DATE: – 20TH JUNE, 2021
TOPIC: – JESUS IS COMING BACK AGAIN (Part 2)
BIBLE PASSAGE: – 1Corinthians 15: 20 – 58
MEMORY VERS: –“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” (1Corinthian 15:52).
INTRODUCTION: – The Lord is coming for the saints. Christ will appear in the air at the trump of God to take the saints from the earth to meet Him in the air and be with Him in heaven. It involves only those who are part of Christ’s true Church; the true believers only will be raptured. This appearing of the Lord is not on the earth but in the air only to be seen by the true believers waiting for Him.
LESSON OUTLINES
1) What Is Rapture? The rapture is the first of the two comings of Christ. It is not coming to the earth but in the air. It is not the Second Advent of Christ because He does not come to the earth to live here and fulfill a mission as He did at the first Advent. When Christ meets the saints in the air, He takes them back to heaven with Him and present them before the Father’s throne where they remain during the time of the great tribulation on earth (1Thes.3:13; Jh.14:1-3). Christ does not remain in the air with the saints when they meet Him as in 1Thes4:15-17. The marriage of supper of the Lamb and the judgment of saints – Bema seat judgment took place in heaven, while the tribulation concurrently runs on earth.
2) Qualifications for Rapture
– Be in Christ, be born again (2Corint.5:17-18)
– Be Christ’s, having His seal on you (1Corint.15:23; Gal.5:24)
– Be blessed and Holy (Heb.12:14; 1Pt.2:16; Rev.20:4-6)
– Be good (Jh.5:28-29)
– Be worthy (Lk.21:38)
– Be part of Christ’s body – the Church (1Corint.2:3; Eph.1:20-23; 4:4-6; 5:27; Col.1:18, 24)
– Be pure (1Jh.3:203
– Be without spot or wrinkle (Eph.5:27)
– Live and walk in the spirit (Gal.5:19-21)
– Walk in the light (Col.2:6; 1Jh.1:7)
3) Purposes Of Rapture
– To receive the saints to Him as promised (Jh.14:1-3; Eph.5:27; 1Thes.4:17).
– To resurrect the dead in Christ from among the wicked (Phil.2:11; 1Thes.4:14; 16-17; Rev.20:4-6).
– To take the saints to heaven to live in the New Jerusalem and receive rewards (Jh.14:1-3, 2Corint.5:10; 1Thes.3:13; 4:17; Heb.12:22-23; Rev.19:1-10; 21:9-10)
– To make saints partake in the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev.19:1-10)
– To change bodies of the saints to immortality1Corint.15:35-58; Phil.3:21; 1Thes.4:16-17).
– To present the saints before God (Jh.4:1-3; 1Thes.3:13;; 4:17; Jude 24; Rev.19:1-10)
– To make the saints whole body, soul and spirit (Phil.2:21; 1Thes.4:16-17; 5:23;).
– To cause the saints to escape great tribulation (Lk.21:36; 1Thes.4:16-17;; 5:9; Rev.4:1).
– To remove the hinderer of lawlessness (2Thes.2:7; Rev.4:1).
– To permit the revelation of the Anti-Christ (2Thes.2:7; Rev.4:1).
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The rapture will take place suddenly at a time known to only the Father, so it behooves every heavenly believer minded believers to be ready at all times by constantly watching, constantly examining themselves and constantly living holy daily with eternity in view (Mk.13:35; Rom.13:11-14; 2Corint.13:5-6).
QUESTIONS
- Why the rapture?
- When will the rapture take place?