Acts 1:6-11 – 6So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” 9And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
The church has a reliable promise: Jesus is coming again. His coming involves appearing twice. The church meets Him in the air and then returns to earth with Him as the beautifully adorned Bride. The Judgment Seat of Christ is where the church becomes properly adorned for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. At the Judgment Seat of Christ the true nature of your testimony is accurately revealed. Today is your opportunity to lay up treasures in heaven and gain an abundant entrance into His kingdom.
The event called the rapture naturally arises a few questions. How is He coming, when is He coming, and will He come surreptitiously? Scripture gives greater clarity about this event.
Jesus is coming in the clouds.
Clouds in the sky herald a change of weather on the earth. The cloud of His coming heralds a horrendous change of conditions in the world.
Being raised in Seattle, summer clouds normally meant the temperature would cool down. That was not the case in hot and muggy Minnesota.
Thinking as a Seattleite I would hope for rain to bring cooler temperatures. When the rain ended in Minnesota, however, the clouds would leave, the sun would reappear, the temperature would still be hot and the air was muggier. Clouds meant conditions would become more miserable shortly afterwards.
Similar changes will occur after the rapture. A person will not want to be here. Life will be worse than anything imaginable.
Note these Scriptures about His appearing in the clouds:
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)
Jesus said, “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)
“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)
“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” (Revelation 1:7)
“…He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight…. Two men dressed in white stood beside them…. ‘This same Jesus will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:9-11)
Whatever the future holds, Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven is the key that will unlock the mystery.
Years ago, two young men became followers of Jesus at a Lowell Lundstrom evangelistic crusade. In one of the services Lowell talked about the second coming of the Lord. They got very excited.
Later they were driving down a road together and noticed a very unusual cloud in the sky. They thought it might be the cloud of the Lord. They pulled over to the side of the road and waited. They did not want their car to go out of control when they were taken. Is your anticipation to this level?
Jesus is coming with the trumpet sound.
“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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
“…In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 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.” (1 Corinthians 15:52)
Jesus said, “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:31)
The whole earth will hear the trumpet of God, the last trumpet, the loud trumpet.
The trumpet sound is connected to the feasts of Israel. Israelites celebrated seven festivals throughout the calendar year. Each foreshadowed something of eternal significance. Leviticus 23 records the Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles feasts. Some of them occurred simultaneously.
Passover. In the Older Testament the blood of a lamb saved Israel from God’s plague in Egypt. In the New Testament the blood of Jesus covers believers from God’s wrath over transgressions.
Pentecost. In the Older Testament the Feast of Ingathering celebrated the gathering of the harvest. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit empowers believers to gather in those willing to follow Jesus.
Tabernacles. In the Older Testament Israel celebrated their pilgrim journey in the wilderness. In the New Testament believers recognize this world as not their final home. There is “a city whose builder and maker is God.” The present life is a pilgrimage that people pass through.
Trumpets. In the Older Testament the seventh new moon was regarded, by Israel, as the consecration of a natural division of time. In the New Testament the last trumpet announces the fulfillment of the Gentile period. God will once again deal specifically with the covenant people of Israel; a division of time will occur.
Jesus died during the Passover festival and the Holy Spirit came during the Pentecost festival. Some speculate He will return during the Trumpet festival. Scriptures declares, however, “No one knows the day or the hour.”
The Apostle Paul reveals the present time is the Gentiles period. On account of Israel’s disobedience, God is pouring out His Spirit upon all people groups. When the trumpet sounds, God once again addresses Israel’s condition. The trumpet of God sounds the gathering of the church and God’s final dealing with Israel.
Jesus is coming for the looking church.
Many people naturally wonder when the rapture will occur. Not knowing is probably to everyone’s best interest. If the day and hour was known tremendous laxity would naturally occur. Many would live recklessly and with indifference.
In 1988 a pamphlet was published entitled, “88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Return in 1988.” The book created a stir in various churches. Some took it seriously and decided to get ready. The approach taken, however, revealed a tremendous flaw in character. Some took out loans with hopes of not repaying. Jesus is coming back for a prepared church – watchful people, not embezzling people.
A major aspect of the “when” question centers around the Great Tribulation. Will the rapture occur before, during or after the seven-years of misery?
A few questions are worth pondering: Will God treat the last generation of believers differently than He treated all other generations? If God dealt with the believer’s sin on Mount Calvary, why would God’s wrath on sin fall upon forgiven believers?
The Bible reveals God spares the righteous from His wrath toward evil and corruption. If God spared the righteous from His wrath in prior times, you can reasonably expect Him to spare the righteous at the end of times.
Note these Scriptures:
“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10)
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-28)
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)
“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned….” [NASV – “does not come into judgment.” The Great Tribulation is a time of judgment.] (John 5:22-24)
Jesus’ coming is called the Blessed Hope. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ….” (Titus 2:11-13) Hope means expecting with joyous anticipation. There is no joy of expectancy if Jesus waits until in the midst of or following God’s wrath.
Everything is ready for Jesus to come. You are not instructed to look for the “lawless one,” also known as the “anti-christ.” You are instructed to lift up your head because His salvation is coming quickly. Jesus is the only appearance believers should be looking for.
Look up!
Jesus is coming in the clouds, with the trumpet sound, and for a looking church.
In this series, the promise of His coming gives attention to Jesus coming for people who know Him. The rapture gives attention to Jesus coming for people who serve Him. His appearance gives attention to Jesus coming for people who look for Him.
The church in Thessalonica was confused about the meeting in the air. They were not ready. Their actions revealed they were not wholesomely looking for His return. Instead of being busy for Jesus, they had become busybodies. Instead of working for the Kingdom, Paul had to admonish them, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” They saw His return as an opportunity to lie around and do nothing.
Jesus is coming for a prepared church filled with watching believers and sincere worshipers. You are to live in a spirit of anticipation; knowing Him, serving Him and looking for Him. Are you ready?
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