RAPTURE AND CHRIST JESUS'S SECOND COMING - THE RAPTURE THEORY EXPLAINED AND CONTROVERSY

THE RAPTURE VS. THE SECOND COMING

Question: "What IS The Difference BETWEEN The Being Caught Up Together AND The Second Coming of Jesus Christ?"

Answer: The Being Caught Up Together and The Second Coming of Jesus Christ are often CONFUSED. Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a Scripture Verse (The Holy Bible) is REFERRING to The Being Caught Up Together OR The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. However, in STUDYING End-Times Bible Prophecy, it is Very Important to differentiate between The Two.

The Being Caught Up Together is when Jesus Christ Returns TO REMOVE The Church (All Believers IN Christ) FROM The Earth. The Being Caught Up Together is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have DIED (The Dead IN Christ) will have Their (The Dead IN Christ) Bodies Resurrected (The Spiritual Body) and, along with Living Believers (Their Natural Body CHANGED INTO The Spiritual Body), Will MEET The LORD (Jesus Christ) IN The AIR. This Will All Occur IN A MOMENT, IN A TWINKLING of an Eye. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is when Jesus Christ Returns to DEFEAT The Antichrist, DESTROY Evil, and ESTABLISH His (Jesus Christ's) Millennial Kingdom. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is described in Revelation 19:11-16.

The Important Differences between The Being Caught Up Together and The Second Coming of Jesus Christ are as follows:

At The Being Caught Up Together, Believers (The Dead IN Christ and Living Believers) MEET The LORD (Jesus Christ) IN The AIR (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Believers RETURN WITH The LORD (Jesus Christ) TO The Earth (Revelation 19:14).

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ Occurs AFTER The Great Tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19). The Being Caught Up Together Occurs BEFORE The Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

The Being Caught Up Together IS The REMOVAL of Believers FROM The Earth as an ACT of DELIVERANCE (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The Second Coming of Jesus Christ includes The REMOVAL of Unbelievers as an ACT of JUDGMENT (Matthew 24:40-41).

The Being Caught Up Together will be INSTANTANEOUS, Believers will be SNATCHED AWAY INTO Jesus Christ’s Presence (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The Second Coming of Jesus Christ Will BE VISIBLE TO ALL (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will NOT Occur UNTIL AFTER Certain Other End-Times Events TAKE PLACE (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The Being Caught Up Together IS IMMINENT; it could take place at ANY MOMENT, in The Next Millisecond (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

Why is it important to KEEP The Being Caught Up Together and The Second Coming of Jesus Christ DISTINCT?

IF The Being Caught Up Together AND The Second Coming of Jesus Christ ARE The Same Event, Believers will have to GO THROUGH The Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

IF The Being Caught Up Together AND The Second Coming of Jesus Christ ARE The Same Event, The Return of Jesus Christ is NOT Imminent, BECAUSE there are MANY THINGS, which MUST Occur BEFORE He (Jesus Christ) can Return (Matthew 24:4-30).

In describing The Tribulation Period, in The Book of Revelation Chapters 6–19, NOWHERE does it MENTION The Church. During The Great Tribulation, also called “The Time of Jacob's Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), GOD Almighty Will AGAIN, TURN His (GOD Almighty's) Primary Attention TO ISRAEL (Romans 11:17-31).

The Being Caught Up Together and Second Coming of Jesus Christ are similar, BUT SEPARATE EVENTS. Both INVOLVE Jesus Christ Returning. Both ARE End-Times Events. However, it is Very Important to RECOGNIZE The Differences.

In Summary, The Being Caught Up Together IS The Return of Jesus Christ IN The Clouds to REMOVE All Believers FROM The Earth BEFORE The TIME of GOD Almighty’s WRATH. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ IS The Return of Jesus Christ TO The Earth TO BRING The Great Tribulation to an END and to DEFEAT The Antichrist and His (The Antichrist's) Evil World Empire.

EDITOR'S NOTE....

I personally believe in the Rapture, although not specifically mentioned in the Bible, there's more Spiritual knowledge being revealed both in the Old and New Testaments on how this can be the ONLY answer since we know that He can return at any moment now.  The tribulation will be 3 1/2 years of peace...while very tense...followed by 3 1/2 years of pure hell on earth, like never before.  We will know when the Mark of the Beast is mandatory, we'll know when we have a period of peace and therefore we can KNOW His day of return.  Scripture is very clear that we cannot know.  However, I do not feel this is a salvation issue at all!  Be ready every minute for His return for us. Belief in it or not will not prevent you from being raptured NOR will believing you will cause you not to be taken at His 2nd Coming.  I just share information from both sides and let you decide which belief you hold to.  I firmly believe we should stop arguing over this "theory" and start spreading the Gospel NOW and in truth.  We cannot wait for tomorrow.  Some people won't have a tomorrow.  Are we in the end times?  Probably...I don't know but when I prayed the answer I got was...LIVE AS IF WE ARE!  GREAT MESSAGE!  God bless, be ready for both and make sure others are too.  That is our ONLY and GREATEST duty to Him, other than to accept His forgiveness and follow Him.  God bless you all and never be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ Jesus!

GOD IS ONE GOD!!!

2 Corinthians 13:

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

JESUS OUR LORD GOD AND SAVIOR SENT BY GOD OUR FATHER FULL OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE WORD

Jesus is The Word. He was in the beginning (always was from everlasting time before to everlasting time ahead)

John 1:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus had no beginning! HE WAS. He was already there IN THE BEGINNING!

And the scriptures state: AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD. This anyone who can read must conclude that " and the Word was with God" means just what it says!

Jesus is separate and distinct from God the Father. We cannot... CANNOT identify Him as God The Father because he WAS WITH GOD!

Then some yahoo will say:

"If he is with God then HE is not God" !!! And that yahoo will sputter and protest when they get this truth next:

"AND THE WORD WAS GOD" !!! A clear declaration that the Lord Jesus Christ IS God!

No true Christian can get rid of the deity of Jesus Christ.

So the WORD was Jesus Christ and He is God!

Furthermore

John 1:

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

He pitched His tent among us! And they that saw Him and touched Him BEHELD HIS GLORY! Jesus brought all the deity with Him! FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.

Heb.1:

3 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 had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

John 1:

18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

JESUS IS God in the flesh. He revealed something of GOD as God the Son. (and do NOT forget God the Holy Spirit!) He came to reveal GOD from the heart of GOD. From the bosom OF GOD He came

John 14:

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.

John 4:

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 6:

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

How can we KNOW anything about GOD? By knowing Jesus Christ, God The Son! IN THE FLESH BY HIS WORD because HE IS GOD.

SUPPLEMENTAL TRUTHS

I John 5:7

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Matt. 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matt. 28:

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

2 Cor. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

John 15:

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of me.

Gal. 4:

6 And Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

THREE MAKES ONE GOD

That there are distinctions among the three Persons of the Trinity is clear from Scripture.

For example, each Person has a slightly different role in the salvation of mankind:

OUR SALVATION IS BASED ON THE FATHER'S POWER & LOVE

John 3:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 10:

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

THE SON'S DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION

1 John 2:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Eph. 2:

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

AND THE HOLY SPIRIT'S REGENERATION IN US AND PERMANENT SEAL MAKING US GOD'S PROPERTY FOREVER!

Eph.4:

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Titus 3:

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The different tasks the Father, Son, and Spirit perform help inform our understanding of the Trinity.

There is also a voluntary subordination among the Trinity, in that the Father “sent” the Son

John 6:

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats (believes in) me, even he shall live by me.

The Father and the Son “send” the Spirit.

John 15:

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:

And the Spirit will “speak only what he hears”.

John 16:

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

CO-EQUAL IN EXISTENCE : DIFFERING MINISTRATIONS

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are, in existence, equal, but they are economically distinct. That is, they have different roles. But each member of the Trinity is God.

The Father is God

John 6:

27 Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Rom.1:

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Pet.1

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

The Son is God

John 1:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Col.2:

9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Heb.1:

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

God the Holy Spirit

1 Cor.3:

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Cor.6:

19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Rom.8:

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

THE TRINITY IS PERFECT AS ONE

The perfect relationships within the Trinity are difficult to understand, yet they are what all humanity is drawn toward. Perfect love and perfect fellowship exist within the economic Trinity. In His love God draws us into fellowship with Himself. Praise Him for “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit”

2 Corinthians 13:

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

CONCLUSION

The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God—but there is only one God. That is the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. Beyond that, the issues are, to a certain extent, debatable and non-essential. Rather than attempting to fully define the Trinity with our finite human minds, we would be better served by focusing on the fact of God's greatness and His infinitely higher nature.

Romans 11:

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor.

LEMONADE IMPERFECTIONS - 10 MINUTE DEVOTIONALS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN OUR YOUTH

Exercises to help our youth grow Spiritually...

Lemonade Imperfections

Theme:  Purity
Scripture: Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:1-3
Overview:  Group members will compare salty lemonade to an impure lifestyle
Preparation:  Using water and lemonade mix, make enough lemonade for everyone in your group.  Then add approximately one tablespoon of salt per quart of lemonade.  You'll also need cups for everyone, three containers of fresh water, and Bibles.

EXPERIENCE

Form three teams and have each team select one person to be its "server."  Have servers distribute cups of lemonade to their teammates.  Tell kids this is a race to see which team can drink all its lemonade the fastest.  On the count of three, have kids down their lemonade and see which team (if any!) finishes first.

RESPONSE

Afterward, have kids guess what was wrong with the lemonade.  If no one guesses, reveal that the lemonade was made with one impure ingredient: salt.  Then ask: What did you think when you drank the lemonade?  What "impure ingredients" leave a "bad taste" in your spiritual life? in your relationships? in your thought life? in your physical well-being?

Have kids join with members of other teams to form trios.  Have trios read Romans 12:1-2 and Ephesians 5:1-3 and discuss these questions.  Ask: Why is it important for Christians tempted to sacrifice purity?  What are results of striving for purity in our personal lives?  

LEMONADE IMPERFECTIONS - CLOSING

Have servers pour fresh water for their teammates.  Say: Just as fresh water can wash away the bad taste of salty lemonade, God can help us wash away the bad taste of impure living.  Let's drink to that now.

Have kids hold up their cups of water as your pray:  Lord, help our lifestyles be pure like water instead of impure like salty lemonade.  Amen.

On "amen," have kids drink their water to close.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND GOD'S WAYS...."GOD'S PROMISES"

God's Promises....

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.  "For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than yours thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9

"Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.  Jeremiah 33:3

"What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us."  Romans 8:31

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."  Romans 8:35-37

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."  1 Corinthians 10:13

"Many afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers out of them all."  Psalm 34:19

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."  Psalm 55:22

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you.  I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

"Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.  His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth."  Hosea 6:3

"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him."  Psalm 18:30

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."  Hebrews 10:23

"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me."  Jeremiah 32:40

"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;Do not forsake the works of Your hands."  Psalms 138:8

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." Psalm 4:12-13

I AM COMING - BY: AbaloneKid on Google Plus!

AbaloneKid originally shared:

 I AM COMING!

Heb.10:
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

THE NEW JERUSALEM: GOLDEN CITY IN HEAVEN AWAITS US

Revelation 22:1 (KJV)

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Chaim, least