“Immediately After The Rapture – The SAVED”
INTRODUCTION: Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-53
One day, a great event is going to take place … the RAPTURE of the Church. Jesus Christ will return, and take His Church … His Bride … all the saved … back home to be with Him forever. It could happen at any moment. Everything has been fulfilled … nothing stands in His way. It is the next great event on God’s prophetic calendar. One day, the last person to be saved before the Rapture … will be saved. His Body will be complete.
Did you ever think what it will be like … for us … the Christians … when Jesus finally comes in the Rapture?
• MAYBE … you will be in Church … Sunday School, Sunday morning, Evening, or Wednesday night.
• MAYBE … you will WISH you had been in Church!
• MAYBE … you will be asleep … OR … asleep in church!
• MAYBE … you will be watching TV … or driving down the highway.
INSTANTLY … you will be gone! Your clothes will be left behind. Your lost friends and lost family members will be left behind. In the twinkling of an eye, you will be CHANGED.
TONIGHT … we will look at what will happen for those who are left behind. This morning, we will take a look at what it will be like for us … immediately after the Rapture.
The Bible tells us what it will be like … for the Christian … immediately after the Rapture. Don’t you want to know? You’ll find out during the next 30 minutes.
Turn to Revelation 1:19. The Book of Revelation is divided up into 3 SECTIONS.
1.- That Which He Had Seen (1:9-18). John heard a voice, turned around, and saw Christ in the middle of 7 golden lampstands.
2.- That Which Are (Chapters 2-3). Here, John is given a message from Jesus for the 7 churches in Asia. These churches represent the Church Age. AND … we see the same characteristics in the church even today.
3.- That Which Should Be Hereafter (Chapters 4-end of the book).
Turn to Revelation 4:1. Here, John sees, in his vision, the Rapture of the Church.
What’s the FIRST THING you will notice when the Rapture takes place? You will hear a voice, like a trumpet, saying “Come up hither”. NOW, I don’t think Jesus will speak King James English. If He did, those in other countries wouldn’t be able to understand what He is saying. Everyone who is raptured, will clearly understand what He’s saying. Those of us in the South will probably hear “Y’all come!”
What does a “voice of a trumpet” sound like? I don’t have a clue … BUT … I’m sure it will be a voice like you’ve never heard before. It will be distinctive. You’ll know it when you hear it. The Bible mentions this several times.
• 1 Thes. 4:16 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
• 1 Cor. 15:52 – “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Instead of looking for SIGNS … we should be listening for SOUNDS … AMEN?
The door to Heaven will be opened – 4:1. Jesus said, in John 10:9, “I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved …” When you put your faith and trust in Jesus to save you, Jesus put you on the launching pad. You will go through this open door like a guided missile.
What did John see next? ANSWER: The same thing YOU will see when you enter that door of Heaven.
4:2 – John wasn’t concerned about where Cain got his wife … OR … what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was … OR … who wrote the book of Hebrews. His attention was drawn toward the Throne in Heaven … AND … the One who sat on the Throne. THIS will be the center of attraction in Heaven. THIS will be our focal point. THIS will be our desire for eternity … the THRONE in Heaven. WHO was on that Throne?
4:3 – John couldn’t distinguish any form of a PERSON on the Throne … ONLY … a brilliance and brightness of God’s majesty. WHY? BECAUSE … God is a SPIRIT. HOWEVER … He does see some people around God’s Throne.
4:4 – John sees 24 thrones sitting around God’s Throne. On these 24 thrones, he sees 24 elders. WHO ARE THESE 24 ELDERS? They represent the CHURCH … they represent YOU & ME … CHRISTIANS who have been raptured. John’s vision occurred in 96 AD. We weren’t there yet. SO … he sees these 24 elders represent ting US. They represent all those who were saved from Pentecost to the Rapture.
The Church is a “priesthood of believers”. 1 Peter 2:9 - “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation …” WHY 24? In Old Testament times, the Levitical Priesthood was divided up into 24 courses with 24 leaders over them (1 Chron. 24:4). As a “Royal Priesthood”, we are seen here as 24 Elders sitting on 24 thrones. An “elder” represented the church on earth.
SO … when the Rapture takes place … we will immediately be sitting around God’s Throne in Heaven … clothed in white. We will have crowns of gold on our heads … our rewards for faithful service. AND … we will all just be sitting there … staring at each other … bored to death … RIGHT? WRONG!
Some people are actually concerned that Heaven will be a boring place … nothing to do … nothing but endless sermons and Bible studies! Let me tell you, if I was in Heaven … in my old flesh, in my current state of mind and body … I couldn’t enjoy it. BUT … I will be CHANGED … completely different … without any spot or wrinkle … clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
I don’t know exactly what Heaven will be like (there’s no way I could even comprehend it now) … BUT … I do know this:
• It will be perfect.
• We will be perfectly satisfied!
LISTEN to how David describes Heaven in Psalm 16:11 – “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Think of the best vacation you have ever had. Think of the greatest thrill you have ever experienced. Think of the best thing that has ever happened to you. It will be NOTHING compared to the joy and pleasure of Heaven.
Think Heaven will be boring?
4:5 – A dramatic scene will take place in Heaven, just moments after you arrive … never a dull moment. These aren’t “special effects” from a Stephen Speilburg movie. This is REAL! Judgment is about to break forth on earth, like a storm from Heaven. AND … you will have a front-row seat.
4:6-8 – John sees … AND … YOU will see … 4 “living creatures” like you’ve never seen before. They were specially created by God for a specific and singular ministry … to praise God continually. John describes them for you.
• 1 is like a LION … a wild best.
• 1 is like an OX … a calf … a domesticated animal.
• 1 is like an EAGLE … a flying animal.
• 1 is like a MAN … the head of creation.
These 4 creatures have eyes in the front, and eyes in the back of their heads. They must be MOTHERS! (4:6b) Each one had 6 wings. These are creatures like you’ve never seen here on earth. John saw them around the Throne … AND … you will see them too!
4:9-11 – WHAT WILL BE THE CHIEF ACTIVITY OF HEAVEN? Worship! SINCE … that’s not our chief desire here on earth … it seems a little strange for us now to think that that’s all we’ll want to do in Heaven. BUT … remember … we will be CHANGED! WORSHIP will be our 1 desire.
WORSHIP may be a little bit boring to you down here on earth. You may not have the greatest VOICE to sing the songs. You may not have the greatest PREACHER to proclaim God’s Word. You may not have the greatest CHURCH to come to for worship. BUT … you will be in HEAVEN! You will have a CHANGED VOICE … a CHANGE in the PULPIT … a CHANGE of PLACE to worship … a CHANGED HEART. YOU will be CHANGED … EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING around you will be CHANGED.
Have you ever been in a worship service when you’ve been so engrossed in worship that you could hardly contain it? When you got “goose bumples”? When you’ve gotten so “spiritually high” that you start rising out of your pew, and they’ve had to scrape you off the ceiling? Have you ever gotten your feet on higher ground, and didn’t want to come down?
If not, you’ve missed a blessing. It’s just a TASTE of Heaven. BUT … just wait … you’ll experience it in Heaven. There will be no carnality to hold you back … no worldliness to hold onto … no guilt or sin to spoil your worship. What a fantastic time that will be! It will be a time when you can shout “Amen” and “Hallelujah”, without people looking at you like you’re crazy! Amen?
NOW … let’s come back to the scene in Heaven … what we’ll see right after the Rapture. We will be sitting around God’s Throne, praising and worshipping Jesus … THEN …
5:1-2 – WHAT’S WRITTEN ON THIS SCROLL? It’s the TITLE-DEED to this earth. The earth was LEASED to Adam. Genesis 1:28 – all turn.
Adam lost it to Satan, when he sinned in the Garden of Eden. He sub-leased the earth to the Devil. Instead of Adam having dominion over the earth, the earth had dominion over him. Genesis 3:17-19 – all turn. Satan is called the “Prince of this world” 3 times in the book of John. He’s not the “King” … he’s the “Prince”, because Satan got the lease from Adam.
One day, when Satan’s lease runs out, Christ will take over this earth, and set up the Kingdom that He promised the Jews. Heaven is getting ready for this to happen … AND … you will have a front-row seat to it … right after the Rapture.
WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN UP THE SCROLL?
• Not ADAM … he was the 1st man … BUT … also the 1st sinner.
• Not MOSES … he was a lawgiver … BUT … also a law-breaker.
• Not DAVID … he was a man after God’s own heart … BUT … he broke God’s heart.
Is the world to be ruled forever by Satan … by sin and the forces of darkness?
5:3-4 – IS THERE NO HOPE FOR THE EARTH? John wept … because there was none found to deliver this earth from the curse of sin.
5:5 – I’ve often wondered who this “elder” will be! Whoever he is, he has it right! ONLY JESUS has the right and title to this earth. He CREATED it.
NOTICE how Jesus is described here … a “Lion” … the king of the beasts. You are going to expect to see a massive lion, with strong jaws & fierce teeth, come and take the title-deed to this earth away from Satan. All eyes will be focused on the entrance of a charging lion. What will you see?
5:6 – You’ll see a LAMB! BUT … it’s a Lamb like you’ve never seen before. Never a dull moment in Heaven!
• 7 HORNS … representing the OMNIPOTENCE of Jesus.
• 7 EYES … representing the OMNISCIENCE of Jesus.
• 7 SPIRITS … representing the OMNIPRESENCE of Jesus.
5:7-8 – Jesus takes the title-deed to this earth. WHAT WILL BE YOUR REACTION? You will fall down and worship Him! PERHAPS … a new experience for some of us! If your Christian life has been one of hit-and-miss (mostly “miss”) … one of inconsistent Christian living … 1 of half-hearted devotion … this may be a new experience for you.
“harp” – We won’t be angels … BUT we will have HARPS. AND … I suppose, we’ll know how to play them! MAYBE … how LOUD you play it, will be in proportion to how LOUD you played the music of praise to God on earth.
“vials” = BOWLS. How BIG will your PRAYER-BOWL be? MAYBE … in proportion to your prayer-life here on earth. A thimble?
5:9-10 – You will be able to SING … right after the Rapture! WHAT WILL YOU SING? “Worthy Is The Lamb” There’s no words to any song greater than these words.
5:11-12 – You will be waiting for the Heavenly choir of angels to sing. They will open their mouths … AND … “say”. It doesn’t say that they “sing”. This is OUR SONG … the song of the redeemed … the song of redemption. Angels have never been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. They have no right to SING this song … only to be a witness of it.
5:13-14 – AMEN! What a blessed time that’s going to be … 1 twinkle of an eye after the Rapture!
CONCLUSION:
Let me ask you something this morning. Are you READY? Are you LOOKING for His coming? Are you LISTENING for His return?
What are we to be LISTENING for? A TRUMPET? If you spend all your time listening for a trumpet, you won’t accomplish anything for the Lord. Instead, we need to be LISTENING to His voice right now … while we wait. We need to be in His Word … LISTENING to Jesus … living in His will … obeying His Word.
Will Heaven be a boring place? Not on your life!
Will you be taken up in the Rapture? OR … will you be left behind? TONIGHT, we’ll look at what’s in store for those who are left behind. Believe me … you don’t want to be left behind!
Do you know where you’ll be 5 seconds after the Rapture? Once the Rapture takes place, your fate is sealed. There will be no second chance. There will be no chance to turn to Christ. You’ll be left behind. Jesus is coming. It may be soon. It will be quickly. Be ready.
HEADS BOWED … EYES CLOSED – LOST … be ready. CHRISTIAN … be ready.
STAND – PRAY
HYMN - #188 – “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling”
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“Immediately After The Rapture – The SAVED”
INTRODUCTION: 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 – What will it be like for the Christian, immediately after the Rapture?
- Revelation 1:19 – The 3 sections of the book of Revelation.
- Revelation 4:1 – John sees the Rapture of the Church.
- He hears a voice – “Come up hither.”
- It sounds like a trumpet – 1 Thessalonians 4:16,
1 Corinthians 15:52
- The door of Heaven will be opened – John 10:9
You will see what John saw – Revelation Chapter 4-5:
4:2 – Your attention will be drawn to God’s Throne.
4:3 – You will see the brilliance of God’s glory.
4:4 – You will be around the Throne of God … as a “priesthood of believers” – 1 Peter 2:9.
- You will experience the “fullness of joy” – Psalm 16:11.
4:5 – You will have a front-row seat to God’s judgment on this earth.
4:6-8 – You will see 4 living creatures, like you’ve never seen before, around the Throne of God.
4:9-11 – Your one desire will be WORSHIP!
- You will be CHANGED! No carnality to hold you back.
5:1-2 – The title-deed to this earth will be revealed.
- The earth was leased to Adam – Genesis 1:28
- Adam lost it when he sinned – Genesis 3:17-18
- Satan’s sub-lease runs out, and Jesus will set up His Kingdom.
5:3-4 – Who can deliver this earth from the curse of sin?
5:5 – Only the Creator, Jesus, has the right to earth’s title-deed.
5:6 – Jesus comes forth as a Lamb … like you’ve never seen.
5:7-8 – You will fall down and worship Jesus, the Lamb of God.
- How big will your “prayer bowl” be?
5:9-10 – You will sing “Worthy Is The Lamb”.
5:11-12 – You will witness the Heavenly choir.
5:13-14 – This will be a blessed time in Heaven!
CONCLUSION:
- Instead of listening for a trumpet, listen to His voice NOW.
- Will you be taken up in the Rapture … or will you be left behind?
- Jesus is coming … be ready!
