Raptures and Ascensions in the bible with rapture presentation

Here is a study of situations where folks are translated, raptured, ascended to heaven and in one case(Korah and the rebels with him) to hell in the bible, followed with a presentation of the rapture, in the hopes that people will be made ready for this soon to come event.

The first one in this study is Enoch in Genesis chapter 5 as he was righteous and believed

(Genesis 5:21)  And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

(Genesis 5:22)  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

(Genesis 5:23)  And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

(Genesis 5:24)  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

This also is spoken of in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 5

(Hebrews 11:5)  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Here is the one good example of an evil rapture of sorts in Numbers chapter 16, where Korah and his followers were swallowed up by the earth and as some old translations put it went alive to hell, or the pit, which is in effect a rapture to hell. In this case all their possessions went with them, too. God judged them for their rebellion against Moses.

(Num bers 16:24)  Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

(Num bers 16:25)  And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

(Num bers 16:26)  And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

(Num bers 16:27)  So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

(Num bers 16:28)  And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

(Num bers 16:29)  If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.

(Num bers 16:30)  But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

(Num bers 16:31)  And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

(Num bers 16:32)  And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

(Num bers 16:33)  They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

(Num bers 16:34)  And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

Here is the story of the taking up, translation, ascension of Elijah into heaven, by chariot in 2 Kings chapter 2

(2 Kings 2:1)  And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

(2 Kings 2:2)  And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

(2 Kings 2:3)  And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

(2 Kings 2:4)  And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

(2 Kings 2:5)  And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

(2 Kings 2:6)  And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

(2 Kings 2:7)  And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

(2 Kings 2:8)  And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

(2 Kings 2:9)  And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

(2 Kings 2:10)  And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

(2 Kings 2:11)  And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

(2 Kings 2:12)  And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

(2 Kings 2:13)  He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

(2 Kings 2:14)  And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

(2 Kings 2:15)  And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

(2 Kings 2:16)  And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

(2Ki 2:17)  And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

(2 Kings 2:18)  And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

In Acts chapter 1 Jesus own ascension is then related in the first 11 verses including His commands for the apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit and then go out and preach the gospel to all nations

(Acts 1:1)  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

(Acts 1:2)  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

(Acts 1:3)  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

(Acts 1:4)  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

(Acts 1:5)  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

(Acts 1:6)  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

(Acts 1:7)  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

(Acts 1:8)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

(Acts 1:9)  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

(Acts 1:10)  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

(Acts 1:11)  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.

Now I will share some scriptures about the rapture of the church. Matthew chapter 24 has Jesus own description and prophecy about the coming rapture and He warns that nobody will know when but also warns all to be ready for it at any time

(Matthew 24:30)  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

(Matthew 24:31)  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

(Matthew 24:32)  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

(Matthew 24:33)  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

(Matthew 24:34)  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

(Matthew 24:35)  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

(Matthew 24:36)  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

(Matthew 24:37)  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

(Matthew 24:38)  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,

(Matthew 24:39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

(Matthew 24:40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

(Matthew 24:41)  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

(Matthew 24:42)  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

(Matthew 24:43)  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.

(Matthew 24:44)  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

(Matthew 24:45)  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

(Matthew 24:46)  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

(Matthew 24:47)  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

(Matthew 24:48)  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

(Mat 24:49)  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

(Matthew 24:50)  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

(Matthew 24:51)  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Here are twelve more verses of Jesus in Luke chapter 21 where He again warns people to pray and to avoid the cares of the world

(Luke 21:25)  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;

(Luke 21:26)  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.

(Luke 21:27)  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

(Luke 21:28)  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

(Luke 21:29)  And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

(Luke 21:30)  When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

(Luke 21:31)  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

(Luke 21:32)  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

(Luke 21:33)  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

(Luke 21:34)  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

(Luke 21:35)  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

(Luke 21:36)  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 15 Paul then speaks of the rapture in these three verses

(1 Corinthians 15:51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

(1 Corinthians 15:52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

(1 Corinthians 15:53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Paul also speaks of the coming rapture of the church in these verses in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4

(1 Thessalonians 4:13)  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.

(1 Thessalonians 4:14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

(1 Thessalonians 4:15)  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.

(1 Thessalonians 4:16)  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:

(1 Thessalonians 4:17)  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.

(1 Thessalonians 4:18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The first two verses of Revelation chapter 4 also speak of the rapture as John is taken up to see things

(Revelation 4:1)  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

(Revelation 4:2)  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

I believe too that the angels spoken of praising the Lord in Revelation 5 are indeed the raptured church en masse

(Revelation 5:11)  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

(Revelation 5:12)  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

(Revelation 5:13)  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

(Revelation 5:14)  And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

In Revelation chapter 11 is the story of the two witnesses and how they will be killed but ascend to heaven three days later after the manner of Jesus also ascended to heaven after He died for our sins, except these two are immediately taken up where Jesus spent time on the earth.

(Revelation 11:3)  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

(Revelation 11:4)  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

(Revelation 11:5)  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

(Revelation 11:6)  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

(Revelation 11:7)  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

(Revelation 11:8)  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

(Revelation 11:9)  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

(Revelation 11:10)  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

(Revelation 11:11)  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

(Revelation 11:12)  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

(Revelation 11:13)  And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

In Revelation chapter 14 are two reapings of things- one good and the other for wrath

(Revelation 14:13)  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

(Revelation 14:14)  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

(Revelation 14:15)  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

(Revelation 14:16)  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

(Revelation 14:17)  And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

(Revelation 14:18)  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

(Rev 14:19)  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

(Revelation 14:20)  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Lastly is the harvest of the dead for the great white throne judgment in Revelation chapter 20, where all the unsaved dead are then pulled to heaven but only to be cast into the lake of fire- please do NOT be one of these and get to know Jesus today if you don’t already.

(Revelation 20:11)  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

(Revelation 20:12)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

(Revelation 20:13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

(Revelation 20:14)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

(Revelation 20:15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Lastly here is a powerful teaching and presentation containing powerful information on the coming rapture. Please prayerfully read all of this information for I do not want anyone to miss the rapture and face the tribulation period. The site owner freely gives permission to share this, which is what I am doing now. God bless

ARE ALL CHRISTIANS GOING IN THE RAPTURE???

ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE READY???

This seems to be one of the hot topics on 5 Doves recently, so I feel it is time that I forward one of my tracts that I wrote about 12 years ago, with several hundred thousand in circulation. For those of you who believe that ALL Christians will be taken in the Rapture, I hope and pray that you are right. On the other hand, if one believes that way, and feels no need to change his backslidden, lukewarm, compromising, unwatchful, worldly, or fence-straddling ways, WOE BE UNTO HIM, if he suddenly finds the Rapture happened and he was left behind.


Isn't it much safer to get as close to the Lord as we can in these VERY LAST DAYS? Is there any negative in doing that??? It is much safer and wiser to believe that all Christians are NOT going in the Rapture. Not only safer and wiser, but I believe MORE SCRIPTURAL, also. Following is the tract that I wrote:


Are All Christians going in the Rapture? If, at some point in your life, you have asked Jesus Christ into your life to become your personal Lord and Saviour, does this GUARANTEE that you are going in the Rapture? All signs point to the END OF THE AGE VERY SOON, SO THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION YOU COULD ASK YOURSELF IS, "AM I READY FOR THE RAPTURE?"



Before we go any further, let's clarify what the RAPTURE is. I Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, "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 will 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."



The Rapture is the GREAT ESCAPE from the horrendous Tribulation period that is SOON to come on ALL THE WORLD! It is for a body of born-again believers in Jesus Christ. The question is IS THE RAPTURE FOR ALL CHRISTIANS?



It is probably safe to say that a majority of Chlristians reading this tract would say "YES". We are NOT addressing the issue of salvation, or "once saved, always saved," or "eternal security". For those of you who answered "Yes", CAN YOU FIND EVEN ONE SCRIPTURE THAT GUARANTEES THAT ALL CHRISTIANS ARE GOING IN THE RAPTURE? Scripture points to the fact that all will NOT be making it to the rapture.



Just because you have always believed something, or your Pastor believes it, or your church teaches it, DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE! IT MUST BE BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD! It is our fervent desire that ALL CHRISTIANS are going in the Rapture. If ALL CHRISTIANS are going in the Rapture, we have lost nothing by drawing closer to the Lord to prepare for His Soon Return. If, on the other hand, we have a false sense of security regarding our readiness for the Rapture, and we ignore the Lord's warnings to GET OUR HEARTS RIGHT WITH HIM BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, we have a TREMENDOUS amount to lose. Just read the Book of Revelation!



"Lord, your Word is awesome. Lord, your Word is powerful. Lord, your Word is sharper than any two-edged sword. Lord, use the convicting power of the word of the Living God and the convicting power of your mighty Holy Spirit to reveal to every one of us the Truth from your Word. If the message of this tract is not true, then cause it to have no effect on the hearts of those reading it. If, however, the message from your Word IS true, we ask you to release an outpouring of your Holy Spirit on Christians everywhere. For those who are not spiritually ready, cut to the very bottom of their heart and REMOVE THAT FALSE SENSE OF SECUITTY IN THE NAME OF JESUS! AMEN."



Your opinion, and my opinion, do not matter. What you have been taught does not matter. WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? This is ALL that really matters. The remainder of this tract will be WARNINGS DIRECTLY FROM THE WORD OF GOD CONCERNING YOUR READINESS FOR THE RAPTURE! (If YOU are ready, that's wonderful, but how about your family, your friends, and those who sit in the church pews around you?)



In Luke 21, the whole chapter is discussing the End of the Age and the Second Coming of Christ. In verses 34-36, JESUS GIVES AN OMINOUS WARNING TO ALL CHRISTIANS, "and TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES, lest at any time YOUR HEARTS be over-charged with surfeiting (partying), and drunkenness, AND CARES OF THIS LIFE, and so THAT DAY COME UPON YOU UNAWARES. For as a snare (trap) shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. WATCH YE, therefore, AND PRAY ALWAYS, THAT YE MAY BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man (Jesus)."



If ALL Christians were going to take part in this GREAT ESCAPE, WHY WOULD JESUS GIVE SUCH A STERN AND OMINOUS WARNING TO THE END-TIME CHRISTIAN??? This is DEFINITELY a very PERSONAL WARNING for each of us. The subject matter can be nothing but the Tribulation hour and the Rapture. Jesus says to pray always. Surely, Jesus knows that a non-Christian cannot be in an attitude of constant prayer. Surely, non-Christians are not expected to be LOOKING FOR THAT DAY and WATCHING for signs of His Soon Return.



Jesus is continuously talking to HIS FOLLOWERS throughout this chapter. Jesus says to TAKE HEED TO YOURSELF, He is addressing YOUR HEART and He is constantly personalizing this message to YOU, to YE, THE CHRISTIAN! ARE YOU LISTENING? ARE YOU READY???



What can we do, as Christians, to be found WORTHY of the Lord's GREAT ESCAPE, THE RAPTURE? Jesus tells us to be in a constant attitude of prayer. Become so close to the Lord that you can talk with Him about anything. Pray that the Lord would reveal to YOU anything in your life that might keep you from being ready for the Rapture. Then you need to act upon that which the Lord shows you to do.



In this passage, the Lord strongly encourages us to be WATCHING for the SIGNS of His Soon Return, so that we would not be UNAWARE of the approximate time of His Return. Jesus said we could KNOW when His Return was NEAR, EVEN AT THE DOORS! ALL SIGNS NOW CONFIRM TO US THAT HIS COMING IS AT THE DOOR!!!



If you do not have this firm conviction in your heart that our Lord's Return is AT THE DOOR, it is probably because you have not been WATCHING for signs as He continuously admonishes us to do over and over again in the New Testament (Read Mark 13 and 14). Are the CARES OF THIS LIFE your priority, or do you so much look forward to His Return that YOU LOVE HIS APPEARING (II Timothy 4:8) more than the things of this life?

(2 Timothy 4:8)  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

The CARES OF THIS LIFE (Luke 21:34) are what cause us to become "worldly" Christians, or "backslidden" Christians, or "lukewarm" Christians. Luke 21:34-36 (Go back and read it again) strongly implies that these types of Christians ARE NOT READY FOR THE RAPTURE!!!
(Luke 21:34)  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

(Luke 21:35)  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

(Luke 21:36)  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

In Revelation, starting with Chapter 6, the horrible judgments of the Tribulation are poured out on an unsuspecting world. In Chapters 1-3, there are several WARNINGS TO THE CHRISTIANS IN THE LAST DAYS, WARNINGS BEFORE THE RAPTURE AND THE TRIBULATION IN CHAPTERS 6-19.



The constant theme of Revelation, Chapter 2, is the NEED OF THE END-TIME CHRISTIAN TO REPENT! Rev. 2: 4-5 says, "I have somewhat against thee, because THOU HAS LEFT THY FIRST LOVE. Remember, therefore, from whence thou are fallen, AND REPENT, and do the first works; or else I WILL COME UNTO THEE QUICKLY, AND WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK OUT OF HIS PLACE, EXCEPT THOU REPENT."



If you HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE you are a "backslidden" Christian. You need to REPENT and restore your relationship with Christ back to what it should be. Is the Lord speaking to YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW?



Rev. 3:10 says, "Because thou has 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." The implication of this verse is obvious: If the end-time Christian does NOT stay close to the Lord and endure to the end, HE WILL NOT BE KEPT FROM THE TRIBULATION HOUR!



Rev. 3: 15-16 is ANOTHER OMINOUS WARNING TO ALL CHRISTIANS, "I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then BECAUSE THOU ART LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOT HOT, I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH."



Can you honestly give another explanation for this verse, other than the LORD CASTING LUKEWARM CHRISTIANS OUT INTO THE TRIBULATION? What are YOU doing that would show the Lord that you are ON FIRE for Him? These verses say emphatically that their WORKS WERE LUKEWARM.



What happens to the unwatchful SERVANT who believes his LORD is not coming back for a while and is not that concerned about the way he is living his life? Matthew 24: 50-51 says, "the LORD of that SERVANT...shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (The Tribulation Hour?)." In Matthew 25:30, we see the exact same result for the unprofitable SERVANT. In both cases, there is A LORD--SERVANT RELATIONSHIP ALREADY ESTABLISHED. ARE ALL CHRISTIANS GOING IN THE RAPTURE? WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY???



This world is full of LUKEWARM, BACKSLIDDEN, UNWATCHFUL, AND WORLDLY Christians. In Rev. 7:9, we see a GREAT MULTITUDE, that no man could number, standing before the Lamb of God in Heaven. Verse 14 describes them, "These are they which came OUT OF GREAT TRIBULATION, AND HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." In Chapter 20, it says they were beheaded for not taking the Mark of the Beast.



This great multitude of people already had robes. Your Robe of righteousness is given to you at the time of your salvation. They were already saved but their ROBES WERE DIRTY. These COMPROMISING Christians were caught up in the CARES OF THE WORLD when the Rapture happened and they were cast into the Tribulation hour like the Scriptures had warned them about so many times. They WASHED THEIR DIRTY ROBES in the Great Tribulation because there is no compromise then---IT'S EITHER JESUS CHRIST (and lose your head) OR ANTICHRIST (and lose your soul FOREVER)!!!



Do you really want to have to face that choice? It is clear from God's Word what you must do to be assured of a place in the Rapture. YOU MUST ACT QUICKLY BECAUSE THE TIME FOR THE RAPTURE IS ALMOST HERE!



1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Saviour. If you do find you need Him to be your personal Lord and Saviour please pray the following prayer with me. There is nothing that can compare with a relationship with God or even come remotely close

Heavenly Father I come to You in the Name of Jesus. I confess to You that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I confess and repent of all of my sins and unrighteousness. Right now I confess with my mouth Jesus as the Lord of my life and believe in my heart that You, God did indeed raise Him from the dead. I thank You for cleansing and forgiving me of all of my sins and unrighteousness and for saving me. I thank You for sending Your Son to die in my place for my sins, and for the inexpressible gift of eternal life that I now claim through the death of Jesus on the cross. Thank You, Lord, again for saving me. In the Name of Jesus I pray Amen

2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.



3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus). Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian. Feel free to use the following prayer, praying it with me

Heavenly Father I confess these sins(list them) to You and say I am sorry I did these things, doing so by faith thanking You for Your promise in Your word that when we confess our sins You are faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank You for forgiving all my sins and breaking all demonic oppressions, bondages, and strongholds behind them and deliverance from temptation. In Jesus Name I pray Amen



4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR. This will help keep you from temptation and sin. JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! The book of Revelation, Matthew 24, 25, Mark 13, Luke 12, 17, 21 are good places to start.



5. Do something for the Lord. (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)



6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.



7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)



8. PRAY DILIGENTLY. ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE. PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.



9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.



10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!



If the Lord has planted the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:



"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come. It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready.

Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return. Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture. Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do. Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day. Use me in whatever way you can to help others who may not be ready for your Return. Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen."

The words of the Lord that He would leave with you in these last days before His Return, "REMEMBER THEREFORE, HOW THOU HAST RECEIVED AND HEARD, AND HOLD FAST, AND REPENT. IF THEREFORE, THOW SHALT NOT WATCH, I WILL COME ON THEE AS A THIEF, AND THOU SHALT NOT KNOW WHAT HOUR I WILL COME UPON THEE." (Revelation 3:3)



Feel free to make copies of this tract or forward it to your backslidden, lukewarm, compromising, unwatchful, and worldly family members and friends. Do not delay. Time is short. What we do, we must do quickly now.



Maranatha!

God bless you and yours