Title: Taken
Bible Book: Selected Passages
Author: Donald Cantrell
Subject: Rapture; Return of Christ
Objective:
Introduction
Matt. 24: 40-41, Lk. 17: 34-36, Jn. 14: 1-3, I Thes. 4: 13-18”
Mat 24:40 KJV - Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 KJV - Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luk 17:34 KJV - I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Luk 17:35 KJV - Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luk 17:36 KJV - Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
In recent years many have ready the book series or watched the movie series “Left Behind”. I don’t necessarily agree with every aspect of the movies but I do agree with the over all premise of their intent. One day Jesus is going to come back and some will be “taken” and some will be “left behind”.
The world is on edge due to terrorism, catastrophes, economical turmoil, religious turmoil, environmental turmoil, wars and rumors of wars. The Middle East is a hot bed for possible nuclear weapons being given to terrorist. If you read the bible you know that all of this has been predicted many 1000’s of years ago.
In the USA we are seeing a shift from Christianity to Paganism. Our Supreme Court has mocked our Judeo Christian Heritage and abandoned the fundamental core beliefs that made our nation Godly and Great. We are in deep trouble here on the home front and obviously America has lost her influence on a global scale.
Prophecy and God’s Man
Prophecy comes from the word prophet, “to speak for God”. In the bible God used Prophets to communicate to man on his behalf. A true prophet of God is a predictor and a prognosticator. Biblical prophets were 100% accurate, this was mandated by God.
Deu 18:20 KJV - But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Deu 18:21 KJV - And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
Deu 18:22 KJV - When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
In the bible a prophet had dual roles:
He Forth-told the Word of God “Pointedly – Current Events”
He Fore-told the Word of God “Prophetically – Coming Events”
Prophecy and God’s Message
31,124 verses in the bible
1239 predictions in the Old Testament
6,641 of 23,210 verses in OT deal with prophecy
28.5% of OT deals with prophecy
578 predictions in New Testament
1,711 of 7,914 verses in NT deal with prophecy
21.5% of NT deals with prophecy
If over 25% of the bible deals with prophecy, then obviously prophecy is very important to God and mankind. We should study bible prophecy and be aware of the predictions found in God’s word.
In our study today, we are going to deal with “The Rapture” of the church. If you deal with this subject at all, then you know there are numerous scoffers and skeptics of this important doctrine.
The skeptics tell us that the word “rapture” is not found in the bible. This is 100% valid and accurate, but unworthy of disproving the biblical concept of a “rapture”.
1Th 4:17 KJV - 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 phrase “caught up” comes from the Greek Word “harpazo” which means: “to seize, carry off by force, to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly, and to snatch out or away”. The term rapture comes into play from the word “rapio” “to seize or to carry off by force”.
This term is very biblical and it is used several places in the bible:
Mat 11:12 KJV - And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Mat 13:19 KJV - When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Jhn 6:15 KJV - When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Jhn 10:12 KJV - But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
Jhn 10:28 KJV - And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Jhn 10:29 KJV - My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Act 8:39 KJV - And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Act 23:10 KJV - And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
2Co 12:2 KJV - I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:4 KJV - How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
1Th 4:17 KJV - 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.
Jde 1:23 KJV - And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Rev 12:5 KJV - And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
The true illustration of rapture or harpazo is that of a fisherman harpooning a fish. One moment the fish is swimming safely in the water and the next moment it is forcefully taken from one environment to another environment. The fish has been forcefully taken.
I want us to take a very precise and probing look at “The Rapture of the Church”. In the coming days some will be “taken” and some will be “left behind”. If this sermon scares some and they get saved, I have no issue with using that venue and here is a verse to back this up:
Jde 1:23 KJV - And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
If the only way you can make it to heaven is by becoming afraid of dying and going to hell, then God will use that fear to save your soul.
On the other hand some of you can become a child of God due to love:
Jde 1:22 KJV - And of some have compassion, making a difference:
The next event on the prophetic calendar is the Rapture. It can happen at any point and at any time. We do not need to be looking for signs nor seasons, we need to be looking for sightings and sounds.
One note is needful for those that might dispute the chosen verses to introduce this sermon. I know that there will be two phases on the Lord’s Coming, one for his church and one with his church. I only chose the verses from Luke 17 and Matthew 24 to place an emphasis upon the word “Taken”.
The Anti Christ could be developing his plan right now for a world wide take over. The software could be in place right now to implement Satan’s Death Sentence upon the world. He could be scheming now on how to enact “The Mark of the Beast”.
One day in the future someone will be reading this sermon online and realize that the prophecies found in the bible concerning the rapture were 100% accurate. In reading this sermon and other biblical writings they will be able to explain why millions of Christians are nowhere to be found upon the earth. The graveyards have been emptied of believer’s bodies and not one true Christian can be found. Why is this?
Some will be “Taken” and some will be “Left Behind”.
What about you?
I. The Concealed Mystery of the Rapture
The teaching of the rapture was a mystery; it had not been revealed before and was a new teaching. The followers of God all believed that one day in the future they would all be raised and enter into the kingdom of God. Then Jesus came and instituted “The Church”.
This changed everything and many were puzzled and confused about the order of events concerning death and the resurrection. The following verses help us begin to unveil this mystery.
A) Implied by Jesus
Jhn 14:1 KJV - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Jhn 14:2 KJV - 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.
Jhn 14:3 KJV - 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.
B) Implied by Angels
Act 1:9 KJV - And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 KJV - And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 KJV - 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.
C) Implied by Paul
1Co 15:51 KJV - Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
II. The Clear Method of the Rapture
The following verses give us a very detailed and specific order concerning what happens at the rapture.
A) The Realization (I Thes. 4: 13 – 14)
1Th 4:13 KJV - 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.
1Th 4:14 KJV - For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
B) The Revelation (I Thes. 4: 15a)
1Th 4:15a KJV - For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
C) The Return (I Thes. 4: 15b – 16a)
1 Th 4: 15b KJV that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16a KJV - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
1 – Divine Sighting “His Lovely Appearing”
2 – Distinct Sounds “His Loud Appeal”
D) The Resurrected (I Thes. 4: 16b)
1Th 4:16b KJV – “and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
E) The Removal (I Thes. 4: 17a)
1Th 4:17a KJV - Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
F) The Reunion (I Thes. 4: 17b)
1Th 4:17b KJV – “shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,”
G) The Reassurance (I Thes. 4: 17c – 18)
1Th 4:17c KJV – “and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
1Th 4:18 KJV - Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 – The Chosen will be Called
a. Called due to a Cherished Promise
1Th 1:9 KJV - For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
1Th 1:10 KJV - And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1Th 5:9 KJV - For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rev 3:10 KJV - Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
b. Called due to a Coming Persecution
Mat 24:6 KJV - And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 KJV - For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 KJV - All these are the beginning of sorrows.
c. Called due to a Corrupted Person
2Th 2:3 KJV - Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 KJV - Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2 – The Chosen will be Changed (I Cor. 15: 50 – 58)
1Co 15:50 KJV - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 KJV - Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 KJV - 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.
1Co 15:53 KJV - For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 KJV - So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 KJV - O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 KJV - The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 KJV - But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 KJV - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
3 – The Chosen will be Comforted
Jhn 14:1 KJV - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Jhn 14:2 KJV - 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.
Jhn 14:3 KJV - 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.
1Th 4:17 KJV - 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.
1Th 4:18 KJV - Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
III. The Christless Masses of the Rapture (Matthew 25: 1 – 13)
A) The Raptured are Gone “Saved were Removed”
B) The Remaining are Godless “Sinful were Rejected”
