RAPTURE: ARE YOU READY FOR THE LORD'S RETURN?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. What is the Rapture?
a) The word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. It comes from the Latin word rapare which means "seize", "snatch" or "take away." The term Rapture is used to refer to the faithful believers being taken up to meet Christ in the air as described in this passage written by the apostle Paul 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
2. Are you ready for the Lord's Return?
a) Over the past 2000 years, countless groups and individuals have compared events of their time to Bible prophecies and come to the conclusion that Jesus would be returning soon. Some have set a specific date and led their followers into the wilderness to wait for Christ to come. Every one of those predictions turned out to be wrong, but that has not deterred people from making modern-day predictions that Jesus will be returning in the near future.
b) Most mainstream Bible scholars, however, do not think current world affairs are evidence of the imminent return of Christ. Jesus, Himself, said,
Matthew 24:36
However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
c) Jesus also said we should not believe anyone who claims to be the Messiah or anyone who claims to know when He is coming again.
d) The second coming of Jesus will be sudden, unexpected and unmistakable, like lightning flashing across the sky (Matthew 24:23-51, Mark 13:21-23, 13:32-37 Luke 17:20-37).
e) The important thing is not to know when or how the end will come, but to be spiritually prepared when it does (Matthew 25:1-13 Matthew 24:42-44, Luke 21:34-36, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
The End ...
1. What is the Rapture?a) The word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. It comes from the Latin word rapare which means "seize", "snatch" or "take away." The term Rapture is used to refer to the faithful believers being taken up to meet Christ in the air as described in this passage written by the apostle Paul 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
2. Are you ready for the Lord's Return?
a) Over the past 2000 years, countless groups and individuals have compared events of their time to Bible prophecies and come to the conclusion that Jesus would be returning soon. Some have set a specific date and led their followers into the wilderness to wait for Christ to come. Every one of those predictions turned out to be wrong, but that has not deterred people from making modern-day predictions that Jesus will be returning in the near future.
b) Most mainstream Bible scholars, however, do not think current world affairs are evidence of the imminent return of Christ. Jesus, Himself, said,
Matthew 24:36
However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
c) Jesus also said we should not believe anyone who claims to be the Messiah or anyone who claims to know when He is coming again.
d) The second coming of Jesus will be sudden, unexpected and unmistakable, like lightning flashing across the sky (Matthew 24:23-51, Mark 13:21-23, 13:32-37 Luke 17:20-37).
e) The important thing is not to know when or how the end will come, but to be spiritually prepared when it does (Matthew 25:1-13 Matthew 24:42-44, Luke 21:34-36, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
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