I know that if you look at the title of, it's on the screen,
these are two concepts that you have heard about in your life.
In fact, they're two of the most prominent Concepts that are
found in some religious affiliations and they are these,
what about the Rapture? And number two, what about the
thousand year reign of Jesus Christ?
May I say, before we begin though, that if Jesus Christ was
not raised from the dead, we have absolutely no hope if Jesus
wasn't raised. The Bible says we are of all men
most miserable because we only have hope in this life.
And if that is the case, we are of all men, most miserable or
pitiable as the new King James renders it.
So we believe in the resurrection.
Absolutely. And we are so thankful that
Jesus was the firstfruits of them that slept and Jesus was
the first resurrected. And we're so thankful that one
day, there will be a resurrection of the Dead if
there were no Not the nothing in the world matters.
The Book of Revelation also speaks in a very figurative, way
about the Eternal relationship of Jesus Christ and his church.
That's often times misunderstood people today in their Zeal, to
understand, all the details of the Book of Revelation have
created a doctrine of the second coming.
That is wrong, and really quite Blasphemous.
And this is known as the doctrine of Premillennialism.
Now this is a huge subject and there's obvious things that I
can't touch on in one sermon, but I want to talk about it from
the aspect of the Rapture and the Thousand-Year Reign.
Have you ever seen those bumper stickers, that you're traveling
behind somebody in a car and there's a bumper sticker and it
said, in the case of the Rapture, this car will be
unoccupied. And really, that's because of
the false teaching, or the false concept of what the Rapture is
going to be. I'm going to talk about what the
Rapture actually is in. Just a minute, in terms of what
is believed today, but this illustration is very false.
It's the false doctrine of premillennialism.
In fact, there are five doctrines of premillennialism
and they are as follows. Number one that there are
prophecies in the Bible that have never been fulfilled.
Number two, the rejection of the Messiah by the Jews.
Number three, the imperfection of the church.
Number four, only the Saints will be raised in the Rapture.
And number 5, the reign of Christ on the earth for a
literal thousand years, I can't touch on every single aspect of
this, but in this lesson, we're going to notice the last two.
We're going to notice this concept of only the Saints being
raised. In the Rapture and we're going
to talk about the reign of Christ for a thousand years.
Now, let me just say, There are four questions I want to ask.
And they really matter. And my goal is at the end of
this lesson, that will be able to in fatica least eight.
With the answers to these questions are based on the word
of God for questions, we want to notice.
Number one, will there be a rapture?
Number two, will there be seven years of tribulation?
Number three will Jesus, establish an Earthly Kingdom
someday when he comes back. And finally number four, will he
Reign on Earth for a literal thousand years?
Before we go into these? Please notice the following
though, premillennialists today misunderstand.
The promise of David's, Throne very much misunderstood in fact
premillennialists, hold that. It's Throne would be literally
established upon the Earth forever the scriptures though
teach otherwise what was the promise regarding David's
Throne? Let's begin in the Old Testament
in second. Samuel chapter 7 beginning there
in verse 12 when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your
father's, I will set up your seed after you who will come
from your body and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name.
Mm. And I will establish the Throne
of his kingdom forever. Now, who's going to be on the
throne? This sound familiar.
We go to Isaiah chapter, 9 and beginning in verse 6.
Who is this for unto us? A child is born.
Unto us a son is given. Now, we understand that is the
prophetic words of verbal prediction that.
Jesus Christ would come into the world for unto us.
A child is born For unto us. A son is given Let's go further
and the government will be upon his shoulder.
And his name will be called, wonderful, counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting father, Prince of Peace of the increase of his
government and peace. There will be no end upon the
throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and to
establish it with judgment and Justice from that time forward,
even forever. The Zeal of the Lord of hosts
will perform This that is Jesus. Let's go to the New Testament in
Luke chapter 1 and beginning. There in verse 32, he will be
great and he will be called the son of the highest and the Lord
God will give him the Throne of his father David.
The first of all, we have to establish the premise.
This is Jesus. And the word of God is
describing Jesus to have a throne, Jesus to have a
government in which he would be over.
Jesus would have a kingdom that he would Reign Over.
All of that is what's being stated when it says, in
figurative language, the Lord, God will give him the Throne of
his father David. Now, the question is this was
this intended to be a promise regarding a literal Throne on
Earth, Was it something that was to be in the future?
In fact, we have concerning the reign of Christ.
The following in Hebrews, chapter 1 and verses 3 & 8, who
being the brightness of his glory and the express image of
his person and upholding All Things by the word of his power.
When he by himself purged, our sins, notice what he did.
He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Sat down, does that sound like something?
It's going to happen in the future on this Earth.
Notice what happens when he had purged our sins, he sat down
we're at the right hand of the Majesty on high but to the Sonny
says your throne o God is for ever and ever.
Let's go to the book of Acts. In Acts chapter 2, beginning in,
verse 30, therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had
sworn with an oath then of the fruit of his body.
According to the flesh, he would do what he would raise up Christ
to sit on his throne. Now raised up Christ.
What does that mean? Raised him from the dead?
God would raise up. Jesus Christ from the dead to
do. What to sit on his throne?
Where's the throne? It's at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 12 and 2 says looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith. Who for the joy that was set
before him, endured the cross despising, the shame and is set
down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
He's on that Throne right now. Another passage though,
Revelation 3:21 notice, what happened behold, I stand at the
door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him.
Him and he with me and him who overcomes I will grant to sit
with me on my Throne as I overcame and sat down with my
father on his throne past tense. Jesus set down, you know there's
many other prophecies that premillennialists complaint
claim that are yet to be fulfilled. and part of this is
because of their misinterpretation of the Book of
Revelation, I don't know why it is but if you talk to people
today, you know, what they want to talk about, let's talk about
Revelation, let's get the book out.
I'm really about Jesus raining, but let's get the book out and
talk about revelation. You know, when people come to me
that I study with, for example, and I'm trying to and they're
not members of the Lord's Church, they're not Christians
yet. They need to learn about Jesus.
They need to learn about the savior.
They need to be, they need to come to Jesus and oftentimes
they want to study the Book of Revelation, and I will say, wait
a minute, we'll do that. But first, we're going to begin
with Jesus. We're going to begin with all
this other stuff and then someday, we'll get to the Book
of Revelation. One of the most misunderstood
Concepts that is found in the religious world.
Old is based upon a misunderstanding of the Book of
Revelation. And by the way, I heard a
preacher say not long ago, he said this he said, you know, the
reason that people sometimes don't understand the Book of
Revelation is because they don't understand the Old Testament.
And many times people look at events that are described in the
Book of Revelation as events that have not happened yet.
But they're going to happen some day in the future.
So what do they do? Oh, look at the signs.
Look at all the things that are happening.
See, even Revelation talked about it, when they're specific
to things that have happened. Happened and have been
fulfilled. Misunderstandings.
One of which, by the way, though, is about the kingdom of
Christ, The Kingdom in John 18:36, Jesus said my kingdom is
not of this world. Now I put this in red and
underlined it and make it bold here for our learning.
My kingdom is not of this world. Now does that sound like
somebody that is going to say that?
I'm going to have a kingdom one day on the earth and I'm going
to be on a literal Earthly Throne.
Not to me. This sounds what it says, the
kingdom is not of this world. Then he said, if my kingdom were
of this world, my servants would fight so that I should not be
delivered to the Jews, but now my kingdom is not from here.
Another one in, Luke chapter, 17 verses 20 and 21.
Now when he was asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of
God would come, he answered them.
And said the kingdom of God does not come with observation nor
will they say, see hear or see their nose?
What Jesus says, for indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.
It's a spiritual Kingdom. Now, I don't have time to go
into all these passages. So I'm going to do this really
quickly. Stay with me.
I'll put them on the screen when another several points did Jesus
failed to set up his kingdom. Let's notice what the Bible
says, first of all, Daniel prophesied it would be in the
days of the Roman Empire. Daniel chapter 2.
And verse 44, John the Baptist. The Forerunner to Jesus said
that the kingdom was at hand and by the way that simply means
this, it was so close. They could see it.
They could touch it. In other words, it was something
that was so close. That the senses could perceive
it something coming really soon. What else?
Jesus, then preach. The kingdom of heaven, was at
hand Matthew 4:17. What else he told?
His disciples to go out and preach that the kingdom was at
hand. Now, we're going back thousands
of years ago and what we find is we find this in the days of the
Roman Empire, John the Baptist said it was at hand.
Jesus said it was at hand. Jesus told the disciples to
preach. It was at hand.
It was coming, it was something that was very close.
Next Jesus said also that the kingdom would come before some
standing around him died. I'm going to tell you if this
promise is not fulfilled, then there's still people living that
were standing there in the very midst of Jesus in the long ago
and it would come with power. What else in Acts chapter 1 and
verse 8. Jesus said that the power would
come when the Holy Spirit came one more and we're going to put
it all together. We find that the Holy Spirit
came and Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost.
Now put it all together in Acts chapter 2 on the day of
Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit came to the
apostles. Jesus said it would all happen.
When the Holy Spirit came the Holy Spirit came there for power
came and when power came the kingdom would come.
That sounds to me like it already happened, don't you?
When power came, the kingdom came.
So did Jesus fail to set up his kingdom, know it is in existence
today and Jesus is the king. Now in Colossians 1:13, what is
the kingdom? Here it is.
We are translated into the kingdom of God's dear son,
that's the church. On the day of Pentecost when the
Holy Spirit came, when power came, the kingdom did come to
and it was established, and Jesus Christ right now is
raining over that Kingdom. So let's talk about this then.
What about the doctrine of the Rapture premillennialists.
Hold that only the Saints would be raised during the Rapture.
Now, what is the rapture? What is it?
What does it actually mean? What are people talking about?
When they say the Rapture, the Rapture.
That's what they're saying. Jesus will come and take the
saved to heaven. Now, I saw a deal.
I think it was on YouTube years ago and it was a picture of what
is believed about the rapture And it showed this Auditorium of
people, I don't know how many people lot of people and then
all of a sudden there was this great big noise.
This great big exploding noise. And the next thing you saw is,
you saw about three quarters of those people.
They were gone from that scene and there was a few that were
left. Do you know why?
Because that is a depict meant of what they believe is going to
happen. The Rapture in other words,
Jesus in his time is going to come Back and bring those to
Heaven that are saved while other people are still living on
the earth. That is the rapture.
What else? It is also believed that there
will be a Great Tribulation for 7 years and by the way, none of
this is in the Bible. The Rapture will happen when
Jesus comes and takes to save to Heaven.
While all others are still here. Number two, there's going to be
a period of seven years of tribulation after that seven
year period. Jesus Christ is going to come
back and he's going to sit on an Earthly throne and Reign on
Earth. And what else, the wicked will
be raised and will not be raised until another time.
Well, First of all, we already established Jesus already on his
throne. He is reigning over his kingdom.
His kingdom has been established.
The kingdom is the church, and if you're a member of the
church, you are in the Kingdom. So what am I saying about the
doctrine of the Rapture? I'm saying the doctrine of the
Rapture is unscriptural. None of this is found in the
Bible. Let's notice.
What did Jesus say about this? What did Jesus say when it's
time? Shall be no more.
And Jesus comes back, Jesus said the following in John 5:28-29.
Jesus says, do not Marvel at this for the hour is coming in
the, which all that are in the graves.
Will hear his voice and come forth those that have done good
unto the resurrection of life and those that have done evil to
the resurrection of damnation, what's going to happen in that
time, when Jesus is going to come back, everybody is
included. All that are in the graves.
Will hear his voice, what's going to happen?
Those that have done, good will be. resurrected to the
resurrection of life and those that have done evil to the
resurrection of damnation, not going to be a separate time.
When the wicked are resurrected. In fact, in Acts 24:15, listen
to this. I have hope in God, which they
themselves. Also, accept that there will be
a resurrection of the Dead, both of the just and the unjust
notice, there's only going to be one.
One Resurrection from the dead, both the just and the unjust.
And in the plain teaching of scripture, there's only one
Resurrection for both the good and the bad.
So then all of a sudden we look at this idea then what about the
idea of the period of seven years of tribulation?
And what about this thousand year reign on earth?
Now, I got to say this before we go any further.
You cannot take things that are written, figuratively in the
Bible, and apply them literally in the Bible.
And the Bible says, in the Book of Revelation, there's all
manner of things that are pictures or are figures and not
to be taken. Literally, for example, you
remember, John the Revelator when he got the vision up into
heaven and he gave a picture and he used beautiful words to
describe the picture of Heaven, that he saw.
Do you remember? He talked about, he talked about
glass, he talked about all these other things, he talked about
horses. I don't think there's literal
horses in heaven, do you? That's something of a physical
nature of Physical Realm. I love horses, but I don't think
they're going to be in heaven at the spiritual place.
All of a sudden to we find the people sometimes say, you see,
there's even instrumental music in heaven.
No, it says that the voices of them sounded like Harper's
harping on their harps. Pictures figures symbols to
describe what he saw. We had to be very careful about
pictures, and symbols and figurative language.
Premillennialism teaches, that Jesus Christ will come back to
the Earth after the period of seven years of tribulation and
rain on an Earthly, throne in Jerusalem, with all the consent
of the Jews. He will during this period rule
over the kingdom. Terms of the earth and bring
them under subjection for 1,000 years.
Those that are part of the Rapture that we talked about,
they will be given special privileges and governorships to
rule with Christ on the Earth. Where do they get it?
Impart. For misunderstanding Revelation
20. and beginning in verse 5, misunderstanding.
But the rest of the Dead did not live, again until the thousand
years were finished. Then it says this, this is the
first resurrection, I got to make this point.
This is how most people interpret this when they talk
about the thousand year reign and all that, and they talk
about the first resurrected and all that.
Okay, this is how they read it. But the rest of the Dead did not
live until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection. No, it's not what it says period
period. Then he says this is the first
resurrection. In other words when Jesus said
when the Bible says, this is the first resurrection, it's not
talking about what he already said.
It's talking about what he is going to say, the entire subject
matter. How do I know that we look at
other passages of scripture? In fact, if we're going to
understand what this means, we have to also understand it in
conjunction with John Chapter 11.
Remember when Jesus was going to raise Lazarus from the dead
member that got to consider this together?
Now here we have this is the first resurrection and then just
a minute to say blessed and holy is he who has part in the first
resurrection? What's this talking about?
What did Jesus say? What did Jesus say to Martha on
that day in John chapter 11? He said I am the resurrection
and the life. Who's the resurrection?
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
So when Revelation chapter 20 says, and blessed and holy, is
he that has part in the first resurrection.
It's talking about having part in Jesus Christ, because he is
the resurrection and the life now stay with me.
Also, it says that those that do will never die in Acts chapter
13 and verse 34. You know, there were people that
died before Jesus died and there were people that were raised
from the dead before. Jesus was raised from the dead.
We know that. Okay.
Jesus even raised from the dead before he died.
So, when we talk about Jesus being the first resurrected,
we're not talking about the first person that ever died and
was raised. We are talking about the first
one that has died and was raised never to die again.
That's the first resurrection. That's Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, I am the resurrection, I am the life to
have part in the first. Resurrection means to have part
in Christ to get the spiritual blessings of the Resurrection.
It is necessary to be faithful after coming to him, when you
come to him, when you've been translated into the kingdom of
God's dear son, when you put on Christ at baptism.
And if you want the benefits of the Resurrection, Jesus Christ.
Jesus said I am that Resurrection.
We have to stay faithful in fact.
Here it says he lives and abides in me shall never die.
You know, this is a current relationship.
It doesn't say lived. And it doesn't say abide in a or
believe in a past tense, didn't say, believed, it says lives and
beliefs and that belief is the forced to obey if we want to
have the blessings of Jesus Christ.
Going, now, back to Revelation chapter 20, That's what it
means. When it says over such the
second, death has no power. So what did it, what does it say
here? First of all, Jesus is the
resurrection and the life. He is the first blessed and holy
is. He who has part in the first
resurrection? Meaning got to have a part in
Christ. Got to be a Christian, got to
come to Jesus and if you do and you're faithful unto death, the
second death has no power. That's the judgment.
That's the judgment. now, if you look at the end though, this is
where people get messed up. Look at this here.
Shall reign with him a thousand years.
First of all, this has to be figurative.
Without me, going any farther. It makes no sense.
If this is, literally, you know why?
Because there's only one king and that one king is raining
over the throne right now on the throne right now.
So it's impossible to literally rain like the king Reigns
together with him. So we know that that is
figurative language. The word rain has to be
figurative. Is what their says, by the way.
They are said this. His here's his explanation.
He said John transfers the word to denote the Supreme moral
dignity liberally, Liberty blessedness, which is to be
enjoyed by Christ redeemed ones. So in other words, to reign with
him I'll get to the Thousand Years in a minute, to reign with
him means to enjoy the blessings in him for all eternity, to
enjoy the blessings in heaven, for all eternity, that's what
that means. That's what rain means.
What is the Thousand Years mean though?
Because People want to do is they want to say this when you
get down to the Thousand-Year Reign, it has to be literal,
it's got to be on this Earth. And Jesus is going to do that.
But understand this, it's also figurative and it's not bound as
one scholar said, by the calendar.
When you look at words like a thousand years, we're talking
about symbolic language. The Bible does not restrict
itself to exact mathematical values of the numbers that are
men. Second me give you an example.
OK, give you an example. In Daniel chapter 9 and verse
24, you know, it says, it says 70 weeks.
Now, 70 weeks, is it literal weeks?
We can figure out how many days that is right, but 70 weeks is
490 years. Do you know why?
Because weeks in that passage was not used.
Literally, it is talking about units of seven.
How many days are in a week, seven, seven units of seven
become 490 years. Symbolism figurative, not
literal. So the reign of the reign of a
thousand years is a completeness, it is not a
literal thousand years. So all statements of the
Resurrection that is to incur occur before the second coming
of Christ. All of those are figurative only
nowhere in the plain teaching of scripture.
Does it ever say that Christ will return and set foot on the
earth? In fact it says just the
opposite it says just the opposite and what's going to
happen? In 1st Thessalonians chapter 4
in verse 17. It says then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.
He's never going to set foot on this Earth ever again.
When the Lord comes back, guess what we're going to do?
We're going to meet him in the air.
We're going to meet him in there in that great.
Here's another passage second Peter 3, 10, and 10 through 13,
bear with me as we read. This passage is very, very
important. But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away
with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent
heat both the earth and the works that are in, it will be
burned up. Therefore since all these things
will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in,
holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the
coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens
will be dissolved being on fire. Fire and the elements will melt
with fervent heat. Nevertheless.
We according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new
Earth in which righteousness. Dwells.
So, what's going to happen to the Earth?
Here it is. The first thing is the heavens
are going to pass away. What's that?
By the way, we're not talking about the third heaven, where
God Is Now, by the way, we talk about Heavens, we're talking
about the first to heaven to what are they?
It is the are expanse of the sky.
And that's the first Heaven, look up into the sky.
You see the sky, the air, expanse of the of the sky.
One scholar said, where the clouds live?
That's the first Heaven. The second heaven is where the
stars are the planets are all of that.
The third heaven is where God Is.
So when it says Heavens, plural will pass away.
It's talking about the sky and is talking about the planets.
What's going to happen? Is it going to just get a
Rejuvenation? No, it's going to pass away with
a great noise. What else?
I love this. The elements will melt with
fervent heat. That means this Even the
elements that made up the universe will also melt with
fervent Heat. So not only are the heavens that
we know about. We look up and see will pass
away but even the elements that made them will melt.
Here's another one, the earth and the works that are in, it
will be burned up. Now, I got to ask you.
How is Jesus going to come back to this earth?
And Reign for a thousand years when this Earth is going to be
burned up. In fact he sums it all up he
sums up what he just said about the heavens and the elements and
the Earth, he said all these things would be dissolved.
Dissolved. Okay, they're going to pass away
melt burn up and be dissolved but look at verse 13.
This is where people get a little confused.
Nevertheless, we according to his promise, look for new
heavens. And a new Earth in which
righteousness, dwells. And some of our religious
friends would say what that means is this Earth is going to
get fixed up. The problem with that is the
definition of this word, right here, new Heaven and new earth,
the word new literally means that which has never been
inhabited. In other words, it's not a
fixer-upper, it's brand new. What did Jesus say?
Jesus said in my father's house are many mansions.
If it were not. So I would have told you I go to
prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and bring you unto myself that where I am,
there you may be also What's he talking about new Heavens, new
earth? That is a figurative word, their
Earth. Meaning heaven couldn't go to
heaven. Not this Earth.
Had a couple fellas. Knock on my door, one time.
And of a particular affiliation. And I know that they believe
that heaven is already inhabited, and this Earth is
what it's going to be about and they take this passage out of
context. And I said, let's just hold off.
Let me just say this in advance will study the Bible all you
want, but I want to say this in advance, I know what you
believe, and I'm going to tell you what, I believe.
I believe what the Bible says, I believe in a place of Heaven, I
believe in the resurrection. And I want to go to heaven.
Do you know what this person said to me?
I don't I don't, I don't want to go to heaven at all.
You can go to heaven, you can want to go to heaven, but that's
nothing. I want to be on this new Earth.
This Earth refurbished. No, it's going to melt, it'll be
dissolved. It'll be done away with and the
new one will be uninhabited. That's Heaven one day.
Not a refurbishing of this something else though.
Look at this. In this place, it'll be a place
where righteousness dwells. Okay.
Now stay with me on this. Do you remember when I said
about the seven years of tribulation and then I said
about the thousand year reign that is often believed during
that period of time. Their belief is that the wicked
still exist on the Earth but not this one.
This is where righteousness dwells in fact.
That's what the Book of Revelation is talking about when
it It says the righteous will be righteous still.
And the wicked will be Wicked. Still meaning this if I make it
to heaven, I'm never getting kicked out.
If I miss heaven. I'm never getting in.
At the end of time, we're going to talk about that in a minute.
How that works. At the end of time.
Premillennialism premillennialism teaches that
wickedness will remain during the Thousand Year Reign on the
earth. That's not what the Bible says.
Not at all. It's where righteousness.
Dwells? What else?
It'll come as a thief in the night.
Unannounced. A thief in the night.
There's not going to be righteous people disappearing in
the Rapture 7 years before, there will not be an Earthly
King sitting on a throne, and there will be no signs of the
second coming notice Peters. Admonition, in verse 14 about
being faithful. Therefore, beloved looking
forward to these things, be diligent to be found by him and
peace without spot and blameless.
Let me ask you, why would he tell him to be found without
spot and blameless? If they got a second chance
during the seven years? Years of tribulation.
Makes no sense. There's no such thing as the
seven years to repent in Tribulation.
What about this warning to? And I'll tell you something,
folks, the word of God is so plain The word God just says it.
Like it is. And this is what the word of God
says, in verse 16 of 2nd, Peter chapter 3.
And also in all his Epistles, speaking to them of these things
in which are some things hard to understand, what's he talking
about, he's talking about the end of time, he's talking about
the resurrection. He said in some of these things,
they're hard to understand what's going to happen.
Though. There are those that are taught
in there. Unstable people, untaught and
unstable people, twist to their own destruction.
The King James says, wrist WR, e, St.
Ra Sting the scriptures. People are going to do that.
The word of God says that. That's exactly what's going to
happen. So what's going to happen at the
resurrection? And I got to say it again, let's
put all the emphasis on the great things that are going to
happen in the resurrection. Do you remember when David?
Sent from a famous chef and he was going to invite him in and
you can invite him in to eat at his table for the rest of his
life. That's a wonderful picture
there, okay? And mephibosheth was scared to
death, he did want to see the king as he thought he was going
to kill him because that's what they did, that's what
customarily they did. When the new king came in he
took all the people from the other regime and family members
and killed them all. Mephibosheth was scared out of
his mind. The last thing he wanted was to
see the king But the king showed, great, kindness and
King. David said, I'm going to restore
all the land of your father's house.
Meaning your grandfather, King Saul.
I'm going to give it all back to you.
I'm going to give you people that are going to run everything
and take care of everything. And then he said this and you
will eat at my table for the rest of your life.
Wonderful blessings, okay. Undeserved kind of like a child
of God but for Christ's sake were forgiven.
Okay? If Jesus comes back and I'm not
living right then, Jesus is the last one.
I want to see the king is the last one.
I want to see. But if I am living right, and
I'm living in accordance with the word of God and I'm a
Christian faithful unto death. You know what, I can't wait to
see the king. Remember Phil Kelly, we would
sit right here and we'd have a singing and he would stand up
and turn around to all of us and say you know, wouldn't be great
if the Lord were just come back right now.
Put an end to the whole thing. You know why?
Because if you're ready, if you're prepared, you want to see
the king, can't wait to see the king.
Here's the world. Here's the world's perception,
though. I want to go to heaven, I still
want to go now not today. Got stuff to do.
If you're ready, you'll want to see the king, what's going to
happen in the end? Okay?
Talk about all the things, that's not going to happen.
What is going to happen? And I'm almost finished 1st
Corinthians chapter 15, The Resurrection verses, 23, and 24.
But each one in his own order Christ, the first fruits after
those who are Christ's at his coming.
Notice that Notice what's going to happen?
Christ was raised from the dead first.
What's next? The resurrection at his second
coming. There's no Rapture.
There's no tribulation. What comes next?
Paul. What's next?
What's going to happen next? I'll tell you what's going to
happen next. It's The End.
That's what's going to happen. It's the end Christ.
The firstfruits of them that slept first one to die, be
raised from the dead, never to die again.
That happened. What's next?
The next thing is. Guess what those that are
Christ's at his coming or going to be raised to when and what's
going to happen after that. It's going to be over.
It'll be the end. What's it going to do two
things? He's going to deliver the
kingdom to God, the father. That's the church.
He's going to hand the church to the father.
Does that sound like a future rain?
Watch this. Then he's going to put down or
put an end to all Rule and all authority, and all power.
So when he comes back, there's no Thousand-Year Reign
physically on a throne and this life not at all.
When he comes back, he's going to deliver the kingdom, the
church to the father, and he's going to put down all Rule and
all authority. And God will be all in all.
One more thing. It's going to also be when death
is conquered. you know, I think about this, I think about people
that we have loved and lost dear people in our life that we have
loved and lost to death. And while the Earth stands
people are going to continue to die.
But there's going to come a day when death will be conquered.
And by the way, it's the it's the same day, it's the same day
at the end and death will be conquered.
How do I know that verses 40 54 and 55 of the same chapter?
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption and this Mortal
has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass.
The saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in
Victory. Oh death.
Where is your sting? Oh, Hades.
Where is your Victory? When's it going to happen when
this corruptible body puts on incorruption and this Mortal
body puts on immortality. No more rain.
Kingdom handed to the father. Nothing else.
It'll be over. The kingdom being delivered to
God and putting down all rule must happen.
At the same time that death is conquered and that is the and
that is at the resurrection and there will not be a thousand
year reign on the Earth. Folks, plane passages of
scripture teach that the second coming will be the last thing
that ever happens. That's why the word of God tells
us to be ready. you know, Bob Smith used to always pray and I
knew what he meant because the Bible teaches this to be ready
and watching. Now, you can't watch because you
can see it coming because you can't, it'll come as a thief in
the night. But if I'm watching, I'm on
guard. I'm on guard, I'm watching.
So, if in my life, I do that. Very thing.
I'm watching and I'm ready, and I'm prepared and I'm living as I
should, I'm ready. When the Lord comes back, That's
the greatest day of all and I'm going to tell you, I don't know
everything there is to know about what's going to happen on
that day. I know this though, I know this
that if I'm saved, then this corruption will put on
incorruption. And this Mortal put on
immortality, I'm going to get a body like Jesus and I'm going to
go to heaven and I'm going to be with God's people, for all
eternity, better than get you fired up.
I don't know what will Watching. So in conclusion, here are those
four questions? I hope we can all say we know
the answers to these. Number one, will there be a
rapture? I'm not talking about the
Resurrection, The Rapture is this.
Jesus plucks the saves saved out while the other people stay on
the earth for seven more years. No, no, there won't be a
Rapture. Therefore there will not be
seven years of tribulation. Jesus will not establish an
Earthly Kingdom, he is already done that, he's already
established a kingdom, a spiritual Kingdom, and the
church is the Earthly institution of that Heavenly
Kingdom, and he's raining over that church, that Kingdom right
now. Will there be an Earthly
Kingdom? No.
And he will not rain on the Earth.
For another thousand literal years.
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