Living In Light Of The Rapture

Sunday Service

Living in Light of the Rapture

Selected Scriptures

THEME: "In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye." In 1 Corinthians 15:52, this is how Paul describes the Biblically prophesied, future event when Christ comes back for His church. Christ came the first time as the spotless Lamb to be sacrificed for the sins of those who would believe, but this time He comes to rescue His church from the coming tribulation. In this mornin's message, Pastor Stire examines FOUR ASPECTS of the rapture that indicate how we are to live in light of Christ's return.

1. Rapture Particulars

   A. The Event (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

   B. The Participants (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

   C. The Results (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corithians 15:52; 1 John 3:2)

   D. The Time (1 Thessalonians 4:17; James 5:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:7)

2. Rapture Positions

   A. Posttribulation

   B. Midtribulation

   C. Pretribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Revelation 3:10)

3. Rapture Preference

   A. The immenance of Christ's return (James 5:7-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10 vs. Matthew 24:15 and Luke 21:11)

   B. Israel and the church are two distinct groups (Daniel 9:24-27; Zechariah 12:10-13:1; 14:1-5; Romans 11:25-28; Revelation 7:4-14)

   C. The Church is promised deliverance from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 5:9; Revelation 3:10)

   D. Substantial differences between rapture and second coming passages (Hebrews 9:28 vs. Revelation 19:15; John 14:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 vs. Matthew 24:36-51; 25:31-46; Revelation 19:21)

   E. The Church is unmentioned in Revelation 6-18.

4. Rapture Perspective

   A. Prayer (1 Peter 4:7)

   B. Comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18; Titus 2:13)

   C. Evangelism (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

   D. Purity (Hebrews 10:23-25; Colossians 3:1-5; 1 John 3:2-3)

Is there anything in your life right now that you would be ashamed for Christ to return home and find? What are you going to do about it?