The certainty of the imminent rapture. Be ready.

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The certainty of the imminent rapture. Be ready.

2 Timothy  2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

One undeniable proof that the imminent rapture is certain, was the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Two group of people shall partake in the imminent rapture.

1. The dead in Christ.

2. The living saints.

1 Thessalonians  4:13 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.  4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  4:15 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.  4:16 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:

 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.

Jesus Christ our Lord represented the dead in Christ, that shall rise first.

1 Thessalonians  4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

2 Timothy  2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Enoch and Elijah represented the living saints.

Enoch

Genesis  5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:  5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:  5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God 

Elijah.

2 Kings  2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.  2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.  2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

So when Paul by inspiration exhorted Timothy to remember that our Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead according to the gospel, he was actually exhorting him, about the certainty of the imminent rapture.

2 Timothy  2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

The Bible affirms that, the first resurrection or the resurrection of the dead was actually a revelation about the imminent rapture.

Revelation  20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.  20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

God’s Word teaches: that the Resurrection of the dead is taught in the Bible as clearly as the immortality of the soul.

 Every individual who has ever lived will be resurrected, some to honour and glory and others to everlasting shame and contempt – 

Job  19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:  19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:  19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Daniel  12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

John  5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

1 Thessalonians  4:13 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.  4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  4:15 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.  4:16 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:

So because the imminent rapture is established in the scriptures to be certain, then as a Bible believing believer, you must endeavor to be ready for this event.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, exhorted His faithful followers of all ages to be ready always.

Matthew  24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Matthew  25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The blessed Holy Spirit did same.

1 Thessalonians  5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  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.  5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  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.  5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

To be ready:

1. You must be biblically saved.

2 Corinthians  5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2. You must be a member of a glorious Church, sanctified and walking in daily biblical holiness.

Ephesians  5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  5:27 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.

Luke  1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

3. You must have your name written and not deleted from the book of life.

Philippians  4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Sin can remove the name from the book of life.

Exodus  32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

But overcoming sin will keep it there.

Revelation  3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

4. You must continue to live by the totality of God’s eternal , infallible, immutable and unchanging words in the Bible till Jesus comes.

Revelation  2:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Revelation  3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

5. You must continue to purify yourself till He comes.

1 John  3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

6. You must have done your Restitutions.

Ecclesiastes  3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Acts  24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

7. You must be labouring to get others prepared for the coming of the Lord.

Luke  19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Jude  1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:  1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

James  5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

God’s grace is sufficient for you to do all of these till Christ comes.

2 Corinthians  9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Let us pray.