Sequence of Events
Until the Rapture
End Times
’Twas The Night Before Jesus Came
Suddenly
Come Lord
Millerites
Are You Ready?
Maranatha
The Believer’s Hope is…
Oliver Cromwell
Resources
Continue to Struggle
Second Coming
Frustrations
Topic : Random
Shuffling a Deck of Cards
It takes just seven ordinary, imperfect shuffles to mix a deck of cards thoroughly, researchers have found. Fewer are not enough, and more do not significantly improve the mixing. The mathematical proof, discovered after elaborate computer calculations, was complicated because of the immense number of ways the cards in a deck can be arranged; any of 52 could be first in the deck, any of 51 second, and so on. Multiplied out, the number of possible permutations is exactly 80,658,175,170,943,878,571,660,636,856,403,766,975,289,505, 440,883,277,824, 000,000,000,000. Persi Diaconis, a Harvard University mathematician who is co-author of the study with Dave Bayer, a mathematician and computer scientist at Columbia University, says, “Most people shuffle cards three or four times. Five times is considered excessive.
Sequence of Events
By combining these three passages [1 Cor. 15, John 14:1-3, 1 Thess. 4:12-18] and studying them carefully, we can outline the sequence of events in the Rapture. They are totally different from the coming of Christ to this earth in Power and Great Glory, which we will examine in chapter seven. (Note: In the rapture chart on the next page, each event has a corresponding number to help you locate exactly where it occurs.)
1. The Lord Himself will descend from His Father’s house, where He is preparing a place for us (John 14:1-3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
2. He will come again to receive us to Himself (John 14:1-3).
3. He resurrects those who have fallen asleep in Him (deceased believers whom we will not precede, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-15).
4. The Lord shouts as He descends (“loud command,” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, NIV). All this takes place in the “twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52).
5. We will hear the voice of the archangel (perhaps to lead Israel during the seven years of Tribulation as he did in the Old Testament, 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
6. We will also hear the trumpet call of God (1 Thessalonians 4:16), His last trumpet for the church. (Don’t confuse this with the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15).
7. The dead in Christ will rise first. (The corruptible ashes of their dead bodies are made incorruptible and joined together with their spirit, which Jesus brings with Him, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
8. Then we which are alive and remain shall be changed (made incorruptible by having our bodies made “immortal,” 1 Corinthians 15:51,53).
9. Then we shall be caught up [raptured] together (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
10. With them in the clouds (where we assume the dead and living believers will have a monumental reunion; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).
11. To meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
12. To “receive you to Myself.” Jesus takes us to the Father’s house “that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:3).
13. “And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Additional Events
1. The judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). This verse teaches that at the call of Christ for believers, He will judge all things. Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10), which is described in detail in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, and will evidently be in the “Father’s House.” This judgment prepares Christians for.
2. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Just prior to His coming to earth in Power and Great Glory, which we call the Glorious Appearing, Christ will meet with His Bride, the church, and the wedding and Marriage Supper will take place. In the meantime, after the church is raptured, the world will suffer the unprecedented time of the wrath of God which our Lord called the Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:14).
Until the Rapture
1. Show the Lord’s death, worshippers 1 Cor. 11:26
2. Hold fast his truth, warriors Rev. 2:25
3. Occupy in his service, workers Luke 19:13
4. The Lord descends in the air 1 Thess. 4:16
5. The dead in Christ are raised 1 Cor. 15:20-25
6. The living saints are changed 1 Thess. 4:17
7. Incorruptibility given the dead 1 Cor. 15:52
8. Immortality given to the living 1 Cor. 15:54
9. Caught up together 1 Thess. 4:17
10. Received by Him John 14:3
End Times
The rapture is an eschatological (end times) event where upon the return of Christ the true believers who are “alive and remain shall be caught up together with them [those who already died as Christians] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” (1 Thess. 4:17). This is the time of the resurrection where the Christian receives his resurrected body. First to receive their new bodies are those who have died as Christians, and then “those who are alive and remain.”
There is much debate over the time of the rapture. Does it occur at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the tribulation period? (See Tribulation.)
’Twas The Night Before Jesus Came
‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus returning just like He said
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in his hand,
Was written the name of every saved ed man.
He spoke not a word as he searched for my name;
When He said, “It’s not here” my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest of us were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There’s only one life and when comes the last call,
We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!
Suddenly
Quite suddenly—it may be at the
turning of the lane
Where I stand to watch a skylark
from out the golden grain.
That the trump of God shall thrill me
with its call so loud and clear.
And I’m called away to meet Him
when of all I hold most dear.
Quite suddenly—it may be as I
tread the busy street.
Strong to endure life’s stress and strain
its envy call to meet.
That through the roar of traffic
a trumpet silver clear
Shall stir my startled senses and
proclaim His coming near.
Quite suddenly—it may be as I lie
in dreamless sleep.
That a call shall break my slumber
and a voice sound in my ear
Rise up, my love, and come away
behold, the Bridegroom’s here.
Come Lord
Come, Lord, and tarry not;
Bring the long-looked-for day;
O why these years of waiting here,
These ages of delay'
Come, for Thy saints still wait;
Daily ascends their sigh;
The Spirit and the Bride say,’Come’:
Dost Thou not hear the cry'
Come, for creation groans,
Impatient of Thy stay,
Worn out with these long years of ill,
These ages of delay.
Come, and make all things new;
Build up this ruined earth;
Restore our faded Paradise,
Creation’s second birth.
Come, and begin Thy reign
Of everlasting peace;
Come, take Thy Kingdom to Thyself,
Great King of Righteousness.
- Horatius Bonar
Millerites
All over the Northeast, half a million Adventists—disciples of New York evangelist William Miller—awaited the end of the world on April 3, 1843. Journalists had a field day. Reportedly some disciples were on mountaintops, hoping for a headstart to heaven. Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in union with their departed loved ones. Some high society ladies clustered together outside town to avoid entering God’s holy kingdom amid the common herd. When April 4 dawned as usual, the Millerites were disillusioned, but they took heart. Their leader had predicted a range of dates for the end—dates that have also come and gone.
Are You Ready?
There’s a man in yonder glory I have loved for many years, He has cleared my guilty conscience and has banished all my fears. He is coming in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, And no time will be allotted for you to utter one good-bye. No time to kiss the husband or embrace the loving wife, If they are but united in the bonds of holy life. Are you ready, Christian, ready, for shout and trump and voice? Will His coming make you tremble or cause you to rejoice? Are you walking, talking with Him daily, taking Him your care, Do you live so close to heaven that a breath would waft you there?
Maranatha
The word “maranatha” is a Syriac expression that means: “our Lord comes.” It was used as a greeting in the early church. When believers gathered or parted, they didn’t say “hello” or “goodby” but “Maranatha!” If we had the same upward look today, it would revolutionize the church. O that God’s people had a deepening awareness of the imminent return of the Savior!
While on a South Pole expedition, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship cleared the island than the ice crashed together behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, “It was fortunate you were all packed and ready to go!” They replied, “We never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and reminded each other, ‘The boss may come today.’”
The hymn writer Horatius Bonar exhorted us “to be ready for the last moment by being ready at every moment…so attending to every duty that, let Him come when He may, He finds the house in perfect order, awaiting His return.” The trump may sound anytime. How important for us as Christians to be “packed and ready to go!”
As you leave home today, don’t say goodby—say “Maranatha!”
The Believer’s Hope is…
1. An encouraging hope. John 14:3 Spoken to discouraged disciples. Discouraged by Christ’s departure, encouraged by His return.
2. A comforting hope. 1 Thess. 4:13-18
3. A motivating hope. 1 Cor. 15:50-58 Knowing that resurrection body will be obtained through death or translation, tat labor isn’t fruitless, be steadfast in commitment to Christ and diligent in service for Christ. (v. 58)
4. A purifying hope. 1 John 3:2-3
The effect it should have on us.
1. Be careful 1 John 3:1-2 Purity
2. Be considerate Phil. 4:1-5
3. Be comforted 1 Thess. 4:13-18
4. Be cheered Phil. 3:21 Transformation of our bodies, we’ll be changed.
5. Be concerned for the lost.
Oliver Cromwell
Illus. of Oliver Cromwell. Silver shortage for coins. Only silver was in statues of saints in cathedrals. “Let’s melt down the saints and put them into circulation.”
Resources
- The Rapture in I Thessalonians 5:1-11, Walvoord: A Tribute, Donald Campbell, ed., Moody, 1982, p. 67.
- Taking The Guesswork Out of Applying The Bible, J. Kuhatschek, IVP, pp. 145ff.
- Knowing the Face of God, Tim Stafford, pp. 89-91, how the coming of Christ should affect Christians.
Continue to Struggle
At the height of WWII, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. Yet he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, “Why do you expose yourself to all this danger? Jesus will return any day, and all your work and suffering will be for nothing.”
Bonhoeffer replied, “If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I’ll rest from my labor. But today I have work to do. I must continue the struggle until it’s finished.”
Second Coming
After church, where she had been taught about the Second Coming, a little girl was quizzing her mother. “Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?”
“Yes.”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“In a few minutes?”
“Yes, dear.”
“Mommy, would you comb my hair?”
Frustrations
A rural housewife, Fay Inchfawn, who lived a generation ago, wrote these lines on her need and expectancy of God’s presence which speak to us of the more sophisticated frustrations of our modern day:
Sometimes, when everything goes wrong;
When days are short and nights are long,
When wash day brings so dull a sky,
That not a single thing will dry.
And when the kitchen chimney smokes,
And when there’s none so “old” as folks;
When friends deplore my faded youth,
And when the baby cuts a tooth.
While John, the baby last but one,
Clings round my skirts till day is done;
And fat, good-natured Jane is glum
And butcher’s man forgets to come.
Sometimes I say, on days like these
I get a sudden gleam of bliss.
Not on some sunny day of ease
He’ll come…but on a day like this.
