The Nearness of the Rapture, part 2

 The Nearness of the Rapture, part 2 - by Pastor Mike Taylor- https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-nearness-of-rapture-part-2.html 8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be goodor bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” (2nd Corinthians5:8-11) (This part 2 of a previous sermon that the rapture is so very close at hand) Wondering about the end times and the rapture can cause confusion, worry and fear for a lot of people, even Christians! For ages, people have tried to figure out the exacttime that the prophecy of Jesus's return will happen. The best place to turn for answers about the rapture is Scripture! God tells us everything we need to know in the Bible. There are some things that God has left a mystery for us, but has given us enoughinformation in His Word that we should have complete confidence and hope in the Hope of our Salvation, Jesus the Messiah. The above verses speak of a time when those who are found in Jesus Christ will stand before Him and receive what has been done in ourbody, either for Him, or for ourselves. 10 "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heedhow he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1st Corinthians 3:10-15) WORK TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED As a Christian believer in Christ our Lord, our service is to be about our Father's business. Jesus gave us commands to follow and rewards will be coming for a job welldone. I don't know about you, but I long to hear the words come from my Lord Jesus “well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord” This from what I can gather from scripture happens to each of us who are found with the robe of righteousnessthat only comes from accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and working for the coming Kingdom of God, building on the only Foundation, which is Christ our LORD. That robe is not our righteousness, but we are clothed with His righteousness, and our ABBAFather only sees the glory of His Son found in us when we finally stand before Him. THEORIES OF THE COMING "HARPAZO" OF THE CHURCH Some question the timing of the return of our Lord Jesus and have all kinds of theories, being Pre-Trib, Pre-wrath, Post-Trib, or in the extreme no rapture at all, as Jesuswill come to us and we, by our own endeavors create a utopia and we deliver the Church to Jesus when He returns. But what does the Bible say? Which belief is the truth? As I said, all the answers to this question are found in the pages of your Bible. What I find among many believers, or even unbelievers, is a misunderstanding of what scripture is saying. The Bible has the concept of the removal of the Church BEFORE thecoming tribulation all over its pages and a wise person in these last days, mines them out like precious jewels, or as a discovery of a vein of gold in the earth.. Let us take a journey down the verses that speak of this time of the “Harpazo” the snatchingaway of the Church of the Living God in what is popularly called “the Rapture” . LET'S START IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WITH ISAIAH 17” Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord. 18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants ofthe world fallen. 19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall castout the dead. 20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more coverher slain.” (Isaiah 26:17-21) For the believer in the pre-tribulation removal of the Church, this is where I like to start, as the prophet Isaiah saw the removal of God's people, both the living andthe resurrected departed from their graves. Isaiah speaks of the dead rising to new life, even as dew on the herbs and the earth, its graves, casting out her dead in resurrection. The prophet sees judgment coming upon the earth and tells God's people to enterinto their chambers and shut their doors to hide them from the wrath of Almighty God. God will punish the “earth dwellers” for their unrighteous acts and evil they have done in rebellion to His authority over all creation. And Jesus will stain His robes withtheir blood, as we see in Revelation chp. 19 when our Lord returns with the armies of heaven. 11 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a VESTURE DIPPED IN BLOOD: and his name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11-13)(my emphasis) It is not His blood, but the blood of those He has trodden down in righteous wrath and indignation. One wonders what chambers that God is telling Isaiah that the peopleof God will enter into. Then I remember what Jesus said to His disciples, even saying it to us. 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” (John 14:1-4) For nearly 2000 years, our Lord God has been preparing a glorious mansion for each of His brethren called the Bride of Christ, and God the Father's children. Jesus callsthem mansions, and I can't imagine, even trying to envision the splendor of what God has prepared for us. 9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1st Corinthians 2:9-10) But note in one passage, God tells us to shut our doors, and Jesus tells that we will come to Him, to be where He is, not coming to where we are. Question. Where is Jesusright now? Of course, the answer is at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus said He would come again, to RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF. Note that He will do the receiving. We will not receive Him, but He will receive us. TWO COMINGS OF OUR LORD FOR AND WITH THE CHURCH The Bible speaks of two comings, that many people cannot see, even written right in front their eyes, or they have not read the Bible at all, but take the word of otherswho convince them of this error. As spoken of, many people have tried to pinpoint the time of the return of Jesus for 2000 years, and on a Christian forum that I host, I have had people proclaim that noone knows the hour of the Lord's return and use it as a reason to scoff that Jesus is not coming anytime soon. And though that is true that we don't know the exact timing of His return, we have been given many clues that point to the season of His return,not for judgment, but for removal of His chosen people, the Bride of Christ. So what are those verses that speak of the return of Jesus, most likely sooner than anyone of this world even thinks? One of the most quoted passage of verses that points to the coming of our Lord is found in 1st Corinthians: 50 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Deathis swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”(1st Corinthians 15-50-55) This is Jesus coming for His church, and then later in Revelation chp. 19, He proclaims that He will come to rule and reign and the saints are with Him, clothed in linen,white and clean, a sign of the saints. Note verse 52 in 1st Corinthians? In the twinkling of an eye at the last trump. Many people make an error, because they have a preconceived notion of a post Tribulationreturn of Jesus Christ to rule and reign for 1000 years and the 7th angel blowing his trumpet, and don't take the historical aspect that many Jewish people understand, but those who misunderstand are ignorant of Jewish terminology, because they don't believethat the Feasts of the Lord is still in effect for us today. What is the term that points to a Feast of the Lord quoted above? (see next paragraph). And note that the 7th angel of Revelation is not the same trumpet blown in this passage. Why? One producesjoy, the other indescribable horror of the 7th angel's trumpet. They are NOT the same trumpet Paul and John describe. THE COMING FEAST OF TRUMPETS In Jewish life, since the giving of God's Law to the Hebrew people at Mt. Sinai, God also gave them appointed times in their calendar that would proclaim markers, or HolyConvocations that they were to observe. Even they did not understand, as it was for us, not for them but they observed in the letter, but we look at it in the spiritual sense of “God's Plan for Mankind” the salvation of humanity based on God's appointed times.If you follow, or have in the past, any of my messages, you know that there are four Feast unto the Lord in the spring, and three in the fall. We have established in the past sermons that Jesus fulfilled each of the spring Feast days, called Holy Days on theexact day of their observance. Let me recap what those days were completed by Jesus and then we'll look at what He will complete in the near future. To refresh your memory go here for that message: https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2018/09/gods-end-of-days-plan-for-man.html Summarizing the four Holy Days, or Feast days that were fulfilled by Christ in the Spring were: Passover- Jesus became our Passover Lamb and was slain on the exact day of its observance. Feast of Unleavened Bread-Christ was slain outside the camp and was buried along with our sins that He took upon Himself. Feast of First Fruits-on the Sunday after Passover, the priest would wave a barley sheaf before the Lord in the Temple, as being the first fruits of their harvest. At theexact same time, Jesus was before God our Father, and became the first fruits of them born of the dead and completed payment in His own blood for the remission of the sins of the world and those who believe on His Name. Feast of Pentecost-on the exact day, the Holy Spirit came to those in the upper room and the church was born. Now for 2000 years or this Church Age, people have been looking for the return of Jesus, even the apostles thought He would return in their lifetime. But here we are, andeach generation has thought Jesus was coming for them in their lifetime, and they have been wrong. Why? They lacked ONE ingredient to start the countdown of the final week of Daniel's 70 week prophecy. That ingredient that started the countdown for the returnof Jesus was the founding of Israel again as a nation. “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor,She gave birth to her children. “ (Isaiah 66:8) But that is exactly what happened. In May, 1948, the one thing lacking in the return of Jesus Christ in prior generations was put into place. Israel became a nation again,after 2000 years of desolation of the land, and the scattering of the people of Israel to the four winds. Israel was REBORN. Why do I say Israel is a sign that was lacking in past generations? Let us quote what Jesus said concerning the budding of the figtree. 32 “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:32-36) Some say, how can we know that Jesus is close at hand for the coming for His Church? Note that Jesus said that this generation. MY GENERATION, of those born during or rightafter the forming of Israel as a nation will not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Let us review what a generation is, that Jesus spoke of. “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off,and we fly away. “ (Psalms 90:10) God has been shortening the lifespan of mankind down from nearly a 1000 years in Adam and Eve's time, to just 70-80 years in our modern time. Knowing that no man knows theexact day or hour, but we can know the season, as Jesus said, this generation will not pass till all things be fulfilled...what will be fulfilled? Jesus will be on this earth reigning and ruling for a 1000 years. All rebellion will be destroyed and the earthwill be returned to the time of the Garden of Eden... But let us observe one thing, if this generation born right after 1948 lives the outside of 80 years, that is 2028, which is 6 years from now. BUT..there is that word, butif we believe that we will not be on earth for that last 7 years of tribulation, then the number is 2022 approximately, not trying to pinpoint a date, but knowing the season is close, very close at hand. God is sovereign and He only knows when the last ofthe Gentiles will come in and be saved. So we can't be dogmatic about a certain year, but we know that the time of His glorious return is close at hand. 25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, untilthe fullness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” (Romans 11:25-27) God is patient and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should cometo repentance.”(2nd Peter 3:9) That is why I say, we can look at the season, (which we are definitely in) but we can't know the day, as the Father in heaven can extend His mercy to Gentiles past whatI have proposed above. We just watch and pray. The next Feast day that Jesus, I believe will fulfill, on the exact days of its observance by Israel, and the Christian who understands their significance, is the Feastof Trumpets...some call the “Return of the King” and what Israel calls “No man knoweth the day or the hour”...coincidence? God is not about coincidences. Could Jesus come in the near future on a Feast of Trumpets? We watch and pray, and believe you me, I willhave a trained ear listening for the sound of a trumpet any coming fall, till this Feast is fulfilled. THE COMING TRIBULATION IS UPON US But as I read rapture verses in your Bible, I am confident, and I am full of the Hope of Jesus Christ, that I'll not see one day of that coming Tribulation...oh, we willsee tribulation in this life, but when I say the coming Tribulation, I'm talking about GOD”S WRATH. Many say they don't know when God's wrath will begin, but reading Revelation chp. 6, the 1st seal that Jesus opens unleashes the four horsemen of the apocalypse.The first rider on a white horse is none other than the Anti-Christ who is revealed holding a bow but no arrows, meaning he conquers by deceit and lies. As you read this chapter, the nations know who is bringing this calamity upon them, and they know theywill not escape. 15. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves inthe dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16, And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17, For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? “ (Revelation 6:15-17) Jesus is using men to enact His judgment, much as He used men to bring judgment to Israel by Babylon, and Assyria. Jesus is causing events to come to pass, as each sealis broken. He is in control of making the earth ready for its redemption, that He has already bought with His own blood on the cross of Calvary. And after chp. 6 of this apocalyptic book, Divine judgment is enacted that no man can misunderstand. So why am I full of Hope, and confidence that I will not see one day of this awful time? Because Jesus my Lord told Paul the Apostle, and John the Beloved a promise to eachof them and to us: 4 “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”(1st Thessalonians 5:4-10) And the glorified Jesus, the Son of God told John the Beloved Apostle when He appeared to him: and spoke of what we can hold onto with both hands and know that Jesus willNOT send His bride through the horrors of the wrath of God that will cover the whole earth. 10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon theearth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the cityof my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:10-13) (CAPS my emphasis) Taking that emphasis above “I also will keep thee”, when you look at the Greek word for that phrase, it is the Greek word “EK”...which as I have pointed out in the pastthe meaning; “EK, the word origin: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out, removal (of place, time, or cause)” Note we are NOT appointed to God's wrath, and Jesus will keep us from the hour of temptation that shall try this whole earth. That is a promise from my Savior, and I prayyour Savior. So let's recap the nuggets that I am sharing with you. We are in the time of the end of days, the season of the return of Jesus Christ, in our generation since Israel wasmade a nation again. We are bumping up to the end of a generation since Israel was made a nation 74 years ago, this coming May. The Tribulation starts when the saints of God are taken out “by force” and snatched away from this earth. When? Could it be some future Feast of Trumpets, as "No man Knoweththe day or the Hour". A term for this day. But He could come at any time, this would just be another Feast fulfilled, that I believe God is a God of order and He changes not. We are not appointed to wrath, but receive salvation from our Lord, but the earth will be purged of all rebellion and destruction will cover the earth and the dwellers whoinhabit its land. Note as I have mentioned in past messages, that the Tribulation is designed by God for two things, and that is the redemption of Israel through much Tribulation, that iswhy it is called “Jacob's Trouble” and the nations who have rebelled against God will be destroyed who do not accept Jesus as Savior during this time, from witnessing from the 144,000 Jewish Evangelist, the Two Witnesses at the Temple, and the angels who fliesoverhead proclaiming the Gospel. For the last almost 2000 years, God has focused on the church, but when the Bride of Christ is removed at the rapture, the focus will be upon Israel to bring them to repentance and accept their Messiah that their forefatherscrucified out of ignorance and rebellion. WILL YOU BE READY? If Jesus would actually come this fall (or any fall thereafter), would you be ready to receive the glorified body that He has planned for those who have accepted His freegift of grace and mercy of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus provided by God our Father? Or would you be in darkness and not imagine that your world just got more dangerous than at any other time in history? Note I am not making any predictions of the day, butstating clearly and unequivocally, that Jesus return is close, right at the door. We don't know the exact day or hour, so its pointless to try and nail it down. BUT we know the season, and by all signs in the heavens, on the earth, and events of evil men andthe forming right now of a One World Government just waiting for the green light to have a spokesman usher in the New World Order. Then the revealing of the Anti-Christ, that God said I will not see, that the Holy Spirit will be taken out along with thoseHe indwells. And then the wicked One will be revealed...not before we are gone. “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:” 2nd Thessalonians2:7-8) The One who is letting, is God's Holy Spirit and when He is taken out of the way, all who have that earnest deposit of His Spirit dwelling within them, will be removed aswell. Will you still be here, and in total resignation of your fate of enduring the tribulation. Or will you be those who have no clue, and have pleasure in their unrighteousness?Don't be counted among these that have little hope of being in heaven. Many will be saved during this time, yes, but also, many will die for the truth of God's salvation found in Jesus Christ. Many will be deluded with lies and false doctrines of devils, ormany will just not care, as they think it's party time. Party is will not what it will be, but hell on earth for all who inhabit the nations. As for me, and those like me, who have found redemption through Jesus Christ our Lord, I will present at the Bema Judgment seat of Christ (an appointed rewards ceremony)and will be at a feast in heaven, called the “marriage supper of the Lamb”...I will live for eternity in the glorious light of my God and do His will, whatever He has in store for those who love Him... What about you? Will you be with me and those found in Christ, or will you be cast away into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, and the worm diethnot or is consumed? I pray you will not let that happen but embrace these next verses and confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.. 8 “ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:8-11) And the three verses that brought a 10 year old boy, to the realization that he needed a Savior..that little boy was ME... 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John3:16-18) Make Jesus the Lord of your life today, while the time is there for you to make that decision in freedom of conscience and not in Tribulation, if at all. Don't miss thecoming rapture of the church the Bride of Christ.