1. I Thessalonians 4:13-18

2. Doctrine of The Rapture 1)The function of GAP (Grace Apparatus for Perception) (the intake of the Word of God) gives one confidence with regard to everything in life, including one of the most startling events in life – death. 2)The function of GAP therefore causes confidence regarding death – Job 5:17-27; II Cor. 5:1-9; Titus 2:11-13. 3)While the 2 nd Advent cannot occur until certain events are fulfilled (like, all the events of the Tribulation Period), the Rapture of the Church is imminent – there are NO events which must 1 st be fulfilled – I Cor. 1:7; Titus 2:13; James 5:8 4)The Rapture could occur today, or a thousand years from now – NO ONE KNOWS!

3. Doctrine of The Rapture 5)The Rapture causes Jesus Christ to keep His promise – John 14:1-3. 6)The Rapture gives every believer of the Church Age a resurrection body – Phil. 3:20, 21; I John 3:1, 2; I Cor. 15:54-57. 7)The Rapture has been used as a club to try & make people behave! 8)The Rapture takes the sting out of death – I Cor. 15:54-57. Death has a sting for most people – the exception is the Super Grace believer under Dying Grace – Job 5:17-27.

4. Doctrine of The Rapture 9)The Doctrine of the Rapture, when applied, provides stability for the believer in Phase 2 – I Cor. 15:58. 10) The Doctrine of the Rapture removes hysteria & hopelessness related to the death of loved ones – I Thess. 4:13-18. 11) The Rapture is the rendezvous for both the living & the dead believers of the Church Age – I Thess. 4:15-17. 12) To the believer with doctrine in his heart, the Doctrine of the Rapture is a source of comfort in time of bereavement – Phil. 1:6; I Thess. 4:18.

5. Doctrine of The Rapture 13) Confidence regarding the Rapture is related to the Doctrine of The Resurrection of Jesus Christ – I Pet. 1:3. 14) One of the words used with this doctrine is “hope,” which is a translation of the Greek word, elpis. 15) Elpis doesn’t mean “hope” in the sense of how we use the word, but actually means “confidence.” 16) Elpis is a technical designation for the Rapture – I Pet. 1:3; Titus 2:13; I John 3:3. 17) Confidence & comfort are the 2 applications of this doctrine.

6. Rev. 3:10 “I will keep you from the hour of trial…” – “Keep from” tēreō ek – by guarding to cause one to escape in safety out of; from. – It is not tēreō en which would mean to cause one to persevere or stand firm in (through) a thing. – John is promising a removal from the sphere of testing, not a preservation through it. – This is not promising that the Christian will not have trials, but that they will be delivered from a specific period of trials (“the hour of trials”), which is dealt with in Rev. 6-19. The Rapture – Removal of The Church Before The 70 th Week of Daniel

7. I Thess. 5:9 “God did not appoint us to wrath…” – “wrath” orgē – anger; wrath; indignation; anger exhibited in punishment. – It is a time of night & darkness (vs. 5). – It is called “the day of the Lord” in vs. 2 & 4. – Cf. Joel 2:1, 2; Zeph. 1:14-18; Amos 5:18-20; Rev. 6:17; 11:18; 14:10, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 19. – Our “appointment” is to be delivered to live together with Him (5:10). The Rapture – Removal of The Church Before The 70 th Week of Daniel

8. I Thess. 1:10 “…delivers us from the wrath to come.” – “from” apo – away from. – Again, a clear indication from Paul that our expectation is not wrath, but the revelation of His Son from heaven. – We could not have this hope if the wrath of the 70 th week of Daniel had to fall on the earth first. The Rapture – Removal of The Church Before The 70 th Week of Daniel