New Hope Community Church August 9, 2020 Dr. Kelly Carr, Pastor
VANISHED Series: What Does the Future Hold? I predict that sometime in the very near future, The biggest headlines in local newspapers, and metropolitan newspapers, and every news outlet in America and around the globe will read ... "VANISHED" "VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE" "MILLIONS MISSING" "HALF OF THE STUDENT BODY HAS DISAPPEARED" "AUTHORITIES PUZZLED ABOUT WORLD WIDE VANISHING."
Although it will be clear to Christians, those who are left behind will not understand or believe what has happened.
First Mention of the Rapture by Jesus: John 14:1-3 John 14:1-3 (NASB) 1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
The Mystery of the Rapture: Mystery: Definition: Some sacred thing hidden or secret which is naturally unknown to human reason and is only known by the revelation of God (Rom. 11:25; 1 Cor. 4:1; 14:2; 15:51; Col. 2:2; 1 Tim. 3:16; see 1 Cor. 2:7). Complete Word Study Dictionary, The - The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament.
The Rapture was a “Mystery” 1 Corinthians 15:51, because the Church was a “Mystery.” Ephesians 3:3
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NASB)
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Distinction Between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ Timeline of End Time Events: * Church Age * Rapture of the Church * Man of Sin Revealed * 7 Year Tribulation Begins, also Daniel’s 70th Week * Abomination of Desolation, midpoint of Tribulation * Great Tribulation is the second half of the Tribulation * Battle of Armageddon * Second Coming of Christ * 1,000 Year Reign of Christ
Primary Scripture on the Rapture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 The Meaning of the Rapture: Technically: “caught up”, Latin = raptere, Greek = Harpazo,
Acts 8:39, Philip was caught away
2 Cor. 12:2, 4 Paul was caught up to the third heaven
Examples: Enoch, Genesis 5:24, Elijah 2 Kings 2:11, Christ in Acts 1:9
Non-technically: as an umbrella event
Three Distinct Rapture Alerts: * 1st The Shout of Christ! 4:16
2nd The Voice of the Archangel! 4:16
3rd The Rapture Trumpet! 4:16
The Rapture is Christ Calling His Ambassadors Home. 2 Cor. 5:20
New Hope Community Church, 3849 FM 1827, McKinney, TX 75071