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)