WEBVTT 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:11.679 You're listening to the road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:19.199 Back about a month ago, I came home and nobody was home. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:23.120 And everybody was supposed to be at home. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:28.719 I'd be a liar if I didn't tell you like, I didn't make it! This is not good. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:29.600 I'm a pastor. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:30.800 I'm supposed to make it. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.200 I'm supposed to lead my flock up there. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:35.520 They're all up there, but I'm not. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:45.840 But it will be like a thief in the night, and it will come, and many will be shocked that they actually were never saved. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:52.399 Today, Pastor Steve continues his series on the book of Revelation. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:58.240 At The Road, our vision is to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:02.799 For more information on The Road, visit theroad.org. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:08.159 We hope you are encouraged by today's message from Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:18.719 I want to talk today about the rapture of the church because of where we're at in our study of Revelation. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:32.959 John Wolver, the former president of Dallas Theological Seminary, writes in his commentary on Revelation, this is one of the commentaries I use, quote, there is no clear, explicit reference to the rapture of the church in the book of Revelation. 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:34.480 And he's dispensational. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:42.000 So, you know, we're an interesting church in that we're reformed theologically, but we're dispensational in our eschatology. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:47.519 So when I say eschatology, that's the study of the last days, a study of the last things. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:58.719 But Wolford would go on to say, and I agree, that the rapture of the church is implied throughout the book of Revelation. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:07.359 But my understanding of the rapture of the church comes from the entire Bible, and it has some implicit references in the book of Revelation. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:12.080 We'll look at one of them here, which I think is the main one in our study today. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:13.680 But here's what I say. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:14.960 Because we don't know, right? 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:17.039 It hasn't happened, so we don't know. 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:24.800 Pray that we do not go through the great tribulation, but prepare as if we will. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:31.120 Pray that we will not go through the great tribulation in the last days, but prepare as if we will. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:36.960 And we're in chapter 8 of Revelation with the opening of the seventh seal. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:59.919 And here's where I differ with my Calvary Chapel guys, friends, and tons of them, a lot of good buddies of mine, and those who have a strict kind of, I would call it kind of a Schofield Bible dispensational perspective, is that the Great Tribulation started in Revelation chapter 6. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:00.800 I don't believe that. 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:04.080 I believe the Great Tribulation begins in chapter 8. 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:05.439 So here's the good news. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:10.560 The good news is that I've got scriptural backing. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:14.639 The bad news is we're going to go through Revelation chapter 6. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:17.599 And maybe Revelation chapter 7. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:20.080 And I am not going to worry about that. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:21.520 And I don't care what you believe. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.759 And it's something I don't even believe in the rapture, church. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:24.560 That's okay. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:28.159 But today you're just going to have to bear with me because I'm going to share. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:36.400 I believe Revelation chapter 6, which we just finished, is the Brack, I would call it the Braxton Hicks of the coming of the Lord. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:39.919 And all the women know I'm talking, oh, yeah, I remember Braxton Hicks, you know. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:45.599 The birth didn't come yet, but you keep being reminded that you're pregnant. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:51.840 And so all the husbands are like, they thought you were just bending over because you dropped food on the floor in the kitchen. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.000 Actually, you're experiencing Braxton Hicks. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:59.919 But in chapter 6, which we already studied, and if you haven't listened to these or been a part of that, just go back. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:00.800 They're all online. 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:02.719 You can listen to all the messages. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:05.120 We talk about a one-world government. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:07.199 I believe we're going to experience that. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:11.120 The Antichrist will start to rise to power. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:13.120 I believe we'll experience that. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:18.959 Famine, wars, and cosmic disturbances. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:21.680 We're already experiencing some of that. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:25.839 We may be on the precipice of some very interesting days ahead. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:29.360 Are we, has a seal been opened? 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:30.639 We don't know. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:37.199 But we could have a seal open and we wouldn't know it until we start experiencing things that are happening. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:43.600 I have a friend in Southern California, a vineyard pastor, who believes we're in the second seal. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:47.360 He believes the second seal has been opened of Revelation chapter 6. 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:48.959 I don't know about that. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:53.759 But turning your Bibles to Revelation 7, 9. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:55.199 I want to start at verse 9. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:07.519 We read this, looked at this last week, but I want to cover it again from the perspective of the rapture of the church, and I'm going to give you a definition of what I mean in just a moment. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:09.519 Revelation 7, 9. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:24.319 After these things I looked and behold, a great multitude, which no one could number of all nations, and the operable word here in this passage is the word all. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:34.959 All nations are represented, all tribes, all peoples, all tongues standing before the throne and before the Lamb. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:38.160 Now, in the Greek, all means all. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:51.279 So the only way I can believe that all is all here is that God has used the church up to this point to preach the gospel to all nations. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:06:07.439 So John makes a point here to not just say all nations, ethnos, but he says tribes, he says peoples, and he even says languages. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.600 All languages are represented. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:18.560 So at this point, I believe every nation, tribe, tongue, people, and tongue is represented in heaven. 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:25.839 That means the gospel has been preached to every nation, tribe, and tongue all over the world. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:27.120 Isn't that great? 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:34.879 So every people group will at least have a representative in heaven. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:39.279 So you will have enchilada grit. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:45.759 We will have sauerkraut curry. 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:50.480 Taco sushi. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:07:05.040 Clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:12.000 Now I could just preach from this verse alone for the rest of the time, but I believe this will be the message in the latter days. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:13.839 This is the message of this church. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:31.439 This is the message of different churches that are word and spirit churches across the world, and that is a message of salvation belongs to God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, preached to every nation and tribe. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:43.439 All the angels stood around the throne, and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:56.000 Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, and power and might be to our God forever and ever. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:56.720 Amen. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:07:59.839 This is a cry of intimacy, church. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:06.000 This is people who've just gotten saved and those that have known the Lord, those that went before us. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:09.600 These are the saints from before, these are recent converts. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:15.680 They're all in heaven and they're worshiping the Lord and they're describing his character. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:26.160 When we share our faith with others, when we speak of a personal, vital, dynamic, growing relationship with Jesus Christ, we speak of his character. 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:28.480 I love when we share our testimony. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.800 That's so important to share your testimony. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:43.120 But the reality is every testimony speaks of something supernatural of who God is, of who Jesus is, what he's done in your life, the difference he's made in your life. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.320 It has power on it. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:49.440 Not the testimony of 25 years ago. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:50.559 That's great too. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.240 I mean, I love that. 00:08:52.480 --> 00:09:00.320 But the reality, what's the testimony of what the Lord has done yesterday, last week, through what about at work? 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:03.120 You know, we were at work and we were financially struggling. 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:12.000 I got our staff team together, we prayed, God showed up, um, um, things began to happen at work. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:14.879 I mean, that's the kind of stuff that really happens. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:16.879 We should share that. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:20.639 Share recently what God's done. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.799 And then one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these arrayed in white robes? 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:28.639 And where do they come from? 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:36.320 So even one of the elders who's watching all this stuff happen, like, where in the world did all these people come from? 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:46.480 I mean, some of them have weird hair stuff, and some of them are carrying bows and arrows, and some of them are sophisticated. 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.000 And where do they come from? 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:50.559 How many of you have ever been out of the country? 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:52.320 Raise your hand if you've been out of the country. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:54.399 I mean, most of you here, you know. 00:09:54.559 --> 00:10:10.399 And so you get off that plane, and I mean, some places you just get hit with smells and heat and climate that is just radically different than anything we ever experienced in this country. 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:12.159 And you're like, the elder. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:14.399 This elder's like, where do they come from? 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:15.919 Who are these people? 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:18.480 And I said, Sir, you know. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:27.279 So he said to me, These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:36.799 Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple, and he who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:52.080 Isn't it exciting to think that when you go into the 24-hour war room, when you go in to fast and pray, and we're going to do that on the 14th and 15th in January, right after the week together, that the Lord dwells with you. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:54.720 The Lord dwells in that. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:11:00.799 He loves that because it's preparing you for heaven, because we'll be doing that in heaven. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:04.399 These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:10.080 Therefore they are before the throne and serve him day and night in his temple, and he who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:11.200 Verse 16. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:14.720 They shall neither hunger anymore or thirst anymore. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:17.759 So the impression is they did hunger and they did thirst. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:20.720 So they have gone through tribulation. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:24.879 The sun shall not strike them, nor any heat. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:32.480 For the lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:34.639 I believe that's proverbial. 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:47.360 That's that's spiritual, but it's also physical, because we will not yet hear in this passage, but as we come to the coming of the Lord, in the last days, there will be a recreated heaven and earth. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:48.159 And we're coming to that. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:49.919 Beautiful recreated heaven and earth. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:56.080 Because there's going to be, there's a difference between the Lord coming for his saints and the Lord coming with his saints. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:59.759 And so this is him coming for his saints. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:01.679 God will wipe away every tear. 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:03.120 Now look at chapter 8. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:09.519 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:17.440 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:26.879 Now, everybody, if you're if you're an underliner or a circler in your Bible or you have the ability to highlight, this idea of seven trumpets is important. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.360 Trumpets, we haven't heard about the trumpets yet. 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:31.440 We're hearing about the trumpets now. 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:40.000 And then as I read you a bunch of passages from the New Testament, I want you to see how many times trumpets come up. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:44.320 Then another angel having a golden censer came and stood at the altar. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:49.440 He was given much incense, and he should offer it with the prayers, again, all. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.840 Prayers of all the saints. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:58.000 So I believe we're all in heaven at this point, upon the golden altar, which was before the throne. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:06.320 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:13.360 So all the saints, all the tribes, all the tongues in heaven, as we're about to open the seventh seal. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.039 So what is the rapture? 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:20.320 My many mainline pastors wouldn't even believe in the rapture. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.080 They don't even discuss the rapture. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:26.159 They believe in the coming of the Lord, but not the idea of the rapture. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:29.519 We believe here at the road in the rapture. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:34.240 I believe the rapture does occur, and I believe it's very clear to me. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:37.759 The word rapture is never in the Bible. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:46.399 The term comes from a Latin word meaning a carrying off, a transport, or a snatching away. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:53.440 The concept of the carrying off or the rapture of the church, I believe, is clearly taught in Scripture. 00:13:53.679 --> 00:14:03.360 The rapture of the church is the event in which God snatches away his church before the coming of the great wrath. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:07.039 Now, listen, church, there's a difference, and I'm not going to go into great detail. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:11.519 I think most of you know this, but there's a difference between wrath and discipline. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:17.039 So in our lifetime, we will go through many disciplines of the Lord. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:19.120 I hate disciplines of the Lord. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:22.080 You know, and you have to discipline your children. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:24.720 If you're a good father, good mother, sometimes you have discipline. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:26.720 You have boundaries that you have to have with your kids. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:34.559 That's not wrath, that's teaching and training them to be better human beings, to be to be fathers and mothers someday in their own right. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:36.480 So we have discipline within our home. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:41.840 If you're an athlete, you have to discipline your body, you have to discipline your mind for competition. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:46.559 So discipline is different than wrath, and that's where I draw the line. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:50.799 So turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 15, 50. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.759 1 Corinthians 15, 50. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:15:02.960 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:08.080 Behold, I tell you a mystery, we shall not all sleep. 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:18.639 Because sleep is synonymous with death here in the New Testament under this reference. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.759 You're not gonna all die. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:22.000 Not all of you are gonna actually experience physical death. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:31.039 Many of us here, I believe, if we're living in the last days, and only God knows that, that what he's about to say next will be true for you and for me. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:48.480 Behold, I tell you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, so suddenly changed, physically, mentally, emotionally changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.279 There's that trumpet. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:56.080 I've got it underlined in my Bible, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible. 00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:14.960 So those that have already died before us will be raised, and we shall be changed, transformed, for this corruptible, which is our bodies, must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.320 Verse 54. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:27.759 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.919 So we're gonna see two comings of the Lord. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.879 Let me just say this. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.679 That's what he's referencing here. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:42.799 But also the scriptures speak of a coming with the saints. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:45.519 That's when when that's what John is speaking of. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:48.080 Look at your Bibles to John 14. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:52.879 John wrote this, Jesus spoke it, John 14, 1. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:56.080 Let not your heart be troubled. 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:59.279 You believe in God, believe also in me. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:02.639 In my father's house are many mansions. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:05.599 If it were not so, I would have told you. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:20.319 I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.920 Now the Jews didn't understand this. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:31.519 They thought that Christ was gonna set up a kingdom on the earth, but he's speaking to the church that he's gonna come, he's gonna catch you up in him. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:35.759 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 16. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:38.400 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 16. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:43.359 And this is where we get the word rapture from the Latin. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:53.839 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:57.519 And remember back at Revelation 7 and 8, the trumpets. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:02.559 So after we see, as we're opening the seventh seal, the trumpets are sounding. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:07.440 There's going to be trumpets blasting in Revelation chapter 8. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:15.039 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven as a shout with the voice of an archangel, with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:23.839 Then we, that's us, who are alive and remain, shall be caught up together. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:33.920 That's where we get the word rapture, with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:39.680 Again, this is an example of the Lord coming for the church. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:43.440 And now we're going to look at the coming of the Lord with the church. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:46.880 You can't come with if you're not with. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:52.160 All the saints in heaven can't come with the Lord if we're not with him, right? 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:54.640 So he comes and he grabs you. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:19:00.559 In our day, he may come and grab you like a thief in the night, and you are out of here. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:03.759 And we'll look at what Jesus said about that in just a moment. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:06.559 So, Colossians 3, 4, you don't need to turn there. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:12.400 When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:18.480 So we are going to have to already be up there with him to appear in glory when Christ appears. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:22.319 That is the final coming of the Lord. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:25.359 There's really three comings of the Lord. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:28.240 Scripture gives us really three comings of the Lord. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:32.960 The first is his advent, which we're about to celebrate here. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.559 So the advent. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.920 The advent of the Lord is first. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:39.519 Second will be our going up to him, seeing him in the sky. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:40.400 That's the rapture. 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:42.799 And the third is the final coming of the Lord. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.839 We call it the second coming. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:48.240 You could actually literally call it the third coming, the third coming of the Lord. 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:51.279 Jude 14, don't turn there. 00:19:51.440 --> 00:20:02.400 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with 10,000 of his saints. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.480 So again, we've been raptured up. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.880 We come with the Lord with 10,000 of his saints. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:10.160 When Christ comes back, he will have an army of the redeemed. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:12.240 Revelation 19, 14. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:20.720 And the armies in heaven, the redeemed, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses. 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:26.319 So even if you never felt like you could ride a horse down here, you'll get to ride a white horse up there. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:34.480 The saints are coming with them because we'll be lifted off of the face of the earth before the great and terrible tribulation. 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:36.799 So now look at Luke 17. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:55.200 And look what Jesus says, and this is why I believe so strongly in the rapture of the church before the capital G great, capital T tribulation, which I believe is about to be opened up to us in the coming weeks in Revelation 8 onward in the book of Revelation. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.319 Luke 17. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:13.119 So Jesus gives us examples from the scriptures of how the Lord's MO, his way of dealing with his redeemed, is to pull them out before the wrath of the Lord is released. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:18.559 God pulls us out before the wrath of the Lord is released. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:20.640 Luke 17, 26. 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:22.079 This is Jesus speaking. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:24.079 And it was in the days of Noah. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:27.759 So it will be also in the days of the Son of Man. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:38.240 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered the ark, a type of rapture. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:42.160 Noah taken out before the floods came. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:45.599 And then the flood came and destroyed them all. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.559 Verse 28. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:50.559 Likewise, as it also was in the days of Lot. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:56.559 They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built. 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:59.519 But on the day that Lot went out. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:08.240 Out of Sodom, another type of rapture, God's merciful rapture to his saints. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:12.480 It rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:17.359 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.039 So he's speaking of the last days. 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.640 Now look at verse 31. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:28.160 So now Jesus describes what it will be like in the rapture of the church. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:35.119 In that day, he who is on the housetop and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:39.920 And likewise the one who sits, who is in the field, let him not turn back. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:41.039 Verse 32. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:43.119 Remember Lot's wife. 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:48.880 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:55.039 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed, the one will be taken and the other will be left. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:59.839 Two women will be grinding together, the one will be taken and the other left. 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:04.960 Two men will be in the field, the one will be taken and the other left. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:12.480 Back about a month ago, I came home and nobody was home. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:18.480 And everybody was supposed to be at home. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:23.680 I'd be a liar if I didn't tell you, like, I didn't make it. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.880 This is not good. 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.759 I'm a pastor. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.880 I'm supposed to make it. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:29.359 I'm supposed to lead my flock up there. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.839 They're all up there, but I'm not. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:43.039 But it will be, it will be like a thief in the night, and it will come, and many will be shocked that they actually were never saved. 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:48.160 They thought they were saved, they did all the things that the church told them to do. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:55.279 They did the ordinances of the church, they were baptized, they went to communion, but really they were never born again. 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:57.920 Some of you here are not born again. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:16.960 You know how you know if you're born again, there's a there is not, it's not always a passionate desire to follow the Lord, because that that ebbs and flows, but there is this consistency in your walk with God to know God, to want to have a relationship with the Lord. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:33.839 And it, yeah, you've got times where it's not as strong as other times, but but there's something within you that wants the Lord and you're longing for the Lord, and you're convinced, I believe this, because the Spirit of God gives us assurance, Ephesians says, that you're assured that you are saved. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:46.480 So I would say this this morning: if you don't have that assurance, sometimes you doubt that, you need to talk to one of our shepherds or stewards or myself and let us lead you to Jesus. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:25:08.880 If you don't have a desire and you're continuing to sleep around, you're continuing to do drugs, you're continuing to do all the stuff that, you know, you kind of feel guilty about it because your mom and your dad don't like it, or some of these Christian people that you hang around with tell you that's bad, but it's not really that convicting, you're just trying to do your own thing, you're probably not saved. 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:11.519 You're probably not saved. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:15.839 Getting saved is not praying a little prayer. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:20.240 Getting saved is surrendering your life to Christ. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.920 Often through prayer. 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:23.839 Sometimes it's not through prayer. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:30.640 I know guys in my life, they they they were pumping gas and they got saved. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:37.440 They were pumping gas, they knew they needed Christ, said, Lord, come into my life, and boom, it was done, and they were radically changed. 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:42.319 I know other people have been in the church for 20 years and they're still up to no good. 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:45.519 There's still no conviction of sin. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:56.000 And if I told them, if I gave them the four spiritual laws in three hours, every point explained that, yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:58.720 But you know their heart's not born again. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:07.759 They are not transformed, they are not walking or have a desire for, a passion for the things of God, and you can't convince them until the cows come home. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:12.240 I never try to convince anyone to get saved. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:30.000 What I believe is our responsibility is to live the gospel, preach the gospel in our word and deed, express a way to know Christ, but really ultimately at the end of the day, it's their decision based on the Spirit of God working in their heart. 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:41.599 And so we see here that the Lord knows those who are his and he calls them out, and it's sudden and they and they're just gone. 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.720 They're gone. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:27:11.279 1 Thessalonians 1, 9 says this for they themselves declare concerning 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, listen, from the wrath to come. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:17.200 And so the Lord will deliver us from the wrath to come. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:29.359 Jesus said, and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:33.519 So, church, this is our watch. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.519 This is our time. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:44.799 I believe we have a window of opportunity here in America and around the world, like never before, to preach the gospel. 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:51.920 Even in my earlier days, back in the 70s and 80s, we had to smuggle Bibles into Eastern Europe. 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:54.559 We smuggled Bibles into China. 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:56.720 We smuggle Bibles into Hungary. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:58.960 We smuggle Bibles into Russia. 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:04.480 And the iron curtain is down, even the bamboo curtain is somewhat down. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:17.039 I mean, the opportunity, literally, we could, most of us, if you have a viable, uh, up-to-date passport, you could book a flight to Beijing and be out of here this week if you want to. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:25.599 Unprecedented in world history, the ability for believers to go all over the world and share the gospel. 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:31.759 And God is giving us this open door for the gospel to be preached. 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.640 And it's exciting. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:35.920 In China, amazing things are happening in China. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:39.759 The church is growing by leaps and bounds. 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:42.000 There's communist officials. 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:49.279 There's officials in the highest echelons of the Communist Party in China that know the Lord. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:56.400 There are the all over India among the wealthy and the most poor. 00:28:57.680 --> 00:29:03.519 Churches are being planted to the tune of about 25 a day in China. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:07.920 There's parts of Vietnam, there's parts of Thailand. 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:17.200 There's actually some beginnings of the Spirit of God working in Muslim places, like in Malaysia and Indonesia. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:19.519 Amazing, amazing. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:22.160 And kind of the last frontier. 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:27.279 I believe the last frontier is the heart of Islam. 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:33.200 And so guys, even from this church, are going into those areas. 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:36.079 You heard Victor even share last week. 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:41.200 So the heart of Islam, I believe, is one of the great last strongholds of Satan. 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:45.440 And God is using us as a church to start to penetrate those areas. 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:47.279 Young people are signing up. 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:50.960 Young people from the universities are saying, yes, I want to go. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:54.720 I'm going to give two years of my life, like the student volunteer movement. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:30:01.839 Kind of a resurgence of this sort of 21st century, third millennium student volunteer movement. 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:07.680 If you don't know what I mean by the student volunteer movement, just put it in our Google search, student volunteer movement. 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:11.680 You'll see this work of God that occurred in our country in years past. 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:13.440 Are you ready? 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.960 Are you ready? 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:29.680 Well, we have a special young lady, Haley Popovich, in our church, who some six months ago gave me a poem about the rapture that she had written, and I felt like it would be appropriate for her to share that here this morning. 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:32.640 So, Haley, would you come up and share this poem? 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:43.440 Okay, the title is Rapture. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:47.119 Time is moving, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:51.920 Each day time passes, sitting and wondering about Jesus' promise to us. 00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:53.680 He will be returning for us. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.519 We watch and we wait. 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.720 It's a promise. 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:58.000 Jesus will be returning. 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:00.799 We will soar on wings, the angels will sing. 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:02.480 Their voice is melodic. 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:04.000 Oh, how beautiful. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:06.960 The clock cries out the Lord is returning for us. 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:09.200 We are his bride, his treasure. 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:11.359 He will take us to the promised land. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:13.039 Time is in constant motion. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.559 The rapture is coming. 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.400 We must never stop watching. 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:19.519 We must never stop listening for that midnight cry. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.599 Jesus is returning for his bride. 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:26.720 All across the world, he will provide for us, and we will walk beside him always. 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:31.039 Time is slipping away, but he says, Behold, I am coming quickly. 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:33.920 We must continue watching and listening. 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:34.880 Thanks. 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:35.680 Amen. 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:48.880 1 Thessalonians 5.2 says, The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:56.000 2 Peter 3.10, but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. 00:31:56.799 --> 00:32:01.359 Some of you may have had your car broken into, maybe you've had your house broken into. 00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:03.839 Maybe you've been held up before. 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:10.880 You remember that sense of one moment, everything's sort of normal. 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:13.359 And then the next moment there's fear. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.720 There's a suddenness. 00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:17.119 It just seems to come out of nowhere. 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:20.319 That's what the coming of the day of the Lord will be. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:22.960 It'll be as in the days of Noah. 00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:26.240 In other words, everything will be normal. 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:32.480 Everything will be moving along in routine, as in the days of Lot. 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.599 It will be routine. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:37.119 And then suddenly the Lord will come. 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:40.720 So let me close with Matthew 25. 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:43.119 Let me close with Matthew 25. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:49.440 So remember, Matthew 24 is where Jesus speaks of the last days. 00:32:50.319 --> 00:33:06.559 But then in the context of the coming of the Lord in the last days, where he gives us the signs where we'll know that the Lord is, that the birth pangs of the coming of the Lord are happening across the globe. 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:10.160 Then in Matthew 25, this is what he says to the church. 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:21.519 Now five of them were wise and five were foolish. 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:29.200 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:34.559 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:40.559 And at midnight a cry was heard, Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him. 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:45.200 Then all those virgins arose and they trimmed their lamps. 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.160 Verse 8. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:51.920 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 00:33:52.160 --> 00:34:02.000 But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you, but go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. 00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:09.199 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:14.159 Afterward the other virgins came out, also saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:18.079 But he answered and said, Assuredly I say to you, I do not know you. 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:24.880 Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:30.400 And so men and women, this oil is representative of the Spirit of God. 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:33.519 You can't give the Spirit of God away. 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:39.280 You can't take the Spirit of God within you and give it to someone who you love. 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:54.400 You can't take the spirit of the lamp that is that power, that peace, that joy, that tremendous energy, that energy of the spirit that's within you. 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:57.119 Can't give that to someone else. 00:34:57.679 --> 00:35:02.559 They have to personally give their heart fully to Christ. 00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:06.320 And there is a day coming, men and women, we've got to trim our lamps. 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:10.639