Is This the End of the World? The Rapture Two questions you will get about the end times, while others think of them as the same question, they are not the same events. 1. Are we living in the last days? 2. Are we living in the end times? (End of Everything) The answer to question number 1 is yes, we are living in the last days. The answer to question number 2 is no, we are not living in the last days. Today the following four questions will be answered concerning The Last Days:
When did the Last Days begin? The last days begin after Jesus left Earth for Heaven. Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. When does the Last Days End? The end of the “Last Days” is the Rapture of the Church. 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. 1Thessalonians 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. Why is there a Rapture? There are two reasons for the Rapture. 1. The seventieth week of Daniel 9 (The Tribulation) is not for the Church, but for Israel. Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 2. God Promises the Church that it will not face the wrath to 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. Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 1Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, When does the Rapture happen? No one knows when the Rapture will happen. There are no prophecy that need to happen first and there are no signs to look for. Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 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. Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Conclusion: We are living in the Last Days and we do not know when these days will end. The Bible instructs how to live in the Last Days Matthew 24:43-46 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. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Are you ready for His coming? What is the Heart of Your Nation? A Nation with a Distant Heart: There are nations that speak of honoring God, praying to God, and even may put “In God We Trust” on its money, but the very Heart of that nation is far from God. A matter of fact all they know of God is based upon what mankind thinks about God. The morals of that nation is not according to God’s Word, but on the commandments of men. The real God of that nation is the wisdom of men. Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: A Nation with a Vain Heart: There nations that are full of violence, hatred, and deception. A nation with no justice or peace. A nation that trusts in their riches or their military might and not in God. This nation’s strength is in vain and their hope is in vain. (Worthless) Isaiah 59:2-4 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. Isaiah 59:8-10 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. A Nation with an Oppressor Heart: A nation that abuses its power to crush people. A nation that places unnecessary burdens on people to keep those people from thriving. Some kill, torture, or outlaw others to end their existence. A nation where you have two sets of rules, one for those in power and different rules for those who are not. This nation will oppress their people because of discrimination, poverty, or political difference. Proverbs 28:15-16 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. Proverbs 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: A Nation with a Wicked Heart: An Ungodly nation that does not even think about God. Their moral compass is based upon their own selfish purposes. Killing, every sexual perversion, and deceitfulness for finical gain are accepted and encouraged. A nation with a wicked heart is in continual turmoil and peace is only a dream. Read Isaiah chapters 56-57 Psalm 9:16 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Genesis 6:5 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. Proverbs 16:12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. A Nation with a Godly Heart: A nation that is not perfect, but the very core of that nation is a people who follow God and his ways. A nation were the majority of its people and leaders who trust and submit to God and Godly morals. That nation is blessed and protected by God. Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. What is the Christian responsibility for their nation? Matthew 28: 19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. |
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