Christ And The Rapture of The Church - A

Jack Hibbs: And if anybody points a finger at me, I look to the cross. They can point all they want, but I'm trusting in the blood. Has somebody criticized you? Has somebody come against you? If they haven't, cheer up; they will. Point to the cross. There's a million things wrong with us. Point to the cross.
Guest (Male): This is Real Life. Welcome to Real Life Radio with Pastor Jack Hibbs. I'm David J, thanking you for joining us today as we listen, learn, and are challenged by God's word, the Bible.
Jack Hibbs: Hey everybody, we want you to be aware of a great book, and please listen up. Our friend Charlie Kirk, right before he was assassinated, Charlie Kirk had finished up a book titled Stop in the Name of God. And I gotta tell you, friends, you're going to want to get a copy. It teaches you how to rest in our Lord Jesus Christ. Stop in the Name of God by Charlie Kirk. Get a copy for yourself. It's the featured item for this September.
Guest (Male): That's Stop in the Name of God by Charlie Kirk. Get your copy at JackHibbs.com. On today's edition of Real Life Radio, Pastor Jack continues with his series now called The Life and Times of Jesus Christ and a message titled The Rapture of the Church. Now, this is a series about who Jesus really is, not the Jesus of popular opinion, but the Jesus of the Bible, God himself, who stepped into our world. And this same Jesus made us a promise that he's coming back for us, and he could come at any moment. You see, the rapture isn't something to fear; it's our greatest hope, as a matter of fact. It means Jesus could return today without warning to gather his people to himself. Now, when he does, every believer who's ever died will rise and we'll meet the Lord in the air. So today, Pastor Jack teaches that the rapture is our blessed hope, and it was promised by Jesus himself. He told us he's gone to prepare a place for us and that he'll come again to bring us home. Now, in his message called The Rapture of the Church, here's Pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs.
Jack Hibbs: Let's bow our hearts and pray before the message. Father, we ask you in Jesus' name that you might go before us, and Father, that you might right now touch our hearts and open up this truth of the gospel that appropriately in these last days, churches aren't talking about, because I don't know if they have the brains or the guts or I don't know what it is to talk about it. But there's a dearth in the land about the greatest hope outside of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And that is Jesus is coming and he could come today. Your Bible makes it undeniably clear. In the brief moments that we have together, there's no way that we can do it justice. But Father, by your mercy and by your grace, we ask you to help us to present a doctrine that your ancient prophet Isaiah spoke of in mystery, that was revealed to us by your son Jesus and confirmed by the apostles. So Father, we pray that this morning you might touch our hearts that we might see more clearly the hope that awaits us moment by moment until you come again. And it's in Jesus' name we pray, and all God's people said, amen. First Thessalonians chapter four, beginning at verse 13. You know it well, but we'll read it together as we come to The Life and Times of Jesus Christ, a series that we're doing, and this is part 13. Part 13 of a 16-part series, so obviously we near the end. First Thessalonians chapter four, verse 13, Paul says: I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, or let me change it and make it more accurate for you: those who have died believing in Jesus Christ, as you sorrow like those who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who sleep, or who have died in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord himself—now listen everybody, the Lord himself—verse 14 says God will come. This verse says, verse 16, for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the voice of the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together to meet them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and thus shall we always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words. Ever since the time of Christ, in the giving of the gospels, the hope of the rapture of the church has been preeminent in the doctrine, in the teaching of God's apostles and God's disciples. Beginning first in the New Testament with Jesus himself. Unfortunately, as we look to this book of Thessalonians, Paul was confronted with a problem, to respond, actually, to a problem. First of all, in four weeks' time—Paul was only there for four weeks in Thessalonica. By the way, you can visit that city today; it's one of the oldest cities on the face of the earth. Paul visited there and he planted a church, and in four weeks, he taught them two major doctrines. The first one is predestination. Most Christians don't even know what the word means. In four weeks, he taught them the doctrine of predestination, and the second doctrine was the imminency of Christ's return. Now, jot this down in your notes. You're all taking notes, aren't you? In your note-taking, remember this: First Thessalonians equals the rapture of the church. Second Thessalonians equals the second coming. Why? Because when Paul wrote to them the letter of First Thessalonians, he was speaking to them, reminding them of what he had taught them. He taught them that the Lord knew in advance, he knows in his foreknowledge, those that are his. And also, that he would be coming back in a time that would be unannounced; it could be at any moment. There would be no warning; there would be no event that would have to precede the rapture of the church. We use the word rapture. You notice here it's not found in your Bible, is it? Unless you have a Latin Bible. Maybe you have a Latin Bible and you see the word rapture there. If you have a Greek Bible, you have the word harpazo. Harpazo. If you have an English Bible, like most of us, you have two words put together: you have the word caught up. It means to be violently removed from a dangerous situation. You're violently snagged or pulled away from danger. The rapture of the church. Whatever it is, it means that the church is to be pulled away from a violent affair. The church is to be removed from a destructive thing. This is the pure meaning of the words. Then you might say, "Well, why are there so many debates about it?" Quite frankly, I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but you belong in one of three camps. And you may not even know this. By virtue of what denomination you were brought up in, you are either amillennial in your Bible understanding. Again, many people don't know what that even means. Or you're either post-millennial, or you are pre-millennial. By the way, out of the three views—and it is only three views of the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation that you can possess—out of the three, there is only one view that holds to the literal interpretation of scripture. Most people that attend a church called Calvary Chapel or Calvary Chapels—Vineyard Christian Fellowships believe the same; many independent churches believe the same—that they are pre-millennial in their theology, meaning they believe in the literal interpretation of God's word unless it states otherwise. The Bible will always announce when something is symbolic or representative or pictorial or somehow an illustration. It's very, very important. The view that you hold forms the rest of your theology. Example: some of you may be prone to thinking you can lose your salvation. I want you to know that you are not a pre-millennialist. You're either an am- or a post-millennialist. Interesting view. Catholicism holds to an amillennial view. Various denominations do. And it's incumbent upon you to know the difference. Know your Bible and why. I said your Bible. It's not so important that you know a denomination, the traditions of men. What does your Bible say? Get a concordance out, get a lexicon, start understanding the word of God for yourself and see why the rapture of the church is taught. The Old Testament held it as a mystery and the New Testament reveals it as a great hope to the Christian. And forgive me if I get too excited because, first of all, I've been up since about 2:30. I've had nine cups of coffee and, on top of it, this is my favorite topic. Why? Because I need it to happen today. I want Jesus to come today. Am I perfect? If you knew me, you know the answer to that. Perfect has nothing to do with it; being in Christ has everything to do with it. Is your name written down in heaven, friend? Can you stand up and can you say, "Jesus has written my name in his Lamb's Book of Life"? I have erred, I have sinned, I have blown it, I have blundered it. I don't deserve heaven, but you know what? I am under the blood of Christ. I'm trusting in what Jesus did for me on the cross 2,000 years ago. And if anybody points a finger at me, I look to the cross. They can point all they want, but I'm trusting in the blood. Has somebody criticized you? Has somebody come against you? If they haven't, cheer up; they will. Point to the cross. There's a million things wrong with us. Point to the cross. Paul the apostle said it's the power of the preaching of the cross that is the power of the gospel. It's that power that saves us. The cross is what liberates us and sets us free. And the one who hung on that cross gave us the promise regarding the rapture of the church. And if you're a note-taker and if you're a student, or if you're going to go back to your Bible class tomorrow at school, drive your professor crazy with this one. There is no verse found in Matthew's gospel concerning the rapture of the church. Not one. There is no verse found in Mark's gospel concerning the rapture of the church. Not one. There is not one verse found in Luke's gospel concerning the rapture of the church. Not a one. There's only one book that introduces us to the rapture of the church and it's by Jesus Christ himself. When I say one book, it is the first book that mentions it in the gospels, and it's the Gospel of John. And it's from Jesus himself. In John chapter 14, Jesus said in verses one through four: Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me, for in my father's house are many mansions, and if it were not so, I would have told you. I go now to prepare a place for you that where I am, there you may be also. He says: Listen, if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there you may be also. He says: For the way you know. And do you know the way? In our note-taking this morning, consider this. Three points. Number one: the rapture is our hope as a Christian. There is no hope for the second coming. Read your Bible carefully. The second coming of Christ is dreadful. The Bible says that the tribes and the occupants of the world will mourn at the great and terrible day of the second coming of Christ. The second coming of Christ is altogether different than the rapture. They're at least seven years apart. But note this, in John 14 verses one through four, it is prophesied and promised by Jesus himself. Can you jot that down? The rapture is our hope and it's promised by Jesus first. John chapter 14. Listen, it is so sure in the original language—I'm going to say something radical—that if you don't believe that Jesus could come back in the doctrine of imminency, meaning without warning at any moment, then you can take a razor blade or scissors and cut out John chapter 14 verses one through four right now. Because if you have a mid- or post-tribulation rapture view, you've got a serious problem. Jesus Christ here says: I am going away and I'm going to my father's place, and there's many mansions there. I go to prepare. I will come again and I'm going to pick you up. And I'm going to take you to the place that where I am, you may be also. I don't know how much more plain it can be. If you've got Christ coming out of heaven with a partial rapture or a resurrection of the dead as he descends, and you catch up or you meet him in his descent and then the kingdom is established, you don't have John chapter 14 verses one through four ever happening. Do you read me? It's a problem. You can spiritualize it all you want and be a post-millennialist or an amillennialist, but you cannot biblically be a mid- or post-tribulationist. Can't do it. Can't do it. The Bible says in Titus chapter two, verse 13, Paul says: while we wait for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Did you know that's good news? Did you know that's a hope? Did you know concerning the second coming that there are hundreds of prophecies that have to be fulfilled before Christ can ever come back to the earth? But did you know that regarding the rapture, there's not one prophecy that's needed before he could come? Did you know that? Somebody help me, did you know that? I need some amens so I can stay awake. It's amazing. And yet you can turn on a Bible program and the announcer will say: In a moment, our pastor teacher whatsoever what's-his-face is going to be teaching on the rapture of the church. And you go: Oh boy, I need some encouragement. And then the guy comes on and says: Let's turn in our Bibles, we're going to learn about the second coming. Those are two completely different events. And if you haven't studied it and found out the difference, you ought to, because you don't have a blessed hope yet. There's no blessed hope about the second coming. It's a dreadful day as I said; the Bible says all those who dwell on the earth will weep and mourn when they see the wrath of the Lamb. And his robe will be splattered with blood. Not concerning the rapture; that's altogether different. Altogether different indeed. Very quickly, the Bible warns us: do not be ignorant concerning Satan's devices, Satan's plans. So guess what we're ignorant of as a church. Flip Wilson even tried to tell us: the devil made us do it. You're a young audience, you don't remember that one, do you? The Bible says don't be ignorant about spiritual gifts. What's the church ignorant about? Spiritual gifts. I don't believe in them. Oh, I believe in all of them and more. We got one side and we got the other side. People rolling around, swinging from the chandeliers over there; people over here, they're afraid to move or walk because they don't know what's going to happen. The truth is in the middle where it's usually found. Don't be ignorant about spiritual gifts, don't be ignorant about Satan's devices, and Paul said in First Thessalonians chapter four, verse 13, don't be ignorant about the rapture of the church and the hope that it brings. I don't know what church you attend; maybe it's this one. Does it preach and teach the rapture of the church? Could it be that today you're driving down the street and the rapture happens? According to the Bible, it can. Could it be that before your mortgage payment comes near the end of the month that the rapture happens? Oh yeah, Lord! Come on, Jesus! It's a promise, it's real. I find it amazing that there are so few Christians believing it, yet the New Age movement is explaining our departure in their own writings. Now, I don't encourage you to read any New Age magazines or New Age books. Don't do it. Unless you are really grounded because you'll get messed up. It's demonic material. But do you know those people—they are already writing and explaining that the bigoted, narrow-minded people called fundamental Christians will be removed by the force to be taken out of the dimension that will allow evolution to take its final step. You're laughing; this is exactly what they're saying. Read the book. For evolution to take its final step, which is man's awakening to the fact that he is a god. Satan's doctrine will visit the earth again as it was in the Garden of Eden. What did he tell Eve? "Hey sweetie, you can become a god." Isn't it wild? The New Age movement—they believe that we're going to get snagged out of here by some flying saucer space thing. But most Christians go, "Huh?" It's not a saucer; it's the voice of the archangel, the trumpet of God's going to call us up. But let's continue on. It's promised by Jesus. The rapture is our hope, promised by Jesus. Secondly, it was a historical fact concerning Christianity. It was historical, a true historical fact. How do we know? Verse 14 of Thessalonians: For if we believe—you ought to mark that, do you? Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again from the dead? Then you're welcome to stay here. If you don't, you better not move. If you already believe it, stay put. But if you don't believe it, don't you dare move. Ushers, anybody move now, seize them. We have good news for you. If you believe that Jesus Christ rose again, even so God will bring with him—where are they? They're with him. Who are they? Those who died in Jesus. You know anybody who died in Jesus? I tell you, I saw the saddest thing a while back. I was doing a funeral in Hollywood. It is true: people die in Hollywood. Think they live on forever, huh? It was a funeral. And as I was leaving, there's a lady sitting next to a tombstone. She had her lawn chair, she had her ice chest, and she had Pepsi and stuff out there; she had flowers. That's the saddest thing I've ever seen. She was elderly; maybe it was her husband who had died. What in the world is she doing there? She's trying to be as close to him as possible. But honey, he's not there. His body may be there, but that part that sang to her or whispered in her ear or kissed her or sang her a song or had ideas or whatever it was, the part that made the body move was long gone. According to the Bible, that man is either in heaven or hell, and there's nothing to do with that human body, that corpse there in the grave. He's gone. The Bible says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord if you're a Christian. But to be absent from the body without being a Christian, the Bible says is to be in hell. It's a historical fact that Christianity believed in the rapture of the church. In fact, so much so, Paul hung onto it as a hope. In Second Timothy chapter four, verse eight, Paul says, and remember, he's in a prison; his head's about ready to get cut off from his shoulders. Rome's going to kill him. And I love his little spunkiness. He didn't say, "Finally, there's laid up for me a wristwatch and jewelry for my arms and ankles." No, he says: there's a crown for my head. Excuse me, Paul, you didn't get what we told you a moment ago: we're going to cut your head off. Paul says: Yeah, I'll tell you something. There's a crown of righteousness that's going to be put on my head. Jesus says: Don't fear those who can take your body; fear God who can take your body and your soul. Paul says: You can cut my head off, God's going to put it back on, and not only that, he's going to crown it. I like that. Hey, thanks again so much for listening. And if you'd like to hear or see more of what we do here, you can always go to JackHibbs.com for all the latest on what's going on with this ministry. And please, if you're ever in the Southern California area, come see us at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills; we'd love to see you there in person. It has been so good to be with you today, and I pray you find yourself in the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. See you on the next episode here on Real Life Radio.
Guest (Male): This program is made possible by the generous contributions of you, our listeners. Visit us at JackHibbs.com. That's JackHibbs.com. Until next time, Pastor Jack Hibbs and all of us here at Real Life Radio wish for you solid and steady growth in Christ and in his word. We'll see you next time here on Real Life Radio.