Rapture of the Church (Part 1)

The rapture and the second coming of Christ are often confused.  Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a scripture verse is referring to the rapture or the second coming.  However, in studying end-times Bible prophecy, it is very important to differentiate between the two.

The rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all believers in Christ) from the earth. The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living, will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye.  The second coming is when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom. The second coming is described in Revelation 19:11-16.

To understand fully the scriptures that deal with the rapture of the church, there will be two separate Bible studies.  In Part 1 we will study and meditate on 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18; and in Part 2, we will be studying and meditating on 1 Corinthians 15: 50-54.

Walking In the Light

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.  (1 John 1:5-7)

Light represents what is good, pure, true, holy, and reliable.  Darkness represents what is sinful and evil.  The statement “God is light” means that God is perfectly holy and true and that He alone can guide us out of the darkness of sin.  Light is also related to truth in that light exposes whatever exists, whether it is good or bad.  God is light by nature, in His essential being, just as He is Spirit (John 4:24) and love (1 John 4:8, 16).  Light refers to God’s moral character.  God is holy, untouched by any evil or sin – there is no darkness at all.   Because God is light, those who desire fellowship with Him must also be pure.

Are Christian’s Required to do Good Works?

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable to men.  (Titus 3:8)

In Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying”, Paul is emphasizing that what he has written (Titus 3:4–8) is a trustworthy statement, one that is central to the Christian faith.  There are four other places in the Pastoral Epistles where Paul labels his teaching as a faithful saying (1 Timothy 1:15, 3:1, 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11–13).  It is significant that the faithful saying in Titus includes an admonition to maintain good works, the theme of the letter.  These things are good and profitable: This emphasizes the practical benefit of good works.

Grinding America Down

If you have a chance, watch this video and let me know what you think. I find it very interesting that the people of the United States of America have allowed this to happen. My only real concern is... may God have mercy on our souls for not standing up for our Christian values and witness to the world.

God's New Covenant

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31: 31-34)

In Jeremiah 31:31, the phrase "days are coming", usually introduces a special occasion of divine intervention in history. As contrasted with the Mosaic and Deuteronomic covenant, Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant with the house of Israel and house of Judah. According to Jeremiah 11:10, both kingdoms had broken God’s covenant by rejecting His words and by worshiping other gods.

My Redeemer Lives!

This must be one of the most inspirational videos that I have watched. Please turn off the music box at the right and enjoy Nicole C. Mullen as she sings about our Redeemer who will someday return to claim His bride.

I'm Back! God is so good!

God's morning to all my blog followers and readers. I am back from vacation with my high school sweetheart. God is so good and He has given us so much to be thankful for. We traveled over 2600 miles around Washington state and central Oregon in our travel trailer. The beauty of the Northern Cascades of Washington were breathtaking. While in Seattle Margaret and I had an early 42nd anniversary dinner at the top of the Space Needle.

When we look out at all of the beauty and breath-taking scenery that we saw along our trip, it simply made me humble myself before our Awesome and Holy God, just knowing that He created it all. Below are a few photographs of some of the beauty that we came across in our travels. God bless and enjoy.

Going on Vacation!

What blessings the Lord has given to me and my wife this year. We will be traveling Washington State for about six weeks in our travel trailer so I will be away from my blogging friends until about the first week of August. I will be taking my laptop computer with me so from time to time I will be able to come onto my blog to read comments so please continue to visit. God's blessings to each and everyone of you.

Jesus is Coming!

Revelation closes human history as Genesis opened it - in paradise. But there is one distinct difference in Revelation - evil is gone forever. Genesis describes Adam and Eve walking and talking with God; Revelation describes people worshiping God face to face. Genesis describes a garden with an evil serpent; Revelation describes a perfect city with no evil. The Garden of Eden was destroyed by sin; but paradise is re-created in the new Jerusalem.

The book of Revelation ends with an urgent request: "Come, Lord Jesus." In a world of problems, persecution, evil, and immorality, Christ calls us to endure in our faith. Our efforts to better our world are important, but their results cannot compare with the transformation that Jesus will bring about when He returns. He alone controls human history, forgives sin, and will re-create the earth and bring lasting peace.

Have a Safe Memorial Day Week-End