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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/john-slabaugh/the-coming-of-the-lord/
Turn with me please to John 14. Our last speaker yesterday, Mr. William Skates, talking about the ministry, gave us an overview of things to come. The Lord's second coming, which has two phases, I think most of you know that, is coming to the air for the church, the rapture.
He's coming to the earth in judgment, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God. I appreciated what he had to say. It's my purpose to take up just the first part of that in a little more detail.
John 14, verse 1, Let not your heart be troubled, ye 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, I'm reading for this verse, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself. 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 31, excuse me, 51. Behold, I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, I'll stop here and just mention, this is a reference to the physical death of a believer.
In other words, we shall not all die, we shall not all go the way of all the earth. But we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we who are living shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, that's the body of those who have died, it's gone to corruption. And this mortal, that's a word that means dying, refers to your body and mine, this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians chapter 5,. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, 4 I mean, I think some of you knew that I meant 4. Verse 13, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep.
Again, I mentioned that's a description of Christians who have died. That's never used to unsave people at their death. That ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, that could have been translated, since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in or through Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are living and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent or precede them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ, those who have died, their bodies shall rise first.
Then we which are living and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.
This past week, I received a phone call. I have to admit it shook me up. Because I was asked a question that I wasn't able to answer on the phone immediately. I called the brother back twice since then with an answer to his question.
He came from a background that is known as amillennialism. Amillennialism teaches that the rapture takes place at the close of the tribulation. His question was, how do we know that the rapture takes place before the tribulation?
Well, that's something I've always believed. I've never questioned. And rather than trying to just give him a bit of a brush-off answer, I told him, I'll get back to you. And I went and did my homework.
It's kind of stirred me up. It's not my purpose to answer that question as the subject for this afternoon. But I will answer it. In fact, I'll do that before I get into what I really want to speak on.
His question was, is there a verse that tells us that the rapture takes place before the tribulation? The answer to that question is no. There are those who believe the rapture takes place in the middle of the tribulation.
They're called mid-tribulation rapture believers. And then there are those who believe the rapture takes place at the close of the tribulation, post-tribulation believers. Now, the fact of the matter is that there is no text anywhere that expressly tells us which of those three views is right.
However, after looking into it, I called the brother back twice. I should tell you this. A friend of his, also a believer, both of them, but recently became part of the assembly in Denver, North Carolina.
They live in Virginia, two and a half hours away. And they came from that background that was unclear about when the rapture takes place. The other brother picked up a book, gave it to Brother John, who called me.
And it had made John call and ask me, when does the rapture take place? I got back to him. Now, let me just say this. If we have no verses that tell us expressly when the rapture takes place, I don't think there's any doubt about what the right answer is.
In fact, 1 Thessalonians, where we read, gives us several verses. Look with me, please, first of all to chapter 1, verses 9 and 10. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, until wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Now, I think this text is very clear that one of the results of salvation was that they were waiting for the Lord's return. And one of the reasons is that they might be delivered from the wrath to come.
In the Old Testament, you will read about the day of the Lord. That phrase is found 26 times. 22 of those times are found in the prophets. Four of them are found in the New Testament. I won't take the time to speak expressly of them.
But it's known as the time of Israel's trouble. The prophets are telling of the tribulation. That period when God brings his judgments upon the world. The unsaved of that day and even the believers of that age will suffer.
But the church is not part of that time of Israel's trouble. I could give you two more verses, but I won't take the time to do it. That also are very clear that we're delivered from that coming wrath in the day of tribulation.
Let me just say this about the book of 1 Thessalonians. It was occasioned, Paul wrote, because the Thessalonians were troubled about the coming of the Lord, the promise of the Lord's return. They needed some clarification.
The reason they were troubled, they had loved ones who had died. And they thought they have missed the Lord's return. Paul writes to tell them that they'll be caught up first. We read that. And we which are living will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.
That is what is known as the rapture. Never mind that those who are opposed to the view that it takes place before the tribulation. Tell us we can't find the word rapture in the Bible. Caught up is the word that we get the thought of the rapture from.
I don't want to be too technical about this, but let me just finish this about the Thessalonians. If, in fact, the rapture did not take place before the tribulation, those who were already dead were the ones that are blessed.
Because they weren't going to see it. And those who are living at the time of the tribulation. If they're not caught up at the beginning of the rapture, have to go through the rapture. And that would be a terrible prospect for them to look for another thing.
We're told about the Lord's return, the rapture. We're told that there'll be no signs preceding it. But if the tribulation had to take place, then, of course, they wouldn't be looking for his imminent return.
They would be looking for the tribulation and knowing that there'd be deliverance at the end. Now, to me, that's one of the most significant reasons for seeing that the rapture takes place at the beginning.
I should say one more thing before I get back to my subject. And that's this. That the foundation of this error stems from the claim that there is no millennium. That's known as amillennialism. And that leads to all kinds of problems.
First of all, those who hold that view believe that the promises to Israel have been put away. And those promises now apply to the church. That's a very serious error. I'll tell you why. If God's promises to Abraham, to David, and the other Old Testament believers could be set aside, had been set aside, really is what they're saying, then how could you put any confidence in God's promise to you of eternal life?
That's a very serious error. When we were first married, my wife and I read together. She had a Bible that had headings at the top. And when we read our passage together, she used to like to tell what was at the head of the page.
I soon learned that the people who published her Bible were amillennialists. And they were spiritualizing all of the promises to Israel and applying them to the church. We must see that those are two separate entities.
Now, I have to leave that. I would just say that the error about that doctrine, this is the last thing I'm going to say on it, leads to the fallaway doctrine error, and it leads to many other significant errors in the understanding of the Scripture.
But back now to the subject that I have before me. Jesus promised, If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself. Now, in the Old Testament, there are two lines of prophecy about the Lord's coming.
Israel has missed the second one. I think it was 14 years ago. Jim Ferris is here. He might be able to straighten me out on that one. We went to Israel. And I learned something I wish I had known before we got there.
We had a very intelligent guide. And she knew her New Testament superbly. She didn't believe it. But she knew it. And towards the end of our tour, one of the brethren engaged her in conversation. And pointed out to her that in her Bible.
To her, the Old Testament is the Bible. The Jews don't acknowledge the New Testament yet. Pointed out that in the Old Testament, there's two lines of prophecy. Regarding the Lord's coming. And he is presented as a suffering Messiah.
And as a reigning Messiah. And the Jews. Really haven't given any particular thought. To the prophecies about him as the suffering Messiah. I was astounded at what she had to say. She said we're looking for two Messiahs.
Two Messiahs. And she named them. Messiah Ben-Joseph. The suffering Messiah. Messiah Ben-David. The reigning Messiah. By the way, you find both of them. In the book of Revelation chapter 4. When there was no man found worthy to open the book.
And the angel told John, don't weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah. Hath prevailed to open the book to loose the seals thereof. And he turned to look. And he didn't see a lion. He saw a lamb. As it had been newly slain.
The suffering Messiah is the Messiah that's already come. And the reigning Messiah is the same one when he comes back again. The Jews are still waiting for him to come and reign. And they have overlooked the fact that he came and was rejected.
And made provision for salvation. And I'm very grateful. That he did. Because he came. And took my place on Calvary. For the wrath of God that should have been my eternal portion. I'm going to be in heaven.
And each of you. Who has taken in that great truth knows the same thing I do. Now. He has come. He is coming again. He said so. And I believe him. On the passages that. We have read. Very plainly tell us.
Of his coming for the church. We were hearing yesterday. That he'll come with the church. When he comes back to take the throne. And we who have been caught up. And are with him at the marriage. We'll come back with him.
I take it to the marriage supper here on earth. I won't say more about that. Our brother covered that very well yesterday. The rapture has no signs preceding it. But if we see signs of. Things that will be in place.
Seven years after the rapture. That should make us even more conscious of the fact. That the rapture is imminent. I want to say a little bit about the mystery. Of the change. At the rapture. That's what first.
Corinthians 15 is about. This. Mortal. Must put on immortality. You and I have stood. Beside the open grave. We have watched. As the casket is lowered into the ground. Sometimes we've watched while that.
Grave was filled. And we knew. We would never see. That individual on earth again. Is that the end? We don't believe so. We believe that when the Lord comes that grave will be empty. The dead in Christ shall rise first.
And we which are alive and remain. Shall be caught up together. With them. In the clouds. They'll receive a new body. And our bodies will be instantly changed. And we'll be caught up. Together. To meet the Lord in the air.
No. What is new here is. The change at the rapture. The resurrection was known. In the Old Testament. But the rapture was not the rapture is a New Testament truth. The. Resurrection. When the Lord Jesus was speaking with Martha.
And. Said about her brother he shall rise again. She said I know he'll rise. At the resurrection. He was speaking about how he was going to raise him from the dead by the way. When they stood in that cemetery.
Before the Lord Jesus spoke the words and only he could speak the words. That would impart life to that body in that too. Before he spoke the words. He gave the disciples something to do. Why. He told him take he away the stone.
He spoke the words Lazarus. Come forth. Lazarus. Wasn't resurrected. He didn't get a resurrection body. Lazarus was restored to life again. And he had to go through the article of death the second time.
In a way I feel sorry for him. But I needn't because. When he died again. His body awaits that. Day of the resurrection. And it'll be a different body altogether. Remember. He came forth. Bound hand and foot and I take it.
He didn't walk out of that too. I take it was the power of. The spoken word that brought him out of that too. And. Then he said to the disciples. Lucy would let him go. Just a by the way. That incident.
Gives me a lot of help. When it comes to. Speaking with souls about their need of salvation. Mr McBain pointed this out to me years ago. Take you away the stone. Find out. What the problem is that's keeping them from Christ.
Take you away the stone. They'll get to Christ. The disciples you and I can't impart life. It takes God to do that. But if we get the stone out of the way they'll get to Christ. And then Lucy and let him go.
You know I think sometimes brother. When souls profess to be saved. You and I. Kindly expect them to start walking right away. And start eating. Add all food right away. And I think sometimes we expect too much too soon.
And consequently we tend to stumble. They needed to they need to be treated as babes in Christ. And we need to get the grave clothes off. Enough said about that. So. The rapture is hinted at. In other places and John 14 1 to 6 in particular.
That we read I won't go further with that. The mystery of the change at the rapture. The mortal puts on immortality. Resurrection. The or excuse me the corruptible. The body that's going to corruption.
Puts on incorruption. It's raised. The mortal. Puts on immortality. When you have TMB like I do. Too many birthdays. You become conscious of the reality. That I don't have the stamina I used to have. I don't have the strength I used to have.
And there's various other problems I'm not going to deal with them. But I'm mortal. I do not know. How much more time I have. But I know. That one of these days. I won't need these hearing aids. I won't need these glasses.
I won't have false teeth. So far those are the only things that have been added to my paraphernalia. But I'll have a new body. A body of glory. And brethren and sisters. So will you. What a change that's going to be.
There's one other thing to mention. In connection with that. That is. I have a fleshly nature and I'm not talking about. The meat on my structure. I have a. Nature that's prone to sin. How good it will be that we'll have that no longer.
We'll see the Lord Jesus. As he is. And we shall be like him. And that could be this afternoon. I'm planning to go home after this meeting. Will I make it? I don't know. Jesus is coming. I want to say something about the manner of the rapture.
The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. He comes himself for the bride. He gives the shout. The dead in Christ are raised. We're caught up. You know, it'd be a wonderful thing if. He'd tell an angel.
Now it's time. For the believers. Who have died for their bodies to be raised and the other believers. To have their bodies changed and you go out and bring them. To me here in heaven. Far better than that.
He comes himself. There's the shout of the Lord. I mentioned about. He said Lazarus come forth. On that occasion. Someone has pointed out that if he had just said. Come forth. It would have emptied that cemetery.
But he said Lazarus come forth. But when he comes and gives the shout. All around the world. Wherever. A believer in Christ of this age. Lies buried. That grave is going to be emptied. Will the. Earth be disturbed.
I can't say. But I doubt it. You know what? Brethren sisters. That day is coming. The shout of the Lord. Only he. Can speak the word that would bring that to pass. The voice of the archangel. The trump of God.
I would appreciate any help. Any of you can give me. About the voice of the archangel. I heard one man say one time. The archangel has observed. The tragedy. Of death. The apparent victory. Of death. We read in 1st Corinthians chapter 15.
Oh death where is thy sting. Oh grave where is thy victory. When the Lord comes and gives the shout. All that will be undone. And this man suggested that. The archangel will say hallelujah. Whether that's right or not.
I can't say but. I appreciate it. And the trump of God. Before this meeting is over. It has been announced. That the gospel is going to be preached. In the Roman army. There were three trumpets. And the first one said.
Get up. And then the second one. Fall in and get your orders for the day. And then the third one. March out. The gospel. Get up. The second. Fall in and get your orders for the day. That's what a conference is all about.
And the third one. March out. I don't need to tell you what that is. That's coming. You know. When the Lord. Descends from heaven to give the shout. He brings the souls with him. And the bodies that are raised.
The souls enter into them again. And the nature of those bodies. And the nature of our bodies. That are changed at that instant. Is different. Than. The bodies that we have now. No longer will we be subject.
To decay. And to death. We'll be caught up together. To meet the Lord in the air. And that has thrilled me many times. As I've thought about that. And yet I wonder. If my understanding of it is right.
Why I say that is this. It was a comfort to me. To know. That if there's many miles. Between me and my wife. At the Lord's coming. We'll be caught up together. No longer the distance. Between us. But you know.
I've come to appreciate. That there's one thing. I'm looking for more. Than anything else. I will be looking. To see my Savior first of all. That'll be a wonderful moment. As far as. Earth is concerned.
Most people will be unaware. Of what has happened. I was highly amused at. Newscaster. Paul. What was his last name? Paul Harvey. He announced one day. On his program. That the greatest event in. History is going to take place momentarily.
He was referring to the rapture. He said. I'm hoping that I'll be here to broadcast it. Now I have reason to believe. That he's a true believer. That he's in heaven now by the way. But I thought to myself.
Paul you don't know your theology. Or you wouldn't have said that. But later on. I heard. That he had put a broadcast. In a can. And told his staff. When the Lord has come and I'm gone. Play this broadcast.
True or not. I cannot say. But. The majority of people will not know. What has happened. I'm thinking of. There'll be many missing. I'm thinking of partners that are. Conversing with one another. One's gone the others left.
I'm thinking of. Catastrophes. Driverless cars and so on. I won't. Dwell on that sort of thing. But you know something. I'm convinced. That there'll be a lot of people here. When the rapture has taken place.
And they will know. What has happened. I think of the children of believers who. Sat and listened to this being spoken. Again and again. And they're not saved. They'll know. They will also know. That they have had.
Their last opportunity to be saved. No one. Who has. Believed. Rejected the Lord Jesus here. Will be immune from believing the devil's lie. The devil's lie. The man of sin. They will receive him. Because they've rejected the truth.
And God will see to that. I won't go further with that. I'm thinking of the meaning of the rapture. Death is. Finally vanquished. We've mentioned the sting of death. The apparent victory of the grave.
Yesterday we were hearing that for the first time in history. All of the church. Will be together in one place. In the air as we meet the Lord Jesus. And we go in with him. First of all to the judgment.
Seat of Christ. To receive rewards. For all that has been done for him here. And then. The marriage. Of the lamb. She becomes his bride. And we come out with him when he comes. To the earth. At the rapture.
There will be no believers left on earth. At the close of the tribulation. There will be no unbelievers left on earth. No. I personally believe. There will be more souls saved. In that. Seven year period of tribulation.
Than at any comparable period in history. But no one. Who has heard. And rejected the gospel now will believe it then. Second Thessalonians 2 tells us. God will send them strong delusion that they might believe the lie.
The Antichrist. That they all might be damned to believe not the truth. So. That's going to happen. I have a lot of questions. Questions about. How things are going to be. One of them is. Will we know one another I think I heard one of the brethren.
Say yesterday. We certainly won't be as ignorant as we are here. So yes we'll know one another. And I don't think we'll go around heaven with name tags. On our lapels. I believe that we will. Know one another there.
What will my apparent age be there. How about. Young people that. Maybe you're saved before they reach the age of 10. Will they be full grown. I don't know. A dear brother that had a large influence on my life.
Was Mr. David Roy of Cleveland. In his later years. He would frequently drive from Cleveland to Akron for the midweek. Or for the Bible reading. We had two meetings in the week. And. I could be sitting with my back to the door and I knew when Mr. Roy came in.
Because of the smiles on everybody's face. A brother beloved. Mr. Roy. Was leaving the gospel hall. On Addison Road. In Cleveland many years ago. He's been in heaven for. Fifty five years. And as he was leaving.
Mr. W .P. Douglas. A tall stately man in his 90s. Beside him a servant of the Lord like Mr. Roy. Mr. Roy looked up at him and he said Brother Douglas. When we get to heaven will I be tall like you. Or will you be short like me.
I you know the answer. Mr. Douglas said. I don't know David but we'll both be like Christ. That's right. Well the children. Of believers go to. At the rapture. Children that haven't reached the age of accountability.
I don't have an answer for that. But I do have an answer for it a verse for it. Shall not the judge of all the earth do right. I'm content to leave it there. Brethren. Jesus is coming. Perhaps today.