Sermon Notes 6/1 – The Last Days

***We believe in the rapture because it is Biblical – Isaiah 26:20-21a

-The final authority is the Word of God

***The rapture is a Biblical event where the entire body of Christ goes to meet the Lord in the air – 1 Thess 4:13-18

                      The Rapture Will Produce 3 Things:

        1.) COMFORT – 1 Thess 4:13-18 (v18)

a. we will be comforted now before the rapture happens

          -God is the God of all comfort – 1 2 Cor 1:4

-comfort means to be encouraged and strengthened

           -The Holy Spirit is our Comforter – John 14:26

-it refers to being cheerful knowing the Lord is working in us and on us

b. we can be comforted knowing what will happen when the rapture occurs

       2.) there will be a motivation to live right – Titus 2:11-14…1 John 3:2-3 and 2 Peter 3:10-13.we will stand before the Lord face to face

        3.) The Rapture will be a witness to those left behind – Phil 3:20-21

-only unbelievers are left when the rapture occurs

-people will get saved after the rapture happens

              HOW CAN PEOPLE BE SAVED WHEN THE RAPTURE

                     TAKES PLACE AND THE CHURCH IS GONE

     a. Past Witnessing – 1 Thess 1:6-10

     b. Past Prayer – 2 Timothy 1:1-7

     c. The Holy Spirit is Omnipresent – Haggai 2:5/Acts 20:23/Psalm 139:7

***THE LORD IS A PEOPLE MOVER – Colossians 1:13-14

-the rapture is a God given, Biblical,supernatural act of God that will happen

-Enoch – Gen 5:21-24 & Hebrews 11:5-6

-Elijah & the chariots of fire – 2 Kings 2:1-17 (vs9-12)

-Philip – Acts 8:26-40 (v39)

-The transfiguration of Jesus – Mark 9:2-8

-Rapture – the first time the Lord takes a large group of people from earth to heaven