A Study of the Rapture

Old - G E L N D J J R 1S 2S 1K 2K 1C 2C E N E J P P E S I J L E D H J A O J M N H Z H Z M
New - M M L J A R 1C 2C G E P C 1Th 2Th 1T 2T T P H J 1P 2P 1J 2J 3J J R - Topical - All - Archive

Thanks to Roger Genung from the Delight Church of Christ for this outline.

---

Introduction

A. Last week I viewed an ad for a new ‘Left Behind’ movie.

1. 15 books for adults, 40 titles for children, multiple movies, 1,397,900 (as of Thursday) followers on Twitter, a trilogy of video games and audio dramatizations (these are being aired on Christian radio) have made this a multi-million dollar business to spread error concerning the return of our Lord.

2. The basic idea of the books make it good fantasy, but that is all it is fantasy! We need to be spreading the truth to those who have believed this story. Some of you have expressed your concern over this false teaching. Thanks be to God that you are concerned!

B. Another term for “rapture” is “dispensational premillennialism”.

1. It started about 1830 from the mind of John N. Darby. Dispensationalists believe that all human history falls into seven dispensations. According to them, we live in the sixth which is called the dispensation of “Grace”. The seventh and final age is called “The Millennium”.

2. Dispensationalists teach that our age will end with the “Rapture”.

C. The “Rapture” is contrary to the Word of God. We will look at this.

Body

I. “Rapture” teaches that the saved will be taken while the lost remain on earth and there are three different resurrections.

The Bible says:

A. Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43

B. John 5:28-30

C. We need to help others to understand that when the end comes all will be judged together. The idea of “rapture” teaches that the lost which remain on earth will have a “second chance” to obey during the seven years of tribulation. This is not true!

1. All will come out of the graves at the same time.

2. All will meet at the judgment seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10).

II. “Rapture” teaches a secret “coming” of the Lord along with two future “comings”.

The Bible says:

A. I Thessalonians 4:16 and Matthew 25:31ff (…all the holy angels with Him…)

B. Hebrews 9:27-28

C. The Bible speaks of the Lord’s return as anything but secret.

1. The timing of His return is kept from us, but the event itself, is not! All will see and know of His coming.

2. Jesus never stated, nor was it even recorded, that He would come back more than once. II Peter 3:10 states that when Jesus does return to judge the world, the earth and the works will be burned up.

3. After His return, there will be no earth left to return to another time.

III. “Rapture” teaches the Antichrist will lead forces against Christ and that the battle of Armageddon will bring in the kingdom.

The Bible says:

A. II John 1:7 (Four verses speak of antichrist – I John 2:18, 22, 4:3)

B. II Thessalonians 2:1-4

C. We should be teaching others that antichrist is anyone who denies Christ has come in the flesh.

1. The term is never used in the Bible to mean just one man who is a leader of forces of evil.

2. The battle of Armageddon is not some futurist war…the warfare that God and His followers are involved in is not carnal.

3. God does not need men to fight His battles (II Kings 19:35).

4. We are fighting this spiritual battle right now! – II Corinthians 10:3-4

Conclusion

A. The second coming will be on the last day, all the dead shall be raised, all mankind will be judged and be sent to their eternal destinations, and the earth will be destroyed.

B. May God bless your study of His Word – II Thessalonians 2:13-17

---

Morning Sermon at the Delight Church of Christ on September 14, 2014 by Roger Genung
1224 Henderson
St Delight, AR 71940

870-379-2808