No one knows the exact day in time the Rapture (the gathering out of the world of the church) will occur but I would like to look at the conditions which will precipitate the event.
In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 we are given 7 individual body of believers with a unique message and messenger. In Revelations 2:1-7 we are told of the church at Ephesus. We will begin by looking at some uniqueness of this body.
1) This is the body which was informed the church is the bride of Jesus Christ. (Ep. 5)
2) This is the only body in Revelation which also has a Pauline epistle addressed to it.
3) Paul prayed God would a “revelation” to them of the hope of His calling (Ep 1:17-19)
I believe the use of the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2 rather than being some random body was used specifically for these unique factors.
They are addressed by the One who walks among the 7 body of believers. We know it is Jesus.
They are the only body of the 7 who have dealt with false apostles. The other bodies deal with tribulations (IE martyrdom, Jezebel, Balaam, false JEWS, depths of Satan)
They are promised eternal life as a reward. (Re. 2:7)
Their punishment for failure to do as told is REMOVAL! (Re 2:5)
In verse 5 they are threatened with removal within 4 verses is the first mention of tribulation coming. Coincidence?
So then we have the church identified as the bride of Christ being removed from the world. Does this sound like the Rapture to you?
If so then what would cause the removal according to the passage? The Bible states they had left their first love and if they did not repent and do the first works Jesus would remove them. The passage indicates they were doing works but not the first works.
The body of Christ has been so caught up in doing social good they have forgotten the church is primarily here to lead others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ our first love. This is what will precipitate the Rapture. Jesus said in the last days iniquity will abound and the love of many shall wax cold. (Mt. 24:12)
Iniquity abounds now is this because the darkness has grown stronger or the light has grown dimmer? We, the church, have left our primary mission. We no longer love the Lord and become wrapped up in doing social good. We no longer tell the lost of Hell and judgment and try to lead men to Christ.
The church no longer being effective will leave this world and then will begin the time period we call the Tribulation.
Pastor Mike,
Not arguing sir, but sharing out loud.
If salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, which is the gospel of the grace of God, how could this be the body in Revelation? Grace is God’s gift.
Rom. 4:4, 5:15-17, Eph.2:5,7,8…
Also, Rom. 11:29.
You can’t lose grace. It is the gift of God. Christ did all necessary for our redemption. It is not based on our “works”, but on what Christ Jesus has already done.
Also just to share with you, the letters to the churches have much old testament language, in fact they seem to be Jewish… they have no mystery doctrine in the letters. Then, if these are Jewish assemblies, the entire book is written to the 7 churches. Rev. 1:11.
Also the body of Christ is never called Kings and priests, Rev. 1:6.
Those terms belong to Israel.
1 Peter 1:1 is written to Jews in Asia. Vs 13″Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
1 Pet.2:5-10 speaks to them (the little flock) being a holy nation and priesthood…
We are called his body, he is our Head, and we are called “sons”.