End Time

When is God coming back to get me?

God is preparing a place for all His children (John 14:2,3). He will come for each of us — either
when we die or on the day He comes for all His family, a day called the Rapture.
Death should not be a fearful thing for the believer. Second Corinthians 5:8 tells us that if we leave our
bodies at death, we are immediately with God, and that is something we can look forward to.
The Rapture is the other possibility. This is when Jesus returns to take His church out of this world. (See 1
Thessalonians 4:13-17.)
But no one knows the day of his or her death and no one knows when the Rapture will take place. “But of
that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36).

What Does “Dead in Christ” Mean?

I am confused about the meaning of “dead in Christ” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16: “For the Lord himself
will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet
call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” I have always been taught that when we die, we instantly
go to heaven. If we are already in heaven and alive with Christ, how are we dead in Christ and caught up at
His reappearance?
The apostle Paul makes it clear that believers go immediately into the Lord’s presence when they die. He
calls this being “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8, NIV). Those who are
“dead in Christ” are called “those who have fallen asleep in him [Jesus]” (v. 14), “those who have fallen
asleep” (v. 15), and “those who fall asleep” (v. 13). Sleep is stressed, not to indicate lack of consciousness
but because, for believers, death is simply the appearance of sleep.
The body is dead and the spirit is with Christ. When Jesus returns he brings these believers with him (1
Thessalonians 4:13), their bodies will be glorified (made incorruptible) and reunited with their spirits “in the
air” (v. 17).
“For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this
perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:52-53;
read the whole chapter).
Ken Horn

How does the current news from around the world align with Bible prophecy and end-time events?
I have learned not to put too much emphasis on current news. The day after Mussolini died I went
into the Bible college bookstore and saw a big stack of books entitled Is Mussolini the Antichrist? They
were marked “Five cents each.” In Israel in 1962 a converted Jew tried to persuade me that President Nixon
was the antichrist because his name in Hebrew letters as Nigson added up to 666.
Jesus did not ask us to focus on current news. He said not to be alarmed by wars and rumors of wars
(Matthew 24:6). Most important is to live ready Jesus’ return (24:44). Jesus emphasized that the gospel of
the Kingdom (the same gospel He and the apostles preached) must be proclaimed “in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (24:14, NIV). The question we should be asking is:
“How much more can we do to get the gospel out to the many who still have never heard?”
Stanley M. Horton

Are there two stages to the Second Coming of Christ?

The Second Coming of Christ in evangelical theology is often divided into 2 phases: (1) the Second
Coming for the Church (the Rapture); (2) the Second Coming to reign.
The Blessed Hope of the Church is clearly the Rapture (see Titus 2:13). Assemblies of God theologians see
this as the first phase of the Second Coming. The Assemblies of God perspective is presented in this excerpt
from Bible Doctrines by William W. Menzies and Stanley M. Horton:
The definition of the term “Second Coming” is broad, used in at least two different ways. Sometimes
this term is used of the total end-time drama, encompassing both the rapture of the Church and the revelation
of Christ in triumphant glory (2 Thessalonians 1:7), when He will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah
14:4). Sometimes the term is used specifically of the revelation of Christ, in distinction to the Rapture,
which precedes it. The first phase of the Second Coming, then, used in this broader sense, refers to the
rapture of the Church.
William W. Menzies and Stanley M. Horton, Bible Doctrines (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House,
1993), p. 216.
Ken Horn

What happens to Christians during the Tribulation?

Both the dead and living believers will be caught up together to meet Jesus in the air at His appearing
(1 Thessalonians 4:17). All without exception will then be brought before the judgment seat of Christ where
each will receive “what is due him [or her] for the things done while in the body” (2 Corinthians 5:10, NIV;
see also Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
At the end of the Tribulation the Bible shows the believers following Jesus, coming from heaven, riding
triumphantly on white horses, “and dressed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:14). The fine linen
identifies them as the Lamb’s bride (the Church) who are fully clothed with “the righteous acts of the saints”
and have already taken part in the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). Thus, they are ready to
reign with Jesus during the Millennium.
Stanley M. Horton

Will the Holy Spirit be here after the Rapture?

It is commonly held evangelical belief that the Holy Spirit will not remain on earth after the Rapture
in the same sense that He is here now during the Church Age. This is based upon 2 Thessalonians 2:7: “For
the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so
till he is taken out of the way” (NIV). The Holy Spirit, as the one who restrains evil on the earth (a concept
known as common grace), seems to be the one referred to in this verse. (There are varying interpretations.)
The first response to this answer makes a good point. The Rapture de facto removes the true Church and it is
in the sense of the Holy Spirit indwelling the Church that He will not be present. Of course, as God He
continues to be omnipresent.
Ken Horn

Why is the second coming of Christ taking so long?

Where is this coming He promised? Everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. If
that is what you think when you hear mention of Christ’s return to snatch away His people, be careful. Peter
predicted last-day scoffers, following their own evil desires, would be saying just that (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Yet, with the many centuries since the promise was given (Acts 1:11), it is natural to wonder if such a
supernatural intervention will actually take place.
Count on it. It is going to happen. The Bible is full of references to this glorious event, the blessed hope of
every believer (Titus 2:13). However, don’t be misled by our human way of counting time. The average
human lifetime is 70-80 years. But some life forms live fewer years than humans and some much longer.
God’s lifetime is forever, without beginning or end. As Psalm 90:4 says, “A thousand years in [God’s] sight
are like a day that has just gone by” (NIV). So it has been just “a couple of days” since the promise was
given to first-century Christians.
But why might Christ delay His return even for another instant? Several reasons come to mind:
1. He is giving our generation a chance to repent and receive His salvation.
2. He is testing the strength of our faith and commitment.
3. He is giving the church opportunity to evangelize the lost.
4. His delay encourages us to work faithfully, as though death is yet in the future, but to be ready for His
coming at any time.
God is not willing that any should perish or experience spiritual death. His delay is not slowness in
fulfilling His promise (2 Peter 3:9). He is preparing His bride “to present her … as a radiant church, without
stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27).
Our natural minds tend to be concerned about the millions since the first century who have lived on earth
without accepting Christ as their Savior. And we should have a burden for the lost of our day. But we should
be even more concerned about becoming the holy and blameless bride of Christ without wrinkle or blemish.
Christ tarries now so we may have opportunity to become that prepared and perfect bride.
As God’s children, our earthly lives will end in one of two ways: by death or via the Rapture. A faithful
elderly Christian woman left detailed instructions for her funeral. But at the end of the note she wrote,
“Prefer to go in the Rapture.”
Are you ready for either departure route?
Zenas J. Bicket
http://answers.agblogger.org/category/end-times/