Category: Book Reviews

Rapture and Return; The Great Disappearance Ch 26

Mix-ups in terminology can be harmful in any field, including our study of biblical prophecy and the End Times. Over the years i’ve noticed on particular misunderstanding that occurs regularly and often hinders the way people grasp God’s prophetic plan: confusing the Rapture and the Second Coming. Many who read Scripture lump those two occurrences into the same moment – they think of Christians being caught up in the Rapture even as Christ descends from heaven to bring judgment on the earth. In reality, these are two separate terms that describe two distinct events.

As we’ll see, there are many similarities between the Rapture and the Second Coming, and so the confusion is understandable. But in order to have a firm grasp of God’s prophetic plan for the future, we need to notice the distinctions between these two events.

Let’s dig deeper by exploring four ntoable differences tat will help us separate these two appearances of Christ.

DIFFERENT SETTINGS

DIFFERENT SIGNALS

DIFFERENT SCRIPTS

DIFFERENT SPECTATORS

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Dead Silence; The Great Disappearance Ch 25

There are many times when silence is a powerful witness to the facts, and that’s true when it comes to the Rapture of the chruch and the events of the Tribulation as we find them in the book of Revelation. So far, we’ve already established our conviction that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation. The “curious incident” of dead silence regarding the church in the core chapters of Revelation comes alongside that conclusion and helps corroborate it.

DEAD SILENCE ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE CHURCH

  • Things you have seen
  • Things which are
  • Things which will take place after this

DEAD SILENCE ABOUT THE PREPARATION OF THE CHURCH

DEAD SILENCE ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

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Kept From The Hour – The Great Disappearance Ch 24

The Rapture is a biblical promise stating that one day Jesus will drop everything, bring His people to Himself, and make our deepest dreams come true by welcoming us to His Father’s house for all eternity.

In this chapter, we’re going to closely examine one verse of Scripture that indicates a before-the-Tribulation Rapture. It’s one of the most important verses in the entire New Testament on this subject and worthy of investigation.

THE SCOPE OF THIS PROMISE

THE SECURITY OF THIS PROMISE

THE SIMPLICITY OF THIS PROMISE

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROMISE

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Why the Delay? – The Great Disappearance Ch 22

We saw in the previous chapter that the Rapture is Imminent, meaning it can happen at any moment. Yet our Lord Jesus has not yet returned. For two thousand years, Christians have watched and waited for the catalyst of the Rapture to coalesce into the next phase in God’s prophetic plan. And we are still waiting.

I’ts fair to ask the question: Why the delay?

THE LORD’S PERSPECTIVE

THE LORD’S PATIENCE

THE LORD’S PREFERENCE

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At Any Moment; The Great Disappearance Ch 21

Ch 21 At Any Moment – The Great Disappearance – Faith Matters Podcast

One of the key teachings about the Rapture that is recorded in several places in Scripture is often called the doctrine of imminency.

When something is imminent, it could happen at any moment. There are no barriers that need to be removed or qualifications that need to be met before it occurs. Importantly, an event that is “imminent” is not necessarily “immediate.” Saying an event is imminent does not mean it is guaranteed to occur in the immediate future, only that it could occur at any time.

Bible expositor A. T. Pierson wrote, “Imminence is the combination of two conditions . . . certainty and uncertainty. An imminent event is one which is certain to occur at some time, uncertain at what time. Imminent is not synonymous with impending. It is not exact to say what is imminent is near at hand; it may or may not be.”

I am highlighting this term because the Bible presents the Rapture as an imminent event – one that could take place at any moment. This chapter will show you where to find those claims in Scripture and why the doctrine of imminency is important for your everyday life.

The Passages That Introduce Imminency

The Pronouns That Insist On Imminency

The Parables That Illustrate Imminency

The Perspective That Interprets Imminency

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Salvation in the Tribulation – The Great Disappearance Ch 20

The grace of God will pull many people out of the rubble of the Tribulation. There will still be hope for those left behind after the Rapture. The gospel will still be available, even if the church is gone.

There will be at least four streams of gospel truth that will cut a channel through the Tribulation. In fact, it is possible that the spiritual awakening that will occur during the Tribulation will be the greatest evangelistic harvest the world has ever seen.

The Preaching of the 144,000

The Prophesying of the Two Witnesses

The Proclamation of the Angel

The Presence of Bibles and Biblical Materials

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The Tribulation – The Great Disappearance Ch 19

Reading about the horrors of war as a student of biblical prophecy causes me to think about what our entire world will experience in the future. Reading about the trials and tribulations of people in a war-torn country reminds me that the Tribulation is coming — and perhaps coming soon.

Remember, the Rapture will not occur in a vacuum. The moment Jesus steps through the gates of heaven and returns to rescue His people from this world, the countdown to Tribulation will begin. Therefore, it’s important for us to learn more about that seven-year period looming on the horizon of human history.

The Picture of the Tribulation

Seven Years of Surprise

Seven Years of Severity

The Purpose of the Tribulation

To Purify Israel

To Punish Sinners

To Preach the Gospel

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Mindful of Heaven – The Great Disappearance Ch 18

Now that we know a little more about what heaven is and what we will experience there, let’s learn how the reality of heaven impacts our lives here on earth. The New Testament constantly affirms that what we believe about heaven affects how we live now. How we view the future has a tremendous influence on how we conduct ourselves in the present.

The apostle Peter devoted a powerful chapter to prophecies about the end of the world when he wrote his second letter, and his takeaway is timeless:

What manner, indeed!

In light of 2 Peter 3, let’s discuss the difference it makes when we know God’s future plans for us. How should we live today in light of what we’ve learned about heaven, the Rapture, and eternal life?

Peter answered that question in straightforward language, and I think it’s helpful to see the practicality of his insights. He offered five characteristics true of rapture ready people.

PEOPLE OF PURITY

PEOPLE OF PROMISE

PEOPLE OF PURPOSE

PEOPLE OF PERSISTANCE

PEOPLE OF PROGRESS

Growth comes through the will of God

Growth comes through the watchfullness of prayer.

Growth comes through the Word of God.

Growth comes through the work of the church

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What’s Up With Heaven? – The Great Disappearance Ch 17

Ch 17 What's Up With Heaven? – The Great Disappearance – Faith Matters Podcast

We’ve spent many pages exploring and seeking to uderstand the Rapture of the church, during which Jesus will escort believers to heaven to live with Him forever. We know amazing new experiences are in store for believers in heaven, and we will learn about some of them in this chapter.

But what, specifically, can we expect to encounter there? What will we find?

In a word, everything! Everything that is most precious and clear to you and me, everything that is important to Christ-followers, is currently in heaven. Everything we need or desire will be found in heaven once we pass through its magnificent gates, either by death or by being caught up with Christ at the Rapture.

OUR REAL ESTATE IS IN HEAVEN

OUR REDEEMER IS IN HEAVEN

OUR RELATIONSHIPS ARE IN HEAVEN

OUR RESOURCES ARE IN HEAVEN

OUR RESIDENCE IS IN HEAVEN

OUR RICHES ARE IN HEAVEN

OUR RESERVATION IS IN HEAVEN

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