Participants: Bill Santos
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC201226
|
00:02 >>Bill: There is a popular teaching among some Christians that states
00:06 that the secret rapture is a theological event that the Bible foretells will 00:11 happen during the end times when millions and millions of people across 00:15 the world will suddenly "vanish" or "disappear" without any kind of 00:19 advance signs or warnings. 00:21 As a result, people will be walking on Earth one second and then find 00:25 themselves walking in Heaven the next. 00:29 The rapture will only be for people who placed their trust and faith in 00:33 their salvation on the completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. 00:38 People who have not made a decision for Jesus Christ will suddenly find 00:42 themselves left behind to face the Tribulation period and the wrath of 00:46 God to come. 00:49 My question is - is this teaching found in the Bible? 00:54 Let's Ask the Bible About the Rapture. 01:11 ANNOUNCER: It has stood the test of time. 01:14 God's book: the Bible, 01:18 still relevant in today's complex world. 01:22 It Is Written, 01:25 sharing the messages of hope around the world. 01:39 Bible prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope 01:42 available to us today. 01:45 Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning 01:50 Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the 01:54 second coming of Christ. 01:57 One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ's 02:03 second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. 02:10 In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the 02:16 second advent of Christ, that is an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. 02:24 Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. 02:29 For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ's first advent, there are 8 02:34 which look forward to His second! 02:38 It is the hope of the Second Coming of Jesus that has sustained the 02:42 faith of Christians throughout the ages - while a majority of 02:46 Christians believe Jesus WILL return for a second time, it is HOW He will 02:51 return where the divisions appear. 02:55 Well, Let's Ask the Bible! 02:59 The first thing we see is that the Second Coming of Jesus is a very LITERAL 03:04 EVENT. 03:07 When Jesus was here the first time He took His disciples out to the mount 03:12 and He held up His hands and blessed them and He began to ascend. 03:17 Look at Acts 1: 9 - 11 03:52 This same Jesus is coming back in the same way you just saw Him leave. 03:57 Is Jesus coming back? 04:00 The angels say He is. 04:03 A Literal Event. 04:07 The Bible also teaches that the Second Coming of Jesus will be a Visible 04:11 Event - Revelation 1: 7 04:28 The Bible is very clear - how many will see Him when He comes - every eye. 04:35 Now, some have suggested that the wicked will not see Him when He comes - 04:40 but look at what the Bible says . Matthew 24: 30 05:05 Every eye is going to see Jesus return - the righteous will see Him 05:10 come the unrighteous will see Him come, that's what the Bible says. 05:14 Now look at verse 31 . 05:32 Now don't miss this - this is the gathering of the elect. 05:35 He sends His angels with the great sound of a trumpet, does this sound 05:40 like it is silent? 05:44 Does it sound like it is secret? 05:47 Does it sound like an event that only a few know? 05:51 You see when Jesus came the first time as a Babe in Bethlehem's manger, 05:55 very few people recognized Him. 06:00 But at the climax of history He is not going to come sneaking back to take 06:04 a few with Him. 06:07 It is the climax of history, all history moves to one great glorious 06:11 event, the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with the sound of trumpets 06:17 He will gather His elect, it is a visible event ... 06:25 The Second Coming of Jesus will be an AUDIBLE EVENT - not only will every eye 06:31 see him, every ear will hear him. 06:37 Psalm 50: 3 06:52 Does that sound like a silent, secret coming? 06:59 1 Thessalonians 4: 16 07:19 Now according to the Bible when do the dead in Christ rise? 07:24 So when Jesus comes the Bible says, the dead in Christ will rise, there is 07:29 a physical resurrection. 07:34 Now notice what else the Bible says ... Verse 17 07:50 Does it say Jesus' feet touch the earth? 07:55 Not now, where do we meet Him? 08:00 in the air - so the righteous dead are resurrected, the righteous 08:06 living meet Jesus in the air as He comes with the sound of the trumpet. 08:13 Christ's coming is a literal event, Christ's coming is a visible event, 08:20 Christ's coming is an audible event and Christ's coming is a glorious 08:24 event. 08:27 Matthew 16:27 08:44 Now follow this closely, when does the Bible say each will be rewarded 08:49 according to his deeds? 08:51 When He comes in the "glory of His Father. 08:55 " So when Jesus comes in the glory of His Father that is when each, the 08:59 Bible says, each will receive according to their deeds. 09:04 So the Bible teaches that when Jesus comes the second time both the 09:09 righteous and the wicked, both the saved and the unsaved will receive their 09:16 reward. 09:18 Matthew 24: 27 09:33 When Jesus returns it will be like lightning shining from the east to the west 09:39 - the coming of Christ is a CLIMACTIC EVENT ... It is a decisive event, in 09:46 all of history. 09:48 The coming of Christ will be the climax of history. 09:54 The destinies of all human beings will be decided by the choices they have 10:00 made. 10:07 Friends, it is not that Christ comes and those that are "left behind" are 10:10 given a second chance, as they go through the tribulation ... Who do you 10:13 think wants you to put off your salvation? 10:18 Wouldn't you say that it is the evil one that says - "Don't worry about 10:22 today. 10:24 " It is Jesus Christ that appeals to you, when Jesus comes there is no second 10:27 chance, do you know why? 10:31 Because He gives every one of us thousands of chances in this life. 10:36 The Bible says that when Jesus Christ returns a decree will go out to the 10:42 whole universe... 10:44 Revelation 22: 11 11:09 The Bible says when Jesus Christ comes the second time, every human being 11:14 has settled their destiny. 11:18 The choices have been made either to respond to His love or reject that love. 11:25 There is a battle over every mind, there is a battle over every life and 11:30 when every human being 11:30 has decided for or aga Christ, the door of mercy 11:36 is shut, men and women have made their decision, they have settled their 11:41 destiny, they have made their choices. 11:45 You see the Bible says that when Jesus returns the second time there will 11:49 be two classes of people - the saved and the lost, not three, just two. 11:57 Every man woman and child will be in one of those two groups based on the 11:58 choices they have made. 12:08 While one group cries out . Isaiah 25: 9 12:29 The other group has a completely different response - Revelation 6: 12:37 15 - 17 13:12 "hide us" they say from the presence of Jesus - they want to run and hide 13:16 from the Lamb that was nailed to the cross, they have spurned His love and 13:21 have turned their backs on Him. 13:23 Jesus comes not first and foremost to destroy. 13:29 Jesus comes to save, but He cannot save those that have not chosen to be 13:35 saved. 13:40 So Jesus wants the kingdom of God to come to your heart tonight and once the 13:48 kingdom of God is within you and you accept His love and His grace, you 13:54 are ready to live in the kingdom above. 13:57 But if you keep battling Him down here, and you keep fighting Him down 14:02 here and you don't let Him sit on the throne of your heart down here, then you 14:07 are not ready to worship Him on the throne of the universe. 14:12 But isn't Jesus coming as a thief? 14:16 Let's look at a couple of verses. 14:20 First let's look at Matthew 24: 43 14:38 Isn't Jesus coming as a thief somebody says? 14:42 Did you know what the text said - if we knew what "time" the thief would 14:50 have come - when a thief comes he does not say "GET READY I AM COMING AT 2:00 14:52 AM! 14:54 ! 14:57 " Every reference in the Bible to Jesus coming as a thief relates to the time 15:04 of His coming - not the manner of His coming. 15:07 He is coming so every eye will see Him, He is coming with a shout and a voice 15:14 and a trumpet and flashing lightning in heaven - but He is coming quickly to 15:21 those who are unprepared as a thief - Look Matthew 24:44 15:37 The references to Jesus coming as a thief are always references to a 15:42 The references to Jesus coming as a thief are always references to a 15:46 time when we don't expect it. 15:50 Let me show you one more . 2 Peter 3: 10 16:16 But the day of the Lord will come like a what? 16:19 - thief and the heavens will pass away with a roar, don't miss it - when 16:25 Jesus comes as a thief - the heavens will pass away, will disappear. 16:31 That is when He comes as a thief - every eye sees Him, every ear hears Him. 16:36 There's nothing quiet or intangible about the heavens disappearing with 16:43 a roar. 16:46 And finally the coming of Christ is a joyous event - it is a glorious event for 16:55 the saved Titus 2:13 . 17:12 Jesus Christ is coming again, He is coming in glory and He is coming in 17:15 power. 17:17 He wants you saved, Is there anything in your life that would keep you 17:23 from being ready for His coming? 17:27 Is there anything in your life, some habit, some attitude, is Jesus Christ, 17:33 right now at this very instant, Lord or your life? 17:37 Have you responded to His love, has He forgiven your sins? 17:42 Is He living in your life? 17:46 He wants you to live in His kingdom forever, there is nothing more that Jesus 17:54 wants than you - He is coming for you, He loves you! 18:04 Lift up the trumpet, and loud let it ring: 18:08 Jesus is coming again! 18:13 Cheer up, ye pilgrims, be joyful and sing: 18:16 Jesus is coming again! 18:23 Coming again, coming again, 18:27 Jesus is coming again! 18:39 Echo it, hilltops; proclaim it, ye plains: 18:43 Jesus is coming again! 18:48 Coming in glory, the Lamb that was slain; 18:52 Jesus is coming again! 18:58 Coming again, coming again, 19:02 Jesus is coming again! 19:14 We have this hope that burns within our hearts, 19:22 Hope in the coming of the Lord. 19:33 We have this faith that Christ alone imparts, 19:42 Faith in the promise of His Word. 19:51 We believe the time is here, 19:55 When the nations far and near 19:59 Shall awake, and shout and sing 20:03 Hallelujah! 20:07 Christ is King! 20:09 Coming again, Coming again 20:12 Jesus is coming again 20:17 Jesus is coming again! 20:27 >>Bill: Let us pray. 20:30 Father in heaven, thank you once again for the clarity of scripture. 20:34 Father, I think of those that at this very moment are reaching out for 20:38 Jesus. 20:41 Father send you Holy Spirit to abide in their lives, preparing them to 20:45 meet Jesus when he comes in glory and power, I pray in His name, Amen. 21:28 >>Bev: Hi, everyone! 21:31 If you are nuts about nuts, you'll be glad to hear that eating a small 21:34 handful every day can help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. 21:38 According to the Mayo Clinic, "eating nuts as part of a healthy diet can 21:42 be good for your heart," and a number of health studies confirm this to be 21:44 true. 21:46 Despite their diminutive size, nuts are packed with all kinds of good 21:50 nutrition, including protein, omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, vitamin E, 21:55 trace minerals, and something interesting called L-arginine. 21:59 L-arginine is a substance that helps make your arteries more flexible, 22:04 thereby aiding in lowering your blood pressure. 22:07 So, what's your favourite nut? 22:11 I love the rich, creaminess of cashews, the hard crunch of a Brazil 22:14 nut, the way walnuts mix so well with dates, and the heightened sweetness 22:17 of almonds when they plump up after soaking in water. 22:22 Speaking of soaking, it's a good idea to soak nuts for several hours before 22:25 using them. 22:27 This makes them easier to digest by neutralizing protective enzyme 22:31 inhibitors on the surface of the nut. 22:34 Soaking times vary for different nuts, and you can Google the Internet to 22:37 find more information. 22:39 When purchasing nuts, raw is best. 22:41 Leave the salted and chocolate-covered ones on the grocery shelf. 22:45 At home, store nuts in the fridge so their natural oils don't spoil too 22:49 quickly. 22:51 What all can you do with nuts? 22:52 The list is endless! 22:55 Make your own nut milks, nut butters, patés, sweet or savoury creams, 22:58 cheeses, pie crusts, scrambles, and more! 23:02 Be careful, though. 23:04 With their high fat content, it's easy to overload by eating too 23:07 many nuts. 23:09 Been there, done that! 23:12 Keep in mind that about a quarter-cup of nuts daily is enough to derive all 23:15 their delicious health benefits. 23:17 If you have high cholesterol or want to lose weight, however, 23:21 you'll want to curb your intake of nuts. 23:24 This week, instead of purchasing cow's milk, blend your own healthy nut 23:26 milk instead! 23:28 It's super easy, and so delicious! 23:32 Let me show you how to make Almond Milk. 23:35 You'll need: 1 cup of raw almonds (rinse them well, then soak overnight; this 23:39 will yield around 1&1/2 cups of almonds) 3-4 cups of water, depending on how 23:44 thin or thick you like your milk (filtered water is best) 2-3 dried dates 23:48 soaked to soften, or 2 teaspoons of honey 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla After 23:54 soaking overnight, drain and rinse the almonds, then place them in the 23:59 blender. 24:01 Add the dates, the vanilla, and half the water. 24:03 Blend on high speed until creamy. 24:06 Keep adding the remaining water and blend until you have the consistency of 24:09 milk you like. 24:10 Now I'm just going to do that right now. 24:14 I've got my water already in here and I'm going to put the nuts in and the 24:17 dates. 24:20 And you know what? 24:24 I don't usually add the vanilla, so I'm not even going to do that this 24:30 time. 24:32 And then you just put this back on ... I'm using a Vitamixer - and this is 24:33 the king of blenders. 24:35 So, here we go... 24:39 You can strain the milk, if you prefer, but don't throw out the fibrous 24:56 goodness; be sure to use the pulp in other recipes. 25:00 You can store this milk in a glass jar in the fridge for three days. 25:03 I'm just going to pour this out to show you. 25:06 Look at this, when I make it, I don't strain it. 25:09 Beautiful milk, enjoy it in good health. 25:13 I'll see you next time! 25:22 >>Bill: I'd like to offer you a couple of resources to allow you to continue 25:25 studying today's topic. 25:29 One is a study guide that has been prepared specifically on this 25:31 subject. 25:34 It is available for download at our web site ItIsWrittenCanada.ca . 25:39 The other is a special edition of the magazine "Signs of the Times". 25:43 This edition here, "The surprising truth about the Rapture". 25:48 It is free of charge because it's our gift to you. 25:51 Here is the information you need to get your copy. 26:54 >>Bill: Well we have come to the end of another It Is Written program, thank 26:57 you so much for making the time to be with us. 27:01 I hope you're enjoying this series on "let's ask the Bible". 27:04 Remember our web site, ItIsWrittenCanada.ca. 27:08 If you have missed any of our programs, they are all archived there so you can 27:12 see them, you can send prayer requests, you can send questions, you can 27:18 make an online donation if you feel so moved to do so - knowing that all of 27:22 those donations go to keep this ministry on the air. 27:28 We have a youtube channel, youtube.com/IIWCanada, you can follow us on twitter. 27:33 Well, we will be praying that the Lord will allow us the privilege to be 27:40 back again next week where once again we will open God's word and study it 27:43 together. 27:44 I hope you will join us. 27:46 Until then remember, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but 27:53 by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 27:59 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ |
Revised 2015-02-06