Sermon Notes 5/11 – The Last Days – The Rapture

2 Peter 3:1-9 – be careful of last days mockers and skeptics

          -people who feel the rapture and return of the Lord won’t happen

(1.) THE HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL – Daniel 5:1-12, 22-31

-Babylon was an enemy of God and the Jewish people

-The handwriting was on the wall for Babylon to be judged by God

-the handwriting on the wall is here today in our world

-the signs point to the rapture happening……soon

(2.) REVELATION vs RAPTURE

REVELATION

-it means to take the lid off/to reveal something

-this is the 2nd coming of Jesus/the Lord’s return to earth with the church

-Acts 1:9-11…Jude 14-15

-we have a promise – John 14:1-3

RAPTURE

-this is the church leaving earth to meet Jesus in the air – 1 Thess 4:13-18 and 1 Cor 15:51-52

-our bodies will be changed

(3.) THE RAPTURE WILL PRODUCE 3 THINGS

1. Comfort – 1 Thess 4:13-18

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

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

2. A MOTIVATION TO LIVE RIGHT  – Titus 2:11-14/2 Peter 3:10-13/1 John 3:2-3

-at any moment we could be standing in front of Jesus

3. THE RAPTURE WILL BE A WITNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND – Matthew 24:13-14

-only unbelievers are left after the rapture – many will be saved

                 How people can be saved after the rapture…

A. Past Prayers – prayers that have been prayed for people to be saved

B. Past Witnessing – seeds planted in the past

C. The Holy Spirit is still present – Haggai 2:5…Acts 20:23…Psalm 139:7

(4.) THE RAPTURE IS A GOD GIVEN SUPERNATURAL LAST DAYS EVENT

GENESIS 5:21-24/HEBREWS 11:5-6

-the supernatural is real and exists and the Lord can do anything

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

-Examples: Enoch – Genesis 5:21-24 & Hebrews 11:5-6

                   Elijah – 2 Kings 2:1-17 (vs9-12)

                   Philip – Acts 8:26-40 (v39)