God's Warning
In the early 1500s the Aztec empire was one of the most powerful and sophisticated civilizations in the western hemisphere. However, within one years time this mighty nation of over 2 million people was conquered and enslaved by just 600 men. How did it happen?
The Aztecs had a prophecy about Quetzalcoatl, a legendary feathered god-king who was light-skinned and bearded. It predicted that he would return to Mexico from across the sea and that he would come in the clouds from the east to save them.
Well, in 1519 Spanish galleons arrived in Mexico carrying a group of conquistadors led by Hernando Cortez. When the Aztecs saw these ships, they thought their billowing sails looked like clouds. Cortez heard about the Aztec legend from some Indians who lived on the shore and decided to try to use it to his advantage. By assuming the mantle of deity, he hoped to befuddle the superstitious King Montezuma II.
While the king was waiting to receive the light-skinned visitor with honor, Cortez marched his army right into the center of the Aztec capital. By the time the people realized that Cortez was not the savior they were expecting, it was too late.
The conquistadors proceeded to plunder, enslave and kill the Aztec people. An entire nation was deceived and destroyed--in part because the prophecies of their god's return were so ambiguous that almost anyone could have served as a counterfeit.
In the near future, Satan will attempt to impersonate Jesus and counterfeit His return to earth. But God's people need not be deceived. When the disciples asked Jesus for the sign of His coming and of the end of the would, the very first thing He told them was to be on guard against impostors. He said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matthew 24:4, 5)
Christ then proceeded to give the followers a wealth of information about His second coming so there would be no doubt as to how He would return. Jesus wants us not only to know that He is coming and that He's coming soon, but also to understand the manner of His coming.
The reason this is so important is that Satan will soon attempt to impersonate Jesus and counterfeit His return. To pave the way, Satan has introduced a strong delusion to the Christian world that has been almost universally accepted in mainline churches I am referring to the popular teaching regarding a "secret rapture."
The secret rapture theory was designed to lull God's people into a false sense of security and to prepare them for this final master deception.
The Devil knows that Jesus is coming back and that his returning time is short (Revelation 12:12). He has been sharpening his skills of deception for 6,000 years and his last masquerade will be a masterpiece.
In fact, God warned that Satan will do such a convincing job that, if it were possible, even the very elect will be deceived. Jesus said to his disciples, "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there : believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matthew 24:23, 24)
Satan is not an ugly, grotesque, bat-wing creature wearing a red leotard. He's an angel--a beautiful, powerful angel. And the Bible makes it clear that he is able to transform himself and appear in different forms. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (Corinthians 11:13, 14). We must not underestimate how convincing and overpowering Satan's final deception will be. I'm sure he will even quote Scripture, ans he did while tempting Christ in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:1-6).
The devil also has the ability to create the illusion of miracles. You will remember that when Moses went in before Pharaoh to plead for the children of Israel, the magicians of Egypt were able to duplicate the first few signs from God (Exodus chapters 7, 8). Satan is in the business of deception, and we know that he is saving his greatest deception of all for the last days. We need to know how Jesus is coming, or we will be deceived.
The bible is very clear that when Jesus comes back, His feet never touch the ground. It says that righteous will be caught up to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This is why Jesus emphatically warns us, "Therefore if they say to you, look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or Look, He is in the inner rooms! do not believe it. For as the lightening comes fro the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:26, 27)
Satan cannot replicate a worldwide, cataclysmic event the magnitude of the real second coming. However if he can seduce Christians into believing the secret rapture theory, he won't need to. He can simply show up around the world in various places, perform great miracles, make television appearances, and thereby deceive the entire world.
Every general knows that the key to victory in battle is to maintain an element of surprise. Many battles have been won because of a clever diversionary tactic. While one army was distracted and looking at the diversion, the enemy came up from behind to conquer them. In the devil's final assault, he will do the same thing. The arch-deceiver has always wanted to be God. Now he knows that he is doomed, but his last taunting gesture against heaven will be to impersonate Jesus and receive the worship of a lost world.
Satan's deceptions will be strong and convincing, but Christ has given us ample information in order to help us discern truth from error.
No Secret
Will there be a rapture? Yes. Will it be a secret? NO!
Rapture means "to be carried away with power," and it is true that when Jesus comes the living righteous will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). But many have come to believe that this rapture will take place quietly--that faithful Christians all around the world will suddenly disappear and that life here on earth will continue for a seven-year period of tribulation. During this time, they say, many will be converted and have a "second chance" at salvation before Christ's final coming.
Although the secret rapture scenario may appear comforting at first glance, that is absolutely no scriptural support for it. The bible plainly teaches that when Jesus comes again, every one of our senses will be bombarded with evidence!
His Coming Will Be Literal
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9-11).
Heaven-sent messengers told the disciples that Jesus would return to this earth in the same manner He left. Christ left in the clouds, and He will come back in the clouds. He was visible when He left, and He will be visible when He comes again. He had a real body when He left, and He will return the same way.
His Coming Will Be Visible
Revelation 1:7, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30.
His Coming Will Be Audible
1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17, Jeremiah 25:30, Psalm 50:3
As you can see from the preceding Scriptures, Christ's second coming will be loud! There will be shouts and trumpets and all kinds of noise. No one will accidentally miss it or be able to read about it in the newspaper the next day.
His Coming Will Emotional
Luke 21:26, 27, Isaiah 25:9
When Christ returns, it will be an emotional day for the wicked and righteous alike. The lost will experience indescribable fear and anguish, while the saved will experience the perfect joy of eternal salvation.
His Coming Will Open the Graves
John 6:40, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 23, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
This is the Bible's description of the rapture. The dead in Christ will rise by His power and will meet Him in the air. Afterward the faithful who are still alive will also be caught up. It will not be a secret!
His Coming Will Destroy the Earth
Isaiah 24:19, 20, Revelation 6:14, Revelation 16:18-20.
This would will be uninhabitable by people after Christ comes. His coming will shake the very foundations of the earth.
His Coming Will Mean Final Judgment
Matthew 16:27, Revelation 22:12
It is at Christ's return that we will receive our final reward. Each person's decision will have already been made; there will be no second chances to convert. The time to make a decision to follow Christ is now.
In the early 1500s the Aztec empire was one of the most powerful and sophisticated civilizations in the western hemisphere. However, within one years time this mighty nation of over 2 million people was conquered and enslaved by just 600 men. How did it happen?
The Aztecs had a prophecy about Quetzalcoatl, a legendary feathered god-king who was light-skinned and bearded. It predicted that he would return to Mexico from across the sea and that he would come in the clouds from the east to save them.
Well, in 1519 Spanish galleons arrived in Mexico carrying a group of conquistadors led by Hernando Cortez. When the Aztecs saw these ships, they thought their billowing sails looked like clouds. Cortez heard about the Aztec legend from some Indians who lived on the shore and decided to try to use it to his advantage. By assuming the mantle of deity, he hoped to befuddle the superstitious King Montezuma II.
While the king was waiting to receive the light-skinned visitor with honor, Cortez marched his army right into the center of the Aztec capital. By the time the people realized that Cortez was not the savior they were expecting, it was too late.
The conquistadors proceeded to plunder, enslave and kill the Aztec people. An entire nation was deceived and destroyed--in part because the prophecies of their god's return were so ambiguous that almost anyone could have served as a counterfeit.
In the near future, Satan will attempt to impersonate Jesus and counterfeit His return to earth. But God's people need not be deceived. When the disciples asked Jesus for the sign of His coming and of the end of the would, the very first thing He told them was to be on guard against impostors. He said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matthew 24:4, 5)
Christ then proceeded to give the followers a wealth of information about His second coming so there would be no doubt as to how He would return. Jesus wants us not only to know that He is coming and that He's coming soon, but also to understand the manner of His coming.
The reason this is so important is that Satan will soon attempt to impersonate Jesus and counterfeit His return. To pave the way, Satan has introduced a strong delusion to the Christian world that has been almost universally accepted in mainline churches I am referring to the popular teaching regarding a "secret rapture."
The secret rapture theory was designed to lull God's people into a false sense of security and to prepare them for this final master deception.
The Devil knows that Jesus is coming back and that his returning time is short (Revelation 12:12). He has been sharpening his skills of deception for 6,000 years and his last masquerade will be a masterpiece.
In fact, God warned that Satan will do such a convincing job that, if it were possible, even the very elect will be deceived. Jesus said to his disciples, "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there : believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matthew 24:23, 24)
Satan is not an ugly, grotesque, bat-wing creature wearing a red leotard. He's an angel--a beautiful, powerful angel. And the Bible makes it clear that he is able to transform himself and appear in different forms. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (Corinthians 11:13, 14). We must not underestimate how convincing and overpowering Satan's final deception will be. I'm sure he will even quote Scripture, ans he did while tempting Christ in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:1-6).
The devil also has the ability to create the illusion of miracles. You will remember that when Moses went in before Pharaoh to plead for the children of Israel, the magicians of Egypt were able to duplicate the first few signs from God (Exodus chapters 7, 8). Satan is in the business of deception, and we know that he is saving his greatest deception of all for the last days. We need to know how Jesus is coming, or we will be deceived.
The bible is very clear that when Jesus comes back, His feet never touch the ground. It says that righteous will be caught up to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This is why Jesus emphatically warns us, "Therefore if they say to you, look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or Look, He is in the inner rooms! do not believe it. For as the lightening comes fro the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:26, 27)
Satan cannot replicate a worldwide, cataclysmic event the magnitude of the real second coming. However if he can seduce Christians into believing the secret rapture theory, he won't need to. He can simply show up around the world in various places, perform great miracles, make television appearances, and thereby deceive the entire world.
Every general knows that the key to victory in battle is to maintain an element of surprise. Many battles have been won because of a clever diversionary tactic. While one army was distracted and looking at the diversion, the enemy came up from behind to conquer them. In the devil's final assault, he will do the same thing. The arch-deceiver has always wanted to be God. Now he knows that he is doomed, but his last taunting gesture against heaven will be to impersonate Jesus and receive the worship of a lost world.
Satan's deceptions will be strong and convincing, but Christ has given us ample information in order to help us discern truth from error.
No Secret
Will there be a rapture? Yes. Will it be a secret? NO!
Rapture means "to be carried away with power," and it is true that when Jesus comes the living righteous will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). But many have come to believe that this rapture will take place quietly--that faithful Christians all around the world will suddenly disappear and that life here on earth will continue for a seven-year period of tribulation. During this time, they say, many will be converted and have a "second chance" at salvation before Christ's final coming.
Although the secret rapture scenario may appear comforting at first glance, that is absolutely no scriptural support for it. The bible plainly teaches that when Jesus comes again, every one of our senses will be bombarded with evidence!
His Coming Will Be Literal
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9-11).
Heaven-sent messengers told the disciples that Jesus would return to this earth in the same manner He left. Christ left in the clouds, and He will come back in the clouds. He was visible when He left, and He will be visible when He comes again. He had a real body when He left, and He will return the same way.
His Coming Will Be Visible
Revelation 1:7, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30.
His Coming Will Be Audible
1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17, Jeremiah 25:30, Psalm 50:3
As you can see from the preceding Scriptures, Christ's second coming will be loud! There will be shouts and trumpets and all kinds of noise. No one will accidentally miss it or be able to read about it in the newspaper the next day.
His Coming Will Emotional
Luke 21:26, 27, Isaiah 25:9
When Christ returns, it will be an emotional day for the wicked and righteous alike. The lost will experience indescribable fear and anguish, while the saved will experience the perfect joy of eternal salvation.
His Coming Will Open the Graves
John 6:40, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 23, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
This is the Bible's description of the rapture. The dead in Christ will rise by His power and will meet Him in the air. Afterward the faithful who are still alive will also be caught up. It will not be a secret!
His Coming Will Destroy the Earth
Isaiah 24:19, 20, Revelation 6:14, Revelation 16:18-20.
This would will be uninhabitable by people after Christ comes. His coming will shake the very foundations of the earth.
His Coming Will Mean Final Judgment
Matthew 16:27, Revelation 22:12
It is at Christ's return that we will receive our final reward. Each person's decision will have already been made; there will be no second chances to convert. The time to make a decision to follow Christ is now.