Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…This is a wonderful subject to write about because this is the reward all Christians have been waiting for with GREAT anticipation! This is why we have stood strong in the face of trials and tribulations. This is the fulfillment of the promise that we who are in Christ will spend eternity with God, Jesus, and all other Christians in Paradise. For us, this is a time of reward (not judgement) for our good and faithful service. But for the unbelievers (those whose names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life), it will be a time of horrific anguish.
When Jesus left this earth, these verses from the Book of Acts, 1:-9-11, describe the scene. “…He was taken up into the sky while they were watching, and He disappeared into a cloud. As they were straining their eyes to see Him, two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away into heaven. And someday, just as you saw Him go, He will return.”
When Jesus comes to gather his Elect, it will be an event of spectacular proportions; it will be unlike anything previously witnessed. I will give the account from the Book of Matthew 24:27,29-31. However, Mark, and Luke have also recorded this event, and these three accounts are in perfect harmony with each other with specific details. (Also notice the contrast of joy for the Believers, and the fear and anguish of the unbelievers). “For as the lightening lights up the entire sky, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. Immediately after the Great Tribulation, the sun will be darkened; the moon will not give light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then, at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, but there will be deep mourning among the nations of the earth. (among the unbelievers) They will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together His chosen ones from the furthest ends of the earth and heaven.” (first, those who are in the grave, and then those who are still alive at this time) They will join Jesus in the clouds “and will remain with Him forever.” (1Thessalonians 4:17)
I wrote the previous paragraph to point out a common error in thinking. What I described above is the Rapture. This comes at the end of the Great Tribulation and before the wrath of God. Notice that the Elect (Believers) who are gathered at this time, both from the grave and those who are still living on the earth, meet Jesus in the clouds. Jesus does not come to the earth. The Rapture is not the second coming of Jesus Christ.
At the first coming of Jesus, He came as our Savior, a lamb, a sacrificial lamb to pay the ransom for our Sin. The second coming of Jesus will be quite different. He will come as a Victor, our Conqueror and our King. He is coming to execute judgement. In Revelation 19:11-21, Apostle John describes this scene.
“I saw heaven open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice, He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood (His blood) and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down nations. He will rule with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress with the fierce wrath of God almighty. On His robe and on His thigh, He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: ‘Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared. Come and eat the flesh of kings, captains, and strong warriors, of horses and their riders, and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great.’
Then I saw the beast gathering the kings of the earth and their armies in order to fight against the One sitting on the horse and His army. And the beast (anti-Christ) was captured, and with him the false prophet (man of lawlessness) who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast – miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And all the vultures of the sky gorged themselves on the dead bodies.”
This next section is often referred to as The Millennium, Revelation 20:1-6 Again Apostle John describes the event: “Then I saw an angel come down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon (satan) and bound him in chains for a thousand years so he could not deceive nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he would be released again for a little while.
Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus, for proclaiming the Word of God. And I saw the souls of those who had not worshiped the beast or his statue, not accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life again and worshiped with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. (Believers only) The second resurrection of the dead does not happen until the thousand years has ended. (That resurrection is judgement for the unbelievers.) But blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. They will be priests of God and Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
At the end of the Millennium, satan is released for a short while to go out and deceive nations once more. He gathered together an army as numerous as sand on a seashore. The armies surrounded God’s people and His beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them all…all except satan. His final judgement came as he was “thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20: 7-10)
Then will come the second resurrection of the dead. This time it will be for everyone who has not been declared righteous (from Old Testament days), or those whose name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life. All will stand in judgement according to their deeds, and then they will be thrown into the lake of fire with their god, satan. That’s what they chose; that’s what they will receive for eternity.
Apostle John’s final description tells us where we will spend eternity. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and old earth had disappeared. I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them forever! He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or suffering or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:1-4)
Wow! Can you imagine? Now we will all know the answer to the mystery presented in 1 Corinthians 1:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can imagine what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
I will end this series next week with a powerful presentation of the Gospel of Grace, and why that is THE only answer for eternal life in Paradise with God, Jesus and all other Christians.
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May God Bless You Abundantly
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
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