Participants: Pr. Taj Pacleb
Series Code: ROHB
Program Code: ROHB000006
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00:41 Our message tonight is entitled
00:42 "Revelations Knight in Shining Armor." 00:46 And I invite you to take your Bible 00:47 and open with me to the book of Revelation 12 00:51 as we begin our study tonight. 00:54 We're going to the 12th chapter of the book of Revelation 00:57 as we study about Revelations Knight in Shining Armor. 01:03 Let me first as your turning there 01:04 let me tell you where I got the title from. 01:07 What is this knight in shining armor 01:08 we're referring to? 01:10 Well, friends, knight in shining armors, 01:12 they are usually heroic characters 01:15 that are found in romantic literature 01:17 especially, during the medieval times. 01:20 And these knights were characterized 01:22 as courageous warriors of justice and nobility 01:27 and mercy and hope and honor. 01:30 And tonight friends, 01:31 we're not gonna talk about fiction or fantasies 01:34 but rather the true biblical story 01:36 of Revelations Knight in Shining Armor. 01:39 And we're gonna see tonight 01:40 that the book of Revelation indeed 01:42 is a love story between Jesus and His bride, the church. 01:49 Because in Bible prophecy we read about a woman a bride 01:54 that is being attacked by a terrible monster, 01:58 she is a damsel that is in distress. 02:01 And she is described in Revelation 12, 02:03 notice with me in verse 13. 02:06 and the Bible says, 02:09 "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, 02:12 he persecuted." Who? 02:14 "The woman which brought forth the man child." 02:17 Here we find the dragon 02:19 is persecuting and attacking a woman. 02:22 And we learned before that the dragon 02:23 represents Satan according to verse 9. 02:26 It says in verse 9, "The great dragon was cast out, 02:28 that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan." 02:30 And so we find the dragon who is Satan attacking a woman, 02:34 a damsel in distress, a woman that is been attacked 02:37 and pursued by a terrible monster, 02:40 the dragon that is none other than Satan himself. 02:42 Well, who is this woman then? 02:44 We learned before that in Bible prophecy, 02:47 the woman represents God's people. 02:50 And friends many people believe 02:51 that this woman described in Revelation 12 02:55 is none other than Israel. 02:56 And friends, I am gonna agreement with that 02:59 but as we learned last night 03:00 who is Israel according to New Testament theology. 03:04 It is none other than 03:05 the New Testament Christian church, 03:06 isn't that right? 03:07 Its God's people made of Jew and Gentile. 03:10 This woman of Revelation 12 is represented 03:13 of spiritual Israel in the last days 03:15 which simply means the church of God 03:17 and this is consistent with New Testament theology. 03:20 In fact notice, in Ephesians 5:25 it says, 03:23 "Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved." 03:26 What? "The church and gave himself for it." 03:30 And then you find in 2 Corinthians 11:2 03:32 and Jeremiah 6:2 and many other passages make very clearly 03:37 that the woman represents the church. 03:39 In the Old Testament it was Israel. 03:40 Israel is the church but in the New Testament, 03:42 spiritual Israel is the woman 03:44 which represents the New Testament church 03:46 made of Jew and Gentile alike. 03:48 And we studied that in detail last night. 03:50 And so as we see a dragon attacking this woman 03:53 it's a symbol of Satan trying to destroy you and I, 03:57 God's people, his church. 03:59 And I want is to notice whom the devil uses 04:02 to try to destroy us. 04:03 In chapter 13:4, we looked at this on a previous night. 04:08 The Bible says, "And they worshipped the dragon 04:10 which gave power un to the, whom, the beast. 04:13 And they worshipped the beast, 04:14 saying, Who is like unto the beast? 04:16 And who is able to make." 04:17 What? "War with him?" 04:19 Here we find the dragon 04:20 who is Satan empowers this beast system 04:24 that we're gonna study on a future night, 04:26 to make war with the woman the church of God. 04:29 In fact notice verse 7, "And it was given unto him 04:32 to make war with the." Who? 04:34 "The saints." That's the woman, the church. 04:36 "And to overcome them. 04:37 And power was given him 04:38 over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." 04:41 And so here we find the dragon 04:43 empowers this beast kingdom to attack and destroy 04:48 the bride of Christ the church of God. 04:50 And the question is asked in this passage, 04:52 who is able to make war with the beast? 04:56 I mean the woman doesn't have a--doesn't stand the chance 05:00 in her own strength against this beast kingdom. 05:04 You see, we are no match for Satan and the Antichrist. 05:07 Friends, we have no power in ourselves. 05:11 It is impossible for us to overcome 05:13 in this war in our own merits. 05:15 And so the question is asked, 05:16 who is able to make a war 05:19 against the beast and the dragon? 05:21 Well, this question is answered in Revelation 19 05:27 because in the 19 chapter of the book of Revelation 05:29 it describes someone that is coming 05:31 to the rescue of the woman. 05:33 And this knight in shining armor 05:35 is coming to slay the dragon, to slay the beast 05:39 and to save the damsel in distress. 05:41 Here is Revelations Knight in Shining Armor, 05:43 here comes King Jesus, riding on a white horse. 05:48 The dragon maybe attacking you tonight-- 05:50 attacking your finances, and your marriage, 05:52 and your family, and your children 05:54 but don't worry there's someone that's coming to our rescue, 05:57 King Jesus, can you say, Amen? Amen. 05:59 And when he comes, he's not coming alone. 06:00 Notice, what it says in the next verse, verse 14, 06:03 it says, "And the armies which were in heaven 06:05 followed him upon white horses, 06:07 clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 06:09 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword." 06:11 Here is the weapon of the knight. 06:13 From his mouth goes a sharp sword. 06:15 What is that sword? 06:16 It is the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. 06:19 It comes of His mouth, it's the word friends. 06:21 And notice this word is going to judge 06:24 and destroy the wicked. 06:26 It says, "out of his mouth goes a sharp sword. 06:28 That with it He should smite the nations 06:31 and He shall rule them with a rod of iron 06:33 and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness 06:35 and wrath of Almighty God. 06:36 And He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, 06:39 King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords." 06:43 Friends what we're reading here 06:44 is the description of the second coming 06:47 of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, 06:49 can you say Amen? Amen. 06:50 He is the Knight in Shining Armor. 06:52 Now friends when the Bible describes 06:54 Jesus coming on a white horse 06:56 it's not because He's literally gonna come back 06:58 on a white horse. 07:00 It's a symbol and back in these times people understood 07:03 that whenever a king would come to a specific place 07:06 riding on a white horse, it was a symbol that, 07:09 that king was coming as a conquering king, 07:12 a triumphing king, a victorious king. 07:15 And that's how Jesus is gonna come the second time. 07:18 Not literally on a white horse but literally as a triumphant, 07:22 conquering and victorious king, 07:24 can you say, Amen? Amen. 07:25 You see, his second coming 07:26 is not gonna be like His first coming. 07:28 In His first coming He came as a humble babe, 07:30 as a suffering servant. 07:32 In His first coming He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, 07:35 symbolized that He was coming as a suffering servant 07:38 to die for the sins of the world. 07:40 But the second time He comes it's not gonna be on a donkey. 07:43 Friends, it's gonna be upon a white stallion 07:46 representing that He is King of kings and the Lord of lords. 07:49 You see, this world has been hijacked by Satan. 07:52 And so the rightful King is gonna come to take you back, 07:55 can you say, Amen? Amen. 07:56 And He is coming for two main reasons. 07:59 Number 1, He is coming to slay the beast and the dragon. 08:03 But more importantly than that, number 2, 08:05 He is coming to save you and I, the church, the woman, 08:08 the damsel in distress. 08:10 Oh, friends don't you see, that the book of Revelation 08:12 is a love story between Christ and His bride. 08:16 On a white horse He's coming, it's a symbol. 08:19 And by the way friends He's not just a warrior King, 08:23 he's also a lovesick husband that wants to be with His wife. 08:28 I remember when I was in India, a few years ago 08:30 I got the chance to go there 08:32 and do some meetings like this in India. 08:33 And on our last day they were rushing to the airport 08:36 and the streets of India were so crowded 08:39 and passed by this scene and I took this picture. 08:41 It was a man riding on a white horse. 08:45 And I asked my driver, what was taking place, 08:47 you know what he said? 08:48 He said that, "that man riding on that white horse 08:50 was a husband going to pick up his bride on his wedding day." 08:56 And we see the same symbolism right here in the Revelation. 08:59 Jesus, riding on a white horse, why? 09:01 Because He's not just King of kings and Lord of lords. 09:04 He is not only a judge and a warrior, 09:06 but he's a lovesick King 09:07 that is coming for his Bride, the church. 09:10 Oh, friends, it's a love story between Jesus and His bride, 09:13 can you say Amen? Amen. 09:14 And friends when we look at the book of Revelation in-- 09:16 with these glasses it's not a scary book, 09:19 it's a powerful book that gives us so much hope 09:22 that we don't have to be afraid 09:24 of what the beast and dragon is doing in these last days. 09:27 Because our knight is coming to save us, 09:29 can you say, Amen? Amen. 09:30 And friends, I want you to notice, 09:32 as the bride is being attacked, 09:34 He comes to her rescue. 09:36 And notice what happens to her attackers. 09:39 Notice with me now in verse 19, 09:40 Revelation 19 notice verse 19. 09:43 It says, "And I saw the beast, 09:44 and the Kings of the earth, and their armies 09:47 gathered together to make war against him 09:49 that sate on the horse, and against his army. 09:51 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, 09:54 that wrought miracles before him, 09:55 with which he deceived them 09:57 that had received the mark of the beast, 09:58 and them that worshipped his image. 10:00 These both were cast alive into a lake of fire 10:02 burning with brimstone. 10:03 And the remnant were slain." 10:05 The remnant was what? Slain. 10:06 "Slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, 10:10 which sword proceeded out of his mouth 10:11 and all the fouls were filled with their flesh." 10:16 All the, what was filled with the flesh? Fouls. 10:18 The fouls were filled with their flesh. 10:21 When this day takes place 10:23 either we're gonna be a part of the marriage 10:25 supper of the Lamb 10:26 or we'll be a part of the feast of the fouls. 10:30 Friends, which one is better? 10:35 Friends, if we are a part of the marriage supper 10:38 of the Lamb, we're to be the main guests. 10:42 Jesus Himself is gonna serve us. 10:44 Friends, I want to be a part of that one, Amen? Amen. 10:47 But if we're part of the feast of the fouls, 10:50 we're not gonna be the main guests, 10:53 we're gonna be the main course. 10:56 And friends I don't know about you 10:57 but I don't want any buzzard picking on me, 10:59 can you say, Amen? Amen. 11:00 And so tonight it makes good sense 11:03 to allow Jesus to prepare us for the wedding day. 11:06 And the thing that prepares the wife for her wedding 11:09 is putting on that wedding dress that represents 11:11 the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 11:14 Friends, you want to be ready for His coming? 11:16 Oh, my friends, the promise of His return 11:19 is also attended with very serious and solemn warnings. 11:24 I want you notice, Jesus warned us about what's Satan 11:26 and the beast power is going to do in the last days? 11:29 In Matthew 24:4-5, we're gonna study this whole chapter 11:33 in detail this coming Saturday. 11:35 But notice in Matthew 24:4-5, Jesus said, 11:38 "Take heed that no man do." 11:40 What? "Deceive you. 11:42 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, 11:47 and shall deceive many." 11:48 Here Jesus warns that in the last days 11:51 that Satan will seek to deceive the bride 11:55 by false Christ by false husbands. 11:57 And friends he says it again in verse 24, 12:01 he says "For there shall arise false Christ's, 12:03 and false prophets, and shall show great signs 12:06 and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, 12:09 they shall deceive the very elect." 12:12 So the Bible says "that Satan will have the power 12:14 to perform signs and wonders claiming to be Christ." 12:18 But really it's the Antichrist. 12:20 And those who are custom to living by their sight 12:22 and their senses they can easily be let astray 12:26 by these falls miracles. 12:27 Friends make no mistake about it. 12:29 Miracles are not an invitation of truth, 12:32 how can we know what truth is? 12:34 Not by what we see or how we view or what a preacher says 12:38 but by the word of God, can you say, Amen? Amen. 12:42 That's the only way where we can know what truth is. 12:44 So here Jesus is warning us, 12:45 He says "yes I'm gonna come again but be careful, 12:48 don't be deceived by a false Christ that claims to be Me." 12:53 And then He gets even more specific 12:56 and tells us what some of Satan's deceptions 12:58 are gonna be in the last days. 13:00 Notice in verse 26 of Matthew 24, write it down. 13:05 Jesus said, "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, 13:08 Behold, he is in the desert, do not go forth, 13:12 behold, he is in the." What? 13:15 "Secret chambers." Are we to believe it? 13:18 "Believe it not" Jesus says. 13:20 So Christ here is prophesying that in the last days 13:22 there will be false teachings 13:25 about how Jesus would come back. 13:28 And so Christ warns us, if they say to you 13:30 that I am in the secret chambers or if I'm in the desert 13:33 don't go there and don't believe it 13:35 because this is not the way that I am going to return. 13:39 So Christ warns us that there will be false teachings 13:43 about the manner in which He will come in the last days. 13:48 And so we need to be very, very careful 13:52 of false teachings about the second coming of Christ. 13:55 You see, friends, to many people 13:57 the second coming of Christ is gonna catch them of God. 14:00 To many it's gonna come upon them with blinding force 14:04 and as a overwhelming surprise. 14:05 You know why? 14:06 For the same reason most people missed 14:10 the first coming of Jesus. 14:12 The Bible tells us, "When the Jesus came the first time, 14:16 that He came to His own but his own received Him not." 14:21 Friends, why was it that the religious world 14:23 missed the first coming of Jesus. 14:27 For the same reason why that many in the Christian world 14:30 will also miss the second coming of Jesus. 14:33 Because during the time of His first coming, 14:36 the religious teachers of the day 14:39 had an unbiblical view of how the Messiah would come. 14:44 And amongst the laity, the church members 14:46 few of them were studying the Bible for themselves 14:50 they were just listening to what the priest 14:52 and the pastors that they were saying. 14:54 But friends they had the wrong belief. 14:56 They had an incorrect understanding 14:59 about how the Messiah would come 15:01 and most people instead of studying the Bible 15:02 for themselves they believed the popular view. 15:05 They believed what all of the scholars 15:06 and theologians were saying but here's the problem. 15:10 What they were saying was not the truth 15:14 and friends I want to submit to us tonight 15:16 that history is being repeated today. 15:20 Because many people in fact majority in the religious world 15:24 have an unbiblical understanding 15:26 concerning the second coming of Christ. 15:30 The scholars and theologians of the day they have, 15:32 they're teaching something that Jesus did not teach 15:35 and the Bible does not teach. 15:37 And of course many church members 15:39 who are accustomed to being spoon fed by ministers 15:43 and not studying the Bible for themselves. 15:46 But friends tonight as we turn to the scriptures, 15:48 the truth of gods word is going to set us free 15:52 from the confusing counterfeits of the Antichrist, 15:55 can you say, Amen? Amen. 15:56 As we study God's word for ourselves 15:58 and not just taking one or two verses to build a doctrine 16:01 but seeing what the entire Bible has to say concerning 16:04 the second coming of Christ. 16:05 We can know what truth is. 16:07 And Jesus said "when we know the truth 16:09 the truth will set us free, 16:12 free from deception and confusion and counterfeits." 16:16 And so here's the question you want to answer tonight, 16:18 the question is, how is Jesus going to come back? 16:23 But before we answer that, let me ask another question, 16:25 tell me folks, do you think it's important to know exactly 16:29 how Jesus is gonna come back, yes or no? 16:31 Yes. Is that important? 16:33 How important is it, friends? 16:35 A matter of eternity 16:39 for if we do not know exactly how He is coming back, 16:43 we just might easily end up following a false Christ 16:49 thinking that he's the real deal. 16:52 And so tonight I want to share with you 5 truths, 16:54 how many? Five. 16:56 Of how Jesus is going to come back, and friends, 16:59 we're gonna have a lot of scripture to back this up 17:01 because you test all things by the word of God, 17:05 can you say, Amen? Amen. 17:06 And so I'm gonna give you a lot of scriptures 17:07 and by the way friends, I hope you don't mind me 17:09 giving you a lot of scripture 17:11 because it really doesn't matter what I say, Amen? Amen. 17:13 All that matters is what the Bible says. 17:15 And so I want you know is the first truth 17:16 about the coming of Christ, please write it down, 17:18 the second coming, number 1 is going to be a literal 17:22 and a personal event. 17:24 In other words, Jesus is Himself 17:25 is going to come back literally, how do we know? 17:28 Because the Bible tells us so 17:29 in the book of Acts 1:9-11 please write it down. 17:33 Acts 1:9-11 the Bible says, 17:35 "And when he had spoken these things, 17:38 while they beheld, he was taken up, 17:40 and a cloud received him out of their sight." 17:42 Now friends this is referring to the ascension of Jesus. 17:46 He had resurrected from the grave 17:48 and now he is ascending back to the throne of God in heaven. 17:51 And this is a literal event, 17:52 the disciples are literally standing there. 17:54 And with their own eyes they see Jesus 17:57 ascending to the heaven being caught up by a cloud 18:01 and then notice it continues, 18:02 "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven 18:05 as he went up behold, two men stood by them 18:08 in white apparel which also said, 18:10 Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye Gazing up into heaven." 18:15 This same Jesus, which is taken up 18:19 from you into heaven, shall so come," how? 18:23 "In like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." 18:27 Notice the words that are being used here. 18:30 The verbs are, they beheld, they, they looked, 18:34 they gazed, they saw with their eyes. 18:37 It was a literal event that was taking place. 18:40 It wasn't a spiritualistic type of a thing, 18:42 Jesus literally went up and angels said the same way 18:45 He went up is the same way He is coming back. 18:47 In other words, friends it's literal, just as creation 18:50 and the cross world literal events 18:52 so to the coming about my Lord 18:54 is going to be a literal event. 18:56 It is not a spiritualistic occurrence 18:59 but He himself is coming. 19:00 Bible says this same Jesus. 19:03 In other words Christ is not gonna send 19:04 an emissary to pick us up. 19:06 He himself is coming for his woman, 19:08 can you say, Amen? Amen. 19:10 Now we go to our second truth of the coming of the Lord 19:12 and that is His coming is going to be a visible event. 19:16 In other words, we will be able to see this take place 19:19 with our own eyes. 19:20 The Bible says in the book of Matthew 24:30, 19:23 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, 19:26 and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, 19:28 and they shall." What? 19:30 "See the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven 19:33 with power and great glory." 19:35 Jesus describes his own coming, 19:37 and he says "that we're gonna see it, 19:39 it's gonna be powerful, it's gonna be glorious." 19:41 In fact notice in Revelation 1:7, it says, 19:44 "Behold He comes with." What? 19:46 Clouds and some eyes shall see him, 19:51 most eyes shall see him, how many eyes? 19:54 The Bible says, "every eye shall see Him". 19:56 Friends, we're gonna see this, 19:59 it's gonna be a visible event 20:00 and the Bible says He's coming with clouds. 20:03 Now when it says that, does that mean that Jesus is coming 20:05 with white puffy things in the sky? 20:07 Perhaps there might be some clouds 20:09 but friends those clouds represent something. 20:11 Guess what it represents. 20:12 Notice when it says in Psalm 104:3-4 write it down. 20:16 The Bible says, "Who makes the clouds his chariot, 20:19 who walks upon the wings of the wind, 20:22 who makes his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire." 20:26 So according to this passage 20:27 the Bible says "He is gonna make the cloud his chariot." 20:31 Now friends, what are the chariots of God? 20:32 Psalm 68:17 tells us that "The chariots of God 20:36 are twenty thousand, even thousands of." 20:40 What? "angels." 20:41 Here we find He is coming with clouds 20:43 and these are just a cloud of angels, 20:46 remember the angelic hosts the armies of heaven 20:48 that we read about in Revelation 19, 20:50 that follow Him on white horses, 20:52 that's the angelic hosts. 20:53 When Jesus comes, He is coming with every angel of heaven, 20:57 this is something that we can't sleep through friends 20:59 we're gonna see it, can you say, Amen? Amen. 21:01 In fact I want you notice, how many angels are there 21:04 that Jesus will come with? 21:06 Notice what it says in Hebrews 12:22, 21:09 "But ye are come unto mount Sion, 21:11 and unto the city of the living God, 21:13 the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable 21:17 company of angels." 21:19 Friends, there are so many angels, 21:21 the Bible says "it's innumerable, 21:22 we can't put a number to it." 21:24 Now friends I want you to think about it, 21:26 you remember when that one angel came 21:28 and removed a stone from the tomb of Jesus 21:31 and called Jesus from the grave. 21:33 You remember the glory and power of that one angel 21:36 it calls the earth to shake and it calls the guards 21:39 to fear back as dead men. 21:41 Now friends if the glory of one angel can have such an effect 21:45 can you imagine the glory and the power 21:47 of an innumerable company of angels? 21:52 It's gonna be powerful, can you say, Amen? Amen. 21:53 And I can't wait for this day, how about you? 21:55 And so we find very clearly that the coming of our Lord 21:58 is going to be a visible event, 22:00 Bible says, "every eye will see Him." 22:02 And not only will it be a visible event 22:04 but it's also gonna be an audible event. 22:06 In other words, we will be able to hear it 22:08 with our own ears. 22:09 Notice when it says in Psalm 50:3 write it down. 22:12 The Bible says, "Our God shall come, 22:16 and shall not keep silence, a fire shall devour before him, 22:21 and it shall be very tempestuous round about him." 22:23 The Bible tells us when He comes 22:25 He is not going to keep silent. 22:27 In other words, He is not gonna sneak into town. 22:30 A fire is gonna devour before Him 22:32 and we're gonna see it and we're gonna hear it as well. 22:34 In fact notice in Jeremiah 25:30, 22:37 "The Lord shall roar from on high, 22:40 and utter his voice from his holy habitation, 22:43 he shall mightily roar upon his habitation, 22:45 he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes." 22:49 A Lion of the tribe of Judah is gonna give a mighty roar, 22:52 and every ear is gonna hear it when it happens, 22:55 can you say, Amen? Amen. 22:56 In fact I want us to notice, 22:58 the loudest scripture in the Bible, 23:01 refers to the second coming of Jesus. 23:04 You will not find a louder scripture than this one, 23:07 in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 please write it down. 23:11 The Bible says, "For the Lord himself shall descend 23:14 from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, 23:18 and with the trump of God, 23:20 and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 23:24 The Bible says "it's gonna be so loud 23:26 that those who are sleeping in the graves are gonna wake up, 23:29 the dead in Christ are gonna arise." 23:31 Friends, the trumpet is going to sound, 23:34 the angels will be singing the Lord himself is gonna shout, 23:37 the dead in Christ are gonna arise. 23:38 And then it says, "Then we which are alive and remain." 23:42 Those of us who will live in the last days, 23:44 "Shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, 23:49 to meet the Lord." Where? 23:51 "In the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 23:55 The Bible says "that when Jesus comes, 23:57 the dead in Christ are gonna arise, 23:59 then those who live in the last days 24:00 are gonna be caught up with them in the clouds 24:02 to meet Jesus in the air." 24:04 Oh, friends on that great getting up in the morning, 24:06 when the trumpet sounds the resurrection morning, 24:09 graves are gonna burst open like popcorn, 24:12 popping on a hot stove. 24:13 The dead in Christ are gonna come out of their sleepy graves 24:16 and those of us who are living 24:17 all will ascend to meet them in the air. 24:19 And then the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:52-53, 24:23 it says, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 24:26 at the last trump for the trumpet shall sound, 24:29 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, 24:31 and we shall be changed." 24:33 For this corruptible must put on incorruption 24:35 and this mortal must put on immortality. 24:39 The Bible says "that when we ascend 24:40 to meet the Lord in the air, 24:41 at that last trump in the second coming of Christ." 24:43 It says "that we're gonna receive an incorruptible, 24:45 immortal body, free from aches and pains 24:48 and head aches and heart aches." 24:50 Friends no more cancer, no more diabetes, 24:52 no more arthritis, no more osteoporosis, 24:54 no more multiple sclerosis, 24:56 no more head aches and heart aches 24:57 a brand new body of perfection and youth and strength. 25:01 And I don't know about you friends, 25:02 but I can't wait for my brand new body, Amen? Amen. 25:05 You know, sometimes we look in the mirror, 25:07 sometimes we look in the mirror 25:09 and we don't like what we see. 25:10 But friends in heaven we're gonna love what we see, 25:12 Amen? Amen. 25:13 Those who view with eye glasses, you can throw those away, 25:16 Jesus will give you brand new eyes. 25:18 Hearing aids get rid of those things, 25:20 you'll hear the sweet voice of Jesus so clearly, Amen? Amen. 25:23 And young people, no more pimples, Amen? 25:27 We'll have a clear complexion. 25:29 Oh, what a day that will be when our Jesus we shall see. 25:33 When we look upon His face, 25:35 the one that has saved us by his grace. 25:38 When He takes us by the hand 25:39 and leads us to the Promise Land. 25:42 Oh, what a day, what a glorious day that will be, 25:45 when our Knight in Shining Armor comes to rescue us 25:48 and take us out of this crazy world. 25:50 Friends, I want to be ready, how about you? 25:52 I don't know if you can tell but I'm pretty excited 25:54 about the coming of our Lord, Amen? Amen. 25:56 Jesus is coming friends, it's gonna be a literal 25:59 and a personal and a visible and an audible event. 26:03 There is no secret about the rapture friends. 26:05 We will see it, we will hear it, it's gonna be glorious. 26:09 And friends, if this is clear so far 26:11 would you please say, Amen? Amen. 26:14 The next truth about the coming of Jesus 26:16 is that, it's going to be a decisive event, 26:19 what do we mean by this? 26:21 Listen carefully, decisive in the sense 26:23 that the destiny of mankind is forever decided. 26:28 In other words, that's it friends, 26:31 eternal destinies are determined. 26:33 Jesus comes, probation is closed upon the world. 26:37 But some of you might be wondering 26:38 and thinking to yourself but. 26:39 But wasn't there a second chance, 26:41 I thought I heard about a second chance, 26:43 after the secret rapture, those who did not make it 26:47 have another opportunity 26:49 to get ready for the coming of our Lord. 26:50 Well friends, first of all let me ask, 26:52 based upon all these scriptures we just read 26:55 does the second coming of Jesus sound secret to you? 26:57 Yes or no? Absolutely not friends. 27:00 Its anything but secret. 27:02 I want you to remember, we learned before 27:05 that for every truth that God has 27:08 Satan has invented a counterfeit. 27:12 And what is a counterfeit. 27:14 Something that may look real, sound real, feel real 27:18 but in reality it is fake. 27:21 Its truth and error mixed together. 27:26 And this is the same 27:27 with the truth of the second coming of Jesus. 27:29 There is the truth, and there is the counterfeit. 27:32 And friends one of the greatest counterfeits 27:35 that has ever been given in the Christian world 27:37 about the second coming of Jesus, 27:39 it's this counterfeit teaching about a secret rapture 27:42 and a left behind theory. 27:45 Now friends we don't stand in judgment 27:47 upon anyone's personal relationship with Jesus. 27:49 We believe that God has people in every church, 27:52 in every foot and every different movement 27:54 that are sincere, that are wanting to be the right thing. 27:56 And they're serving the Lord the best they know, Amen? 27:59 But friends, let me just speak very clearly 28:02 and straight with us tonight. 28:04 The left behind series is a series a fictitious novels 28:08 that outlines end time events. 28:11 And it is taught in these series of books 28:12 that Jesus will come secretly 28:15 to rapture His church from thin air. 28:18 They're gonna vanish into thin air. 28:20 And those who are left behind, 28:22 In other words, those who are ready for the secret option 28:25 will have to endure a 7 year tribulationary period. 28:28 And in the midst of this 7 year period they're gonna, 28:31 they're gonna have another chance during this time. 28:32 But in the midst of this 7 year period 28:34 it is taught that the Antichrist 28:36 is going to sit in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem 28:40 there in the Middle East making a covenant with the Jews 28:43 claiming to be their Messiah causing the sacrifices to cease. 28:46 And friends, these series of books have sold millions 28:50 upon millions of copies. 28:52 And people are reading it as if it's Bible, truth. 28:56 And friends, we're gonna see tonight, 28:57 please open your mind don't close your mind. 29:00 We're gonna see tonight that why the left behind series 29:02 they make for captivating reading 29:04 it makes for dangerous theology 29:07 because there is no biblical foundation for this theory. 29:10 The only foundation for it is false assumptions 29:14 that come from a surface reading of the Bible 29:18 and an inconsistent and faulty method 29:21 of biblical hermeneutics, a type of biblical hermeneutics 29:25 that was actually invented by a Jesuit priest 29:28 in the 16th century during the council of Trent. 29:31 And I'm gonna give you the history 29:32 of where this came from in just a moment. 29:34 But friends listen, if I speak strongly tonight, 29:36 it's only because I care about you. 29:38 And I don't want anyone to be confused 29:41 by the counterfeits of the Antichrist. 29:44 Do you remember friends, Jesus specific warning 29:47 in Matthew 24:26, He said concerning 29:50 false teaching about his coming. 29:52 He said, "Behold, if they say he is in the secret chambers." 29:58 Are we to believe it? 29:59 He said, "believe it not." 30:01 Jesus knew that in the last days 30:03 people will teach some type of secret coming. 30:05 And Christ made it clear do not believe this, 30:10 but of course if many people have believed 30:13 exactly what Jesus said, believe not. 30:16 And so here's the question we need to ask tonight. 30:19 And we're to be very fair and go straight to the scriptures. 30:22 Where does this idea of a secret rapture come from? 30:26 Well, first of all, we must understand that the word rapture 30:29 isn't found in the Bible much less is a secret rapture 30:32 that is not found in the Bible. 30:34 Now while the word rapture itself isn't there. 30:36 The idea of rapture is there 30:38 because the word rapture literally means 30:40 a catching up or a snatching away. 30:43 And so listen friends, I believe in the rapture 30:46 but it's not gonna be a secret one. 30:47 It's gonna be a visible one, an audible one, 30:50 a glorious one, a powerful one. 30:53 And friends this word rapture which means caught up 30:56 is actually found in the loudest verse in the Bible. 31:00 In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 we just read, 31:02 let's read it again. 31:04 It says, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 31:07 with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, 31:11 and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ 31:14 shall rise first. 31:16 Then we which are alive and remain shall be"--Caught up. 31:20 "That's that word rapture, right there. 31:21 "caught up." Yes we're gonna be caught up 31:23 but friends trumpets are gonna be sounding. 31:25 The Lord is gonna shout, it's gonna be powerful, 31:28 it's gonna be glorious, we're gonna see it all the angels 31:31 will be there until yes there's a rapture. 31:33 But is it a secret rapture? 31:36 Well, this idea comes 31:38 from basically two misunderstood verses 31:41 that are read surfacely and taken right of context. 31:44 And I want to look at them very carefully 31:46 and contextually tonight. 31:48 Many people say that His coming is going to be 31:50 a secret rapture based upon this verse that says, 31:53 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." 31:56 People read this and they say 31:57 He is coming like a thief in the night. 31:58 And they assume that this means secretly and silently. 32:02 This verse is found in 2 Peter 3:10. 32:05 But I want us to notice carefully it does not say 32:07 that the Lord will come as a thief in the night. 32:10 It says "but the day of the Lord." 32:12 In other words it is not talking about how the Lord is coming 32:15 but rather the timing of his coming 32:16 the day of his coming is gonna be suddenly 32:19 and a rapidly like a thief in the night. 32:22 And friends, people read this and by the way, 32:26 have you ever had a thief break into your house? 32:29 or have you ever break in into some ones house? 32:32 Now when a thief comes to steal from your house, 32:35 does that thief come secretly and silently all the time? 32:39 No, he doesn't always come secretly and silently, 32:41 sometimes they make a lot of noise. 32:44 But a thief usually comes suddenly and unexpectedly, 32:48 isn't that right? 32:50 And this is what it means how do we know, 32:52 well friends all we have to do is read the rest of the verse, 32:56 can you say, Amen? Amen. 32:57 It says. "But the day of the Lord 32:58 will come as a thief in the night" 32:59 and it continues to say, 33:00 "In the which the heavens shall pass away with a great." 33:04 Silence, is that what it says? A great what? 33:08 "A great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, 33:11 and the earth also and the works 33:12 that are therein shall be burned up." 33:15 You see, friends, the day of the Lord, 33:17 the timing of Jesus coming is gonna be suddenly 33:19 and a rapidly like a thief in the night 33:21 but it's not gonna be secret and silent, 33:23 it's gonna be loud and powerful 33:25 and the wicked will be caught off guard 33:28 and so we find. 33:30 Well in fact let me give you this verse 33:31 in Matthew 24:43-44, 33:34 tells us "to whom the coming of the Lord 33:38 is going to be like a thief in the night" 33:40 It says in Matthew 24:43-44 Jesus said, "But know this, 33:44 that if the master of the house had known 33:45 what hour the thief would come, he would have been" What? 33:49 He would have watched. 33:51 And not allowed his house to be broken into, 33:54 therefore you also be ready for the son of Man is coming 33:57 at an hour that you do not expect." 34:00 That's what it means friends. 34:02 He's coming unexpectedly and suddenly but to who? 34:05 To those who are not watching and praying 34:09 and awaiting and anticipating His coming. 34:12 In other words, the careless multitude of the world 34:14 were living our lives however they want to live, 34:16 to them it's gonna be like a thief in the night 34:18 but friends I don't know about you. 34:19 I plan on watching and being ready. 34:20 Can you say, Amen? Amen. 34:22 So its not going to catch us of guard, 34:24 the second coming will be a surprise to those 34:26 who are not watching and waiting. 34:27 But notice when it says concerning those 34:29 who walk in the light. 34:30 It says in 1 Thessalonians 5:4, "But ye, brethren, 34:33 are not in darkness, that that day should" 34:36 What's the next word? "Overtake you as a thief." 34:39 In other words we're not gonna be over taking 34:41 by the covenant of Jesus, 34:42 We're gonna be ready by Gods grace, 34:44 we're gonna watch and pray and the Lord-- 34:46 we're gonna be ready for that, 34:47 how many are gonna be ready for that day? Amen. 34:50 So for us it's not gonna be like a thief in the night. 34:52 It's gonna be towards the wicked. 34:54 And it doesn't mean secretly and subtly. 34:56 It means suddenly and unexpectedly. 34:58 And friends, if that is logical, if that makes sense to you, 35:01 would you please say, amen? Amen. 35:03 So I want you to notice before we move from this verse, 35:05 it says "that the coming of Christ, 35:08 " "That day should not," what is that word again? 35:11 "Overtake." Over what? 35:15 "Overtake you as a thief." 35:17 In other words, the righteous are not gonna be overtaken 35:22 by the coming of Jesus. 35:25 The wicked are gonna be overtaken 35:27 by the coming of Jesus. 35:29 And this word, overtake reminds me 35:31 of another misunderstood passage that people try to get 35:34 a secret rapture, a second chance, they reform. 35:36 It's the expression, "One shall be taken 35:40 and the other shall be left." 35:42 And this is what the left behind series get this title, 35:44 one shall be taken, the other shall be left. 35:46 Many people have read this and they assume 35:49 that the one that is taken 35:52 is saved and they are taken to heaven secretly. 35:56 And they assume that the one is left 35:58 is the lost and they are left behind 36:01 and they have a second chance to get ready. 36:03 But friends, there is nothing in the context 36:06 that says anything about the one taken 36:08 is taken secretly and silently. 36:09 And the one left is left with a second chance. 36:11 Let's read it ourselves, Matthew 24 36:14 beginning with verse 40, if you are there, 36:16 would you please, amen? Amen. 36:17 The Bible says, "And then shall two be in the field 36:20 the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 36:23 Two women shall be grinding at the mill 36:25 the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36:27 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." 36:33 So we find clearly in this passage 36:35 that there's nothing that says 36:36 that the taken are taken secretly 36:38 and that the left are left with a second chance. 36:40 Is this in this passage, yes or no? Absolutely not. 36:44 And so we cannot read in the passage something 36:47 that is not already there because we are not to add 36:49 or take away from the word of God. 36:52 And so what does this passage really mean there? 36:55 When Jesus said, one shall be taken 36:57 and the other shall be left? 36:58 Well, first let me ask you a question. 36:59 How many of you want to be taken? 37:02 How many of you want to be left? 37:05 How many of you want to be taken? 37:07 Are you sure, you want to be taken? 37:10 Some of you are not sure. 37:14 So what we need to do is we need to find out 37:17 who is taken and who is left. 37:20 And what is this referring to specifically in order for us 37:25 to know if we should be taken or left, 37:26 we need to first find out who is taken and who is left. 37:29 And friends, the context clears up 37:31 the confusion of the counterfeit. 37:33 Notice the context of this expression, 37:36 one shall be taken, the other shall be left. 37:37 Jesus puts it in the context of the days of Noah. 37:41 Notice what it says in verse 37, it's-- 37:43 yeah you can look in your Bible, it's also on the screen. 37:45 Verse 37, Jesus said, "But as the days of Noah were, 37:50 so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." 37:52 In other words, just as it was in Noah's day 37:55 it will be repeated in the last days. 37:57 Now friends, let me ask you a question. 37:58 During the time of the flood in Noah's day, 38:00 was Noah and his family ruptured secretly out of the flood, 38:04 yes or no. No. 38:06 But did they go through the flood 38:07 that were preserved in it? Yes. 38:10 In the same way, friends God's church in the last days 38:13 are not gonna be ruptured out of tribulation, 38:15 they are gonna go through it but they will preserved in it. 38:18 They don't have to be afraid. 38:19 God is gonna protect His people. 38:22 Now during the time of Noah, 38:24 those who were not onboard the Ark, 38:26 those who are out of the Ark, 38:27 were they left behind with a second chance 38:30 to be saved, yes or no? 38:31 Not at all, friends, once the door of the ark shut 38:33 that was it, probation was closed. 38:36 And it's in this context that Jesus says 38:38 "one shall be taken and the other left." 38:40 But who was that? Let's ask the question now. 38:42 Who was taken and who was left 38:45 during the days of Noah? 38:47 Who was taken and who was left? 38:50 I want us to notice the next verse says 38:52 in verse 40 starting from verse 38. 38:55 "For as in the days that were before the flood 38:57 they were eating and drinking, 38:59 marrying and giving in marriage, 39:01 until the day that Noah entered the ark." 39:03 So notice that verse there is referring to those 39:05 who were eating and drinking, 39:06 marrying and giving in marriage, 39:07 those who were living their lives carelessly, 39:09 those who are not concerned with what Noah was saying. 39:11 In other words, they in this passage are the wicked, 39:14 they are the what? Wicked. 39:15 Are you with me, yes or no? 39:17 So notice they were not getting ready for the coming flood. 39:22 And then notice the next verse, verse 39. 39:25 It says, "And they knew not till the," What came? 39:29 "The flood came," And, what's that next word right there? 39:32 "Took them all away." 39:35 Friends, who was taken during the days of Noah? 39:39 It was the careless multitude 39:40 that were not ready for the flood. 39:42 Those who did not get onboard the ark. 39:44 The Bible says "that they knew nothing the flood came 39:47 upon them like a thief in the night." 39:49 And as an overwhelming surprise they knew not 39:51 till the flood came and took them all away. 39:55 Oh, friends, what does this mean, 39:56 "It took them all away?' 39:58 Well, friends, we don't have to guess, 40:00 it's clear in this passage that the wicked 40:02 were the ones that were taken. 40:04 Well, what does it mean that they were taken? 40:06 I want us to notice how the Holy Spirit inspired 40:08 the gospel writer, Luke to render this exact same verse. 40:13 We compare this with Luke 17:27. 40:15 It's the same verse but notice what it says. 40:18 "And the flood came, and destroyed them all." 40:22 So Matthew says "the flood came and 40:25 took them all the way" but Luke says 40:27 "the flood came and destroyed them all." 40:29 You know why? 40:30 Because to be taken by the flood 40:32 simply means to be destroyed by it. 40:34 In other words, it's not the taken 40:36 in a sense of taken to a different location. 40:39 No, it's the sense of overtaken, overwhelmed, 40:42 overcome or destroyed by it. 40:45 These are the ones that were taken in the days of Noah. 40:48 It was the wicked taken and destroyed by the flood. 40:52 Now friends, if the wicked were taken 40:54 then who were left during the days of Noah? 40:56 It was the righteous, Noah and his family. 40:59 They are the ones that survived the flood. 41:01 They are the ones that were you can say the leftovers, 41:04 in other words the survivors of this catastrophic event. 41:08 And it's in this context that Jesus says in the last days, 41:12 "One shall be taken and the other shall be left." 41:15 Friends, do you want to be taken or do you want to be left? 41:18 Some of you are still not sure. 41:21 Some of you are still are not sure. 41:24 So I want you to notice as we get 41:26 even more clear evidence as to what this means. 41:29 Notice how the Bible uses the word, taken, 41:32 listen very carefully. 41:33 It says in 2 Peter 2:12, 41:36 "But these, as natural brute beasts, 41:39 made to be, " what is that word right there? 41:41 "Taken and destroyed, 41:44 speak evil of the things that they understand not, 41:47 and shall utterly perish." 41:48 The Bible says "that the wicked are gonna be 41:50 taken and destroyed." 41:54 In other words taken in this context is not a positive thing. 41:57 Many times we think taken is something that sounds positive, 42:00 but in this pacific context it's not possible. 42:03 To be left is possible but, because to be left 42:05 means that you survived it, 42:07 you went through it and you came out of it. 42:10 And this is how this expression is used in this context. 42:13 You see, the second coming of Christ is gonna take over-- 42:17 overtake the wicked 42:19 but the righteous are gonna be left behind. 42:20 They're gonna endure and they're gonna survive it 42:22 because they're gonna be ready, 42:23 because they're gonna be watching 42:24 and preparing for this event. 42:27 Can you say, amen? Amen. 42:28 Now how are the wicked taken and destroyed? 42:32 Notice now what the Bible says, in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 42:35 please write it down, remember friends, 42:37 wherever is truth there is a counterfeit. 42:40 And so let's find out the truth. 42:42 2 Thessalonians 2:8 says 42:45 "And then shall the wicked be revealed, 42:47 whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, 42:50 and shall destroy with the" What? 42:53 "brightness of his coming." 42:55 So the Bible tells us that the wicked 42:57 are gonna be destroyed by the coming of Christ. 42:59 He is gonna come to them as blinding force. 43:02 The brightness and the power of the glory of God 43:05 is going to destroy them. 43:08 And the Bible tells us that there's no second chance 43:10 when this happens. 43:12 It's a decisive event. 43:13 In fact notice in, Revelation 6:14-17, 43:16 write that down, look it up later for the sake of time. 43:18 In this passage it says "that when Jesus comes 43:21 that the wicked are gonna run to the rocks and mountains, 43:24 and they are gonna say to the rocks and mountains fall on us, 43:27 hide us from the face of Him 43:28 that sits upon the throne of on the wrath of the Lamb 43:31 for the great day of His wrath has come 43:32 and who shall be able to stand." 43:34 They're gonna want to be crushed by these boulders 43:37 rather than see, the face of the King. 43:39 And friends, does this sound like a second chance to you? 43:42 Not at all friends, 43:44 the Bible doesn't teach in a second chance theory. 43:46 Well friends, maybe we're just reading it wrong. 43:49 And so let's compare this passage in Matthew 43:52 with this synoptic gospel of Luke 43:54 and we're gonna ask the question, 43:56 in what way where the wicked taken? 43:59 Now let's notice in Luke 17:34-36. 44:03 I'm taking my time on this because I want to make it 44:05 abundantly clear on our minds tonight. 44:07 In Luke 17:34-36, 44:09 this is a parallel gospel of the same verse 44:12 one shall be taken and the other shall be left. 44:14 And notice what it says, Jesus speaking, 44:16 "I tell you in that night there shall be two in one, " Where? 44:21 "Bed, the one shall be taken and the other shall be left." 44:25 And continues, "Two shall be," Where? 44:28 "Grinding together, 44:30 the ones shall be taken and the other left. 44:32 Two shall be," Where? 44:34 "In the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left. 44:37 And they answered and said to Him, 'Where, Lord?' 44:40 " so the disciples where confused 44:42 about the statement too. 44:43 One shall be taken, other left 44:45 and the disciples come and ask Jesus where, 44:47 now friends, this question about 'where' 44:51 must refer to either it can only refer 44:54 to either the taken or the left. 44:57 Either they're asking, where are they taken, 44:59 taken or where are the left, left, are you with me? 45:04 Yes or no? Yes. 45:05 Now, which one is it referring to? 45:07 Are they asking about the taken or the left? 45:09 Well, friends, it's obvious 45:11 that they have to be asking about the taken. 45:15 Because Jesus, already indicated 45:17 where the left are left, in the bed, 45:20 at the grinding mill or in the field. 45:22 He made it clear where they were at to begin with, 45:25 so if they're left there, that is clear and obvious. 45:28 So this question must be referring to 45:31 where are they taken, taken? 45:34 And if that's clear would you please say, amen? 45:35 Amen. 45:36 Notice, how Jesus answers the question, 45:39 where are the taken, taken? 45:40 Here's Jesus answer, "Where there is a dead body, 45:44 there the vultures will gather." 45:46 Friends, who are they taking? 45:48 It's the lost, it's the wicked they are over taken, 45:52 they are slain by the brightness of the coming of the Lord. 45:54 And the vultures gather, remember in Revelation 19 45:57 we talked about the feast of the fowls 46:00 that takes place when He comes. 46:02 So we see very clearly friends that when Jesus comes 46:05 there's no such thing as a second chance. 46:08 The wicked are taken and destroyed 46:09 by the coming of Jesus. 46:11 And friends if the taken are wicked 46:14 then who are the left? 46:16 Well, who was left in Noah's day? 46:19 It was the righteous. 46:20 Notice what it says in Genesis 7:23, 46:23 "And every living substance was destroyed 46:25 which was upon the face of the ground. 46:26 "And Noah" What is the next word? 46:29 "Remained" How? 46:31 "Alive and they that were with him in the ark." 46:33 Who was left behind in the days of Noah? 46:36 It was the righteous friends. 46:38 Not that it says "that they were left behind and lost." 46:40 No, it simply means that they were left behind, 46:42 they're the ones that survived the flood. 46:44 The righteous are left and saved, 46:47 where as the wicked are over taken and destroyed. 46:49 In fact notice another verse it makes even clear. 46:52 Isaiah 24:6, says, 46:54 "Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, 46:56 and they that dwell therein are desolate, 46:59 therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned 47:01 and few men left." 47:05 Who are the left friends? It's the righteous. 47:07 The ones that seek the narrowest frigate. 47:09 The Bible says, few they'll who be that find 47:11 it is the way of life. 47:13 And it says "that they are left in the sense 47:15 not left in this world for a 7 year tribulationary period." 47:18 No friends they survive it and shortly after 47:21 the wicked are destroyed, those who are left, 47:23 those who are the righteous 47:25 are gonna ascend to meet the Lord in the air, 47:26 right after the wicked are destroyed. 47:28 In fact notice another one, Isaiah 4:2-3, write it down. 47:33 The Bible says, "In that day." 47:35 Talking about the second coming. 47:37 "Shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, 47:39 and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent 47:41 and comely for them that are escaped of Israel, 47:45 and it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, 47:50 and he that remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy, 47:54 even every one that is written 47:56 among the living in Jerusalem." 47:59 Friends, we see very clearly tonight, 48:02 that the righteous are left not in this world as in lost, 48:06 they are the ones that survived, they're still living. 48:09 Shortly, after the wicked are destroyed 48:10 the righteous are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 48:12 And so now that we've gone through these, 48:13 is this clear friends? 48:15 Is it clear? 48:16 Well, now, let me ask you the question, 48:17 how many of you want to be left? 48:19 Amen. 48:20 How many want to be taken? 48:22 Oh, we're gonna pray for you, amen? 48:25 You see, friends, isn't that amazing, 48:27 how Satan has switched the truth completely around, 48:31 did you notice that? 48:32 He switched it completely around 48:34 and almost the entire Christian world 48:37 is believing something that is not found in the Bible, 48:40 but is being talked of many sincere 48:43 theologians of our world today. 48:45 And friends one of the reasons 48:46 why the secret rapture theory is so dangerous 48:48 is because that leads people to a false sense of security. 48:51 Because people think to themselves, 48:52 if I don't make the secret rapture thank the Lord 48:54 I have another chance. 48:56 And it causes them to take spiritual things lightly 48:59 or they say to themselves, I'm in a party, 49:01 I'm gonna live it up. 49:02 And when the rapture comes, I know I have 7 more years 49:04 to have a good time and then after seventh year 49:07 then I'll give my life to Jesus and I can be saved 49:09 and yet enjoy the word at the very same time. 49:11 It lures people into a false sense of security 49:15 and friends listen that is exactly 49:17 what the devil wants you to believe. 49:19 Making us do like we don't have to pray and study 49:22 and know Jesus for ourselves. 49:25 You see friends, there's no hope in a second chance. 49:27 You know why? 49:28 Because we have already received our second chance. 49:31 Not only have we received the second chance, 49:33 we'll receive a third, and a fourth and a fifth 49:36 and a sixth and a seventh and friends everyday we wake up 49:39 is another chance God is gives us 49:41 to get ready for the coming of Jesus. 49:44 The Bible tells us today is the day of salvation, 49:48 it says "behold, now is the excepted time." 49:51 Joshua said, "choose you, this day 49:54 whom you will serve life." 49:55 Because tomorrow is not a guarantee friends. 49:58 All we have is today and everyday we wake up, 50:01 everyday we have breath 50:02 and the blood is flowing warm in our veins. 50:04 Is another opportunity to get ready, get ready, 50:07 get ready for the coming of our Lord and friends 50:10 every single day Jesus is pleading with us. 50:13 He's pleading us to get on boat the Ark. 50:16 He's pleading with us to surrender all to Him on door. 50:18 It's still opened. 50:20 But friends listen, if we persist in going own ways, 50:23 soon He will come. 50:25 And He will come upon us like a thief at night, 50:27 unexpectedly, and by surprise. 50:30 And friends, it's too late by that time, 50:33 and I'm so thankful that tonight is not too late, 50:36 amen? Amen. 50:37 The door is still open, you see brothers and sisters, 50:40 there is no security in a nonexistence, 50:43 a nonexistent second chance. 50:45 There is no security in the words 50:47 and teachings of popular theologians 50:49 and churches of the day. 50:50 There is no security in having a large bank account, 50:53 a nice retirement plan 50:54 or stockpiling food and bearing arms. 50:56 There's no security in church membership, 50:58 there's no security in being morally upright. 51:00 The only security we have is in Jesus. 51:03 Amen. 51:04 A security only in Christ the Knight. 51:08 And He invites us to get onboard to allow Him 51:11 to come into our hearts. 51:13 We abide Him and He abides in us. 51:16 Well, friends, this is the message to say, 51:17 is the message clear tonight? 51:19 Now we go to our last truth about the coming of Jesus 51:21 as we begin to close. 51:23 He is coming number 5. 51:24 Number 1, it's Literal and Personal, 51:26 visible, audible, decisive and number 5 51:29 it's gonna be a glorious and a joyous event. 51:32 In other words it's gonna be a get happy day. 51:34 You know why because now the bride is united 51:38 with her groom forever and never to be separated. 51:41 Can you say, amen? 51:42 And I want you notice what the bride is going to say, 51:44 when she sees her heavenly husband 51:46 riding down through space to pick her up. 51:49 The Bible says in Isaiah 25:9 51:51 "And it shall be said in that day, 51:53 Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, 51:56 and he will save us, this is the Lord, 51:58 we have waited for him, and we will be", What? 52:01 "Glad and rejoice in his salvation." 52:04 Why? 52:05 Because our Knight in Shining Armor has come to our rescue 52:08 and the righteous are gonna look into the face of God 52:10 and say, "yes, my King is here, 52:13 my heavenly husband has arrived." 52:15 And it's gonna be a happy day for Jesus and the bride 52:18 and not only because of that it's gonna be happy because 52:21 families that have been separated by death 52:23 are gonna be reunited in life. 52:26 Babies that have passed away and died in their infancy 52:29 will be placed back into their parent's arms. 52:32 Oh, what joy they will experience. 52:36 It is gonna be a great family reunion when He comes. 52:40 And I want to be ready for this day, do you? 52:43 Our Jesus is coming, and tonight He wants us to be ready. 52:49 It's the hope of every age 52:52 I remember when I got married to my beloved bride, 52:56 literal almost 8 years now. 52:59 And this was the picture we took on our wedding day. 53:01 Oh it was a happy day. 53:03 "Bride and groom made one." 53:05 And on this day, we took this picture with my wife's parents, 53:08 my mother and father-in-law and it was such joy, 53:11 it was such a wonderful experience. 53:14 Friends, about 1 year after this picture was taken, 53:18 it broke our hearts, because my father-in-law was dying. 53:28 And he fell asleep in Jesus, amen? 53:32 51 years old, young. 53:36 Oh, death is such a terrible thing, 53:39 but he dies with a hope of a second coming, 53:44 burning in his heart and even though we miss him so much, 53:48 I did his funeral right here at mountain. 53:51 Even though, we miss him so much, 53:54 we have the hope of seeing Lipani again. 53:58 We hope to have the hope of seeing dad again. 54:00 Have you lost the loved one? 54:02 Well, friends, you should look forward to the coming of Jesus. 54:05 The King is coming, He's coming to rescue us, 54:08 He's coming to reunite us with each other, 54:11 it is a blessed hope. 54:13 And friends He is coming to slay the dragon 54:16 and take us home. 54:18 And friends, listen, if He was to come tonight 54:20 would you be ready? 54:22 If the sky was to split open right now, are you ready? 54:27 Are you ready for Jesus to come? 54:29 Have you surrendered your all to him? 54:32 Or is there something in your life 54:34 that is robbing you from this blessed assurance, 54:37 search out your heart tonight friends. 54:40 As I search of mine. 54:42 I wanna close with a story, and as I share this story, 54:47 I want you to ask the question, Lord, 54:50 am I holding onto something in my life 54:53 that is causing me to not be ready? 54:56 Is there something in my heart, 54:59 it'll cause me to be lost? 55:03 This story comes from when I was in African few years ago. 55:07 Did these same meetings in Africa. 55:08 I had a wonderful time. 55:09 And I learned something powerful in Africa. 55:12 I learned how they catch monkeys there. 55:15 Do any of you know how they catch monkeys in Africa? 55:18 Good, let me tell you, its genius, 55:20 it's fascinating and this is how they do it. 55:23 Some of you are wondering what this is for. 55:24 What is this called? 55:26 A pot but really it's a gourd. 55:29 And they have these in Africa, 55:31 this is what they use to catch monkeys, 55:33 and you're looking at this how in the world 55:34 is this gonna catch a monkey, 55:36 with this what they do, 55:38 they take this gourd, it's big on the bottom and 55:40 has a smaller opening at the top 55:43 and they bury this gourd in the ground 55:45 with just the top part sticking out of the ground. 55:48 Then they put food in it, corn and bananas and what not. 55:53 And the monkey gets curious. 55:56 And a curious monkey wants to come a check it out. 55:59 So he comes and puts his hand in that gourd 56:02 and he feels the food. 56:05 He starts to get excited. 56:06 His heart starts to beat faster. 56:08 And he grabs the food and he can't wait. 56:10 He's in tussle of feeding a meal and 56:12 as he begins to pull the food out 56:14 he can't get his hand out 56:17 because he has a fist full of food. 56:22 And so the people come and they catch the monkey. 56:25 What a stupid monkey? 56:30 And by the way don't be offended 56:31 at the word stupid it's in the Bible. 56:33 It simply means without sense. 56:36 All the monkey has to do 56:39 if he wants to be free is "let go." 56:44 And he is free. 56:48 But you know what friends, sometimes 56:52 we smart human beings are no smarter than a monkey 56:58 because the monkey is not willing to let go. 57:01 He is trapped. 57:03 And many people when Jesus comes 57:06 are not gonna be ready for the exact same reason 57:10 because they like the monkey are 57:12 not willing to "let go" of this world. 57:17 They want to hang on to the things of this life. 57:20 And because of this they're gonna be stuck. Friends, 57:23 they're gonna be lost but all we have to do is let go. 57:27 And we can be free. 57:29 We don't have to be a slave in this world, 57:31 just let go, let go of what? 57:32 Let go of pride, let go of selfishness, 57:37 let go of drugs and alcohol, 57:39 let go of worldly thoughts and lustful thoughts, 57:41 let go of whatever sin that is in enslaving tonight. 57:45 Maybe it's a job that is more important to you than God. 57:48 Maybe it's a relationship that you're putting 57:49 ahead of your relationship with Christ. 57:51 Whatever it is. 57:52 Jesus says, let it go my son, let it go my child, 57:55 it's not worth holding on to, if you cling to it, 57:58 you're gonna be lost, but let go 58:00 and let God take control and you can be free tonight. |
Revised 2014-12-17