Seven Words Of The Second Coming

Jesus, our Saviour and Lord will return to earth soon with such glory and majesty the World will stand stunned at what it sees. Prior to His physical Second Coming, He is coming for the church at the rapture, the next great event on God's prophetic time table! The apostate church world may argue against such and even claim spiritual messages that say we're destined to stay here and go through the tribulation; let the devil and all men be liars and God be true. The Holy Spirit through Paul clearly states, that in the "twinkling of an eye," the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together to be with them in the clouds; mortality will put on immortality; corruption will put on incorruption; death shall be swallowed up in victory. This is called the 'blessed hope' of the church and for those watching for the Lord's coming it will not catch us unaware. The message of the Holy Ghost to the church of this hour is "get ready," for both the greatest move of God's Spirit known to the annals of human history AND get ready for the coming of the Lord! Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church!

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Luke 21:36  - Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

John 14:3  - 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.

1 Thes. 4:13-17  - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] 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: [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: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
 

The next great event on God's prophetic timetable is the rapture of the church. Our Lord Jesus Christ's return both FOR the church and WITH the church as He literally returns to Earth will be the greatest happening in human history - the final triumph for Christ and His Church. The Bible actually does not use the term "the Second Coming," but there is no greater theme throughout Scripture than the words of Jesus, "I will come again!"

John 14:1-3
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.

John 14:8
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

John 14:28
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
 

The book of Hebrews speaks of Jesus' first appearance, in order to die on the cross, then adds, "to those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, 'without sin unto salvation.'"

Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
 

After being raised from the dead, Jesus told the disciple during His final visit He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, which would enable them to be witnesses throughout the world. Then, defying gravity, His body began to ascend from the earth. Awestruck the disciples watched the Lord go into the heaven when two white-robed messengers appeared and declared to the twelve:

Acts 1:11
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
 

The doctrine of Christ's coming for the church and then WITH the church occupies 453 of the 7,957 verses in the King James Version in the New Testament. In other words, about one verse in 18 deals with the Lord's return - certainly a dominant theme that colors the entire New Covenant. Six chapters in the New Testament give the most complete explanation on the subject: Matthew 24 and 25; Luke 21; 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5 and 2 Peter 3. Only three of the 27 books of the New Covenant do not refer to the Second Coming. (Philemon, 2 and 3 John)

No one knows the exact hour of the return of Christ for the church, but neighbor, this writer does know this - it's soon! We're getting late in this drama known as the end times and there is no greater need than for the church to begin preaching the rapture of the church once again. It' sad that the two teachings the church needs to be proclaiming the most are the two teachings it rejects the most  - the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues and the rapture of the church. This journal is birthed in a heart of a writer who hopes to stir the heart of the reader to "get ready" for the rapture!!! Yes, the very fact one's life can end at any second is admonishment enough to live Godly lives in these last days but neighbor there is no greater call of the Spirit of God to a church world sinking into deeper apostasy by the second than to get our garments ready through repentance, prayer and humility before the Lord comes and to keep our lamps all burning and bright! Jesus is coming and He is coming SOON!

Luke 12:39-40
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. [40] Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Acts 1:7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Matthew 24:36
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matthew 24:42
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 25:13
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Mark 13:32
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
 

Before we get into the positive aspects of this message I want to make a few statements that will more than likely sound "negative" to some. There has never been a time when the doctrine of the rapture of the church has been more attacked than it is at the present time by many evangelical leaders, especially those here in America. There has never been a more dangerous doctrine that has encompassed and put a face on the apostasy than that of the doctrine of "dominionism" or the teaching that the church will take over government and through political and social means make this world "ready" for the Lord's return .

This doctrine exchanges idea that we are to prepare ourselves for HIS coming for the idea that Jesus is to prepare His coming based upon OUR timetable and telling HIM when it's ok for Him to return. This damnable doctrine which has went under many names in years past, i.e. the Kingdom Now Movement of the late 1980s and 1990s under men like Earl Paulk and Robert Schuler, is the same root doctrine from which springs humanistic psychology, the rise of the false doctrine of universal salvation, the Purpose Driven Life craze and Mr. Warren's global P.E.A.C.E. initiatives. It is the same root from which springs the "social" gospel that so many embrace where ministries and entire denominations promote only the feeding and clothing of the hungry and homeless but have little concern for preaching the true gospel to those who are lost in sin, which is the cause of the situation most find themselves in to begin with. Don't take that last statement as being callous or cold.

Neighbor, any and ALL true Christians who love the Lord with all their hearts will ALWAYS have compassion on those in need. Love without action is not love. If we have the means to help those in need and in selfishness hoard what we have we don't have the love of God abiding in us!  However, if we think that just by feeding and clothing people we are helping them reach heaven we're sorely and sadly mistaken, which is the error of most homeless ministries today. We need only look at the gospel story of Lazarus and the rich man to see God's heart concerning the eternal state of men's souls in light of their temporal situations.  Lazarus sit in rags and eat crumbs from the rich man's table and went into Abraham's bosom when he died; the rich man fared sumptuously and died and went to hell.

Let the reader be clear:

1. Lazarus did not die and go to heaven because he was poor

2. The Rich Man did not die and go to hell because he was rich.

Lazarus died and went to heaven because he placed faith in the Covenant of the coming Redeemer and did not allow his poverty to keep him from saving, covenant faith in God; the rich man died and went to hell because he did not allow his riches to bring him into that same covenant relationship with God but instead his trust was in the riches he enjoyed daily while Lazarus suffered without measure at his gate. It was not about how much the rich man had or how much Lazarus did not have. The determination of eternity was based upon the condition of two individual SOULS.

This social gospel that seeks only to meet physical needs instead of preaching the gospel, and I mean the TRUE gospel, not a gospel laced with offers of 12-step programs, rehab centers and studies in the Purpose Driven Life, is not of God. I can say these things because for nearly two years now I have been assisting a homeless ministry in the greater downtown Knoxville area by teaching a weekly Bible study on the Cross. I have recently come under severe attack from not just those who are homeless and running from God but also the religious leadership of this organization who do not really believe the Cross of Christ is the only remedy for the ills of man. The leadership believes rehab centers, 12-step programs and every thing else under the sun is needed to "help" those who are bound by addictions. In addition, the leaders are not happy we don't embrace the Purpose Driven Life module as our study guide on Monday. We've never brought any book into this study except one - the WORD OF ALMIGHTY GOD - and by His help and grace as long as we're allowed to keep teaching - that is the only text book we're going to use!! Man does not need a rehab center - he needs THE rehabilitator  - the Redeemer - the Life-Changing man from Galilee - the LORD JESUS CHRIST who does not "reform" man's old ways but He makes man BRAND NEW by the power of the Holy Ghost!

Jesus Christ came to set the captives free and change men's hearts, souls and mind! His blood can destroy any power of darkness that binds the hearts of wicked humanity.

Getting back to our subject, this doctrine of dominionism basically rejects the Cross and as a result will always also reject the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues and any teaching concerning the rapture of the church. It places emphasis on "making society better," instead of emphasizing taking men "OUT OF SOCIETY" and winning as many souls to Christ as possible before it is too late. Since they believe the church is going to make the world better and better the idea of a rapture just cuts right in half their theory so they just reject it and not preach it or teach it anymore. Ask yourself a serious question. When is the last time you heard your pastor teach or preach on the coming of the Lord?? When's the last time someone on Christian television has warned those listening to "get ready for the rapture!?"

The emphasis of the gospel is the salvation of souls not the salvation of society! Society itself is doomed to destruction - that too is in opposition to most teaching today which again is rooted in dominionism that says the world will get better and better instead of worse and worse. The Bible declares the latter:

2 Tim. 3:1-9
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, [7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. [9] But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

2 Tim. 3:13
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The Holy Spirit through Paul does not paint a rosy picture of conditions in the church at the end of the church age (which we are now in at the present) prior to the rapture of the church. Throughout the 2000 year history of Christianity there has always been a vein of dominionism embedded in the strata of doctrines that denied this fact and as a result denied the rapture as well. This seam has ebbed and flowed for 20 centuries, sometimes submerged, sometimes exposed. Whenever out in the open, it has given rise to horrible abuses done in the name of Christ. In the early 21st century, once again this vein is now showing and active. Keep in mind that Dominionism is always an aberration of true Christian theology.  A remnant of believers has always opposed it, often suffering a martyr’s fate at the hands of intolerant dominionists.

One thing is for sure; Satan cannot deny the gospel. Jesus Christ died on a cross, 2,000 years ago, sitting at the right hand of God today meaning God has accepted the price paid for the souls of the human race. Paul called it the "everlasting covenant." The Old Covenant pointed TOWARD Christ - the tabernacle, the ceremonies, the sacrificial system - all pointed to His atoning, intercessory work. When Christ came, the Old Covenant was fulfilled in exactness, totality, as He was born under the law, which now gives way to the New Covenant that envelopes CHRIST in totality. The enemy cannot deny this. He rather seeks to pervert this glorious gospel, not something new, but from time eternal and eternity to twist it, turn it to something that it is not. He is very successful at this and he uses preachers and backslidden Christian leaders who do not know the Word of God to pervert the gospel and in turn damn millions to hell itself!

Jesus warned in Matthew 7:

Matthew 7:15-19 - Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
 

The criteria today in the modern church as to whether we accept something as sound doctrine is whether it:

1.Looks good
2. Sounds good
3. Is Popular Among the Church Masses and Everyone Is Clamoring After It

Satan has always taken a modicum of truth to hide error in to deceive men's hearts because he knows carnal man likes looking after the things of the flesh instead of the Spirit. We have learned the church business to the proverbial "T." Visit most churches this Sunday and then miss 6 or 7 services and then go back and I can guarantee you that two months later you will not have missed anything of consequence in 99.9% of most churches in this land today. In addition, you can almost KNOW exactly what has happened in the six weeks you have missed because these churches are VOID of the HOLY GHOST and operate in a fleshly, carnal way preaching a powerless gospel void of the Holy Ghost and void of any talk of the rapture of the church.

A morsel of gospel truth serves as bait so the lie will be believed and embraced by those who do no discern what is error and what is truth. Don't think Satan is stupid and doesn't know what he is doing. Most surmise, falsely and sadly sometimes to their eternal damnation, "If this is true, then the lie must be 'true' as well."

Let the reader be clear however; If the preacher does not have the Cross of Christ as his foundation and embraces the TRUTH that the Cross is the ONLY means through which we receive anything from God the HOLY GHOST - that preacher is preaching a false gospel; that teacher is teaching a false gospel; the church who rejects such is not a church - it's just a building with people in it; the ministry who rejects such is not a ministry - I don't care how much "good" that ministry may be doing in feeding and clothing the hungry and homeless. Jesus said labor NOT for the meat that perishes but labor for the meat that produces eternal life!

John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:26 - Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. [27] Labour not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

No man comes to Christ, except the Father draw him! The church of the living God must attend and embrace as a child embraces its mother  the message of the Cross according to the Word of God. For men to be set free, for the bondages of sin to be broken, for there to be victory over flesh, the devil, there is only ONE source of victory and that is what Jesus Christ did at the Cross of Calvary!

1 Cor. 1:13-20
Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? [14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; [15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. [16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. [17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. [20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

We're not here to find fault with every preacher if they don't preach the cross; there are many preachers who are godly but don't understand the cross and they are searching and trying their best; they are not giving their people what they need yet their heart is open and sincere to God and eventually God will reveal Light to them in due season. This goes the same for those who deny the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. It grieves me beyond no end sometimes to hear the ranting unbelief of many preachers of the city Lisa and I live don't get me wrong. I have had to repent a whole bunch lately and ask God to help me not get angry and upset over the attacks we have encountered recently from those who are bound by a religious spirit and refuse to accept the truth of God's word.

These same people may vehemently deny the truth now but tomorrow they can change as the Spirit of God changes them. We don't need to be fault-finders and nit-pickers. If it's wrong, stand up for the truth, but don't blast them; they may be very sincere and walking in all the light they have. The key is that we pray for God to send LIGHT and light to be received!

However, and this is very important to realize, if the light God gives on a certain matter is rejected, then darkness is always exchanged and God will allow that darkness to increase in a person's life until that individual becomes reprobate or they repent! If they repent, God will once again dispel the darkness and offer light! Jesus warned us that if the "light" in us be darkness, then how great is that darkness? He was saying basically to the degree we're given light and that light is rejected, a greater amount of darkness comes into the heart of the one rejecting the light - and that can be a Christian!!

Matthew 6:20-26
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: [21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [22] The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. [23] But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

True Christianity teaches the Gospel of Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross. The emphasis is placed upon repentance and conversion of individual souls. The Kingdom of God in this age is spiritual and grows through efforts of evangelism based on teaching the Bible. It is “not of this world” (John 18:36, but a spiritual rule in the hearts of men (Luke 17:20-21). Furthermore, the Kingdom of God is only finally realized upon Christ’s second return to Earth, whereby He Himself establishes His literal and physical reign.

John 18:36
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Luke 17:20-21
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: [21] Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Matthew Henry wrote many years ago: "Christ never intended that His gospel should be propagated by fire and sword or His righteousness wrought by the wrath of man. When the high praises of God are in our mouth with them we should have an olive-branch of peace in our hands. Christ’s victories are by the power of His gospel and grace over spiritual enemies, in which all believers are more than conquerors. The word of God is the two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12), the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17)."

Dominionism teaches that the Gospel of Salvation is achieved by setting up the “Kingdom of God” as a literal and physical kingdom to be “advanced” on Earth in the present age. Some dominionists liken the New Testament Kingdom to the Old Testament Israel in ways that justify taking up the sword, or other methods of punitive judgment, to war against enemies of their kingdom. According to Sarah Leslie of Discernment Ministries Inc., Dominionists teach that men can be coerced or compelled to enter the kingdom. They assign to the Church duties and rights that belong Scripturally only to Jesus Christ. This includes the esoteric belief that believers can “incarnate” Christ and function as His body on Earth to establish His kingdom rule. An inordinate emphasis is placed on man’s efforts; the doctrine of the sovereignty of God is diminished.

Dominion theology is predicated upon three basic beliefs: 1) Satan usurped man’s dominion over the earth through the temptation of Adam and Eve; 2) The Church is God’s instrument to take dominion back from Satan; 3) Jesus cannot or will not return until the Church has taken dominion by gaining control of the earth’s governmental and social institutions.
 

We don't want to get into a deep discussion on dominion theology here but sufficient to say it is the root of the branch of theology that denies the rapture of the Church!!  Dominion theology is a heresy and has wrapped itself up in slick packages – one piece at a time – for mass-media consumption. This has been a slow process, taking several decades but sadly few evangelicals even recognize the word “dominionism” or know what it means. Sarah Leslie believes that this is because other terminologies have been developed which soft-sell dominionism, concealing the full scope of the agenda. Many evangelicals (and even their more conservative counterparts, the fundamentalists) may adhere to tidbits of dominionism without recognizing the error. This is because dominionism has “crept in unawares” (Jude 4) to seduce an undiscerning generation.

Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Coming back to our original thought, we understand a bit more now why there is such a dearth of preaching on the rapture of the church. It comes not from without but from within. One of TBN's prophetic bright lights has the statement below on his website concerning his "theology" of the rapture. This same so-called prophet said about a year ago the Lord told him the rapture was being delayed  because the Lord Jesus saw that we as a church were having "too much fun" on earth to interrupt us. This is what he says concerning the rapture of the church under his doctrinal beliefs:

"Focusing on a rapture has caused many to lose their burden for the lost. This escapism mentality has caused lethargy in the church because they are waiting to be caught away from the claws of the Anti-Christ. However, if Jesus is Lord and He taught us to seek “first” the Kingdom of God, then why should we focus our attention on the removal of the righteous, who carry the Kingdom within them (Luke 17:21)? Many Bible prophecy teachers prefer to incite fear and anxiety in the people by focusing the attention on the evil present in this world, and hardly ever focusing their attention on the present greatness of God."

My question is simple. How can having a truly Bible based focus on the rapture cause us to "lose" a burden for the lost? If anything, the individual who understands there is a rapture and truly believes Jesus is coming soon is doing everything possible to preach the gospel and do as much as the Lord allows them to do for the gospel sake to get the message out to as many who are lost before it is eternally too late! What causes men to lose their burden for the lost is the same spirit behind this man's belief!!! Entire denominations who have abandoned the preaching of the rapture have in turned embraced humanistic psychology which springs from the same root of dominionism that somehow we can save society through humanistic methods.

The true gospel does not seek to save society but to save men FROM society. This world is under a curse and is destined for destruction according to the Word of God. There is not going to be a grand utopia coming on Planet Earth. Great tribulation as such as the world has never seen in its past or will see in its future is ahead. Israel is about to convulse in prophetic birth pangs unlike she has ever experienced throughout her sad and tragic past of failure and unbelief before she accepts the ONE who died for her sins, along with the sins of ALL mankind - the Lord Jesus Christ. Mr. so-called prophet says that this "escapism" has caused lethargy in the church because we are waiting to be caught away from the claws of Anti-Christ.

Well I guess someone forget to tell the Lord that we are to pray to escape these things that are coming upon the Earth because that is exactly what He told His disciples do during His discourse with them on end time events:

Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

This so-called prophet says that Bible prophecy teachers prefer to incite "fear" and "anxiety" in the people by focusing the attention on the evil present in the world, and hardly ever focusing their attention on the present greatness of God." Again, I guess then NOAH was wrong when he "moved with FEAR" preaching to a generation that a flood was coming and the only salvation from the flood was the Ark. The Ark protected Noah and  his family from the flood; Jesus Christ is the only protection one will have and find from the coming Great Tribulation period!

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
 

By moving with Godly "fear," he condemned the WORLD and became heir of the righteousness which is by FAITH. True faith always moves with fear and warns men of the coming judgment of God if they reject the Cross of Christ and reject God's way of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ and through the blood of Jesus Christ alone. The rapture of the church and the return of Christ is the greatest message of the goodness of God we can proclaim! His Second Coming will be reminiscent of the triumphant return of the Roman General from his wars. All Rome would mass along the parade route to watch as the conquering hero reentered the royal city in his shining chariot drawn by milk-white horses. The frenzied crowds shouted and cheered as mighty conqueror and his troops marched exultantly in all the glory that Rome was capable of bestowing. In stark contrast behind the magnificent conqueror, the stripped, dispirited captives shuffled along in chains.

Paul used this graphic illustration to make clear the accomplishment of Christ on the Cross - how He triumphed over sin and all spiritual powers of darkness!

2 Cor. 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Ephes. 4:8
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Col. 2:15
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

1 Peter 3:22
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

The Second Coming of Jesus, which includes the rapture of the Church, will be the LITERAL reenactment of what has already been done and accomplished spiritually through the Cross of Calvary; it will be a magnificent public display for the whole world, especially Israel, to see!

There is coming a one-world government, unified under a supreme leader, known as the Antichrist, the lawless one or the anarchist, who will be very embodiment of all that is evil and corrupt. Although unrealized by himself, his appearance in history will be one of many grains of prophetic sand that will slip through heaven's hourglass during the closing minutes of earth's darkest hour. Godly people will suffer a difficult and trying time - the ultimate persecution of all ages. Israel will suffer a second and final holocaust that will take two-thirds of every Jew living during the Great Tribulation period. There will be a remnant of overcomers during the Tribulation just as there has always been a remnant of overcomers in all ages of the church.

The Bible declares that those who miss the rapture of the church are in store a time of awesome judgment. If that is "fear" mongering then I guess I'm guilty of fear mongering. That is the problem of this modern backslidden church - we have lost the fear of God and as a result we no longer preach a gospel that warns men of the results of rejecting God and His prescribed order of salvation and victory. We either chose CHRIST or we will have the Antichrist! We either choose to get ready for the sound of the trump or we find ourselves left behind to face the Great Tribulation period. No the Tribulation period will not be the end of the world for we know that at the end of this horrible seven year period the Antichrist will be destroyed by the brightness of the Lord's Coming. The ultimate darkness will be overcome by the ultimate light.

All that is evil and corrupt will be dealt with by God's wrath and justice. Evil will be destroyed; the antichrist and the false prophet will be cast alive in the lake of fire and Satan will be bound a thousand years in the bottomless pit; Jesus will RETURN to Earth to rule and reign from Jerusalem and bring Israel back to Himself and reveal His nail-scarred hands to the house of His friends - the ones who pierced His side will fall at His feet and declare Him Messiah - and a fountain filled with cleansing power will flow from Immanuel's veins and SINNERS plunged beneath that flood will lose ALL their guilty stains.

Zech. 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

 

Neighbor, Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming,, Jesus is coming. The next great event on the prophetic calendar of God is the rapture of the church.

We have spent this entire journal just getting to the introduction of this message which we will pick up in totality in the next segment. There are seven words that are connected to the rapture and the Second Coming we want to discuss and see how the Word of God deals with each.

In Closing

As we close part one of this message, I ask you today - "are you ready for the rapture?" Is your garment spotless, is it white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Is your lamp got enough oil in it should the cry go out tonight "behold the bridegroom COMETH," go ye out to meet Him? So many well-meaning believers spend their entire lives arguing over mechanics and technical terms instead of allowing the Holy Ghost to temper our hearts and get them ready to meet Jesus in the air! We are to live JOYOUSLY in the JOYOUS hope of Christ's return!

The early Christians, perhaps because of heavy persecution seemed to long for the literal presence of Jesus. Their believe was one of the heart as well as the head. Stephen, the first martyr, as he lay dying, called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:59) They yearned for the parousia (presence) of their Saviour, "and they loved not lives unto the death."

Rev. 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The apostles Paul and John exemplified this same spirit in two sincere mini-prayers. Only three words each, these ring out as prophetic passionate cries to this backslidden and non-watching generation. These prayers resonate in the heart of every true born again Child of God! Paul and John both knew that Jesus would return when He could, and they probably knew that Jesus would return when He could, and they probably knew He could not come back until after they were gone. They were not afraid of tribulation or persecution or the spirit of Antichrist. They served God with a burning fervency. Their prayers involved the great hope and passion of the Church.

As Paul finished his first epistle to the Corinthians, having provided helpful answers for a number of church problems, and undoubtedly feeling somewhat weary, he cried out the ultimate solution for every situation: "O Lord, come!" In Aramaic, this is "Marantha!"

1 Cor. 16:22
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

John, having just witnessed heaven's prophetic panorama of awesome events to come, closed the great Apocalypse with a prayer that captures the heart attitude of Christians everywhere: "EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS!"

Rev. 22:20
He which testifies these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

These prayers illustrate to us that the Early Church focused more on Jesus' return, and on what was expected of them, than on secondary issues that often occupy the minds of the modern church! The possessed a doctrine of the heart, not the head and were not interested in setting up stakes in this present evil world system but in the world to come. The so-called prophet allegation that those who preach the rapture focus on this evil world system is absolutely without question flat WRONG in his assertion. Those who preach the rapture have their focus as Paul and John did  - HEAVEN and the world above - not this present wicked system of false religion and unrighteousness.

Enter the Apostle Peter, in this light of the prayers by his counterparts Paul and John, and the Holy Ghost proclaims through him:

2 Peter 3:8-13
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] 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 come to repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, [12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? [13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

"O Lord, COME," and "Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus," are the prayers of the HOLY GHOST at this very minute! The SPIRIT and the Bride say "COME!" The Spirit of God is not saying "STAY HERE AND HAVE FUN." The Spirit of God is not saying "STAY HERE and HIDE IN CAVES and hope the Antichrist don't kill you." The Spirit of God is not saying, "I'm not coming right now you have plenty of time to do what you need to do to make the world below a utopia, etc." and all the other stupidity that those in the Kingdom Now camp espouse through their wicked hearts.

The Spirit and the Bride are praying, "EVEN SO COME QUICKLY, LORD JESUS!" COME QUICKLY and take your children home before the outpouring of wrath begins and mercy ends; pray always that you may be accounted WORTHY to escape these things which are coming to pass and to STAND before the Son of Man.  He that is "hearing" the Spirit of God is hearing, "COME!" He that is a thirst has an open door of invitation from the Holy Spirit to COME now and be saved; whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely! God's call is for all today who will hear! His call is for me; His call is for you; His call is for the entire world; His call is for those who will but believe in what Jesus Christ did for them at the Cross, repent by faith and accept the Lord Jesus into their hearts. In doing so they will be saved from the coming wrath of the Great Tribulation period. These things are even at the door and I pray you are in the Ark of safety today in Jesus name. Praise God.

Rev. 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.