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Sermon Outline


John 14:1–3

One of the big questions people have had from the beginning of the New Testament is, “When is Jesus going to return?”

Phase 1: The Rapture or “catching away” of the followers of Christ.
Phase 2: ”The Revelation of Christ” In this phase, Jesus reveals Himself to the world.

Jude 14-16

Revelation 19:11–16

At this point:
A. Jesus will reveal Himself to the world.
B. Jesus will present His saints.
C. Jesus will judge His enemies.
D. Jesus will begin His rule, known as the Millennium.

Between the Rapture of the Church and the Revelation of Christ is a time called the Tribulation.

The question remains, “When does the Rapture of the Church take place in the course of these events?”

Three common views:
1. The pre-Tribulation Rapture
2. The mid-Tribulation Rapture
3. The post-Tribulation Rapture

Another view is that only an elite set of Christians, “the overcomers,” will be taken in the Rapture.

1 John 5:4–5

We are overcomers by the work of Jesus, not by our merit.

As a doctrinal stand, we teach a pre-Tribulation Rapture. We have several reasons for this.

I. Believers are appointed not to wrath, but to salvation.

There are three kinds of wrath:
1. The wrath of Satan
2. The wrath of men and women who oppose God
3. The wrath of God

The believer has always had to endure and overcome the wrath of Satan and people.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–11

Salvation delivers us from the wrath of God.

Ephesians 2:1–7

Romans 5:9

II. God has promised protection for believers during the “hour of trial.”

John 17:15

Remember, the Tribulation is an expression of God’s wrath, not Satan’s wrath.

Revelation 3:10–11

We believe we will miss this time of trial because we won’t be here.

III. Revelation 6-18 does not mention the Church.

The absence of any mention of the Church seems odd during such dramatic events, unless the Church is absent.

Mark 13:32–33

 

 

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