For the last decade, or so, numerous pastors have taught on the subject of eschatology, the branch of theology that is concerned with such final things as death and Last Judgment; Heaven and Hell; the ultimate destiny of humankind.[1]

Rapture  Ready

Val Gunter; Editor

 

While navigating through these last days, I came up with the phrase “Rapture Ready,” meant to keep my congregation focused on the culmination of the fulfillment of scriptures about the end of this world’s system. “Rapture Ready,” are words used to describe the events written in 1 Thessalonians. 

Warning to the readers of this blog, the convenient simplification of “Grace” doesn’t appear in 1 Thessalonians’ epistle.

Some will dispute that “rapture” does not appear in the Bible. At the same time, that’s true, forgetting 1 Thessalonians, the fourth chapter does exist, with a clear description of those who are taken by the Jewish Messiah and those who remain behind.

The Power Thesaurus says, the Grace of the Bible (Christian theology) is a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence.

So, by Bible Grace, we are allowed entrance into the throne of ADONAI without proper virtues; however, the Almighty concedes and sanctifies us as HIS children, so a process starts, of living life according to the Bible.

This process continues and new converts get better and stronger over time then the faithful become victorious overcoming Children of God. But what happens to the disobedient and those who believe ADONAI will take them to Heaven anyway, because that’s what grace is for?

The Bible teaches that, for reasons unknown, GOD Himself will make the decision of who gains the benefit from the mercies of God’s Grace, because not all cases are the same. Those who are found faithful are promised entrance to the eternal Kingdom of Yeshua, (Jesus Christ of Nazareth).

Romans 11 said that HE has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear. But you have allowed those who are without proper virtues to have a chance at God’s wonderful Salvation.

Romans 11:4-8 4 And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”

5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. 6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. 7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. 8 As the Scriptures say,  “God has put them into a deep sleep.  To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.” (NLT)

Romans 11:9-12

9 Likewise, David said,  “Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well.  Let their blessings cause them to stumble,  and let them get what they deserve. 10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”

11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.

12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it. (NLT)

Rapture  Ready

 χάρις cháris; gen. cháritos

After one accepts Yeshua as LORD, they are part of the Citizenship of ADONAI’s SON; Colossians 1:13. And while under the influence of Kingdom, the virtues of the SON’s Kingdom dominate our will.

The Power of the Bible “Grace.” Translated by Complete Word Study Bible Dictionary.

The Meaning of Biblical Grace; “Charis“

 Cháris stands in direct antithesis to érga (G2041), works, the two being mutually exclusive. God’s grace affects man’s sinfulness and not only forgives the repentant sinner, but brings joy and thankfulness to him. It changes the individual to a new creature without destroying his individuality (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:8, 9).

Complete Word Study Bible

A short definition of the Greek “Grace“

 (I) Cháris, when received by faith, transforms man and causes him to love and to seek after the righteousness of God. Cháris is initially regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit in which spiritual life is given to man and by which his nature is brought under the dominion of righteousness. The maintenance of this condition requires an unbroken and immense supply of grace. Grace remains constant in, and basic to, a believer’s fight without against the devil and his struggle within against sin. Renewal is stimulated and impelled by God’s illuminating and strengthening of the soul, and will continue and increase so long as the soul perseveres. God’s grace insures that those who have been truly regenerated will persevere until the end of life. This entire work is called sanctification, a work of God “whereby we are renewed in the whole man and are enabled more and more to die daily unto sin and to live unto righteousness” as is stated by the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 4:23; Col. 3:10). (CWSB Dictionary)

Live to Please God

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2 For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—

5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.  6 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before.  7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.  8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9 But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.

ADONAI is calling the Christian to exhibit the Kingdom of the dear SON before Israel, so that the children of GOD may see what overwhelmed appreciation looks like.

Romans 11:1-7

 1 “In that case, I say, isn’t it that God has repudiated his people?” Heaven forbid! For I myself am a son of Isra’el, from the seed of Avraham,of the tribe of Binyamin.  2 God has not repudiated his people,whom he chose in advance. Or don’t you know what the Tanakh says about Eliyahu? He pleads with God against Isra’el,  3 “ADONAI, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars, and I’m the only one left, and now they want to kill me too!”

 4 But what is God’s answer to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt down to Ba’al.”  5 It’s the same way in the present age: there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 (Now if it is by grace, it is accordingly not based on legalistic works; if it were otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.)

7 What follows is that Isra’el has not attained the goal for which she is striving. The ones chosen have obtained it, but the rest have been made stonelike, 8 just as the Tanakh says,  “God has given them a spirit of dullness—  eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, right down to the present day.” (CJB)

Romans 15:15-16

 For by God’s grace, 16 I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. (NLT)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

 The Hope of the Resurrection; The Rapture

15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words. (NLT)

In closing, here is the passage from the Complete Jewish Bible.

Romans 10:8-11

 that is, the word about trust which we proclaim, namely, 9 that if you acknowledge publicly with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord and trust in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be delivered.

10 For with the heart one goes on trusting and thus continues toward righteousness, while with the mouth one keeps on making public acknowledgement and thus continues toward deliverance. 11 For the passage quoted says that everyone who rests his trust on him will not be humiliated. (CJB)

[1] Power Thesaurus

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