If you were to ask most Christians what they would do if they knew for certain that Christ was going to return within a year, the response of most would be a blank stare. Would you do something differently if you knew for certain Jesus Christ would be returning within a year or two?
I believe this question is a little more profound and a lot harder to answer than if you were to be asked, “What would you do differently if you only had a year or two to live.” The ramifications and consequences of Christ’s return are much more significant than if you were to suddenly die and be ushered into eternity.
The sudden appearance of Christ in the clouds is the next Biblical point of reference on the prophetic time clock. There is not another major prophecy that needs to be made that is preventing Christ from “catching up” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) the believers into the clouds and for the seven year period of Tribulation to begin.
Jesus’ final statement in the Bible is not the Great Commission found in the last part of Matthew, but rather it is found in the last book of the Bible, Revelation 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith, ‘Surely I come quickly.’” And it is echoed by John the Apostle with those resounding and often repeated words, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Christ repeatedly stated He would come “suddenly,” but He did not mean he was coming “immediately” (since a 2,000 year wait would not fit the definition of “quickly” in any human dictionary and He was speaking to us mortals).
Christ will indeed come quickly. Unannounced. Imminently. At any moment. Without warning, at least without warning other than the ever increasing warning signs that we have seen in the 20th and now 21st century. He will come as He promised, as a thief in the night.
The early disciples believed He could come at any time, yet there are numerous events prophesied (the Battle of Armageddon, the False Prophet arising, the numerous judgments of Revelation, the rebuilding of a Jewish Temple with the offering of sacrifices) that, even today, have yet to be fulfilled. So how could Christ come at any time, and yet, there be so many prophecies not yet fulfilled?
The solution is of course what the Bible teaches as His coming in the air for the church, commonly known as the Rapture, to be followed by a time of intense Tribulation (as well as a time of tremendous salvations) detailed in the book of Revelation, chapters 4 through 21). When reading the book of Revelation, believers should be tremendously thankful that Christ promised us that He “delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9).
- Departing from faith and from doctrine prior to the Rapture:
Before the Rapture takes place, the Bible clearly states that there will be a falling away from the true saving faith and doctrine. Included in that falling away will be scoffers and mockers about the return of Christ at all. We are seeing that as there are many churches which shy away from teaching about Prophecy and the Second Coming of Christ.
Observe the following verses about the last days and the apostasy:
2 Thessalonians 2: 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
1 Timothy 4: 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
2 Timothy 4: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Peter 3: 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
Jude 1: 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
There are numerous reasons for the church to prepare for His return, including the following:
1. Jesus commanded us to be ready
2. The early church prepared for Jesus to return
3. The lost world demands us prepare
4. Jesus will return for some in their death
5. Jesus will come for all believers in His ultimate return
The above is the introduction and the outline of the sermon I prepared for FBC Killeen some time back. The following is background which is foundational to understand the upcoming sequence events in prophecy and the return of Christ, including the differences between the Rapture and the Return.
- Preparation for the Rapture of Christ: Understanding.
One of the ways to prepare is to understand what the Bible teaches about His first “appearance” or coming and the two aspects that will occur at His second “appearance” or the Second Coming of Christ.
There are two Greek words that are translated into English for the word “appearance” or “manifestation” (there’s actually a third word, apocalypso, which is normally translated as “revelation” but we won’t discuss that word presently). The two words are synonyms and are not used absolutely as mutually exclusive, but they are mostly used separated in describing the Rapture of the church (Gr. phaneroo) in the air and the Return of Christ to the Earth (Gr. epiphanes). Both words were used in describing Christ’s first coming 2,000 years ago as seen in the following verses.
- “Appearing” (Gr: “phaneroō”) of Christ at His first coming (2,000 years ago):
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was MANIFESTED in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
2 Timothy 1: 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by THE APPEARING of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
- “Appearing” (Gr: “epiphanēs”) of Christ at His first coming (2,000 years ago):
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has APPEARED to all men,
Titus 3: 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man APPEARED,
1. Rapture “appearance”:
The phrase “Blessed hope” is used to describe the coming of Christ prior to the Tribulation. Most passages which use a Greek word translated as “appearance” at the Rapture (Gr: phaneroō) which is different from the Greek word used for when Christ returns to the earth after the Tribulation (Gr: “epiphanēs” “epiphaneia”), also translated into English as “appearance."
Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope (Rapture in the air for the church, before the 7-year Tribulation) and glorious appearing (Return to the earth for the 1,000 year reign and after the 7-year Tribulation) of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Colossians 3: 4 When Christ who is our life APPEARS, then you also will APPEAR with Him in glory.
1 Peter 5: 4 and when the Chief Shepherd APPEARS, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
1 John 2 28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He APPEARS, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
1 John 3: 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed (KJ APPEAR, Gr: phaneroō) what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed (KJ APPEAR, Gr: phaneroō), we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 Timothy 6: 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our LORD JESUS CHRIST'S APPEARING,
- Blessed Hope:
1 Thessalonians 4: 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no HOPE. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 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. 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15: 19 If in this life only we have HOPE in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep…. 51 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, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 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." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
John 14: 1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 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. 3 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.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
2. Return “appearance”:
GLORIOUS APPEARING (Gr: “epiphanēs” “epiphaneia”) with His Kingdom and with the elect (the church) from heaven (those raptured seven years earlier) and from earth (those saved during the Tribulation):
Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope (Rapture in the air) and glorious appearing (Return to the earth) of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Mark 13: 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then THEY WILL SEE the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven. (Unlike the Rapture, all will see Christ when He returns to earth. Also notice He will bring believers from heaven and from those on the earth).
Acts 2: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and AWESOME (GR: “epiphanēs”) day of the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with THE BRIGHTNESS (GR: “epiphaneia” also translated as APPEARING) of His coming.
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His APPEARING and His kingdom.
