Rapture of the Church, Part 1

Dr. Tony Evans talked about the changes that God calls his people by celebrating faithfulness. This is the alternative Dr. Tony Evans, author, speaker, senior pastor of Oakland Bible Fellowship Dallas, Texas, president of the alternative, Christians have been arguing about the rapture for centuries today.ribbons takes an in-depth look at what the Bible has to say about this event, which may not be as far off as we think. Let's join us to see grass Christ coming to retrieve his church leaders with except to say that is the next event on the prophetic calendar Jesus told his disciples. I'm leaving down the cross rise from the dead and sent back to heaven and he told you can't come with me now, but don't worry, I will come get you. Come get with the disciples. They were traumatized three years Jesus had been bandleader teacher there provider to be a better guy that help deliver the whole world for three years and now he says I'm leaving and I'm coming back. We told them in John chapter 14 verses 13 do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so I would've told you before I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also the first specific reference to the rapture.

I'm coming to receive you back to me. First Thessalonians chapter 4 Paul gives a detailed explanation for this event called the catching up or the rapture to begin in verse 13 versus ammonium school.

He says do not want you to be all we don't want you not to understand this, we don't want you to be unclear about this. So saying let me explain this to you on the important give you the reasons why this event that is getting ready to explain is going to happen. He tells you the first reason in verse 13. I don't want to be informed about those who are asleep.

Why does he use the word sleep because for Crispin when you die, it's map and so they concern like a combat and some of our bunks to die, will they miss his return because they're not allowed like we are what I think the question supposed to miss out on the rapture. So the question was missing on this promise. Paul said I don't want to be uninformed about that one of the reasons is because of the rapture is to inform them about how this thing will work with another region which will see the script I give you is because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.

First Corinthians 15 verse 50. It can't inherit the kingdom of heaven, and not what you can't go like you are now because that environment does not fit your makeup, flesh and blood in the same way an astronaut cannot function on the moon without a space because it is natural being he cannot function in that environment.

He would die so it is, you can't function like you are in heaven as flesh and blood. So I changes got to occur. Another reason why this rapture is important is to remove you before all hell breaks loose on earth. Look at personal floating chapter 1 verse 10 and to wait for his son from heaven will be raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come hell not the tribulation. So, before all hell breaks loose wrath to come is going to come to retrieve his people before the wrath breaks loose that numbers of those places in the Bible. Remember, he retrieved a lot out of Laura before he rained down fire and brimstone on sodomy: he retrieved Noah and his family into the before he flooded the world. He retrieved Rahab and her family into their house before the walls of Jericho collapsed. In other words, he kept them from the judgment two, by retrieving them.

That's exactly what Jesus is going to do for all Christians, all who make up his church. He will retrieve us all.

The tribulation comes when all hell breaks loose on earth.

The concept of the rapture or the reason for the word in verse 13 that is going to speak and say something about a number of times concerning those who are asleep because you given a reason why you need to know about the rapture so that most 13 you do not grieve as those who have no fax your emotional well-being signature kinds of grieving, less grieving and hopeful grieving last grieving is a medical center person again. Hopeful grieving is going to see this person again. Both are grieving but there grieving differently.

What is really without hope one of grieving with so I want you not to be hopeless in your sorrow when you lose loved ones who are part of the family of God. Paul said it this way. In Philippians chapter 1 verses 21 to 23. He said I like very much all but to go to be with Christ is far better segment is five verse eight this way absence from the body is to be present with so let me explain what happens when you fall asleep that die, you die, follow sleep so exits the body. So please because your soul is you soldier personhood, the consciousness, the reason you know that you're here today is not good to have a body all the body is doing is what the soul is telling you expire the life principle that God breathes in soul slivers and so invisible way of the body. So the body can no longer function because the soul has departed. And so for the believer goes immediately into the presence of God, not comfort me, but you know that gray muscles in the grave, and I'm still better off especially when I don't know what he, becoming a block away today, but not common for hundred years I'm stuck in the ground that that's not comforting with these words not know. Explain you are the only one who will not be at your funeral because for the believer at the time that the so exits, which is why Christ can bring you because you are so at the time of the rapture when Jesus Christ sends to see believers coming with you you you when you went to sleep.

You should become simply want to know that the real view does not die, will you keep on living, and it immediately keeps on living with this we say verse 15 to you by the word of the Lord, that we are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep on living. When Jesus returns. Not only do you not have to worry about the folks who already die, they beat you to the punch. Because when the man comes for the rapture of the taking away of the saints who says you are alive. If you want to come back in the next five minutes was alive to take second place to the function of already die. We will not precede you not even know they sleep in your life. Dr. Evans will come back in a moment with a look at what's next, including what it really means to be caught up to meet the Lord when we might expect it to happen first so don't miss your chance to get a copy of Tony's current series, prophecy, and our world is a look at God's prophetic plan for our planet focusing on the difference it makes in our lives today along with the 12 full-length CDs or digital downloads included in this two-volume collection will also send you the luxury addition of Tony's book prayers for victory in spiritual warfare packed with principles about productive prayer and real-life examples about a connect with God when you need is power and protection.

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That's 1-800-800-3222. I repeat that contact information for you after part two of today's message. Here's Dr. Evans says this works. Verse 16 S. from heaven with a shout so apropos rapture. Jesus is going to leave heaven and is going to be a shout. I got out today that's going to be a call with Angel Angel is achieved Angel in charge manages all the other angels believe I have been assigned an angel the shout of Jesus Christ. They are coming to pick up their assigned people because everybody has been an angel, so you've got an angel personal assistant, who's been assigned to you by God.

It was 114.

The angel is all of the angels so he is coming to: God's people at the point of the shout of Jesus and the trump of God when chumps were born in the Bible. It was a call to movement. It was time to move military move of the people of Israel moved. It was a call to happen. Jesus is going to come to come to collect the trump of God is going to come for the whole group for things will happen at the same time that stay with me here this is in Christ will rise first member of the living will proceed to proceed to living because they're going up rise first. But wait a minute I thought I was in heaven, back when it sometime in heaven, that exactly what okay well you are going to be buried, but so that the point of death you are going to be very very most of us will be put in the casket seal is the people of God, get married, died, and see some people dye their bodies were put in the Buried in the ground become worm food so for it to get your soul coming down its new house to live in. Got to be a reconstruction of you to be stitched together you have to be in some supernatural way so your soul that's coming back with Jesus someplace. So while you are coming back with Christ when you die in Christ shall chill. So now we talk about your body for your all redeemed so that I can live and still punch in order so returns for the rapture and the shout is me.

There is going to be raising construction of your humanity, so that you and you also can so you got common body rising now I know I'm I'm in the room understand that you say this sounds a little strange. Strange.

This is when God created Adam Bible says in chief to grab some dirt and made me there on your best day you were about $9.50 is what you can so easily go back to dust to dust and ashes to ashes, because that's where you from so no matter how high you get used to preaching I you can get but so prideful, presuming work that much about nine dollars and 95. Now God created man. So if God can take you down plastic surgeons. The day they can do some miraculous stuff to me that the plastic surgeon that can make you look brand-new to make you look worse but classics early today with all the technology can do some amazing thing with people born with cleft lips and people were born with infirmities in the way they can reconstruct Moses and make make you look something just to scout so it then to you for your soul so will rise this not surprise you with the 50 because he says with a guy watermelon. See you plan Barry to see anything out of the ground and plant some call on the ground. 10 years on one stop: tree is you and something greater comes out look at what happened with the plant understand the goggles open. Barry Barry is the exact same planting a tree planting fruit to get bigger and better so the dead in Christ will be resurrected with new spiritual glorified bodies how you will be resurrected. He talks about people I love in verse 14 who fall asleep in Jesus. That's what he calls dying dying as Christians, falling asleep in Jesus. So the assumption is that you have accepted Christ something is true when you die you will fall asleep in Jesus. The picture here is of a mother rocking the baby until the baby falls asleep, that rocking a lot of times a frustrated baby. The babies cry and the mother is rocking the baby patina baby baby frustrated and so is rocking him closely. Okay, so he's what got us for many of us, he left this life become very uncomfortable with chronic the cancer we chronicle at the aneurysm with chronic and with whatever it is is causing his pain and he will let us cry so hard because we are so uncomfortable that we begin saying I'd rather you take me because when we get to the point where this life receive, and the like to come becomes bigger then we ready to go to sleep. She some of us we already ghostly medical sleep yet, but if we're not ready. And God is ready, he allows the discomfort get worse until we are ready so dead in Christ will rise first time and remain shall be caught up rapture to gamble with to meet the Lord. Dr. Tony Evans with the first part of the lesson called the rapture of the church and if you want to make sure you're included in that group. It all begins with a personal relationship with the Savior visit Tony Evans.org right now and follow the link that simply says Jesus there. Tony will tell you all about what it means to be a Christian walk you through everything you need to know to start your brand-new life. Check it out today and while you're there, consider taking advantage of our special double offer. Tony scurried to volume series prophecy, and our world is a 12 lesson collection focusing on terms that everyone in the church. Here's but may not fully understand subjects like the rapture, the tribulation, and many more.

This series digs deep into their meaning not just for the future but for the way we live from day-to-day. And as I mentioned earlier, it's yours. As our thank you gift when you support Tony's ministry with your contribution along with the luxury addition of his powerful book.

Prayers for victory in spiritual warfare. This special double offer won't be around for long, and we don't want you to miss out so visit Tony Evans.org to make the arrangements today. That's Tony Evans.org or get some in person help from our resource team by calling 1-800-800-3222 day or night. That's 1-800-800-3222.

How and when it'll happen have been matters of debate since the beginning but as we've been learning Jesus is coming back for his church when he does things are going to change starting with us, so be sure to join us tomorrow. Dr. Evans takes us even deeper understanding the rapture of the church.

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