Jeters Chapel    

     CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN      

Study of the Word

Scripture for the Month
August 2018  

 Matthew 24: 29-31 (NKJV) 

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other".

Pastor's Note

Of the many promises of scripture, there are varying opinions and beliefs regarding the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  When will it happen? Who will go? What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?  Brothers and sisters, the difference is simply at the Rapture, Jesus comes FOR His saints while at the Second Coming, He comes WITH His saints.  

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15: 52, the Rapture will happen in the twinkling of an eye.  1 Thessalonians 4 tells us the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with the trumpet call of God.  Revelation 4 verse 1 equates Jesus' voice with a trumpet.  Then, the dead in Christ will rise first, and we who are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air where we will be forever.  I don't think everyone will hear the voice of Jesus nor see Him in the clouds during the Rapture because after the resurrection, Jesus appeared primarily to believers.  And so, in like fashion, I believe when the Rapture occurs, only believers will hear His voice and see Him in the clouds.  

But, what about Saul and James, the brother of Jesus, they didn't believe yet, Christ appeared to them?  Jesus' appearing to them simply proves the resurrection is an historical fact witnessed by believers and unbelievers alike.  Had Jesus only appeared to believers after the resurrection, unbelievers would have valid questions as to whether or not the resurrection happened. But since, He appeared to believers and unbelievers, there's no doubt Jesus rose from the grave.  As to Paul and James the brother of Jesus, they both believed afterwards.  Therefore, perhaps after believers are caught up in the air, some left behind will believe afterwards and perhaps are the saints mentioned in Daniel 7. 


As to the Second Coming of Christ, Matthew 24: 30 says everybody on earth will see Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory so the Rapture and the Second Coming are clearly two separate events. One event will be when Christ comes for His saints, the other will be when Christ comes with His saints to establish His Kingdom on earth. 


The prerequisite is believing in Jesus Christ, that God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  Until then, may Christ find faith in us and find us working when He comes! Even so, Come Lord Jesus!


Love,
Pastor Paul 

Continuing the work of Jesus Christ

Peacefully, Simply, Together