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Looking for the Blessed Hope & Glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ...Titus 2:13

There is one great event in the Bible which is denigrated by all false teachers "having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof". The reason for this is that if you simply believe the description of this cataclysmic, world changing event as it is presented in the Bible you would, by necessity, not be able to accept most of the false doctrine they teach. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2nd Timothy 2:15

I think simply based on personal experience that the least understood doctrine in the Bible is the 2nd return of Jesus Christ. The literal, physical return of our Lord and Saviour is usually referred to in theological circles as the 2nd Advent.

The 2nd Advent is a pivotal concept in understanding prophetic time lines. For example, when do specific judgments occur on the time line? There are at least 7 judgments enumerated in Scripture, of which five determine the placement of the greatest prophetic events including the rapture.

The five judgments which must be considered to arrange the chronology of the prophetic time line are these:

• 5 Great Judgments
• 1 The Judgment Seat of Christ
• 2 The Great Tribulation
• 3 The Battle of Armageddon
• 4 The Judgment of Nations
• 5 The Great White Throne

I am sure there are those who will take issue with me regarding items 2 and 3. However, a judgment is not always the presence of God on his throne with the offenders quaking in front of Him. Sometimes it is the punishment meted out swiftly without another warning (note Another Warning). Consider what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah as well as what happens at Armageddon. Blasphemers, scoffers, mockers, cowards and other infidels have had many warnings and signs in the last 50 years alone; but that is another study.

The return of Christ, known as the 2nd advent and the rapture are 2 separate events separated by a period of at least 7 years. The first event is what we Christians call the rapture and for us it will not be "cataclysmic", but for the rest of the world in general it certainly will be. When this prophecy is fulfilled, the world will be in chaos. Everything familiar to those left behind will be changed in a moment of time and people will be looking for answers. Enter the AntiChrist with false answers. Let's examine this marvelous event in the light of the Holy Scriptures and see what can be concluded.

For our 1st scripture reference we will examine 1 Corinthians 15:51,52. Remembering that a favorite trick of false teachers is taking verses out of context, let us consider the context carefully. Chapter 15 is about the death of believers and the hope they have as children of God. This chapter discusses "natural bodies" (the one you have now) and "celestial bodies" (the ones waiting for born again believers). You really should read the entire chapter for yourself, but the referenced scriptures are in the column to your right.

In the context of the death of believers, Paul writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that we shall not ALL sleep, but we shall ALL be changed. Most emphatically, the context is all believers shall be changed; not every person. Further, this change takes place "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye".

Paul goes to great lengths in this chapter to point out that this transformation applies to our earthly, physical bodies. He patiently explains the difference between our natural bodies and our celestial bodies, comparing the burial of a believer to planting a grain of wheat or other grain.

Note the contrasting descriptions in verses 42, 43 and 44:
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Again to your right notice the scriptures from I Thessalonians chapter 4. The text is very clear. The doctrine of the rapture is scattered throughout the Bible; notice to your left the verses from Psalm 50. If anyone says they don't understand these verses it raises serious doubts about their integrity; at best such a person is lacking basic intelligence. At worst, these are false prophets who are deliberately deceiving and being deceived. If you follow the blind, you are choosing spiritual blindness for yourself.

There is more (much more) evidence for the rapture in the Holy Scriptures and the truth is easily discerned with the leadership of the Holy Spirit. None of the information I make available on this site is new. Our forefathers knew and taught these fundamental Biblical principles. For many of you, your parents and grandparents told you these things. They probably also warned you that in the last days there would be mockers and scoffers saying, "Where is the promise of HIS coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were since the beginning of the creation."

Remember the words of Jesus: "In an hour when you think not, the Son of Man Cometh." Glory to God! Even so come Lord Jesus.

Critics of God's Word may pervert these scriptures but it is impossible to misunderstand them if you simply read and believe the Bible.

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Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.