Rapture & Beyond

Rapture & Beyond
The Bible recorded two persons who were taken up directly to heaven, bypassing death while they were still alive on earth. God took Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 King 2:11). They are the precursors of rapture, which is to come. Evidence proves all Bible prophecies had been and will be fulfilled.

Rapture means ‘taken up’ referring to the end time event when Jesus comes back before the end of the world to evacuate His believers, transforming their corruptible bodies to incorruptible at an instant to be with Him. This mystical phenomenon is not unlike God’s creation of physical and chemical changes in nature. In essence, rapture enables believers to bypass death and go directly to heaven. “But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:27

"Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Before Rapture
The Antichrist is already at work waiting for the rapture of the church, God’s restraining force to be taken out (2 John 7, 1 John 2:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8). Satan is desperately seeking to devour and dominate the whole world through deception, intimidation, and force making the period leading to rapture increasingly treacherous. Rapture becomes our yearning to be with the Lord and we often feel anxious waiting for His coming, like looking at an airplane flying high in the sky seemingly moving so slowly. But we can be sure "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

The scripture reminds us in our brief time here on earth “to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. Each breath could be the last. Jesus promised His believers that our soul would be with Him immediately after departure from the body, not suspended waiting for resurrection on judgment day.
“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8
“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.” Luke 16:22

Denominational preaching has long been splitting hairs about interpreting rapture and resurrection often distracting from the importance of saving lost souls. Let the Holy Spirit reveal directly to anyone who seek to understand God’s message of the Bible. Jesus is coming back at any time. Believers of Christ who are still alive will be raptured to be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Rapture
The signs leading to rapture are abundantly clear today (see End-Time-Signs). Many believe rapture will occur in this generation. When the last trumpet sounds, Jesus Himself will appear in the sky to receive both dead and alive believers in Christ. Unbelievers will be left behind. The rest of the dead will not be raised until judgment day.

Our spirit is uplifted by the Lord’s promise.
“Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Revelation 4:1
“Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” Matthew 24:40-41
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." Revelation 3:10
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:21-22

Beyond
After the restraining force is taken out, the rapture of the church; the world will no longer hear the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11, Ezekiel 7:26). The Antichrist will appear on the world stage with the support of the false prophet to impose absolute control on the entire world exerting horror, suffering, havoc, and calamities for seven years (Daniel 7:25, 9:24-27, 12:7). The consequence will be the complete destruction of civilization and the total collapse of world economy (Revelation Chapters 6-13). Blessed are those who are already with the Lord!

God is merciful and He will send two powerful witnesses in the zenith of the tribulation to preach for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, giving humanity a last chance to repent. Then God will allow the two witnesses to be killed, and after three-and-a-half-days to be resurrected for the whole world to witness (Revelation 11:3-12).

When the Antichrist declares abomination of desolation in the Holy place as spoken by Daniel the prophet, the entire world will plunge into war. The spirit of demons will gather the world at Armageddon for the battle between good and evil. Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will come with His heavenly armies and triumphant over all evil. The coming of the Lord will destroy the Antichrist and the false prophet. Satan will be chained and bound for a thousand years. Heaven and earth will rejoice in the glory of God. Jesus will reign on earth for a millennium with His saints. (Zechariah 14:4-5, Revelation 16:16, Revelation 19:1-21, Revelation 20:1-3)

Destruction of Satan
“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10

Judgment Day
All the dead will be raised and judged. A place permeating the worst fear and torment in darkness without hope is prepared for the unrepentant sinners, the devil, and his followers (Revelation 21:8).
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-14

Kingdom of Heaven
The old heaven and earth will pass away. "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind." Isaiah 65:17

The Bible is brief regarding the heavenly realm. The scripture focuses on God’s love and direction proclaiming His gospel of salvation, blessings, and hope in this fallen world. For it is the desire of our Creator for us to be with Him in eternity. “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” John 3:12

Jesus came to show us the way to our heavenly Father and has prepared for us an awesome place beyond our carnal mind can fathom. The mystery of God and His kingdom will become clear when we are face-to-face with God (1 Corinthians 13:12).
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. 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." John 14:2-4
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

We can ascertain God’s Plan from creation to the end of age and even His presence here with us. However, to capture the magnificent glory of His kingdom and the astonishing pleasure of being with God, our speculation at this time is like a fetus imagining the world outside.

We know God is love and trust His promise. We shall live in the riches of His kingdom filled with love in the bosom of our righteous Lord without anxiety, fear, and longing. Our desire shall be to serve Him pursuing the depth of His wisdom and knowledge with complete freedom and extraordinary supernatural abilities. We shall share full interactions far beyond any fellowship of joy, gratitude, and satisfaction we have ever known. At last we can truly realize the purpose of our creation is to be in the presence of our Lord.

This earth is a mere reflection of heaven, a rehearsal of the best to come. In heaven we would see certain familiarity of God’s element and equation, which we now try to comprehend through mathematics. Heavenly things will be magnificently elegant, pure, and incorruptible created by His simple formula in ingenious dimension. There is no need of the sun or sea to recycle and sustain the biosphere of the mortal earth. Man-made objects for extending our needs and abilities are no longer required. Natural disaster, sickness, suffering, pain and sorrow are the human anguish of the past. (Revelation 7:16-17, Revelation 21:1-4, Revelation 21:18, Revelation 21:23, Revelation 22:1)

Heaven is real and so is hell. They are indisputable true dimensions in eternity as factual as the universe and its black holes. Heaven and hell cannot be wished away by disbelief. It would be unthinkable and tragic to wake up in the infinite dimension of hell.

Through His Son Jesus Christ, God offers humanity a choice to be with Him in His kingdom. The time to secure our future is now. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." John 11:25

Astute thinkers believed the earth was round, long before it could be seen from space. Through faith and spiritual understanding of God’s word, we do not need to see heaven to believe it. “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Thank you Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, and our heavenly Father. Praise God for Your mercy and grace from here through eternity.