HOW TO MISS THE RAPTURE!

This is a difficult topic considering not many believers are even aware that there is a “Rapture of the Saints” about to take place.  In the study of Biblical End Times prophecy, there are no precursors that are required to yet happen prior to the Rapture taking place.  The rapture of true believers in Jesus Christ can occur at any moment.

1Thessalonians 4:16-17 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.

It is a FACT that it WILL HAPPEN.  There are however some things that are often not considered when this topic is discussed.

1Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

This event is described in many passages as “a thief in the night”. When the event happens there will be no announcement, there will be a trumpet sound and those that are “watching” and “waiting” will be gone in an instant. It will happen like a thief who steals in the night time when no one is watching and gets a way with the criminal act.

1Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Mark 13:32-37  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. 

Revelation 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

We must be “watching” for this event and not “sleeping”.  We need to be expectant for the Lords return and actually keeping our eyes attuned to see his return. Not sleeping, not being preoccupied in keeping busy and always finding things of this world to keep us busy.

Jesus warns that it is possible to be busy and miss His return.

Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

There is no indication that the five foolish were not suitable brides for the groom. Instead they were simply not prepared for Him to come and GOT LEFT BEHIND. They had “something to do” and were to busy when the trumpet sounded. 

1Corinthians 15:52 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.

I am not creating a new doctrine here.  I am only stating that scripture does indicate that a believer can and a lot will be too busy to hear the trumpet blast and will miss the Rapture! 

Written February 20, 2021 by WD Kemner for http://bibleswordfinal.blogspot.com/

Revised June 18, 2025 for https://bibleswordfinal.neocities.org/

ACTS 3 SPARK PLUG

What was the spark in Acts 3? The Resurrection, Holy Spirit Outpouring or a lame man?

The answer is ALL THREE.  However, consider the role the lame man had in Acts 3.

The book of Acts opens up with the Disciples hiding in the Upper Room cowering in fear and singing songs of “woe is me”.  Everyone is familiar with how it changes as you read through chapters 1 and 2. Their world takes on a new perspective with the appearance of the Glorified Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 

Chapter 2 ends with Peter’s breakout sermon to those in attendance. Then in chapter 3 we find out what the first thing the newly refreshed Peter does.  He takes off and heads immediately for the den of vipers (Matthew 3:7) ….. the temple!  Oh, he does slow down long enough to bring John along.  They make it as far as the Court of the Gentiles in front of the Gate Beautiful before something happens.

Jesus had been the “star attraction” of a parade that brought him to this spot and had also kicked all the vendors out who were selling their goods.  Now just weeks later, Peter arrives for prayer meeting (Acts 3:1) and finds the lame man sitting outside the Gate. (Acts 3:2)  This was not unusual because the lame man had been placed there daily!

What could make this unusual, is the question of where had the lame man been all the many times Jesus had passed by. Was the lame man not sitting in his usual spot to experience the chaos a few weeks earlier? How about the many times the religious stuff shirts had attempted to out-smart Jesus with their rhetoric?

I propose this to your thinking.  We hear often in the story of Esther the idea of “being raised up for just such a moment as this…”  The lame man had not been healed by Jesus, but he was there for just a moment as this.  Peter now takes this moment in time to lift the lame man (3:7) to his feet – healed in the NAME OF JESUS!  The man proceeds to dance the GREATEST DANCE (3:8) ever performed as he follows Peter further into the temple.  This is to the total bewilderment of the people in the temple. It now offers Peter the perfect opening for his second sermon in 24 hours!

A sermon to the very people who in the past weeks (Acts 3:13-15) were guilty of hanging their Messiah on a tree only a few hundred yards from where they were now standing! Acts 4:4 indicates the results of that dance and sermon was 5,000 male converts!  With 3000 converts from the upper room, that is 8000 males (plus wives and children)!  The events of that weekend should have Believers dancing!

 

Written April 8, 2020 by WD Kemner for http://bibleswordfinal.blogspot.com/

Revised June 18, 2025 for https://bibleswordfinal.neocities.org/

WHAT IS AN ACTS 2 CHURCH?

What caused the character traits of the Acts 2 church?

Is the church today living up to the example of the Acts 2 church?

Salvation converts the soul.  When salvation occurs, there is a total commitment to Jesus Christ.  Baptism in the Holy Spirit on the other hand converts the man’s spirit.  It takes that commitment to Jesus and retunes the spirit.  Suddenly there is no desire for anything of this world. There is nothing that will now provide the substance to satisfy the man who now has his entire being washed out and replaced by the inflowing presence of God the Holy Spirit.

That explains what was first seen at Pentecost.  Acts 2:41-47

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

The FIRST thing that is recorded of the 3000 saved and FILLED that day:

For some reason they:

 ·      Were together (in common agreement on all matters) ·      Had all things in common  ·       Sold their possessions and goods in order to care for EVERY Man -AS EVERY MAN HAD NEED

WHY? Why did they do this?

Why was the first thing they thought to do was to sell their earthly possessions in order to mutually take care of each other’s “expenses”? Did they suddenly find that their focus was now 100% of the time on the things of God and that their earthly possessions were not of any importance? 

Everything that was theirs, was God’s, so therefore, use it to meet the need!

Imagine what would happen to the body of Christ if at least this mentality existed.  The sudden urge to be in God’s House every day – every hour! The sudden urge to fix every car in the congregation, to mow the lawn of every member, to repair every plumbing or mechanical breakdown in the homes of everyone in the congregation!

I doubt we will ever see men selling their FORD or CHEVY trucks to pay someone’s house mortgage.  However, if we wanted to see 3000 added to the church daily, we better start thinking that way……….

Did God give you the skills, training, education you have in order for you to own a $500,000 House, 4 cars, Boat and the Cabin on the Lake! Or did he REALLY give you all that knowledge to take care of HIS BUSINESS?

WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT

If we consider that we have just established what is REALLY UNIMPORTANT to us: Earthly Goods and Possessions.

Then what then is IMPORTANT?  The early church “continued daily in the temple in one accord” – They were in Church everyday AND they were in total Agreement!

Can that ever happen in this day? Agreement (in one accord) can have a whole sermon series on. However, it WAS a natural by product and SIGN of the Baptism of an individual. The Holy Spirit cannot be divisive against itself!

How could God the Holy Spirit teach one doctrine to an individual and teach the opposing doctrine to another individual?

It therefore follows that there is NO WAY that two Holy Spirit filled men can have a disagreement

Leaving that topic, it states they “continued daily in the temple”.

It is difficult enough to get anyone to WANT TO come to church, let alone be there very long.  Everyone wants to leave as soon as the church service is over because “They have other things to do”.

Going on the premise that we established earlier; that the individual “Baptized in the Holy Spirit”; no longer has any desire for “anything of this world”.  It is easy to pose the following question: What other things have they to do outside of being in God’s House?

CARE OF THE HOUSE OF GOD

If we are to be focused upon the time spent in God’s House, then it naturally develops into focusing upon the time we spend in care of God’s House.  As men, do we not take care of our homes, cars, possessions?

Then why are we not doing the same thing for the house of God? Who is the “Master” of the home? The Wife or the Husband? The Biblical Truth is that neither one is. The correct answer is GOD!

If God is the master of the home and men are spending so much time on its care, then why are men not spending as much time on the upkeep of God’s House – the church facility? It should be an embarrassment for the child of God to hear any minister need to make a request from the pulpit for “volunteers” to help meet the physical needs of the church facility.

Why is it not taken care of as second nature to those endowed with the Holy Spirit?

A simple broken tree branch in the parking lot, a broken rain gutter, untrimmed trees, should cause this believer to stop a moment and look at the “House of his master” and think, what would the master of the estate EXPECT his SERVANT to do about it!

CARE OF THE BODY

We now have the church congregation taking care of the Lord’s House (physical facilities). What about those that attend that House?

The early church at the time of Pentecost in Acts 2 saw 3000 added in one day. The church today seems to live with the idea that those 3000 were “saved and Baptised” and sent on their way home to never be heard from again!

Someone better reread the Book of Acts. Those newly saved were taken care of. They were provided for. They were partaking of meals at the homes of the believers. Can you imagine the outpouring of care to meet the needs of that many new people. It was also done with the attitude of serving the Master himself:  Jesus Christ.

Written May 31, 2021 by WD Kemner for http://bibleswordfinal.blogspot.com/

Revised June 18, 2025 for https://bibleswordfinal.neocities.org/