Message Outline

The Rapture of the Church

Pastor Larry Stockstill
Sunday, Nov 15, 2015

"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God." - Heb. 11:5

Noah

"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household." - Heb. 11:7

"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all." - Luke 17: 26-27

Lot

"Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot-they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all- so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed… I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left." - Luke 17: 28-30, 34-35

2. Three Preparations for the Rapture

"STAY Ready" (Holiness)

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be READY, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." - Mt. 24:42-44

"Those who were READY went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." - Mt. 25:10-13

"STAY Busy" (Harvest)

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes." - Mt. 24:45-46

"So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away" - Mt. 25:28-29

"STAY Calm" (Hope)

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope" - 1 Thess. 4:13

"Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" - Luke 21:28

"Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown." - Rev. 3:10-11

3. Jesus Christ to the Church at Sardis

"I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you." - Rev. 3:1-3


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