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LESSON #16
THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH — CONTINUED

• MEMORY VERSE: PHI 2:16

• GOD HAS PLACED IN HIS WORD DAYS AND TIMES THAT INDICATE TO US WHAT GOD WILL DO. THESE “DAYS” AND “TIMES” ARE PROPHETIC, AND THEREFORE NEED AN EXPLANATION.
• GOD’S DAYS:
• THE FOLLOWING PHRASES INDICATE A SPECIFIC EVENT THAT IS CONSISTENT IN MEANING IN THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE. OTHER MORE MODERN VERSIONS CONFUSE THE TRANSLATION OF THESE “DAYS” OR THEY DROP THE PROPHETIC PHRASE COMPLETELY.
• THE DAY OF GOD (2PET 3:12 REV 16:14)
• THE DAY OF GOD REFERS AN EVENT AFTER THE MILLENNIUM. IT IS WHEN THE HEAVENS PASS AWAY AND GOD DESTROYS THIS EARTH BY FIRE FROM HEAVEN BEFORE HE CREATES THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH.

• THE DAY OF THE LORD (JEHOVAH) (ISA 2:12 ISA 13:6,9 JER 46:10 EZE 30:3 JOE 1:15 JOE 2:1,11,31 JOE 3:14 AMO 5:18,20 OBA 1:15 ZEP 1:7,14 ZEC 14:1 1THE 5:2 2PET 3:10)
• THE PHRASE “DAY OF THE LORD” IS A PROPHETIC PHRASE THAT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN THE BIBLE BY OBADIAH IN HIS LITTLE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK BY THAT NAME. THE THEME WAS FULLY DEVELOPED BY THE PROPHET JOEL IN HIS BOOK OF JOEL.
• THE PHRASE “DAY OF THE LORD” MEANS THAT GOD HAS DIRECT INTERVENTION IN MAN’S AFFAIRS. MORE SPECIFICALLY IT REFERS TO A TIME OF GOD’S JUDGMENT FOLLOWED BY A GLORIOUS PROMISE.
• THE PHRASE IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF THE JEWISH DAY THAT GOD BEGAN AT CREATION (GEN 1:5 “THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE FIRST DAY”).
• OUR DAY BEGINS AT MIDNIGHT, BUT THE JEWISH DAY BEGAN AT SUNSET IN THE EVENING. THEN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT FOLLOWED. AFTER THE DARK OF NIGHT PASSED, THEN CAME THE LIGHT OF DAY.
• THEREFORE, THE PHRASE “DAY OF THE LORD” REFERS TO A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT FOLLOW THE PATTERN OF THE JEWISH DAY.
• THE DIMNESS OF LIGHT AT SUNSET REFERS TO THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WHEN THE ANTI-CHRIST PROMISES PEACE, STABILITY, AND PROSPERITY. THE LIGHT IS DIM BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE TRUE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST BUT THE FALSE PROMISE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT REFERS TO THE LAST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WHEN THE ANTI-CHRIST HAS FULL POWER AND OPERATES UNDER THE POWER OF SATAN. IT IS DARKEST JUST BEFORE THE DAWN. THIS DARKEST POINT IS THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• THE DAWN IS THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST WHEN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORIOUS PRESENCE BREAKS FORTH ON THE WORLD SCENE.
• THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE DAY REFERS TO THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF CHRIST THAT FOLLOWS HIS COMING. IT IS A TIME THAT WILL LAST FOR 1000 YEARS AND EXHIBIT THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSINGS OF CHRIST ON EARTH.

• THE DAY OF (THE LORD) JESUS CHRIST (1COR 1:8 1COR 5:5 2COR 1:14 PHI 1:6,10 PHI 2:16 2THE 2:2)
• THIS PROPHETIC DAY REFERS TO THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WHEN CHRIST COMES AND REMOVES BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST FROM THE EARTH.

A COMPARISON
THE DAY OF THE LORD (JEHOVAH) THE TRIBULATION PERIOD INTO THE MILLENNIUM	THE DAY OF (THE LORD) JESUS CHRIST THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
=1= THERE IS NO TRANSFORMATION MENTIONED	=1= THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE BODIES OF NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS (1COR 15:51)
=2= ISRAEL WILL BE SPIRITUALLY RESTORED, NATIONS WILL BE AT PEACE, AND CREATION WILL BE TRANSFORMED (EZE 36:26-27 ZEC 14:6, 9-10 ISA 65:18-25)	=2= ISRAEL, THE NATIONS, AND CREATION REMAIN UNCHANGED
=3= THE LORD WILL APPEAR AS THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (MAL 4:2 JDG 5:31)	=3= JESUS WILL APPEAR AS THE MORNING STAR (REV 2:28 REV 22:16 2PET 1:19)
=4= JESUS WILL APPEAR AS THE BRIDEGROOM WITH THE BRIDE, AS KING, AND AS MESSIAH (MAT 25:6 ISA 7:14 ISA 9:5-6 ISA 11:1-2 ZEC 14:9)	=4= JESUS WILL APPEAR AS THE BRIDEGROOM, THE SAVIOR, AND THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH (EPH 5:25-27 PHI 3:20)
=5= THE TRANSFORMED BELIEVERS WILL RETURN TO EARTH WITH CHRIST (JUD 1:14 1THE 3:13)	=5= THE TRANSFORMED BELIEVERS ARE TAKEN TO HEAVEN.
=6= THE EARTH WILL BE JUDGED AND RIGHTEOUSNESS RESTORED (DAN 9:24)	=6= THE EARTH WILL NOT BE JUDGED YET FOR IT IS A DAY OF COMFORT (1THE 4:38 2THE 2:16)
=7= THIS “DAY” FOLLOWS THE PATTERN OF SPECIFIC AND PROPHETIC EVENTS AND SIGNS (MAT 24 MAR 13 LUK 12 LUK 17:21)	=7= THE EVENT IS IMMINENT AND POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME (1COR 1:7 1COR 16:22 PHI 3:20 PHI 4:5 1THE 1:10 TIT 2:13 HEB 9:28 JAM 5:7 REV 2:11 REV 22:7, 12, 17, 20)
=8= THIS “DAY” WAS OFTEN MENTIONED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND IS NOT A BIBLICAL MYSTERY (ISA 2:12 JOE 2:1-2 1THE 5:1)	=8= THIS “DAY” IS NOT PREDICTED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND IS A BIBLICAL MYSTERY (1COR 15:51)
=9= THIS “DAY” IS THE DAY OF GOD’S WRATH (1THE 5:2 REV 6:17)	=9= THIS “DAY” OCCURS BEFORE THE WRATH OF GOD ON EARTH (1THE 1:10 1THE 5:9)
=10= THIS “DAY” CONCERNS ALL PEOPLE (PSA 96:13 REV 3:10)	=10= THIS “DAY” ONLY CONCERNS THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS (1THE 4:14, 16)
=11= SATAN WILL BE BOUND FOR 1000 YEARS (REV 20:1-3)	=11= THERE IS NO REFERENCE TO SATAN CONCERNING THIS “DAY”
=12= THE LORD WILL VISIBLY COME TO EARTH WITH GREAT POWER AND GLORY, AND ALL EYES WILL SEE HIM (MAT 24:30 REV 1:7)	=12= THE LORD WILL REVEAL HIMSELF TO BELIEVERS IN THE AIR AND REMAIN INVISIBLE TO NON-BELIEVERS ON EARTH (1THE 4:16-17)
=13= THE END OF THE TRIBULATION WILL BEGIN THE BEGINNING OF A MILLENNIUM OF PEACE (REV 19:11-16 REV 20:4-6)	=13= AFTER THIS “DAY” THE TRIBULATION PERIOD BEGINS. (REV 4 1THE 5:2-9 2THE 2)

• GOD’S “TIMES”:
• IN SCRIPTURE, JESUS IS CALLED THE BRIDEGROOM AND THE CHURCH IS CALLED THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. (ISA 61:10 ISA 62:5 MAT 9:15 MAT 25:1-13)
• THE JEWISH WEDDING, THEREFORE, IS AN EXAMPLE OF GOD’S SPIRITUAL TIMETABLE OF EVENTS:
• AFTER THE FATHER OF THE GROOM HAS ARRANGED THE BETROTHAL WITH THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE, THE GROOM GOES TO THE BRIDE’S HOUSE TO PRESENT BETROTHAL GIFTS AND TO SIGN A COVENANT OF BETROTHAL, SEALED WITH A CUP OF WINE.
• THIS REPRESENTS THE FIRST COMING OF JESUS CHRIST WHO LEFT HEAVEN TO COME TO EARTH. (PHI 2:8) CHRIST SEALED HIS COVENANT WITH HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS TO PURCHASE US (HEB 13:20), THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. HE GIVES SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO MAN. (EPH 4:8)
• THEN THE GROOM RETURNS TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE TO PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE HOME, WHILE THE BRIDE PREPARES FOR THE THINGS SHE WILL NEED FOR HER WEDDING AND HER NEW MARRIED LIFE.
• JESUS SAID WHEN HE LEFT THAT HE PREPARES AN ETERNAL PLACE FOR US. (JOH 14:2)
• THE BRIDE MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE GROOM’S UNEXPECTED RETURN.
• WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR COMING OF THE LORD IN THE RAPTURE THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME.
• AT SOME UNEXPECTED TIME, IN THE EVENING, THE GROOM RETURNS TO THE BRIDE’S HOUSE TO CLAIM HIS BRIDE. HE COMES WITH FRIENDS. WHEN HE COMES CLOSE TO HER HOUSE, HE SHOUTS HIS ARRIVAL.
• AT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, CHRIST COMES WITH ANGELS AND A SHOUT. (1THE 4:16)
• THE BRIDE PUTS ON A VEIL AND GREETS HER BRIDEGROOM. THE BRIDE AND THE GROOM CONTINUE TOGETHER TO THE HOUSE OF THE FATHER OF THE GROOM.
• THE CHURCH IS CAUGHT UP TO THE LORD IN THE AIR TO RETURN TO HEAVEN. (1THE 4:17)
• THE WEDDING CEREMONY TAKES PLACE IN THE HOUSE OF THE FATHER OF THE GROOM. THERE IS A RECEPTION CELEBRATION OF THE WEDDING WITH EATING, DANCING, AND DRINKING WINE THAT LASTS FOR 7 DAYS.
• THE CHURCH ENJOYS THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB WITH THE LORD IN HEAVEN FOR 7 YEARS. (REV 19:9)
• AFTER THE 7 DAYS, THE GROOM TAKES THE BRIDE TO HER NEW HOME.

• AFTER 7 YEARS IN HEAVEN, ALL BELIEVERS RETURN TO EARTH WITH THE LORD AT THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING. GLORIFIED BELIEVERS LIVE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM (REV 21:2, 9-10)

• THERE IS ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION IN THE BIBLE OF GOD’S PROPHETIC TIMETABLE OF EVENTS. IT IS THE PROPHETIC FEASTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT FOUND IN LEV 23.
• THERE WERE 7 OF THESE SPECIFIC FEAST CELEBRATIONS COMMANDED BY GOD. EVERY YEAR THE JEWS PERFORM THESE FEAST CELEBRATIONS AS TRADITION. HOWEVER, THEY WERE MEANT BY GOD TO BE PROPHETIC.
• THE FOUR FULFILLED PROPHETIC FEASTS: (FULFILLED IN JESUS’ FIRST COMING)
• #1= THE PASSOVER (PESACH) (LEV 23:4-5)
• THE FIRST HISTORICAL EVENT:
• PASSOVER OCCURRED IN EGYPT.(EXO 12:1-51 EXO 13:3-10). IT WAS THE LAST PLAGUE OF THE DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN THAT FREED THE JEWS FROM EGYPTIAN BONDAGE.
• THE BLOOD OF A LAMB WAS PUT ON THE DOORPOSTS AND OVER THE DOOR. THERE WAS PROTECTION FROM DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN ONLY IF THE PERSON WAS UNDER THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
• THE PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT OCCURRED WHEN JESUS CHRIST, THE LAMB OF GOD, DIED ON THE CROSS AT THE EXACT HOUR WHEN THE HIGH PRIEST KILLED THE PASSOVER LAMB IN THE TEMPLE ON THE 14TH DAY OF NISAN, PASSOVER DAY.
• #2 = THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (LEV 23:6-8)
• THE HISTORICAL EVENT:
• THE JEWS ATE A MEAL OF UNLEAVENED BREAD BEFORE LEAVING EGYPT TO FOLLOW GOD, THE DAY AFTER PASSOVER, THE 15TH OF NISAN. (EXO 12:7-11)
• LEAVEN REPRESENTS SIN. THEREFORE, UNLEAVENED BREAD MEANS = TO FOLLOW GOD WITH A LIFE WITHOUT SIN.
• THE PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT:
• JESUS, THE SON OF GOD WITHOUT SIN, PAID THE PENALTY FOR SIN ON THE CROSS, SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE WITHOUT SIN TO FOLLOW GOD. (1COR 11:23-26 1COR 5:7-9)
• #3 = THE FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS (LEV 23:9-14)
• THE HISTORICAL EVENT:
• THE JEWS CROSSED THE RED SEA ON THE 17TH OF NISAN TO BEGIN A NEW LIFE, FREE FROM SLAVERY. (EXO 14:9-31)
• THE JEWS PRESENT THE FIRST GRAIN OF THE GRAIN HARVEST IN THE TEMPLE. (FIRST FRUIT)
• THE PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT:
• JESUS WAS PRESENTED TO GOD AND RAISED FROM THE DEAD ON THE 17TH OF NISAN TO BE THE FIRST OF A GREATER RESURRECTION TO COME (BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST). (1COR 15:20, 22-23 1THE 4:13-18)
• #4 = THE FEAST OF WEEKS (PENTECOST) (SHAVUOT) (LEV 23:15-21)
• THE HISTORICAL EVENT:
• 50 DAYS AFTER THE JEWS CROSSED THE RED SEA, GOD GAVE THE LAW TO MOSES ON MT. SINAI WITH FIRE, WIND, AND AN EARTHQUAKE. (EXO 19:10-15, 19 EXO 20:1-17).
• JEWISH TRADITION SAYS THAT GOD SPOKE IN EVERY KNOWN LANGUAGE AND THE SOUND APPEARED AS A FIERY SUBSTANCE.
• THE PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT:
• THE DAY OF PENTECOST IN ACT 2:1-4 WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE BIRTH TO THE CHURCH AND WROTE HIS LAW IN THE HEARTS OF THE REDEEMED WITH SIGNS OF TONGUES, FIRE, AND THE SOUND OF WIND. (HEB 10:16-18)
• THE THREE UNFULFILLED PROPHETIC FEASTS: (TO BE FULFILLED IN EVENTS OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST)
• #5 = THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS (ROSH HASHANAH) (LEV 23:23-25)
• THE HISTORICAL EVENT:
• THIS WAS A CALL TO REPENTANCE TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE DAY OF ATONEMENT AND TO REGATHER ISRAEL IN PREPARATION FOR ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JOSHUA. (JER 32:37)
• THE FEAST OCCURS ON 1 TISHRI, APPROXIMATELY IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
• THE PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT:
• THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH (1THE 4:16-17 1COR 15:52) WHERE GOD GATHERS BELIEVERS IN PREPARATION FOR THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST AND IN PREPARATION FOR THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM ON EARTH.
• THE DAYS BETWEEN THIS FESTIVAL AND THE NEXT ARE CALLED, “THE DAYS OF AWE” WHICH IS PROPHETIC OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• #6 = THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (YOM KIPPUR) (LEV 23:26-32)
• THE HISTORICAL EVENT:
• A DAY OF NATIONAL REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS ON THE 10TH OF TISHRI. (APPROXIMATELY IN OCTOBER)
• THE PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT:
• THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST WHEN THE JEWS ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR MESSIAH AND RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF SIN. (ZEC 12:10 ZEC 13:1 ZEC 14:1-5)
• #7 = THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES (LEV 23:33-44)
• THE HISTORIC EVENT:
• CELEBRATED ON THE 15TH OF TISHRI (APPROXIMATELY IN OCTOBER), AS A MEMORIAL OF GOD’S PROVISION FOR THE ISRAELITES IN THE WILDERNESS WHEN THEY HAD NO PERMANENT HOME. IT WAS CELEBRATED WITH THE WAVING OF PALM BRANCHES AS IF IN ANTICIPATION OF A COMING KING.
• THE PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT:
• THE MILLENNIAL CORONATION AND REIGN OF CHRIST THE KING WHO PROVIDES A PERMANENT HOME FOR HIS PEOPLE.

• APPLICATION:
• DISCUSSION: HOW DO WE GET READY FOR THE RAPTURE?
• WATCH (1THE 5:6)
• BE CONCERNED WITH THE THINGS OF HEAVEN (COL 3:1-4)
• HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST: RECEIVE CHRIST (JOH 1:12 ROM 10:9-10)
• ATTEND CHURCH SERVICES (HEB 10:24-25)
• OBSERVE COMMUNION (1COR 11:26)
• WALK IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT AND BE AN OVERCOMER (REV 21:7)
• BE BUSY FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD (MAT 25:14-30)
• LOVE BELIEVERS (1THE 3:12-13)
• DON’T JUDGE OTHERS (1COR 4:5)
• PREACH THE WORD (2TIM 4:1-2 1PET 5:2-4) AND WIN SOULS (JUDE 21-23)
• COMFORT HURTING PEOPLE (1THE 4:16-18)
• LIVE A CLEAN LIFE (1JOH 3:2-3 TIT 2:12-13 1JOH 2:28)
• STUDY SO AS NOT TO BE DECEIVED (MAT 24:4,11,24 2THE 2:3 2TIM 2:15)
• BE PATIENT (JAM 5:8)

HOMEWORK
A STUDY OF THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST AND THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF A STUDY OF THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH:
• WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE BIBLICAL LIST OF HOW TO BE READY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD, WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS ARE LACKING IN YOUR PREPARATION OF THE COMING OF CHRIST?

• PRAY AND ASK THE LORD TO HELP YOU CHANGE THESE THINGS.
• PRAY AND MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BE OBEDIENT TO WHAT GOD SHOWS YOU.

• PREPARATION FOR A STUDY OF THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST:
• READ THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES AND WRITE WHAT YOU LEARN ABOUT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. (FOR EXAMPLE, WHO IS BEING JUDGED? WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR JUDGMENT? WHAT ARE THE REWARDS?)
• MAT 25:14-30

• LUK 19:11-27

• 2COR 10:4-5

• MAT 12:36-37

• 2COR 5:10

• ROM 14:10-12

• JER 17:10

• 1COR 3:11-15

• 2JOH 1:8

• 1COR 9:25

• 1THE 2:19-20

• 2TIM 4:8

• 1PET 5:2-4

• REV 2:10

• MEMORY VERSE: 2COR 5:10