For Christians, the Lord’s return is a long-awaited event. At last, we will be able to see and embrace the One we have loved and served. To those who are born-again, living is death, and dying is life. On this side of the grave, we are exiles; on that side, we are citizens. On this side, we are orphans; on that side, we are children. On this side, we are captives; on that side, we are free men. On this side, we are disguised and unknown; on that side, we are disclosed and are proclaimed as the sons of God.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)
I. The Rapture is a certainty.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (I Thessalonians 4:16) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28) We are not waiting for something that may happen. We are waiting for something that has been promised and is guaranteed to happen. Just as there was a moment in time when Christ was born, a moment when Christ was crucified, and a moment when Christ was resurrected, there will be a moment in time when we as His saints are raptured. We are looking for an event that will take place.
II. The Rapture will be sudden.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (I Corinthians 15:51-52) The twinkling of an eye tells us how fast the Rapture will occur. The twinkle is not a blink but is as fast as the eye can sparkle, or one-thousandth of a second. There will be no warning. There will be no preface. It will happen faster than a blink, which means it will go unnoticed by those who are left behind. There will not be a procession of people going up into Heaven. We will disappear instantaneously when the Rapture takes place.
III. The Rapture is sobering.
The anticipation of the Lord’s return should produce at least three things in the life of every Christian.
A. It should produce an upward look of expectation. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28) We should be expecting the Rapture at any moment.
B. It should produce an inward look of preparation. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (I John 3:3) We should be prepared for the Rapture at this moment.
C. It should produce an outward look of occupation. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:13) We should be working in anticipation of the Rapture every moment.
IV. The Rapture is sacred.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (II Timothy 4:8) There are two important words in this passage that help us to understand why the Rapture is such a sacred event to those who are saved.
A. “Love” – Our love is based upon what Jesus has done for us.
B. “Appearing” – We will be with the One Who has been long-awaited.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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 receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3) The emphasis is not on the place being prepared but on the Person with Whom we will be.
Just as the children of Israel were unprepared when the Messiah came, many people today are unprepared for the Lord’s return. Preparation needs to be taking place. Many need to be born again. The saved need to be leading our loved ones to be born again, consecrating our lives to Christ, and living in service for Him.
Pastor Neal, through his preaching and his counseling, displays the compassionate heart of a pastor, follows the true leading of the Holy Spirit, and expresses a fervent desire to see lost souls come to know Christ. It is his ultimate desire to see the greater Jacksonville area reached for the cause of Christ and for revival to come to Northeast Florida.
