Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:3-4 KJV)
It is Satan's purpose to distract people's attention from God's plan. And in these last days, as it has already been prophesied there shall be scoffers concerning the coming of the Lord. Some so called Christians are even denying the rapture!
The promise is:
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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians
4:16-18 KJV)
Just as Isaac met Rebecca in the way and took her home, Jesus will meet His bride in the air and take her to His palace.
Before Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he took his bride to the palace. In much the same way, Jesus will take His bride to the palace before he reveals himself to his brothers (the Jews).
Enoch, 7th from Adam did not see death for he walked with God and he was raptured. Enoch represents the 7th Church age, the bride in this age will be raptured.
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints. (Jude
1:14 KJV)
In Revelation 10:7, the 7th messenger to the 7th Church Age (last age) will reveal the mystery to prepare the Bride for the rapture.
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7 KJV)
3 things have to happen before Jesus appears.
3 is a Witness.
And there are THREE that bear WITNESS in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (1 John 5:8 KJV)
1. A Shout- the message that is going forth to get the people together before the rapture.
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7 KJV)
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7 KJV)
2. The Voice- the voice of the resurrection. At Lazarus' grave voice said "I am the resurrection and the life." The Voice said come out of the grave, Lazarus! This same Voice will call the sleeping saints to meet The Lord in the air.
3. The Trump- the calling of the people to the feast in the sky. The trumpet calls the Jews to the feast of the trumpet. It is the assembly together of the bride of Christ. This will be the Pentecostal feast in the sky.
Raptures in The Old Testament
Three raptures have taken place already. These prove that the rest will definitely take place.
1. Enoch- he was translated.
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis
5:24 KJV)
2. Elijah- he was caught up to heaven.
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings
2:11 KJV)
3. Jesus- He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9 KJV)
Raptures In The New Testament
1. Rapture At the Death of Jesus
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, (Matthew 27:50-52 KJV)
The Voice of the resurrection brings forth the dead from the graves when He cries out loud!
2. Rapture of the Saints in the Last Days
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians
4:14-18 KJV)
This is when the saints will be caught up to heaven to be with the Lord forever. We are waiting for this. Get into Christ and get ready for this.
3. Rapture of the Two Prophets
And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. (Revelation
11:11, 12 KJV)
Moses and Elijah will come again to preach to the Jews and they will be killed. God will bring them back to life and they will be caught up to heaven.