“Do 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. 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…” (2 Thessalonians 2:2-3)
Some teach that this “falling away” occurs after the rapture, these may be the same ones that say, “the word Rapture is not in the Bible” Ok, “…we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP (harpazō: to snatch out, in Latin, raptus: a carrying off) together with them in the clouds to MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
What about the “falling away?” Jesus teaches us “Watch therefore, for you know neither THE DAY OR THE HOUR in which THE SON OF MAN IS COMING.” (Matthew 25:13) As we see in the parable of the ten virgins, “Now five of them were WISE, and five of them were FOOLISH. Those who were FOOLISH took their lamps and TOOK NO OIL with them, but the WISE TOOK OIL IN THEIR VESSELS with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:2-4) In the Bible, oil represents God’s Spirit in our lives when we are saved.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet Him!’” (An illustration of the Rapture) (Matthew 25:6-9) All the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones asked the wise to give up some of their oil, but they said No, there may not be enough, go buy some for yourselves. “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready WENT IN WITH JESUS to the wedding banquet. And THE DOOR WAS SHUT. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But HE REPLIED, ‘Truly I tell you I DO NOT KNOW YOU. (many will think their OK but have never asked Jesus to forgive their sins, they have not repented)’” (Matthew 25:10-12) “For MANY are called, but FEW are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) No matter how easy it is to get saved; we have to DESIRE AND ASK TO BE SAVED!
SO, WHEN DOES THIS “GREAT REVIVAL” THAT MANY TALK ABOUT TAKE PLACE?
LET’S LOOK AT THREE INCIDENTS AFTER THE RAPTURE.
(Note: we will be “caught up” but our Bibles will not so, there will be millions of Bibles in the cars, homes and computers of the ones “taken up!”
- 144 THOUSAND JEWISH ERANGILISTS: “Do not harm the earth…till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads…the number…ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:” (Revelation 7:3-4) They are sent out to evangelize the gentiles during the tribulation, will they be successful? “I looked, and behold, A GREAT MULTITUDE WHICH NO ONE COULD NUMBER, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands…” (Revelation 7:9) Where did they come from? “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from? these are the ones who COME OUT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:13-14)
- THE TWO WITNESSES: The Lord tells John, “I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days (31\2 years), clothed in sackcloth…When they finish their testimony, the beast that will make war against them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street…Then those nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will REJOICE OVER THEM, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets TORMENTED THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH. Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and THEY STOOD ON THEIR FEET” (Revelation 11:3, 7-11) Then the Lord call them up and they ascended into Heaven.
- THE SPECIAL ANGEL: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, HAVING THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL TO PREACH TO THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “FEAR GOD and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and WORSHIP HIM who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6-7)
Notice, The Beast, “…opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him TO MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS AND TO OVERCOME THEM. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” (Revelation 13:6-7) The false prophet “…was GRANTED POWER to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as WOULD NOT WORSHIP the image of the beast TO BE KILLED.” (Revelation 13:15) All of these who are saved during the tribulation will be killed most likely by beheading.
Therefore, today is the time to GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS and go up in the Rapture, to be with the one who loves you and gave His life for you!!! ASK JESUS TO FORGIVE YOU AND COMMIT YOUR LIFE TO HIM.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham