IMMINENCY

Practical Applicationsto the any moment return

of Christ for the Church

Introduction “Looking for that blessed hope, and the

glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13

The importance of this teaching today

The difference between the rapture and the Second Coming of Christ

Comparison

Rapture “parousia”

For the church Comes in grace In secret In the air Bright and morning star

Second Coming “Epiphaneia”

With the church Comes in judgment Public On the earth Son of righteousness

The only viable view of the rapture (Bap)

The “blessed hope” and the time (I Thessalonians 5:1-9)

The one biblical hermeneutic and what it produces, the any moment return (1)

The clear, plain statement of the text, the normal hermeneutic

There is no such thing as a dispensational hermeneutic

There is only one biblical hermeneutic and it always produces a dispensational theology

The normal, plain, ordinary, consistent, literal use of language (rules and tools)

A text without a context is a pretext

Israel and the church (2)

Have not, are not, will never be the same (similarities)

The tentacles of replacement theology

Stealing blessings from the church

The beginning and completion of the church

Examples Preterism

Progressive dispensationism

Reformed theology

Kingdom theology

REPETITION Repetition is a tool of learning

This is demonstrated in the bible

It often appears in worship as vain repetition

Consider the many times the catching away of the church is used practically

Exhortations To meet together on the Lord’s Day (Heb.

10:25) “as ye see the day approaching”

To eat the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11:23-23) “shew forth the Lord’s death till he come”

To sobriety (I Thess. 3:12-13)”at coming of our Lord”

To fidelity (I John 2:28) “at his coming”

To reject worldliness (Titus 1:11-13) “The glorious appearing”

To love God (II Thess. 3:5) “patient waiting for Christ”

To patience (Heb. 10:36-37) “He that will come will come”

To a holy life (I John 3:2-3) “when He shall appear , we shall be like him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as he is pure”

To pastoral fidelity (I Peter 5:1-4; II Tim. 4:1-4) “at His appearing”

To watchfulness (Titus 2:13) “Looking for that blessed hope”

Influence of Blessed Hope

Revitalizing (Titus 2:11-13) “denying ungodliness

Renunciation (Col. 3:4-5) “putting off the flesh”

Transforming (Titus 2:12) “righteousness”

Restraining (I John 2:28 “not ashamed”) (The Holy Spirit II Thess. 2:7)

Consoling (I Thess. 4:14-18) “that ye sorrow not”

Evangelizing (Acts 1:10-11; 2:41; Matt. 28)

Stabilizing (James 5:7-8) “Be also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh”

Alarming (I Peter 4:17-19) “Judgment”

Doctrinal Aspects of Rapture Bound up with great doctrines

1. The resurrection of the dead saints 2. The translation of living3. The likeness to Christ4. The promise of rewards 5. Our heavenly citizenship6. The judgment seat

No other warning The “any moment” return will be

sudden (I Cor. 15:52) “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”

When He comes He will come “quickly” (Rev.22:20)

He went away, privately personally, literally and visibly (Acts 1:9-11) (like)

His coming for His bride is secret, in grace, in the air, as a thief in the night (I Thess. 5:2)

No prophecy remains to be fulfilled prior to the “catching a way of the church” (II Thess. 2:1-2)

While we do not know the day, we do know about the “blessed hope” and are to be ready “any moment”

Matthew The content of Matthew tells us that

the book was written to the Jew. It may be for the church but not to the church

We must ask the text, who was it written to and which “coming” is this?

The same is true for the “kingdom”, we must ask “which kingdom is this”?

Similarities are not equals

The part is not equal to the whole

Our responsibility is to “simplify to clarify” not “complicate to confuse”

While Matthew 24 teaches “watchfulness”, the context (24:27-31) places this text beyond the rapture and deals with “signs” for the Jew (App)

There is a specific reward given at the BEAMA to those who those who love the any moment Blessed Hope

“Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” II Timothy 4:8

Judgment Seat of Christ

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming” I John 2:28

All true believers (servants)will stand before the BEMA (Rom. 14:10)

The purpose is the presenting of rewards

The judgment is about the service of the believer (II Cor. 10)

If there is a negative it would be the loss of reward (I Cor. 3:11-15)

“Must I go in empty handed”?

All judgment ends here and there is nothing negative in the future of the “Bride of Christ” (Eph. 5:25-27)(wrath)

I Cor. 11:23-32 The Death of Christ that paid for our

sin is central to our security in Christ

His broken body and shed blood are constant reminders of the forgiveness that is ours

The Lords table makes practical application of these truths

At the Lord’s Supper

We look back to the cross

We look up to the throne

We look forward to the any moment return of Christ for the church

The church is commanded to continue this communion until the rapture

It is a reminder of the condemnation of those who have rejected Christ’s work

It is a reminder to the believer that we are to constantly examine ourselves

It is a sign post to recognize sin and confess it (I John 1:9)

It is a reminder of how God deals with a disobedient child (Heb. 12:3-15)

It is a reminder of our witness to the world around us

It is a source of joy and encouragement

These are just some of the reasons why we are to continue this until the catching away that could come at ANY MOMENT

Christ like living is the final apologetic