The End Times As God Reveals Them. Pt. 5 Prophecy Principles

 Good morning to each of you. 

Thank you for coming here to learn more about the End Times. 

I want to remind us of some important, foundational principles that we need to keep in front of us as we make our way through this study. 

The rapture of the church is first. 

First, the "Rapture" of the global church, composed of all born again believers, will take place before the events described in the End Times. This is the first element of Christ's return and it initiates all of the events that lead to that great Day of the LORD which is a day of fiery judgment.

In light of this and to help us understand the distinction between the "rapture" of the church and the coming of Christ in judgment, I highly recommend that each of you go back in the archives to January 2020 and re-read the 6 lessons I posted about the Rapture. They are titled the Second Coming of Christ, Parts 1 through 6. I think you will find reading them again will be very helpful.

There are many diverse and often conflicting theories about the rapture and some theologians outright deny that it will happen. What God says to us is really all that matters. We may not understand each detail or nuance, but we can be sure that God will do what He promised to do in His Word. This is why I am pointing you back to those particular lessons so that you can see what the scripture says. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

The rapture will occur in the future and it could happen at any moment in time! It is the next thing that will happen on God's prophetic calendar of events. Thus, we are consistently reminded to be waiting and watching for Christ as we serve and love Him day by day.

I have pointed us to texts that tell us to be watching, waiting and looking for the return of Christ at the rapture for His bride, the church (John 14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:41-52).

The early church fathers also supported the view that the Lord's return was a future event that could happen at any moment of time.  The church fathers were men who were leaders in the churches after the apostles had passed away. We have many volumes of their writings that are important because we can see how they understood and interpreted scripture.   

The following church fathers believed that the return of Christ was a future event that could happen any moment, including Clement (A.D. 96) Polycarp (A.D. 108) Ignatius, Papias (A.D. 116) Justin Martyr (A.D. 150) Irenaeus (A.D. 175) and Tertullian (A.D. 200) to name a few. This was the view held by the great reformers, Martin Luther and John Calvin. 

Raptured believers will be received by Christ and given a new home. 

Second, as soon as Christ calls His church up to meet Him in the air, the church will be part of the marriage supper of the Lamb and several events will happen in heaven.

John 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Jesus spoke about future things in this text as He told His disciples that He was going to prepare a home in heaven for each born again believer. When Christ ascended to the Father, He began that work of mansion building and He comforted us with the sure promise that He would come again and receive all believers to Himself. 

The words "come again" means to repeat an action already done. In this case when Jesus came to earth through the virgin birth He came to all mankind. When the rapture occurs He will come for believers only and it will be a meeting in the air. The word "receive" means that Christ will take us unto Himself and join us with Him. 

Raptured believers will be given to Christ as His bride.

Ephesians 5:25-27  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

2 Corinthians 11:1-2  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 

Paul writes about righteous family relationships and compares it to the church as the bride of Christ. The world wide church is composed of all who are born again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God. It does not matter where we live or what our status may be. If we are born again, we are members of Christ's body, together (1 Corinthians 12).

Jesus loved the church unconditionally and gave Himself for it on the cross. He sanctifies us from the moment we are born again until we die and are in His presence. Why? So that all saved believers of all generations will be His bride holy, without defect or stain. 

Paul had to remind the carnally minded Corinthians that they were espoused to Christ and that Christ is the husband of the church. It means that Christ and His bride, the church, will be joined together, united in a marriage type of covenant. This is the same language found in the Old testament for the relationship of Jehovah with Israel. Israel is the wife of Jehovah and often is referred to as an adulterous wife.  

(See also Matthew 22:1-14, Revelation 19:6-10). 

Christ is central to all prophecy. 

Hebrews 1:1-3  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 

Third, as we begin to look into the books of Daniel and Revelation, the important subject is not all of the strange and fantastic beasts or angelic beings described, or the bowls, seals and trumpets. It is not the widespread destruction of the world as God's wrath is poured out. 

No, the primary focus of all End Times prophecy is the Lord Jesus Christ. It all points to His works and His Person as Prophet, Priest, King, Lord, Judge, Savior and Creator. All strands of prophecy find completion in Jesus Christ's return. 

God spoke in past times through His prophets. Now, in these last days, He has spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ. We have four gospels full of the teaching from Christ, instruction about being born again, instruction about how we should live, instruction about how we should worship God and instruction about end times. 

No private interpretations. 

2 Peter 1:19-21  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

Fourth, remember that no prophecy is of private interpretation. Avoid the new and novel interpretations of end times. All prophetic teaching must align with all the writings of the prophets (1 Corinthians 14:32). 

Prophecy is sure and settled. What God said is exactly what will happen and it will unfold on His timetable, not man's. His word will shine like a brilliant light into the darkness of the world because it is verbally inspired truth without error. 

The Rapture is different from the Day of the LORD.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians specifically because they had concerns that the rapture had taken place and the end times judgment was going to fall upon them. False teachers said  there would be no rapture but instead there would be a terrible day of judgment coming (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). 

Thus, the people were confused and worried. Paul explained in his first letter how the rapture would occur and where it would fit into the scope of prophecy. 

In his second letter he explained that the day of the LORD is a fearful time of fiery judgment for unbelievers and would happen when apostasy breaks out and the man of sin (anti Christ) is revealed.

Prophetic fulfillment will be swift and sudden.

Isaiah 48:1-5  Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness. 2) For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name. 3) I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. 4) Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; 5) I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. 

Isaiah recorded what Jehovah said about prophecy. God will be glorified in it. He called out Israel for making an empty profession of faith. They did not live by the truth that God gave to them. Therefore, God declared what He was going to do before He did it. Things would come to pass suddenly and for His glory. 

Please read the book of Revelation because we will cover material from it. From September 25 through October 6 2019 I posted 12 lessons on Revelation 1-3, including the letters to the seven churches. I urge you to go into the blog archives  and read these lessons as I will only briefly touch upon the first three chapters of Revelation in our upcoming studies. 

Let us pray for understanding and wisdom from our Father in heaven as we go forward studying the book of Revelation and other prophetic books as appropriate. 

This study is not about discovering some "Wow" factor that dazzles our minds. No, this is about understanding the sober nature of what will happen after the rapture and before the judgment known as the Day or the LORD. It is about equipping us to be faithful witnesses with renewed urgency toward those neighbors, family members and friends that we know, work with or love. 

May God change our hearts toward Him and help us to see people as He does, Lost sheep without a Shepherd who need to be found and brought into the fold of God's family before it is eternally too late. 

Bob