THE BIG EVENTS THAT MUST PRECEDE THE SECOND COMING
- A THIRD TEMPLE must come into existence and then be DESECRATED.
- JERUSALEM SURROUNDED by hostile armies.
- A FALSE, OR FRAGILE, DECEPTIVE PEACE MUST EXIST.
- TWO WITNESSES WITH AWESOME POWERS appear.
- THE BACK-STABBING FALL OF ISRAELITE NATIONS occurs.
In a two part discussion we will cover these issues. Will true believers be raptured away from the end time crisis? Our Bible lists a number of events that will happen BEFORE the return of Christ. But no secret rapture is included! First, remember that the actual moment of Jesus' return will not be a secret event.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” (NKJV)
Matthew 24:27, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
The return of the Messiah is hardly a secret event. Angels will shout the news of HIS ARRIVAL and the event will be preceded by the loud Trump of God and bright lights. SOME USE THESE VERSES TO TRY TO PROVE A RAPTURE. Further, Jesus could not come tonight because the Bible says a number of prophetic events must come first. The Bible cannot be broken –– everything it says must happen. Short of vast unrealistic- worldly repentance, all will occur as predicted.
John 10:34-35, “Jesus answered them…to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),”
COULD WE BE RAPTURED SECRETLY TONIGHT ?
At this point, could we be raptured away tonight? The word rapture is not in the Bible and it is not given as a precursor to the second coming of Christ. The history of the rapture doctrine is unknown to most. It is a new doctrine that did not exist in the long history of the church until fairly recent times. A minister in Ireland, Mr. Darby, was conducting an emotional healing service when a fifteen year old teenager, named Margret MacDonald had a vision, (1859, popularized 1995). It stated that Christ's second coming would take place in two parts. The first visit would be a secret rapture into heaven of the Godly, and the rest of mankind would be left to suffer. Why would this doctrine have gained such popularity? We believe because it appeals to escapism.However, places of safety will exist on this planet for most who are converted before the great tribulation. Note Rev.12:15-17.
1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up TOGETHER with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
The only place in the New Testament that mentions the rapture directly, they say are the words 'caught up'. These words could alternately be translated in the LATIN AS RAPTUS they assert! A problem with this assertion is the NT was written in Greek not Latin. Therefore the word 'rapture' is not in the Bible and it is also not a secret event and we are caught up in the clouds as Jesus returns not prior to His second coming but at His coming. After that, all of us, land in Jerusalem together to rule with Christ. Note Rev 5:10.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed –– 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound…dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Remember, at the last of a series of shocking Trumpets Jesus returns in power and THEN all those saved will be resurrected to meet Jesus together at that moment.
WHAT WILL BE THE SIGNS OF YOUR COMING ?
The disciples asked the crucial question, what will be the markers seen before you return? His answer is one of the most valuable and instructive portions of the Word of God:
Matthew 24:3, “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’”
Jesus gave them the answers. Putting together His words with other Biblical information, we get a fairly comprehensive list of events that must happen before or during the return of the Messiah.
Matthew 24:15, “Therefore, when ye see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, which shall stand in the holy place (whosoever reads, let him understand),”
Daniel 11:31, “And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.”
Therefore before the second coming, a third Temple must both exist and then be violated in an abominable fashion. Further, a great evangelistic work must exist and be conducted by two of the greatest prophets of all time in the years just prior to the second coming.
Revelation 11:3-5, “And I will give power to my two witnesses, … 5 And if anyone desires to hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and if anyone desires to hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.”
The two witnesses who will do an unstoppable work of evangelizing the world are still absent. None of this has yet happened, so Jesus cannot return tonight. So far we have at least five precursors to the second coming. Therefore, Jesus will not come tonight and no secret rapture exists Biblically.
JESUS ENCOURAGES US TO BE CAUTIOUS BECAUSE…
Note that the return of Jesus and those being caught up happen together, simultaneously. There will be no secret advance rapture. However, Jesus tells us we must remain spiritually connected and strong. THE DECEPTIONS of the world could lull true believers into spiritually falling asleep.
Matthew 24:41-43, “Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.”
This is the conundrum for believers. True believers are told to watch for prophetic signs of the end of this age and yet are told that Jesus will come like a thief in the night. It will be a surprise to most! Many of us could be caught off guard! How can both things be true and what will the end time period be like for those keeping an eye on the precursors to the second coming? We will explore this conundrum and more next week in part two.
Christ’s advice to us all is this:
Verse 44, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.”
We must value our Biblical insight and be very cautious about end time predictions.
