Sunday, April 30, 2017

Comfort One Another With These Words: The Rapture - What Does It Mean?

One of the most awesome things that happened to me when I first became a believer in Christ was learning that I no longer needed to afraid of dying. Since middle childhood (7 or 8) I was so scared. So many questions about the after life and all the between part. I discovered that we can not earn salvation by any good works or anything we do. My heart wanted to know the absolute Truth about life and the meaning of it. It took a long time, but one day the blinds opened and the light bulb went on. At first I didn't have assurance about Heaven because every time I sinned, I felt so yucky and guilty that every opportunity on television or a meeting, I would invite Jesus into my heart repeatedly. That was until God blessed me by sending a godly Christian woman. She boldly came up to me in church (as if she knew) and asked "If you died today or tonight, do you know if you would go to Heaven?" My answer was an instant, "No!" She then told me she was having a new believers Bible study, would I like to join. It was where I learned the basic foundational doctrines about Christianity. Death lost it's sting.

[1Co 15:49-57 KJV] 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? 56  The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. 57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Jhn 14:2-4 KJV] 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. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

The Rapture?
This leads right into this question: Ever see the movie or read the "Left Behind," book series? The basic focus is an event known as "the Rapture," occurs for all Christian Believers and those who are not, are left behind. Some Christians will say the word "Rapture," is not in the Bible and they would Harpazo." Click here to see the definition breakdown. The one that best sums it up is, "to snatch out or away."
be correct. It is a word that has been used to describe an event mentioned more than a few times in God's Word. Instead of trying to explain it in my own words, the best place is to go the source to see what God says about this rapturous event yet to come.  But first, I do want to say that the word best known in the original Greek from the New Testament, that is about the "rapture," is "
As well click here, for an article about the Rapture, with a lot of verses best explaining the hope we are to comfort one another with.

[1Th 4:13-18 KJV] 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. 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.


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