What ARE We Waiting For? It's Going to Get Worse

Introduction:

What is the Rapture? - The rapture is the future event when Jesus Christ descends from heaven to gather his people, those who died and those living, to be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air, to receive their glorified bodies and be kept from God's vengeance & judgment on unbelievers in the 7-year period known as the Tribulation (see Revelation 6-19).

Reasons to Believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture:

  1. It's the most Straightforward understanding of the biblical language.

    Revelation 3:10 - I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

    1 Thessalonians 5:9 - For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ...

  2. We never see the Church in the tribulation in Revelation!
  3. God has a track record of Removing His people before He judges the wicked.

It's Going to Get Worse: How to Survive the Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-28):

  1. Watch for the Abomination . (Matthew 24:15)
  2. Be ready to Run . (Matthew 24:16-22)

    Revelation 6:9 - I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God...

    Revelation 12:11 - ...they loved not their lives even unto death.

    Revelation 13:7 - Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.

    Revelation 17:6 - And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

    Revelation 16:10 - The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.

  3. Don't be Fooled . (Matthew 24:23-26)
  4. Keep your eyes to the Skies . (Matthew 24:27-28)

    Revelation 1:7 - Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 24:15-28

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. What Biblical reasons do we have for believing Jesus will rapture His church before the Tribulation? Why will Jesus do this?

  3. Why do you think Jesus tells people to run instead of telling them to witness to their attackers or fight back (Matt 24:16-22)?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Want more eschatology teaching?

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through Revelation

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through 2 Thessalonians