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The Rapture-A Sure Word of Prophecy
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In the day in which we live, when dreams and visions abound, we, as Christians, must be watchful that we do not receive a dream or vision as being from the Lord, unless it is in perfect agreement with the Word of God.
Most certainly, Christians are given dreams, visions, and words from the Lord, but we are cautioned to "test the spirits," 1 John 4:1, to see if they are of God. The enemy has the ability to influence dreams and visons because they occur in the soulish realm, which includes the mind. He has no access to our hearts or spirits, because the Holy Spirit dwells within our hearts. Therefore, we must be careful to discern between spiritual experiences which are given by the Holy Spirit and those influenced by the enemy.
The Word of God is always the plumb line and the cornerstone from which we measure every experience in the spiritual realm. Peter reminds us that "we have a more sure word of prophecy" and that we do well to take heed to its light.
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" 1 Peter 1:19
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
Scriptures on Jesus' Soon Return in the Rapture
Many scriptures indicate that the Church should be expecting the imminent return of our Lord Jesus. "Let every word be established in the mouth of two or three witnesses." Deuteronomy 19:15, 2 Corinthians 13:1
Some well-meaning Christians support the idea that the rule of the Antichrist is the next imminent event facing the Church. We are not to be looking for the Antichrist, but for the Christ, our Lord Jesus, as you will see in the Bible verses on this page.
Jesus' coming in the Rapture, or harpadzo, (Greek) to carry away His Bride is the next event that we are to be anticipating, and we should live in the light of His glorious appearing. The word, "imminent," defined as "about to happen at any moment," describes the sudden return of the Lord to take His Bride to Heaven. He always spoke of the element of surprise and suddenness when He was teaching of the rapture or catching away of the Church. Old Testament and New Testament scriptures bear this out in full agreement.
Jesus will return to set up His Millennial (1000 year) reign with the armies of heaven, in His Second Coming, following the seven year tribulation period. The armies of heaven are made up of his "ten thousands of His saints," because we are told in Scripture that the Bride will be in Heaven with Jesus for the seven years of the tribulation period. Consider the following words of Jesus, Our Lord, concerning His return.
Scriptures on the Imminent or Soon Return of Jesus
"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Mat 24:36).
"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Revelation 3:10
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him" (Mat 25:1-6)
"Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13:33-37). This is a perfect picture of the Church loving and serving the Lord, while watching diligently for His sudden return.
"... waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1:7).
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil 3:20).
"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand" (Phil 4:5).
"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess 1:10).
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess 5:6).
"That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Tim 6:14).
"Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus" (Titus 2:13).
"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" (Heb 9:28).
"For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Heb 10:37).
"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door" (James 5:7-9).
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).
"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (1 Peter 4:7).
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 1:21).
"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Rev 3:11).
"Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book" (Rev 22:7).
"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20).
Just as the Word of God promises, we have a more sure word of prophecy than any other word, whether it be dreams, visions, or words of men or women. The Word of God is always the final authority in all things.
Believing the Word of the Lord concerning His catching away of His Bride is not only a glorious event anticipated by those who love Him with a pure, deep, holy love, but it is also a test of our devotion to Him. Is there anything on this earth that is more precious to us than seeing and being with Jesus, our Bridegroom, forevermore? Some say they love Him and want to be in His Presence continually. That is precisely the result of being prepared to go with Him in a twinkling of an eye. We all need to "examine our hearts" as Paul admonished us to do in 2 Corinthians 13:5.
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Cor. 13:5 These may seem like harsh words, but our Father shows His love for us in admonishing and correcting us. His correction is comforting because He is our Father.
In His love,
Betty Seiley
http://glassysea.net
www.revivalwaters.net
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