1 Corinthians 15: 51-52
The word "Mystery" means secret. Duet.29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. The mysteries were secret until the LORD revealed them. When Paul finished writing his letters, the New Testament was complete, a written record. Therefore, these mysteries are no longer secret and we should understand them. The mysteries concerning the Body of Christ were only revealed to Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, Act 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Act 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
What is the Rapture?
It is the coming of The LORD in the air for His Body, the Church, the saved of this age. See 1Thes. 4:13-18. The word rapture is not used in the Bible but it's meaning and concept are there. 4:17 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. We are caught up, taken up with power. You see there is no power that can hold us, the redeemed. Rapture means taken with power - snatched away.
The Rapture is when the Church Age ends. The day of the age of grace is over the day of the Gospel of Grace is over, which is the day of the Gospel of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ, 1 Cor. 15:1-4. If you notice that Paul's writings are always to the saved - the unbeliever is warned - but Paul is always showing what you have in Christ by grace, Eternal Life is the gift of God. God, The Father gave His Son to live and die and finish the work of Salvation, that we might be justified by faith.
We have a salvation that is already finished. It is finished by Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. You are to look back to the cross and rest in the work done for you. Isaiah 53: 4-7, speaks of His work on the Cross.
The Words of Scripture points back to the Work of Christ: His Death, Burial, and Resurrection.
Romans 4:24-5:1 Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised. up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Consider the time of His death: more than two thousand years ago. It is a work that has already been done, 2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Consider the words of scripture: Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Already done!
Eph. 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Already made!
Col_1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Already made peace!
Col_2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Already nailed to His Cross!
What is the point? Christ did everything necessary for you to be saved! You are to believe what He did for you as your Saviour, Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
What is the Culture and Spiritual Condition in the Last Days of the Church Age
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
When Paul wrote of the last days, he was always speaking of the last days of the Body of Christ, this present day coming to an end. Reading these verses are like reading the newspaper of today. This is an age characterized by selfishness and love of material things, an age of gadgets. The word here used - f?´?a?t?? philautos - does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It means man lives only for his self. And that selfishness plays out in our lack of Worship :
- Church Attendance is in decline.
- Self-interest is put ahead of Christ.
It is not so much of perilous times because of outward dangers, or lack of provision, or lack material things but because of an inward turning from the LORD.
- No longer is there the respect of the LORD's Word.
- There was a time when families built their home around the Church House but not any longer.
- The study of God's Word is not a priority now.
- People find it difficult to spent one hour in worshipping the Saviour.
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. This is a day of religion but there is no power. When He said "Be filled with the Spirit" He was saying be filled with His power. Eph. 4:30, Eph. 3:20.
The Tribulation
This age, age of the Grace of God, will end with the rapture of the of the Church. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18, 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Then comes the Day of the LORD, the Tribulation, 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-3, e.g 1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. "They" are the people left behind in the rapture
A time of great suffering, death, and destruction
Do we realize how awful to be left behind and go through this time? I don't think we do! Nor do we realize how awful for one to die without Christ! In this scripture, we (the Body of Christ) are warned about sleepwalking through our daily life, 2 Thess. 5: 4-11, e.g. 1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.; 1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Just a glimpse into the Seven (7) years of Tribulation
Did you know that two-thirds of Israel will die in the tribulation? Zachariah 13:8-9 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Did you know that by the time of Rev. 6:7-8 that one-fourth of mankind will be killed? Rev 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. How many people? You can do the math. I think the estimated count is 7.6 billion people in the world at 1/01/2018. That is 1.9 billion people killed by the mid-point of the Tribulation.
Did you know by the end of the Tribulation there will be greater death and destruction?
It is time for God's final judgment : Rev 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to
reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. Rev 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. Go to Isaiah 63: 2-6, The grapes must be crushed - used symbolically of God bringing all the armies that are left in the world to the valleys of Israel.
Rev 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev 14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (That is approx. 200 miles)
The LORD brings all these armies into the valleys of Israel, look at Rev 16:21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. ( A talent = 100 pounds)
With the melting of all the ice, there would be a lot of water, a river mingled with water and blood.
But We Are Living In The Time Of Grace, The Church Age The Time Of The Body Of Church
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Now is the time to believe in the death, burial and resurrection for eternal, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This is the time you can come to faith in Christ and have eternal Life, Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Also, it is the time to serve Christ our Saviour, Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
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