Table of Contents
The Need for Knowledge Now…….....………....................1
CHAPTER 1: The Faithful God of Fulfilled Prophecy......12 CHAPTER 2: Bible Prophecy in the News?............……..22 CHAPTER 3: Rapture: The Opening Act……...…...........49 CHAPTER 4: Judgment Seat: God’s Reward Ceremony..........................67
CHAPTER 5: Marriage of the Lamb: Intimacy Redefined..................................75
CHAPTER 6: Tribulation: Troublous Times on Earth……..…….....82
CHAPTER 7: Armageddon/Second Coming: The King is Here!...................................126
CHAPTER 8: Millennium: The King Reigns!....…….…139 CHAPTER 9: Great White Throne: Man Meets his Maker............................158
CHAPTER 10: Eternal State: The Forever Future of Humanity……..165
APPENDIX A: An Outline of the Future……………....182 APPENDIX B: Jesus Christ: The Only Way of Escape……………..185 WORKS CITED..…………………..…………….……...198 RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY......................203 (Excerpt from Back Cover)
Truth for Troublous Times _____________________________________________________________________________
Do the doctrines related to God's end-time plan leave you scared and confused? Are you speechless when one asks you to describe God's future intentions for humanity? Do you want to know more clearly and confidently what the Almighty has in store for you and the rest of mankind? If so, then you are invited to discover inside this resource direct biblical answers to the most significant questions concerning the hereafter, including the following....
~ Are there any signs that God's end-time plan is soon set to unfold? ~ How do we know that Christ will return just as He promised? ~ What will Christians experience during the Rapture? ~ What will happen to those who willingly reject Christ? ~ What will Christians do during the Tribulation and beyond? ~ What will eternal existence in God's heavenly presence be like?
(Excerpt from Chapter 3... Rapture: the Opening Act) Can we Know Exactly When the Rapture will Occur?
We’ve just discovered that there is significant scriptural support for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture view, but is it possible to know exactly when the Rapture will occur? In a word, the answer is “No.” As documented within the introduction of this book, many have tried throughout human history to predict the day, but all have failed. In reality, we don’t know precisely when Jesus will rapture genuine Christians from Earth. However, based on the information presented in Chapter 2, we can reasonably claim that the stage is now being set for Act 1 of the Tribulation period. If the Tribulation is near, then the Rapture must be even closer. The Bible is also quite clear that no other prophecy needs to be fulfilled prior to the Rapture, so it is an imminent event. The Rapture is indeed the next event on God’s prophetic calendar, and it could happen at any time, so we must all be ready!
What will the Rapture Experience be Like?
13But 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. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For 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. 16For 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: 17Then 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. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
We will now focus our attention on I Thessalonians 4:13-18, which is widely recognized as a classic Rapture passage. With these biblical words, the Apostle Paul intended to comfort Thessalonian believers who were mourning the death of fellow Christians. These believers had to be comforted because they thought that Christ was returning immediately to establish His Kingdom on Earth and that those who had died would miss the blessings of this Kingdom. They were confused, afraid and unaware of God’s future plans, so Paul, through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, informed them exactly what would happen. In verse 13, Paul began with the phrase, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren…,” which he often used to introduce a new and important topic. He was basically saying, “Listen up!” He then introduced the word “hope,” which is the Greek word “el-pece” that literally means to ‘anticipate with pleasure and with a confident expectation that something great is about to happen.’ In verses 14-18, Paul tells us precisely what we, as Christians, can confidently and joyfully expect to occur. In verse 14, Paul instructed his audience that, just as Christ, the Head of the church, has risen in glory, so shall we, as the church (“body of Christ”). The phrase “sleep in Jesus” really means sleeping “through” Jesus, which insinuates that believers who have died will have a peaceful, quiet and conscious existence in the presence of Christ, although their bodies will not yet be glorified. Dead believers will sleep soundly through Jesus and rise bodily through Christ to begin a glorified eternal life at the Rapture. The word “with” is interesting, for it is actually the Greek word “soon,” which describes an intimate union and companionship with Christ. Dead believers will have a close fellowship and be instantly “like Christ” at the moment of their resurrection. Through verse 15, Paul emphasized that Christ had personally revealed to him that dead Christians will be resurrected before living believers. The word “not” is the Greek word “oo may,” which is a double negative combining the singular words “oo” and “may.” When placed together, “oo may” expresses strong denial and literally means “by no means” or “never.” These words must have been music to the ears of Thessalonian believers and should also give us great comfort that our loved ones, if they are Christians, will not be left behind when Christ returns for His church.
|