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/

God the Son from Genesis to Revelation

 Jesus Christ the Son of God, one of the three members of the Trinity, the triune Godhead.

 The significance of His birth to become the sacrificial lamb for the sins of man may be remembered by those that he died for.  Are those same people aware that the Son of God has been a part of history since the beginning and will be the catalyst of the End? 

He can be followed from the Beginning to the end.  From Genesis in the Old Testament to His Birth in the New Testament

From His Crucifixion to His return and Second Coming at the End Times.

Glimpses of the Son of God radiate throughout the Bible.  The book cannot be opened without following Him through scripture.

He would be given the name of Jesus at His birth in Bethlehem. Until that time, the Son of God was not only in existence as a member of the Trinity but was involved in the affairs of His Father’s kingdom.

GENESIS

God created the world in Genesis 1 and then said “let’s make man in OUR image”.  Who is the “our”?  The trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  God the Son was there in Chapter 2. 

After Satan used the serpent to tempt Eve, God stated that it would be crushed by the “seed of the woman”. 

Jesus was that seed…the virgin birth.

After the garden and the fall of man. Satan thought he had it all in his control until God brought the flood to destroy it all with the exception of the righteous man Noah to begin replenishing the earth.  In time, God choose Abraham to be the avenue for which God would bring redemption for mankind.

Through Abraham the promise was given and Abraham not only accepted it but believed in it. Jesus himself in the book of John (8:56)

Stated that “…Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. …”

Abraham “saw” the day of Jesus and it made Abraham glad.  Did he actually physically see that day? Did he just understand it was coming in the way that no man ever did?  What we do know is what is recorded in Genesis 18-19 when Abraham entertained and hosted the divine being at his home. Other than the recorded conversation regarding the eventual birth to come for Sarah and then the events surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah, what conversation went on amongst them?  We often do not consider anything else other than what we have seen documented and recorded for our eyes. 

Abraham had a meal with his guests and spent time together.  There was no need for social conversation regarding stock prices in town or where the best watering holes were, when you are eating dinner with the power that created you and the universe!

Melchizedek

Genesis 14:13-16 Abraham rescues his nephew Lot and is met by Melchizedek who is listed (18-24) as “the priest of the most high God”.  Tithes are given and the priest brought forth bread and wine.  Much has often been made of this man Melchizedek.  He is not Christ or anything more than a mere human.  He however is a genuine “model” of Christ in many ways beyond the scope of this current topic.  Simply to mention the use of the elements that would be instituted by Christ for the Lords Supper shows the understanding by Abraham and Melchizedek of the need for “atonement”. (Luke 22:14-20)

EXODUS

God makes a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15 that his descendants would number as the stars of the sky (vs 5) and the land that will be theirs (vs 18).  He even foretells the captivity and exodus (vs 13-14) from Egypt and the timeframe for its ending.  Which is confirmed in Exodus 12:41!

It would be hoped that most believers would know the Exodus story and its impact on the theme of scripture.  As part of the last plague that initiates the exodus out of Egypt, blood is spread on the doorposts (chapter 12) and will become remembered and celebrated as Passover.  The sacrificial lamb representative of the perfect lamb sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

In Exodus 3:14, Moses is told that he is to tell the Israelites that “I AM THAT I AM” is who sent Moses to deliver them.

In John 8:58, Jesus who had come to deliver us, told the Jews that He was THE “I AM”

God speaks to the Israelites through Moses.  A nation of millions that must learn to follow a belief in the Creator. Throughout their tenure in the desert, Moses pens the rules (Leviticus – Deuteronomy) that God has provided for them to live by.  The sacrifice of the lamb continues to be their offering to God. Until they reach the land that God promised Abraham and under the leadership of Joshua head in and are to claim the land.

CANAAN

After the Israelites came into the land of Canaan, they were a group of lose knit tribes trying to coexist with one another. Unfortunately, they also tried to coexist with their neighbors which they had been told to stay away from by God. This mingling of culture and belief led to the loss of any spiritual qualities that identified them as separate and unique.  They not only took on the evil practices of pagan gods they also became enticed with being like them and eventually wanted a king. God had foreseen this and provided rules for the king in Deuteronomy 17:14-20.

Samuel was a transition for the Jews from their isolated individual tribes to the point of their unification under a king. God had intended for them to serve Him as the only king but this did not happen.

Samuel “did let none of his words fall to the ground”. (1 Samuel 3:19-20) He only spoke what God told him to say. Giving only advice that was God driven and inspired. He became known as a man in tune with the will of God and not man.

Turning to earthly kings

In 1 Samuel 8, the people rejected God for an earthly king and the history of the nation is changed yet again.  The nation would spend most of the next 500 years going down the path of rule by wisdom of man and not God. 

King DAVID

David was the king that was called a man after God’s own heart.  As with Abraham God made a covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:1-17).

He was promised that his House, Throne, and kingdom would last forever.  It is out of his lineage that the Messiah would come.

David himself wrote many more than the 73 Psalms that have his name on them and many have direct references to the coming Messiah.

Including: Psalms 16:10; 22:13-18; 30:3; 34:20; 41:9-10; 55:12-14; 69:21; 118:17

There were a few kings like David that chose to follow God.  However, the number that chose to turn their back on God greatly outnumbered the Godly.  Each time God would speak to them through men of God called Prophets who were called to remind the king and the people of their need to return to the God of their fathers.

The Prophets

The Prophets all saw the coming of the Messiah.  Many of them also saw visions and were given information concerning the future.  They did not always understand what they were seeing, some seeing the first coming of the Messiah and others seeing His Second Coming.  They were seeing “mountain peaks” in the coming history.  Clarence Larkins has a diagram that depicts this well.   Each seeing different events.

Daniel gave them the exact time of the coming Messiah and his death. Daniel 2:44; 9:25-26

Isaiah and Malachi told of his coming being proceeded by a messenger. Isaiah 40:1-5; Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6

Prophets declared His birth of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), the massacre of the children (Jeremiah 31:15).

Zechariah the prophet was even told specifically that there was going to be an end of the old covenant and start of a new covenant.  He not only saw the betrayal of Judas but He saw the return of the Messiah at His Second Coming to build the Temple.

Isaiah 53 is very well known as descriptive of the Messiah.

The fulfilled prophecies in scripture regarding Jesus are numerous. How can anyone doubt the prophecies yet to be fulfilled.

THE ARRIVAL OF MESSIAH

The Gospels record the Birth, Death and Resurrection of the Messiah – Jesus.  His fulfillment of prophecy is documented and lineage confirmed by the writers that were there with Him.

Gospel of Matthew does two things.  It begins by documenting the lineage of Christ but it also recounts the words of Jesus in regards to the End Times and what Jesus states in regards to his Second Coming.

The Second Coming of Christ and the Revelation of God

From the words of Jesus himself to the teachings of Paul in Thessalonians; the teaching of the prophets such as Ezekiel and Daniel are reaffirmed.  The end of the book is only the beginning as the Apostle John shares the vision he received from God in the book of Revelation. John elaborates on the foundations established by Daniel.  Daniel laid out the 70 weeks as given to him by God. Daniel detailed the first 69 and John details week 70 as provided to him by God.

The story of the Messiah transcends the length of scripture and time.  God is not limited by our time structure (2 Peter 3:8).  His plan has been there from the beginning to the end.  Both Daniel and John saw God himself and soon we will as well.  Eternity is His domain (Isaiah 57:15) and it is our choice whether or not to be there.

The BIGGER Picture

The BIGGER Picture - Revisited

(The original message was written after the 2008 Presidential election.  I have revised it because of the importance of the message)

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; ………for so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: ……Honor all men….Fear God. Honor the king.”   1 Peter 2:13-17

So, the election is over. It’s done. Back to normal once again……………..

Is that right? Are you going back to your regular routine? 

Are you celebrating or still complaining about who won or who loss the election?

Why are you not praying for our newly elected leaders?  Is that not what the verse says?

I made a comment back before the election that I am going to now follow up on.  This election was to have an impact on a BIGGER scale.  It would affect more than just the U.S. economy, the political structure of the U.S. Congress, or whether we had the first individual of a particular race or gender.

Americans have spent too much of their lives being told (and believing) that the World revolves around them.  Turn on the television and watch the “World News” each night.  What do you hear about? Do you hear about news from around the WORLD?  With the exception of locations where we currently have troops engaged; the “world” that you hear about is within the borders of this country.  Can any one of you tell me what the top news story is at this vey minute in: Russia, Haiti or the Congo?

The World Map changes on a regular basis and so does the politics of it. There are new players on the scene every day, but the role and influence of the Prince of this World can be seen easily enough if you open your eyes. It is time now that a few so called “Bible Believers” start reading that book they claim to “believe in” and pay attention to what it says about what is happening in the World right in front of their eyes!

Whether you are a GENUINE Bible Believer or a professing church going individual these events occurring around the World WILL IMPACT your life.  It has been said: “Just because you do not believe it, does not make it any less true.”  I spent a lot of time reading through the Bible.  You should try it sometime.  It will change your perspective on everything you know and everything you do not know.   I have gone through every word of Daniel, Thessalonians and The Revelation several times.  If you have studied the Word of God the way I have; and seen the amazing creativity he used in laying out his plans for this World; you would understand.   There is a distinct BEGINNING and there is a definite ENDING to HIS Book.!

On any Sunday morning sermons are shared from pulpits all across America.  The Bible is quoted and we often hear from Paul’s message to the Ephesians on wearing the armor or his letter to the Corinthians on how to love or be part of the body.  Oh, such very “meaty” material! . (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14) When was the last sermon you heard on one of those passages?  Now, when was the last sermon you heard from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians?  Could that be because we are AFRAID to scare away the congregation and our attendance numbers will drop?  We don’t dare mention the phrases:  “Day of the Lord” or the “Resurrection of the Body” or the “return of Jesus”.  We may see the church board reprimand the preacher if he did!

Somehow everyone seems to forget that both Paul and Peter understood that there is an ENDING to the Book as well.  If they were here right now, they would be SCREAMING at the “church” to beware of how close she is to the LAST PAGE OF THE SCRIPT………………………….

Written November 2008

Revised January 2014

WDK