God’s Plan for Man and Eternity Part 6b

The Rapture Part 4

Rapture The Purpose 1. To give us our new bodies

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 1 Corinthians 15:52 

Rapture The Purpose 1. To give us our new bodies 2. To judge and to reward believers

He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:12-14

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:7-8

Rapture The Purpose 1. To give us our new bodies 2. To judge and to reward believers To remove believers prior to the tribulation

You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

Rapture The Purpose 1. To give us our new bodies 2. To judge and to reward believers To remove believers prior to the tribulation 4. To remove the Holy Spirit’s special presence

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 2 Thessalonians 2:7

Rapture The Purpose 1. To give us our new bodies 2. To judge and to reward believers To remove believers prior to the tribulation 4. To remove the Holy Spirit’s special presence 5. To consumate the marriage of the Lamb

The Biblical Wedding and the Wedding of the Lamb

The Wedding The First Part The Shiddukhin = The arrangements

El Shiddukhin Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” Genesis 24:1-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world… Ephesians 1:3-4

The Wedding The First Part The Shiddukhin = the arrangement The Ketubah = the contract (the covenant)

Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:20

The Wedding The First Part The Shiddukhin = the arrangement The Ketubah = the contract (the covenant) The Mohar = the payment (the gift)

Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. Genesis 24:53 if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7 Who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:22

The Wedding The First Part The Shiddukhin = the arrangement The Ketubah = the contract (the covenant) The Mohar = the payment (the gift) The Mikveh = the baptism of sanctification

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. 1 Corinthians 12:13 That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26-27

The Wedding The Second Part The Eyrusin = The time of separation

Characteristics of the Eyrusin The two were seperated for a time (normally a year). Nevertheless they were legally married.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18-19

Characteristics of the Eyrusin The two were seperated for a time (normally a year). Nevertheless they were legally married. The bride could not initiate a divorce

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

The responsibilities of the two during the time of Eyrusin

The Groom He had to construct a house for the two. The house was constructed on the land of the father.

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3

The Groom He had to construct a house for the two. The house was constructed on the land of the father. The father was the one who determined when the house was ready.

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Matthew 24:36

The Bride (Three things to do) Had to maintain her purity

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2

The Bride Had to maintain her purity Had to sew a finely-made dress for the wedding

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:8

The Bride Had to maintain her purity Had to sew a finely-made dress for the wedding Had to wait for the groom’s coming

The Wedding The Third Part The Nissuin = The wedding itself meaning = to take or carry And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up… 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Characteristics of the wedding itself 1. The arrival of the groom was announced by a trumpet and the shout of a friend.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Characteristics of the wedding itself The arrival of the groom was announced by a trumpet. The groom carried the bride to the father’s land (where the new house awaited).

Characteristics of the wedding itself The arrival of the groom was announced by a trumpet. The groom carried the bride to the father’s land (where the new house awaited). The actual ceremony was witnessed by only a few.

Characteristics of the wedding itself The arrival of the groom was announced by a trumpet. The groom carried the bride to the father’s land (where the new house awaited). The actual ceremony was witnessed by only a few. The bride and groom entered the house and didn’t come out for seven days.

The Wedding The Fourth Part The Celebration = The Wedding Supper of the Lamb

In Summary: Justification: Like the Jewish betrothal Sanctification: Like the time of separation before the marriage ceremony Glorification: Like the actual ceremony and the presentation seven days later

The order of events of our glorification The rapture (including the glorification of the body) Examination at the Bema and rewards received Consumation as the Bride of Christ Receiving authority during the millennium An eternal reward to enjoy throughout eternity future

I go to prepare a place for you I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3

“Resolved: To endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.” Jonathan Edwards

Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matt 25:1-13

Joseph as a type Joseph was given: A ring A robe A reign