Abstract p.1
This blog is a collection of verse references concerning the day of the Lord and concerning the redemption of our body. I chose to focus on the rapture and to focus even more on the first rapture knowing that this is a controversial topic. The Lord says that “as you see the day approaching” and so one of my goals was to understand from the Bible what we would see that would tell us the day is approaching. I use the gospel of Luke, chapter 21 as my outline for this abstract because Luke is focused on this first rapture (Mark is on the mid tribulation rapture and Matthew on the rapture of Israel). You will see that some of the things mentioned in Mark and Matthew are not here because you will not see them prior to the rapture.
The Widow’s Offering
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
There is a beautiful symmetry here. The chapter ends with us praying that we would be able to escape the coming destruction and to stand before the Son of Man. The chapter begins with this little window into that. Jesus sees everything. He sees how dedicated you are and His math is different from the world. In the world a man who gives $1,000 gave more than a woman who gave $20. But if you are simply skimming off the top you are giving a much smaller percent of your wealth whereas someone who is giving everything they have is giving a much bigger percent. Are you giving all your living or are you giving whatever is extra? What is the point of studying the rapture if you are not going to escape and are not worthy to stand before the Son of Man? Jesus gave everything He had, He gave His life, how can you stand before Him if you have not also given all you have, given all your living?
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
In Corinthians we are told by Paul that we are building the church with gold, silver and precious stones and that our building work will be tested by fire. If it stands the test you receive a reward, if it burns up in the fire you suffer a loss but you will still be saved, yet so as through fire. So there is a judgement going on, the rapture is this judgement. Those who are taken in the first rapture are receiving this reward, those who are left behind will suffer loss just like having a fire burn up everything you have worked for, but they themselves will still be saved. This refers to the two raptures. This temple that the disciples were admiring was about to suffer loss, they built according to their own opinion. They should have recognized that Jesus Christ had come and yet they didn’t. There were very many prophecies including Daniel which told them the exact year He would be crucified and even though they considered themselves Bible scholars they didn’t recognize Him. There was the star of Bethlehem, yet they missed that. There were two thousand kids who were murdered, also a fulfillment of prophecy and yet they missed that. John the Baptist paved the way for Him and yet they missed that. The blind received their sight, the lame walked, the dead were raised and yet they still insisted on not recognizing Him. So the Temple appeared to be made with stones and beautiful gifts, but in God’s eyes it was wood, hay and stubble and would be burned. What happened in 70 AD to the temple and what happened to the Jews is an example of what Paul meant when he said that “we would suffer loss”. We can also see that the Lord is not referring to physical stones, physical gold, or physical silver. These great cathedrals that have been built with their great artwork will also be burned up. No, the gold, silver and precious stones refers to God’s divine nature, Jesus’ redemption, and the Spirit’s transforming work. The Triune God needs to be worked into our being, that is how you build the church. The word of God is fine gold, it is the finest silver, and it is precious stones. We live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Are you constituted with the word of God, is it mingled with your daily living? We need works that express our faith. Abraham offering up Isaac was an example of a work that expressed his faith in God. Wood, hay and stubble refers to works that come from our natural opinion, ideas, and concepts. When you read George Mueller’s biography you will see that his entire work of setting up orphanages rested on a single word that God spoke to him from the Bible. It was a work of faith. His faith was not dead because it had a living expression.
When will these things happen and what will be the sign that they are about to take place?
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
This would be the perfect place for the Lord to respond “no one knows the day or the hour” but He doesn’t. Let that sink deep inside, everything He says is an answer to this question. We will see there are definitely signs that tell us when these things are about to happen. The Magi got a sign and a few months later they see the baby Jesus. The ministry of John the Baptist was a sign. Mary, the mother of Jesus, kept all the different signs in her heart.
This blog is a collection of verse references concerning the day of the Lord and concerning the redemption of our body. I chose to focus on the rapture and to focus even more on the first rapture knowing that this is a controversial topic. The Lord says that “as you see the day approaching” and so one of my goals was to understand from the Bible what we would see that would tell us the day is approaching. I use the gospel of Luke, chapter 21 as my outline for this abstract because Luke is focused on this first rapture (Mark is on the mid tribulation rapture and Matthew on the rapture of Israel). You will see that some of the things mentioned in Mark and Matthew are not here because you will not see them prior to the rapture.
The Widow’s Offering
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
There is a beautiful symmetry here. The chapter ends with us praying that we would be able to escape the coming destruction and to stand before the Son of Man. The chapter begins with this little window into that. Jesus sees everything. He sees how dedicated you are and His math is different from the world. In the world a man who gives $1,000 gave more than a woman who gave $20. But if you are simply skimming off the top you are giving a much smaller percent of your wealth whereas someone who is giving everything they have is giving a much bigger percent. Are you giving all your living or are you giving whatever is extra? What is the point of studying the rapture if you are not going to escape and are not worthy to stand before the Son of Man? Jesus gave everything He had, He gave His life, how can you stand before Him if you have not also given all you have, given all your living?
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
In Corinthians we are told by Paul that we are building the church with gold, silver and precious stones and that our building work will be tested by fire. If it stands the test you receive a reward, if it burns up in the fire you suffer a loss but you will still be saved, yet so as through fire. So there is a judgement going on, the rapture is this judgement. Those who are taken in the first rapture are receiving this reward, those who are left behind will suffer loss just like having a fire burn up everything you have worked for, but they themselves will still be saved. This refers to the two raptures. This temple that the disciples were admiring was about to suffer loss, they built according to their own opinion. They should have recognized that Jesus Christ had come and yet they didn’t. There were very many prophecies including Daniel which told them the exact year He would be crucified and even though they considered themselves Bible scholars they didn’t recognize Him. There was the star of Bethlehem, yet they missed that. There were two thousand kids who were murdered, also a fulfillment of prophecy and yet they missed that. John the Baptist paved the way for Him and yet they missed that. The blind received their sight, the lame walked, the dead were raised and yet they still insisted on not recognizing Him. So the Temple appeared to be made with stones and beautiful gifts, but in God’s eyes it was wood, hay and stubble and would be burned. What happened in 70 AD to the temple and what happened to the Jews is an example of what Paul meant when he said that “we would suffer loss”. We can also see that the Lord is not referring to physical stones, physical gold, or physical silver. These great cathedrals that have been built with their great artwork will also be burned up. No, the gold, silver and precious stones refers to God’s divine nature, Jesus’ redemption, and the Spirit’s transforming work. The Triune God needs to be worked into our being, that is how you build the church. The word of God is fine gold, it is the finest silver, and it is precious stones. We live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Are you constituted with the word of God, is it mingled with your daily living? We need works that express our faith. Abraham offering up Isaac was an example of a work that expressed his faith in God. Wood, hay and stubble refers to works that come from our natural opinion, ideas, and concepts. When you read George Mueller’s biography you will see that his entire work of setting up orphanages rested on a single word that God spoke to him from the Bible. It was a work of faith. His faith was not dead because it had a living expression.
When will these things happen and what will be the sign that they are about to take place?
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
This would be the perfect place for the Lord to respond “no one knows the day or the hour” but He doesn’t. Let that sink deep inside, everything He says is an answer to this question. We will see there are definitely signs that tell us when these things are about to happen. The Magi got a sign and a few months later they see the baby Jesus. The ministry of John the Baptist was a sign. Mary, the mother of Jesus, kept all the different signs in her heart.