The Four Stages of a Jewish Wedding:-
Meanwhile, the bride gets ready, so that she is pure and beautiful for her bridegroom. During this time she wears a veil, to show she has been bought with a price.
When the groom and his friends get close to the bride's house, they give a shout and blow a shofar - to let the bride know get ready.
When the wedding party arrive at father's house, the newly weds enter the wedding chamber - for a seven day honeymoon. The groom's bestman stand guard outside, waiting for the groom to tell him that the marriage has been consummated
Then all the friends started celebrating for the seven days that the couple are honeymooning. When the couple emerge, there is much joyful celebration and congratulation. Then the Marriage Supper begin.
2. To Israel, God promise the coming of the Messiah and the Messiah's kingdom where Israel would be a peace and prosper. He promised them they finally have the land that he gave to Abraham that extends from the Nile river in the south to the Euphrates in the north.
3. The Gospel is God's proclamation of the this new covenant. Jesus further reveal this New Testament or covenant when He give us the Lord's Supper:
When a person by faith receives Jesus as their Savior, it is a picture of the bride - accepting the proposal of the Bridegroom.
3. Notice that Jesus promise to come again and receive her unto Himself, that where the Bridegroom is, so will be the bride.
4. The proposal of marriage is made to the Father, the bride accepts the proposal and officially the couple is betrothed.
Yet, in the marriage of a believer to Jesus Christ there can be no divorce, because the only grounds of divorce, which is impurity....is completely removed by Jesus Christ. The believer is forgiven of all their sins and given eternal life.
If someone asks the Bridegroom - When is the day of the wedding ? He replies, "Only My Father knows."
B. The bride not knowing when the bridegroom will come, has to keep herselfready - at all times.
The groom's arrival will be preceded by a shout. This shout willforewarn the bride to be prepared, to get ready for the coming of the groom. The guests will be invited to the wedding. In the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Israel is the invited guest to the ceremony and feast.
The bride will be adorned in her "wedding garments."
3. Shortly after arrival, the bride and groom will be escorted by all other members of the wedding party to the bridal chamber (chuppah).
The marriage supper takes place after the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. All the invited guests are Old Testament and the Tribulation saints. The marriage supper takes place in the Millennium, the one thousand year reign of the Lord Jesus on the earth.
It will be a glorious time for those who have believed and accepted the Bridegroom the Lord Jesus Christ.
What a wonderful thing it will be - to have this special relationship and place of service to the Lord throughout eternity.
Like in biblical marriage, the wife is to be the help meet of her husband. In her special relationship, she has the privilege to serve Him. The bride is a joy to the bridegroom. She is an honor to him.
May I ask you a question? Will you be there...will you accept the Lord's proposal of salvation, thereby assure your place in heaven and experience for all eternity the blessings and inheritance of the Lord Jesus ?
Will you allow Him to wash you white as snow, forgiving your sins and giving you eternal life ?
Labels: Bible sharing
However, there is a marriage that is 100% successful. It is an eternal marriage - made not between a man and a woman. But between the believers, those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. There'll be a bride in heaven. This bride will be the believers who by faith were saved by the grace of God, whom the Bible says the Bride of Jesus Christ.
Today, we come to an event in the future - when Jesus receives His bride. This event is commonly referred to as "The Marriage Super Of The Lamb". It will be a time of great joy for all the redeemed people of God! You see, for those saved in this Church Age, the end times shape up like this:
In the Rapture, we will be - Caught Up.
My desire here is to help those who are saved understand that there are some blessed days ahead for the people of God. Sometimes we get so caught up in the events of today....that we forget the future God has for us.
I also want those who do not know the Lord to know that - they need to get ready to meet the Lord. He is coming back very soon, and He will take His people to Heaven and we will forever be with Him.
But, He will only take His people! The rest will be left behind to endure the Tribulation and face terrible times when God pour out His wrath upon the earth. We want you to know...that God's purpose in the Tribulation is two fold....One to bring millions of people to be saved, and second to purge the earth of sinner who refuse to receive Him as their Savior.
To understand, we must first understand - what are the marriage customs of the Jews, in Jesus' day? Because Jesus of Nazareth is a Jew.
Labels: Bible sharing
The Bible unmistakably portrays the raptured saints in heaven before the throne of God, prior to the Antichrist coming forth and the Tribulation beginning. The Scripture tells us, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be changed and be with Jesus in the air.
1 Cor 15:51,52-WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, IN A MOMENT IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND;
1 Thes 4:16,17-AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST, THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS. We may be asleep, immediately, we will be with Jesus. All the unbelievers, the lukewarm Christians, and those that did not obey the Gospel will be left to face the dreadful Tribulation.
THE TRIBULATION is the worst time in history since man has been on the earth. Immediately following the Rapture, the man of sin (called the Antichrist) comes forth and assumes control of the EU. He can be expected to be very charismatic and brilliant. He confirms a treaty with Israel and others, which begins the Tribulation.
It is a 7 year period, but the Lord may have shortened the first 3 1/2 years in some way-ref Mk 13:20; Ro 9:28. We are not setting a date; however, we are now living in that generation in which this will happen. Hate, murder, thefts, rape, and every imaginable form of evil will abound.
During this horrible period of God's wrath, Russia, Iran, and other nations will come against Israel. The USA becomes involved. One-fourth of the world's population will die. Many of the dead will be from the USA, as well as Russia. One-third of trees are burned up. All green grass is burned up. One-third of the sea will become blood. One-third of the creatures in the sea will die. One-third of the ships are destroyed. One-third of the waters become wormwood (or poisoned, or radioactive). Massive famines, increased earthquakes, and more diseases will happen as birth pangs of a woman. Those left alive will have opportunities to receive Jesus through the preaching of 144,000 male, virgin Jews; however, death by decapitation lies ahead for most that put their trust in Jesus, unless they renounce their faith. There will also be many false Christs and false prophets. A one-world, false religion that God calls MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH will increase. This religion has existed for hundreds of years and exists today. The nations of the world have become intoxicated with her false teachings. The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt.
About 3½ years from the end of the Tribulation, the Antichrist (also called the beast) is killed with a wound in the head by a weapon, but his deadly wound will be healed. He will come back to life. He then declares himself to be God and moves into the temple in Jerusalem. A false prophet appears that will do great wonders. The sacrifices at the temple will be stopped. The abomination of desolation occurs. An image of the Antichrist will be set on a wing of the temple. Those that refuse to worship it will be - beheaded. The elect born-again Jews now flee for their lives to a place where God will hide them and take care of them during the last three and a half years. Power is given to the Antichrist over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
All that dwell on the earth shall worship the Antichrist, whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life. During these last three and a half years (called the Great Tribulation), world conditions will continue to worsen. A one-world government system, one world currency - will exist. The Antichrist shall make war against the saints and will overcome them. People will be required to take the mark of the Antichrist or the number of his name (666) in or on their forehead, or right hand palm. 666 is the beast number. If the people, refuse they cannot buy or sell.
Labels: Sermon
Two questions might be asked.
1. Can we know the hour, the day, the season, the year, the times, or the generation?
2. Of what can we know?
Can we know the day and hour of the Rapture? Can we know the day and hour that the Antichrist comes forth? Can we know the day and hour that the Tribulation begins? Can we know the day and hour of the abomination of desolation? Can we know the day and hour of the physical return of Jesus Christ? Can we know the day and hour of the new heaven and new earth? What can we know, and what can we not know according to the Scriptures?
Throughout history, men’s traditions have made God’s Word of no effect. Indeed, some traditions have been so embedded in people’s hearts that if a person declared, through God’s Word, these traditions were wrong, he was called all manner of names. He might even be crucified. The Pharisees, scribes, lawyers, Sadducees, and others had many unscriptural traditions. Jesus confronted these false, manmade traditions. Some were based on half truths of the Scriptures; others were based on misuse of God’s Word.
Even when Jesus proved, through the Scriptures, these people were wrong, they refused to admit their error. Rather, when they were confronted with their lack of understanding of the Scriptures, they sought to kill Jesus. They wanted to silence Him. He was accused of having a devil. All manner of accusations were made against Him.
Is it any different today in this lukewarm generation? If a person comes forth and states it is possible to know the day and hour of the Rapture, immediately, he may be cast out. He might be called all manner of names as people may shout and scream, "Away with this person. No one can know the day or the hour." We ask the question, "Is this true?" Does the Bible teach that no man can know the day and hour of the Rapture or these other events? Is it a half truth? Is it simply a tradition of men that has become so established in people’s minds that even God’s Word cannot correct them? Is it a wrong tradition that is incorrectly based on taking certain Scriptures out of context and reading into them things that are really not there? Are some people afraid to take a stand for what is right, because of fear of what people might say?
There are over 1700 verses in the Old Testament directly dealing with Bible prophecy in conjunction with the times we are now in or the times that are yet to come. There are over 1100 such verses in the New Testament. In addition, there may be over 1000 other verses that directly relate to these. The Bible contains 31,173 verses. Approximately 12.8% of the Bible (or about one out of every eight verses) deals, either directly or indirectly, with Bible prophecy regarding the times we are now in or that are in the future. Clearly, the Lord wanted us to know and understand the times we are now in and what the future holds.
When the rapture does occur, billions of people will be left behind full of surprise, and shocked at the sudden disappearances of their loved ones, friends, and acquaintances.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Who knows what explanation the Antichrist will use to explain away the disappearances of millions of believers. But, one thing is for certain - once the main obstacle to his plan for the world removed, the way will be paved clear for the Antichrist to implement his evil plan for the world, as is prophesied in the Bible. With the followers of Christ gone, few would stand in the way of a world religion that deifies man, and a world government that criminalizes belief in God.
II Thessalonians 2:3, 6-7 "Let no one in any way deceive you for it (the Day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. And you know what restrains him now, so that in this time he may be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way."
The word Apostasy may have 2 different meanings. The first is to fall away from the faith. In our world today, many are turning to a new age faith that vilifies belief in salvation through Christ, and changes the Word of God to fit an inclusive, creedless, self-gratifying religion that requires nothing and promises everything, including godhood. A belief that releases us from any responsibility, accountability or consequences in life, is becoming more popular in our humanist society and will gain in popularity as the end times progress.
The second meaning for apostasy in this verse is to depart, and may be a reference to the rapture. The forces of the Antichrist are restrained on Earth until the Holy Spirit which dwells within God's Church is removed by the rapture. With Christ's followers removed from the scene, the Antichrist will be released to usher in the world's new age religion with all of its evils.
However, as this depressing time descends upon us, we can rejoice. God promised us that he would deliver his Church from the persecutions of the Antichrist and the wrath of God that will follow his rise to power. The rapture is the fulfillment of that promise.
I Thessalonians 5:4,9-10 "For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come, just like a thief in the night. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him."
Christ will return for those who have died and those who are still living and deliver us from the wrath and tribulation that will be suffered by those who follow the Antichrist.
Romans 5:9 "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him."
I Thessalonians 1:10 "and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come."
God will come for his Church suddenly at a time when we least expect it. For this reason, He instructs us to be ready, always prepared, and on guard for his coming. As those around us turn their backs on God, worshipping themselves, other gods, or false prophets instead, we should be looking up. We should have our spiritual lives in order. Now is the time to walk right with God, so that we might escape what is to come. Especially as we are now witnessing the beginnings of birth pains, God reminds us that we need to be in prayer constantly, so that we will not be led down the other path and miss His coming.
Luke 21:34-36 "Be on guard, that your heart may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon the face of the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
God felt it was so important for us to be alert and watchful for his coming that he reminded us several times to be ready.
Matthew 24:42 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming."
Matthew 24:44 "For the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."
Matthew 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour."
It is to our benefit that God didn't tell us the hour of His coming. Because it encourages us to live righteously as Christ may return any time, and it encourages believers to work diligently for the souls of friends, family and the lost of this world. It reminds us that we have much work to do and may not have much time to do it. If there was ever a time to be an example, share your faith, and make sure that everyone you know has heard the name Jesus, it is now.
After the rapture of the Church, great tribulation will fall upon the Earth.
Isaiah 26:19-21 "Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust awake and shout for joy. For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits. Come, my people, enter into your rooms, And close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while, Until indignation runs its course. For behold, the Lord is about to come out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; and the earth will reveal her bloodshed, and will no longer cover her slain."
Many Christians will read about the rapture of the Church which will occur before the tribulation andrespond with "It's too good to be true!" or "I don't deserve to be saved from the wrath to come." We often overlook, however, that trials and tribulations are a standard part of everyday life in a fallen world. But our Lord specifically informed us that this great tribulation is a special judgment of God. It is for our sake that these days will be shortened for us. This escape from wrath is not based on merit, but on what the Bible says. God deals with us on a basis of grace when we accept Him as our Savior, and this basis extends itself to the tribulation. We should celebrate the saving grace of Christ. Let the joy that fills your soul at the mention of His return show in your life. Let it be an example that draws others in. Then tell everyone you know the reason for the hope that is within you, so that they too may look to the future with excitement, hope and confidence, and you will see them in your Fathers house at that great time of reunion and rejoicing.
Labels: Bible verses
Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Hope these verses would encourage you and spearhead you in your week!
The Scriptures command us to watch. They also show us that this lukewarm, latter day generation we are now in, would be going about business as usual. They would be slumbering regarding the return of Jesus. Many would not be expecting or watching for His soon return.
As the days of Noah were, the days that were before the flood, people were going about business as usual. They were not looking for or expecting the flood to come. It came and took them by surprise—they all perished. So shall also the coming of the Son of man be-ref Mt 24:38,39. WATCH THEREFORE-Mt 24:42. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee like a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come-ref Rev 3:3.
Take heed, lest Jesus comes and finds you unprepared and not expecting His return-ref Lk 21:34. WATCH, lest Jesus comes suddenly and finds you sleeping-ref Mk 13:35,36. It is written of this lukewarm generation: They all slumbered and slept-ref Rev 3:16; Mt 25:5. But we are told by God's Word: LET US NOT SLEEP, as do others; but LET US WATCH and be sober-ref 1 Thes 5:6.
BLESSED ARE THOSE "SERVANTS" whom the Lord when He cometh shall find WATCHING-Lk 12:37. UNTO "THEM" that LOOK FOR HIM shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation-Heb 9:28.
Hey people!
Labels: Cell group materials
THE SEVEN SEALS
1. Rev 6:1,2 | The white horse. The Antichrist comes forth. He has a bow, but no arrows are mentioned. A crown is given to him. He goes forth conquering and to conquer. |
2. Rev 6:3,4 | The red horse. War. That they should take peace from the earth. He has a great sword. |
3. Rev 6:5,6 | The black horse. Famine. A day's wages for a day's food. Hurt not the oil and the wine. |
4. Rev 6:7,8 | The pale horse. Death. One-fourth of the earth's population is killed. Hell followed with him. Kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts. |
5. Rev 6:9-11 | Martyrdom. They that were slain for the Word of God and for their testimony. They are given white robes. |
6. Rev 6:12-17 | Great earthquake. The sun black and moon as blood. The stars of heaven (angels) fell. Heaven departed as a scroll. Every mountain and island was moved. Multitudes hid. The great day of His wrath is come. |
7. Rev 8:1 | Silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. |
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
1. Rev 8:6,7 | Hail and fire mingled with blood. A third part of the trees burned up. All green grass burned up. |
2. Rev 8:8,9 | A great mountain burning with fire cast into the sea. A third part of the sea became blood. |
3. Rev 8:10,11 | A great star from heaven fell upon the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters |
4. Rev 8:12 | Third part of the sun, moon, and stars smitten. The day and the night shone not for a third part of it. |
5. Rev 9:1-12 | First woe. Locusts. A star from heaven (an angel) was given the key to the bottomless pit. The pit opened. Locusts came upon the earth. They hurt |
6. Rev 9:13-21 | Second woe. Loose the four angels bound in the river Euphrates. A third part of men were killed. The army of the horsemen was two hundred million. People repented not. Second woe is past Rev 11:14. |
7. Rev 10:7-11:15-19 | Third woe. When he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished. The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord. |
THE SEVEN VIALS
1. Rev 16:2 | Sores. Noisome and grievous sores upon them that had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. |
2. Rev 16:3 | Sea as blood. The sea became as the blood of a dead man. Every living soul in the sea died. |
3. Rev 16:4 | Fountains blood. The rivers and fountains of waters became blood. |
4. Rev 16:8,9 | Great heat. Vial poured out upon the sun. Men scorched with great heat. |
5. Rev 16:10,11 | Darkness. Vial poured out upon the seat of the beast. His kingdom is full of darkness; they gnawed their tongues for pain. |
6. Rev 16:12 | The Euphrates River dries up. |
7. Rev 16:17-21 | It is done. Voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and the greatest earthquake. Jerusalem divided into three parts. The cities of the nations fell. Every island fled away. The mountains were not found. There was great hail. |
Labels: Testimony
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The word rapture (in Greek harpazo, in Latin rapere) means to be caught up or taken away suddenly. The rapture refers to the sudden removal of all of God's people on the earth. In the twinkling of an eye, born again Christians will suddenly be transformed out of our human bodies to go and join Jesus Christ.
Many Christians are afraid to talk about the rapture of the Church. Deep down, they feel an excitement about the prospect of being snatched away in the twinkling of an eye to be with the Lord and Savior whom they love, worship, and have given their lives to. However, they fear being labeled or criticized for a hope that many through the ages have had; a hope that God fully intended for us to have. God warned us against ignoring the hope that end-times prophecy gives us in I Thessalonians 5:19 when he said "Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."
There is a reason Christ warned his end-times followers 13 times in the New Testament to not be deceived, and to watch and be ready. He wanted us to be excited about His glorious appearing.
Satan, on the other hand, does not want us to be excited. He is the master deceiver and wants us to believe his deception rather than the signs of Christ's return given to us by Jesus himself. He will send many to deceive us and to rob us of the joy of living every day in anticipation of Christ's return.
For those who believe that the Bible is the Truth and is the very word of God, it's easy to believe in and rejoice in the prophecies that tell of the rapture of God's Church. The Bible tells us of others who have been taken up into heaven in very much the same way that we will be at the time of the rapture. Elijah was taken up into heaven, like a whirlwind.
II Kings 2:11-12 "As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel! And Elisha saw him no more."
Enoch was also taken from this life so that he would not experience death.
Hebrews 11:5 "By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because god had taken him away. for before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
So, when will the church be raptured? We know there is more evidence today that He is coming for His Church soon, than at any other time in history. As these signs intensify, all of us who know Christ as our savior will be looking toward heaven and awaiting the coming of our Lord.
Many biblical scholars feel that the rapture will occur before the Tribulation Period, or a pre-tribulation rapture. Because God want to spare his Church from the persecutions of the Antichrist, and the wrath of God that will fall upon the inhabitants of the Earth during the end times. Those who come to Christ following the rapture will live through the persecution of Christians by the Antichrist, and even martyrdom for their faith. There are several other views of the timing for the rapture of the Church, however, here we will examine the pre-tribulation view and the biblical support for it.
One of the best supporting verses from the Bible for the rapture of the Church is found in Revelation 3:10.
"Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth."
This verse is a promise made by Christ to one of His seven churches, the church of Philadelphia. The hour of trial Jesus speaks of in this verse is the period of time that our Lord calls the "great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21).
There are many verses in the Bible that describe the rapture. Christians in the first century church were so driven by the coming of their Lord and savior in the end-times that they shared their faith everywhere. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church in I Thessalonians 1:6-10
And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
This belief in being taken up to meet Christ is the essence of hope. A hope that Satan will fight and challenge with all of his might.
We also read the following in I Thessalonians 4:16-18
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage each other with these words."
The Lord will shout a loud command as he descends from heaven, and we will hear the voice of the archangel, perhaps to lead Israel during the seven years of tribulation as he did in the Old Testament. It should be an encouragement to all of us in these times of lust, greed, corruption, self-centeredness and resistance to all things that are of God.
I Corinthians 15:51-53 says, "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable first, and we shall all be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality."
The Greek word here is harpadso, meaning "snatched up" to be with Christ. When Christ comes to set up his earthly kingdom at the end of the tribulation, He will come with power and the holy angels to bind Satan, and to deal with the earthly Kings who are gathered at Jerusalem to oppose Him. When He comes for his Church at the time of the Rapture, He will leave his Father's house and come in the clouds to call the dead in Christ and then the living church to "come up hither," where they will join with each other in the clouds to live with Him in His Father's house. Belief in this kind of resurrection was common among the Jews of that day. Martha believed Jesus when he challenged her to understand the coming resurrection of the dead. She responded to Jesus, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection in the last days."
Labels: Bible sharing