The 3 Signs of the Rapture of the Church

• Jesus had answered the 3 questions of the Disciples
  • He had told them about the destruction of the Temple – 70A.D.
  • He had told them about the 5 signs of His Coming – birth pangs
  • He had told them about the End of Age – Great Tribulation…
  • Last of all Jesus gives us the event that starts it all – the Rapture of the church…
  • But when – Jesus gives 3 signs to that will precede the Rapture of the Church…
    
• 1^st – When the Fig tree begin to blossom – summer is near… vs. 28-32
  • In the Bible THE Fig Tree is a picture of the Nation of Israel – Mark 11:13
    • Jesus gives this Parable – when you see the ‘Fig Tree’ blossom – Summer is near
    • The interpretation – when you see Israel blossom – the rapture is near…
  • When you see these things happening – Jesus is near – at the door… vs. 29
    • The Death of Israel – valley of dry bones – Ezekiel 37:1-14
      • God showed Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones – it was the nation of Israel – dead…
      • In 722 B.C. ~ ‘Northern Kingdom’ of Israel conquered by Assyria ~ the Diaspora
      • In 586 B.C. ~ ‘Southern Kingdom’ of Israel conquered by Babylon ~ (136 years later)
      • In 70 A.D. Israel decimated – 10 Roman Legion – Titus Vespasian – over million died
      • In 132 A.D a failed revolt – expulsion of Jews – Israel renamed Syria Palaestina
      • Jerusalem renamed Aelia Capitonlia ~ Jews were forbidden to live there
      • For 2000 years the remnant of Israel was scattered to the four winds…
      • No conquered nation has maintained a national identity – except Israel
    • The rebirth of Israel…
      • God asks Ezekiel – ‘Can these dry bones live?’ – can Israel become a nation again…
        • God told Ezekiel – ‘Speak to them… hear the Word of the Lord!’
        • Ezekiel watched as the bones stood up – and came back to life!
        • May 14^th, 1948 ~ Israel was again declared a nation… Israel was reborn!
        • Luke 18:27 – “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
        • How did the impossible become possible – Hear the Word of the Lord!
        • When are faced with impossibilities in our lives – we tend to react with doubt
        • But if God can raise the dead – if God can revive a whole nation – what can’t He do…
        • It is as we spend time listening to Jesus – though His Word / Prayer 
        • We will believe & see that God will do the impossible – nothing is too hard for God!
      • Returning from the four winds…
        • Isaiah 43:5-6 – “I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar… from the ends of the earth.”
        • Since 1948 Jewish population in Israel has surged to roughly ~ 6 million
        • Since 2006 – 1^st time in 2000 years – more Jews in Israel – any other nation on earth
        • God has been faithful to bring back His people to His land
      • The Fig Tree blossoms…
        • Since 1948 Israel has literally blossomed…
        • Isaiah 27:6 – “Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.”
        • Before 1948 the Land was all deserts and swamp – no trees – a wasteland…
        • Israel has planted over 240 millions trees in the Land
        • Israel has become a major world agricultural exporter – $1.5 billion a year!
        • The Fig tree has indeed blossomed – Just as the Word of God foretold…
  • This Generation will by no means pass away… vs. 30
    • The Generation that sees ‘Israel blossom’ – will also see the ‘End of the Age’…
    • We have seen Israel Blossom – that makes us the last Generation
    • So how long do we have before the Rapture of the church… (2 questions)
    • 1^st questions – ‘When exactly did Israel blossom’…
      • Some say – May 14^th, 1948 – when Israel was declared a nation
      • Some say – June 7^th, 1967 – when Israel reclaimed the Temple Mount (Jerusalem)
    • 2^nd questions – ‘How long is a Generation’…
      • In the Bible a Generation can be anywhere from 20-100 years…
      • Count 20-100 years from 1948/1967 – it means the rapture is VERY close!
  • How sure can we be we are the last Generation – Jesus is coming… vs. 31
    • Jesus says – Heaven and Earth will pass away – but His words will not!
    • So – you can be VERY SURE – Jesus is coming – VERY SOON!
  • That leaves the obvious question – do we know the exact day & hour… vs. 32
    • The Day & Hour referred to here is talking about the Rapture of the church…
    • Its not in reference to Jesus 2^nd coming – exactly 3½ years after Abomination of desolation
    • So when does the Rapture occur – no one knows – only the Father in Heaven…
    • If we knew when – we might be tempted to live like the devil…
    • Then a month/week/day/ or hour before the rapture – try to get our lives right with God…
    • So, if anyone tells you they know when the Rapture takes place – they are wrong
    • The point is to live for Jesus every day –in constant expectation of His return
      
• 2^nd – As in the Days of Noah… Matthew 24:37-39
  • Jesus gives anther sign to look for – the Days of Noah – exceedingly wicked days…
    • Genesis 6:5 – “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
    • So the 2^nd sign the Rapture is close is the wickedness of men on earth…
    • In “Western culture” – 50% of marriages end in divorce
    • 40% of all children are born out of wedlock / Only 26% of people go to Church
    • There are an estimated 40 millions abortions every year world wide…
    • We live in a world dominated by greed / violence / self-indulgence
    • As in the days of Noah – Just like the world today…
    • * II Timothy 3:1-4 – “In the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self–control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, love of pleasure rather than love God…”
  • In the days before the flood – so will the coming of the Son of Man be…
    • Men were eating, drinking, marrying – right to the moment the flood came
    • The idea is men were going on with their lives oblivious to the coming danger
    • They were completely unprepared – and so missed the salvation of Noah’s Ark…
    • Like the Flood – Jesus will come without any warning…
    • I Corinthians 15:52 – “In a moment, in the blink of an eye…”
    • Jesus came to seek & save the lost just as Noah & family were saved by the Ark
    • Anyone who believes in Jesus will be spared the Great Tribulation
    • Noah and his family had to go through a doorway into the Ark to be saved
    • So we too have to go through a “doorway” to be saved – Jesus is the door
    • John 10:9 – “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.”
    • The Door is open – anyone can enter in – and Jesus wants to save everyone
    • But there will come a day – in a blink of an eye – when the door will close…

• 3^rd–When you least expect it… vs. 33
  • Matthew 24:40 – “Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left…”
    • Jesus gives the illustration – two identical people – only one is raptured
    • Neither expected it was THE day – they were working like any other day
    • There will be no warning – nothing out of the ordinary
    • But when we least expected – Jesus will come back for His Church
  • Therefore Jesus says – Watch & Pray – you do not know when the time is…
    • The 3^rd sign to look for – is that no one is looking for Jesus to come
    • If you are not expecting Jesus to return – that is when He will come!
    • So if you are thinking Jesus will come –Buas lang… Look up!
    • He will come when we least expect it – in a hour and day when no one suspects
      
• Therefore – be ready (2 examples)… vs. 34-37
  • 1^st – Like a thief in the night… Matthew 24:43-44
    • If someone told you tomorrow at 1am – a thief would come into your house
    • You would be ready for him – and nothing would be stolen
    • But no one knows when a thief will come – that is why they are able to steal…
    • In the same way you will not know when Jesus is coming – like a thief in the night
    • I Thessalonians 5:2 – “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night…”
    • You may not know when a thief will come – but you can be prepared
    • You make sure you have a good fence – locked doors – maybe a dog – be ready…
    • In the same way you may not know when Jesus will come – but you can ‘Be Ready’…
    • Be men and women of the Word – men and women of prayer…
    • You can make sure your heart is right with God – confess your sin…
    • Right any wrong relationships with others – be ready in case today is the day…
  • 2^nd – The faithful vs. the wicked servant… Matthew 24:45-51
    • Like a man going to a far country – who left his house and gave authority to his servants…
    • Not knowing when the master will return – evening / midnight / dawn / or morning…
    • The faithful servant is the one who is given responsibility – and does them
      • When his master comes – He will reward the servant – ruler over all
      • If you went away for a few days – and you left your oldest in charge…
      • If you came back when they least expected you – surprising them – but saw
      • They were faithful – you would honor them with more responsibility
    • The bottom line – if we are busy serving the Lord – waiting for his return
      • When He comes – we will not only find we go to heaven in the Rapture
      • The Lord will also give us even greater honor!
      • Revelation 3:21 – “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.”
    • The unfaithful servant – says in his heart – my Master will not come today…
      • Falls asleep – mistreats others – drinks and gets drunk…
      • All the while assuming he is OK – because his Master will not show up…
      • But the Master comes in a day when he is not looking – hour unaware…
      • And the servant will be cast into hell – weeping and gnashing of teeth
      • Same scenario – thinking their parents gone – the child runs wild
      • Rather than the reward they could have had – they would be punished
    • We have everything to gain by Being Ready for Jesus SOON return!
      • We get to avoid the coming Great Tribulation – Instead celebrate in Heaven
      • We get to receive great honor – rather than the weeping and gnashing of teeth
      • So are we Ready – no man knows the day and the hour
      • But we know we are the last generation – Jesus is coming Soon
      • Let us live every day – knowing today could well be the day we see Jesus!