PART 1 OF 7 | VANISHED | WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS ABOUT THE RAPTURE

#rapture #endtimes #endoftheworld PART 1 OF 7 | VANISHED | WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS ABOUT THE RAPTURE The Rapture is a future event where believers will be 'caught up' to meet Christ in the air, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. This instantaneous transformation will end the Church Age, give believers imperishable bodies, and permanently reunite all Christians with each other and with Christ. Unlike other prophetic events, the Rapture could happen at any moment without warning signs. This promise gives Christians hope in a broken world, reminding us that our current struggles are temporary and that God has planned our ultimate rescue. If you made a salvation decision today, visit www.IMadeADecision.com Things to Come, Part 1 – October 5, 2025 Series Intro: “If I knew then what I know now” Sermon Intro: Rat Experiment Explanation: Paul’s teaching in Thessalonica John 14:2-3 (NIV2011) 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV2011) 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. The Rapture of the Church “Caught Up” = Harpazo (Greek) = Raeptius (Latin) FIRST: The Rapture Ends the Church Age Example: Holy Spirit baptism 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV2011) 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body… Example: Holy Spirit indwelling John 14:16-17 (NIV2011) 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. Romans 8:9 (NIV2011) 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Application: Rapture participants Application: World without the church SECOND: 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NIV2011) 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. The Rapture Changes Those Who are in Christ “Jesus will descend from heaven, accompanied by the perfected spirits of believers who have died. He will resurrect their bodies, now glorified, and the spirits of believers will be clothed with their new bodies.” Mark Hitchcock Example: Jesus’ resurrection Application: The future version of you THIRD: 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NIV2011) And so we will be with the Lord forever. The Rapture Permanently Reunites Those Who are in Christ FOURTH: The Rapture Could Happen at any Moment 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NIV2011) They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NIV2011) 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Example: Christmas and Thanksgiving www.FirstRedeemer.org