The Rapture

A. Three Questions

The disciples of Jesus asked Him three questions
about the end times. (Matthew 24:3)

1. When will these things be?
   
   
2. What will be the sign of thy coming?
   
   
3. When will be the end of the world?
   
   

The answer that Jesus gave.
(Matthew 24:36-42)

1. No man knoweth when your Lord doth come.
   
   Matthew 24:36-42
   But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
   
   
2. When these signs begin to come to pass, look up.
   
   Luke 21:25-28
   And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
   
   
3. As it was in the days of Noah. Luke 17:26, Genesis 6:1-12
   
   Luke 17:26
   And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
   
   Genesis 6:1-12
   And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
   
   
4. Compare Genesis 6:1-11 with the following:
   
   
   1. Eating and drinking.
      
      Philippians 3:17-19
      Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
      
      There is nothing wrong with eating and drinking. These are a normal part of life, even though some people go to the extreme and make a god of their belly.
      
      But the carnal person is only concerned with feeding his natural body. There is little indication that the people before the flood had any interest in talking to God (Praying) as did Adam, or sacrifice to God as did Abel, or walk with God as did Enoch.
      
      
   2. Marrying and giving in marriage.
      
      Luke 17:26-27
      And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
      
      Marriage is not sinful, nor is it wrong for a man to give his daughter in marriage.
      
      In Genesis 6:1-2 it appears that the godly line had began to become carnal. Their behavior had degenerated to the point that they had become scoffers and doubters. They had forgotten God's judgment on Adam, Eve, and Cain.
      
      
   3. Buying, selling, planting, and building.
      
      Luke 17:26-30
      And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
      
      There is nothing inherently wrong with buying, selling, planting, and building. Humans were developing skills and talents in many areas. Lamech's three sons excelled in making tents, raising cattle, music and industry. They now had music for entertainment. Their simple nomadic lives were becoming sophisticated, materialistic, and corrupt. In Genesis 6:5-13 God said, "I will destroy them with the earth.
      
      
   4. They knew not.
      
      Matthew 24:38-39
      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, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
      
      Life was going on as usual, everyone was engaged in their normal activities, the day before the judgment looked like any other day to them. There was no advance warning on exactly when judgment would come. So shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
      
      
   5. The same extreme wickedness
      
      II Timothy 3:1-7
      This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
      
      II Timothy 3:1-7 clearly describes our generation and declares these characteristics to be signs of the last days. Just as the flood came upon the unsuspecting people in the days of Noah and destroyed all those who did not make themselves right with God, so is the judgment of God coming on the generation of the last days.
      
      
   6. There will be no warning of the exact time of his coming.
      
      Matthew 24:36-37
      But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
      
      

B. The Rapture

1. The Catching Away.
   
   The Rapture is the catching away of that chosen group from all nations of the earth who have been born again. The dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain sahll be caught up together with them in the clouds.
   
   I 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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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.
   
   
2. The Rapture of the Church will happen before the great tribulation.
   
   I Thessalonians 5:9-10
   For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
   
   
3. Those of the Rapture go to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
   
   Revelation 19:7-10
   Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
   
   
4. Noah prepared.
   
   II Peter 3:3-7
   Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
   
   Noah was probably a strange looking character, working for many years on a strange looking vessel and talking about an impending flood. Most likely he was the subject of many jokes and laughter. But when the flood came, Noah, who had obeyed God, was inside the ark floating away while the scoffers and unbelievers were suffering the penalty of their sins.
   
   
5. Are we ready to meet Him if he should come right now?
   
   Is there a longing and an anticipation in our hearts to see our saviour, Jesus Christ? If there isn't, then let us check up on our lives to see if we are fully prepared for that great day.