more about this month's theme and find other resources@lwf.org that's LWF.org and to go along with the theme this month were beginning a new series called the edge of eternity and some might ask the question, are we really living on the edge of eternity and Adrian Rogers said this about it.

Well, we may be one of these days we will be out of time. The book of Revelation speaks of a. Called when time shall be no more.

And we have to live as if Jesus Christ died yesterday rose this morning and were coming back this afternoon.

The truth of the matter is we are always living on the edge of eternity.

Yeah, I agree with that Byron and you know the question also becomes, how come we don't live as believers, as followers of Jesus Christ. We don't live with urgency and fervency what's keeping us from that's what is stopping you.

That's such a sobering thought. When we look at it that way because we should live every day. That way yet. We should live every day knowing that this may be the last day until until Jesus returns. And how would it affect or impact our worklife home life or everyday life that brings us into our message today entitled, in the twinkly of an eye. Part one will be looking at first Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 13 through 18 in Israel. He talks about the rapture of the church. It means the rapture means to be called up or snatched away in a very quick way and that something is a believer were looking for to absolutely Dr. Roger said there were not waiting on the shoe to drop by. There's nothing else that needs to happen we must be ready now friends this Sunday is Mother's Day and we have so much gratitude and appreciation for our wonderful moms all across our liver, fighting, listening audience.

Thank you so much for your contribution to our families. We love you, moms, and that we have some great resources for families in the LWF store and we also have Nicole here. Nicole is for ministry services she's going to be reading a letter and happy Mother's Day to you Nicole thinking about her and I appreciate that I would just like to say happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers listening on a radio program today and thank Mother's Day is extra special to me. I had my daughter several years ago on this on Mother's Day and said it is an extra special day for me as well.

All this wonderfully carries we talk about resources. We've got a wonderful resource to celebrate mom's that's exactly right.

You know what a lower finding were also passionate about creating new resources and in this case were trying to teach our children about the Lord and so under our ministry. Faithful 31 moms we have a new casting of the flowers devotional coloring book. If you can imagine the head and so as they color through it. There also seeing every name, every characteristic of God from the original story book is taught in further detail through activities, coloring sheets, and more.

It's a great resource. It comes under our ministry. Faithful 31 moms and you want to be a part of that.

So, visit LWF.org to purchase your copy all I love that you're in. Nicole is you get letters from listeners. You have a wonderful testimony today. I absolutely day and I would love to share with you this lesson. I read in and said I never had a chance to meet Adrian Rogers that he has had a great influence on my life. I love that his messages are available on radio when I order materials from LWF. I always tell the team I want to live next door to Adrian Rogers in heaven. He's a true friend and he doesn't even know me in a Byron.

When we received testimony such as this land we just often stop and praise the Lord for the impact that pastor Rogers teachings has had in the lives of so many all Nicole what a great word thank you so much for that today will what today's message in the twinkling of an eye, part one. Here's Adrian Rogers. The Christians at Thessalonica were having some problems and there were the problems. Jesus said, he taught he had ascended and he said I'm coming. They took him literally. They expected him to come and they were expecting him to come in their lifetime, but in the meanwhile, some of the members of that flock it.and so they were perplexed and disturbed and worried, and they were saying. But wait a minute.

Where's Jesus did our loved ones miss is coming, but I missed that part.

In the kingdom and so Paul is writing to answer their questions and relieve their worries and to give them come so it begins in verse 13.

Chapter 4 in verse 13 but I would not have you to be brother. I just underscore the word I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that your sorrow_sovereign, even as others which have no hope_no hope that you have three major problems that people have who don't understand the same company. Jesus Christ number one ignorance number two sorrow and number three hopelessness and so Paul is writing to alleviate these problems and to give encouragement and to give comfort and so he tells them this blessed through this wonderful truth about the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is treated all for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with them. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent that's old English will precede them which are asleep.

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 and 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 that were going to ask and answer some questions today concerning the rapture of the church that will take place in the twinkling of an thought of a message in the twinkling of an eye, and will all these questions begin with a W so we can help keep them in track and understand first of all, the word one. What do we mean when we say the rapture well but what is the sacred mystery of resurrection and rapture. You find that in verses 16 and 17. It starts out in verse 16 for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven a central figure in all of this of course is the Lord Jesus Christ himself and one day Jesus is going to stand up from his lofty throne and the glory and make his way, stepping on the clouds back to this earth. He's going to make his consent to this earth back toward this earth. And then when he does our shout will come from his lips and those who know him are going to hear him say comfortable and that both the living and the dead will rise to meet the Lord in the air and his command. Those dead in the sea will come forth as the sea heaves her bosom and gives up the dead that are there those wrapped in the winding sands of the desert will give up the dead.

There battlefield will give up the dead that in the battlefields and graveyards may look like cloud feels as Jesus gives a shout and the dead rise to meet him in the air. What a glorious day that will be as the dead rise first and then next after this resurrection is going to come rapture.

Now the rapture means that those of us who are alive when Jesus comes in. We may be alive, are going to be transformed in the twinkling of an eye. Notice in verse 17 then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

I would call that the rapture some people say what the word rapture is not found in the Bible is true, it is not found in the Bible under the heading rapture.

The word Trinity is not found in the Bible the word mission is not found in the Bible. Those things are taught in the Bible the word here. Her closet was the Greek word the Latin word recto is a word we get our word rapture from and it simply means to be called away quickly.

Let me give you four places in the Bible with work upon so is used apart from the second coming of Jesus to give you some idea of why Paul chose this word. First of all, you might find it in acts chapter 8 verse 39 but it down and when they were come out of the water. The spirit of the Lord caught away so that the eunuch saw him no morning went on his way rejoicing that Philip was a preacher. He preached the gospel to unit from Ethiopia and after you baptized in the Bible says God spirit just Philip vanished the Lord just took away convoy. So what is word rapture mean well it means to catch away speedily. That's what's going to happen to us and not only does it mean to catch away speedily but also means to seize by force. John chapter 6 and verse 15 when Jesus therefore perceive that they would come and take him by force to make a McCain he departed again into a mountain himself alone. Okay to take Jesus to seize him and taken by force. Now the rapture is going to take us by force. What I mean by that is the Graebner gravity can hold us down. We're going and what mighty power. This rapture will have not here again is used in first Corinthians 12 verse one now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant that you were Gentiles carried away under these dumb idols.

Now there is used in a negative sense that, as Gentiles, before we were saved. We would just lead away transported in idol worship.

Well that point is that the word heart because of the same word is used here for caught up is used me to carry away one of these days Jesus is going to come and carry us away. We are going to be taken home. We got to be taken to a new place. That is the last time this word is used is found in acts chapter 23 in verse 10, there were some people who wanted to do. Paul harm, and there were those who came to rescue him and is what it says and when there arose a great dissension. The chief captain. Paul should've been pulled in pieces of them commanded the soldiers to go down and taken by force from among that is to rescue him. So there you have an idea what the rapture really means. It means to catch away speedily at the idea of season by force. It has the idea being taken from one place to another place. It has the idea being delivered from danger. All of these words of the same word that is translated here.

First Thessalonians 4, which means that we are called away to meet the Lord in their mouth. This rapture is a mystery that's reason why I called it a mystery. Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 15 verse 51 behold, I show you a mystery.

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling and I at the last trump for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, we should be changed so it is a mystery.

What is a mystery in the Bible. The word mystery means something that is been hidden. That is now revealed the Old Testament prophets did not understand the rapture the rapture is a message that deals specifically with the church and so that's the very first thing I want to do as we answer this question I want talk about the sacred mystery of the resurrection and the rapture when I was born we had near our house about 34 blocks from our house a great scrapyard scrap was accumulated there was needed actually in the war effort. We boys used to play in scrapyard one of the things it always amazed me was a giant magnet that would pick up huge pieces of metal. Sometimes the whole chassis of an automobile and would be picked up by this magnet and it had great force to pick up matter. I want you to imagine one of those great electromagnets and here on the ground.

All bits of metal that some zinc some aluminum.

There's some silver there some lead and other pieces of metal. But then there's some steel and some iron, some of that metal may be beneath the surface of the ground. Some of it lying atop the ground. When I great magnet passes over there that certain pieces of metal that go to rise in certain pieces of metal going to send ground even gold and silver as precious as it is with Sam the ground. What part will rise that part that has in it. Iron the same nature as the magnet and what part is going to rise when Jesus comes again.

Of all the world's population there. Some have an affinity for Jesus Christ and the some who don't. And if you haven't born to be having that which has the nature of the magnet is that which is going to be raised when Jesus comes again the question what Malthus asked the second question that we won't answer and that is and there is not only a sacred mystery, but there is a select multitude of the Savior and his saints again like if you went in verses 16 and 17 for the Lord himself as the Savior shall ascend from heaven with a shout of the voice of the archangel and the trump of God and that in Christ. That's the shall rise first and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them is talking now about the people that are going to be right but it down in your notes. This is not a general resurrection, some people teach in general resurrection, but there is not a general resurrection. There's a first and second resurrection. This is the first resurrection, and it is for the say and a ancillary note are Scripture would be Revelation 20 put it down. Verses five and six. The apostle John said, but the rest of the dead lived. Not again until the thousand years were finished. That is until after the millennium. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. We are going up in the first resurrection, and we going to enter into the millennium and reigned with Jesus a thousand years. The rest of the day.

It won't be raised until the millennium is over a thousand years from the time Jesus comes at the rapture. Blessed and holy is he that hath part of the first resurrection. If you're the first resurrection you not face the second that the second death has no power over you. Your body may die, but your spirit cannot die, but the second death is for those who've never been saved. The second death is the lake of fire so blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. Those who have part in the first resurrection of those who know Jesus Christ as their personal savior and Lord before they blessed in their holy you will not be in this resurrection when Jesus comes. If you not blessed and holy. If you have been saved by the second death will have power over you and if you are not born twice, you will die twice and if you die twice the time will come when you wish you never been born.

It all. Blessed and holy is he that part in the first resurrection.

So were talking about the these are the same day of the dead in Christ shall rise first. Are you in Christ.

There were two ways to die in Christ out of Christ and if you die in Christ the second death cannot harm you if you die out of Christ the second death will keep you for ever. Now question Pastor Rogers. How do we know all of this is going to happen anyway.

Will Paul gives us an assurance looking you will in verse 14 for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with now I know what some of you think if you're a professor in our physicist are a medical doctor are a scientist you said my pastor and all this talk about being caught up in the air. All this talk about the dead being raised all of this is sound so sophomoric it sounds so superstitious.

Paul knew the people would believe that as it wants to give some assurance that this will happen and first of all I want to know is what he says here in verse 14 for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again that you believe that that's if you can believe that miracle you will have any difficulty of our being raise. If Jesus ascended to heaven, but why can't you see that's what it's all about if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him so he saying that the proof of our resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And if you can't believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you can believe in biblical Christianity at all and if you don't believe in Christianity at all, then you may not believe in those of us who are sleeping in Christ to be raised from the dead. Frankly, folks. I believe Jesus Christ walked out of that brave and I believe one day if I die I'm coming out of that great.

I believe that with all my heart and so there is the incomparable work of our Lord that proves this. And then there's the infallible word of our Lord that proves this look in verse 15 for this we say and do you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not receive them which are asleep about the two things, the incomparable work of our Lord.

He died and rose again and then the infallible word of our Lord there so many soothsayers, astrologers, prognosticators, guessers and all of these things, and futuristic trying tells what the future is all about. Nobody knows the future, but God Almighty and those to whom he is revealed. Nobody I say that the devil future course not. But that was a knucklehead really really is that he thought has gone well thing that he can survive or thrive against the Almighty God. He came to say these things are going to happen. Well, Jesus died and rose again. Then I can believe in the rapture, the resurrection, the word of God has given it to us and God's word, that is been fulfilled in so many ways will be fulfilled literally. These prognosticators and other people like: cells prophetic. I think the prophetic mouth one third of the Bible is about the second coming of Jesus Christ.

The first and last promise in both of the testings Old Testament and New Testament business.

I can come of Jesus Christ we have talked about the Watley talk secondly about the who. Now let's talk thirdly about the win win WGN.

It is a sudden moment a sudden moment that is both close and certain basic pastor you say disclose, you know, it's close. It may be 100 years from now to make a difference is still close. We are living on the edge of eternity. When I say disclose I'm saying what the Bible is saying that time is near. Even the apostle John before he left this earth said little children. It is the last hour. Christians always are living on the edge of eternity. The time is always near the apostle Paul in this passage of Scripture said then we which remain in our lives. Paul was expecting Christ in his lifetime. Was he wrong nor was absolutely right. Nobody can set the date we know the date is coming in the twinkling of the Scriptures that Matthew 24 verse 36 but of that day in our know of no man, not the angels of heaven, but my father only having a Bible teacher comes along and set the date you have a right to say he's a heretic. If one of them guesses the right date. If I were God, I change that day and that our Matthew 24 verse 33 for as the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered in the art and then Jesus is likewise will be the day of the coming of the Son of Man is of no eating, drinking, know until you start the regular round of life. Some teachers erroneously teach that the church is going to go through the great tribulation.

If that were true, then we would have some idea as to when Jesus Christ is coming. We would be eating and drinking in marrying and giving in marriage, well this is speaking of the normal round alive a day like today that Jesus may come and so Jesus said in Matthew chapter 24 verse 42 watch therefore, for you know not what hour your Lord doth come and Jesus said in Matthew 24 verse 44 therefore be also ready. One such analogy, think not. The Son of Man cometh question.

Are you ready now. Jesus said you to be writing now he's coming. As we said prescriptive 15 verse 51.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, hire the other day on the radio about how apropos, because I'm preparing this message. Somebody said that the average person blinks his eyes 20,000 times a day. Now who counsels things you figure that out but I thought that so interesting that's how quickly you blink your eyes. That's how quickly the Lord Jesus Christ is coming in on moment. He says that in verse 51 word moment is the word we get our word. Adam from not Adam the man out of a tailwind that means an indivisible unit. That's what men first got Adam was before the day of nuclear physics, how the Bible writer had no idea he just simply use the word to mean that which is indivisible in a split second and an indivisible time. Jesus Christ is coming. People say will pastor you talk about the wind, don't you think that the signs of the times mean that Jesus is getting closer. Yes I do. But that's not Jesus could have come at any time without waiting on any sign to be fulfilled to see these signs of the times are really for things that will take place primarily after the rapture and the second coming of Jesus is yet to come after the rapture at the rapture, Jesus only comes to meet the saints in the air will say more about that later own his second coming in power and glory.

His feet are coming back.I'm on the Mount of olives, and so all moment in the twinkling of an eye. We don't know when he's coming, but we know that is coming and coming up tomorrow will your part to this important lesson in the twinkling of an eye today as you've listed you have questions regarding how to place your faith fully and what Jesus did for you on the cross. We loved offering insightful resource on the website. It's our find answers page.

There you'll find resources and materials that will answer questions you may have about placing your faith fully in Jesus.

We also want to invite you to check out or grow your faith page you can get grounded and dig deeper in the truth of God's word. Simply go to LWF.org/radio and click on the tab that says find answers or grow your faith, can't wait to hear from you today. Thanks for studying God's word with us today if you like to start receiving daily devotions and links to program sign up for our daily email LWF.org/tuning tomorrow for the conclusion to be in the twinkling of an eye right on word