| Event 1: Church Caught up with Jesus Christ |
Characteristics:
-Believers removed from earth – ‘caught up’ (Often referred to as 'the rapture')
-Believers who are living will be caught up with Jesus – body and spirit
-Believers who are dead will be caught up with their bodies from earth
Both will have incorruptible bodies with Jesus
-Non-believers who are alive will remain on earth
-Non-believers who are dead will remain in the grave
-Judgment of the believers
Description:
This is an event that is often not understood or unknown to many believers. Note that Jesus does NOT return to earth physically, but believers are caught up to Him. The purpose of being caught up is to make way for judgment of the wicked and non-believers (events 2 & 3). This will ultimately pave way for the Kingdom on earth (event 4) and beyond where believers will spend eternity in the presence of our Lord.
Old Testament writers did not see this event, because they did not see the body of Christ and salvation granted to them. Paul describes this event in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. John in Revelation 2 and 3 writes that believers and overcomers in this present age will not see the wrath of God (Event 2), so some event must take place to remove them from earth.
When does this event occur? Scripture does not indicate a time and man throughout the ages has filled this void with ideas and theories that have not been proven to be remotely true. However, perilous times will come to earth, prior to believers being caught up. We must be ready at all times and wait for that blessed hope. Be prepared. Do righteous in the eyes of God and believe that his Son Jesus is the only way to salvation. Paul assures us in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 to watch and be sober.
Sometime between this event and event 2 will be the judgment of believers that were caught up with the Lord. It is not a judgment of salvation, for we will be saved already. However, it is a judgment according to our works while living, and rewards will be given according to how we served Jesus Christ.
The glorious thing about this event, is that we will have resurrected, incorruptible bodies forever. No more death or sin to corrupt us. Through the ‘marriage supper of the lamb’ we will be clothed in righteousness and planted together in Jesus. We will live forever in the new holy city, secure and serving God and the Lamb. This is our final destiny! And as you will see in the next events, we also will be reigning on the new earth as well with these new bodies. Its amazing what is in store for us.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption- 1Co 15:42
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection – Romans 6:5
Scripture Reference:
Caught up in air – 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Twinkling of the eye – 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Judgment seat of Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Judgment of works – 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Watch and be sober - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,