Page 46 - Eschatology - Masters revised

As no other time in the history of mankind, save during the time of Noah’s flood, has the condition
mankind more universally been accurately described by this passage of Scripture. Truly we are living in
the “last days!”

Recognize the Signs of the End-Times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cp5HkGFeg4

The Next Biblical Event in History

While we don’t know all the events that will take place shortly, we do know that the next unfulfilled
event to take place with the church is the Rapture. We do not know when it will happen. The
expectation of Paul was that it could happen at any time.

We believe that this event will take place preceding the revelation of the Antichrist and the events of
the tribulation as described in the book of Revelation.

What we know about the rapture is that it will happen very quickly and unexpectedly. I Thessalonians
4:13-18 are probably the most clear and complete presentation of this event in all of Scripture.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NIV84)13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those
who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 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 own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till
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 each other with these words.

In several places in Scripture, we are told that a sound of the trumpet will initiate this event. Once the
trumpet is heard, the dead who have died during the church age will be raised from their graves, then all
living believers will instantly, “in the twinkle of an eye” disappear to meet Christ in the clouds.

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