Rapture Requirements

 

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 (KJV)

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 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 shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

James 5:7-8 (KJV)

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

 

Romans 13:11 (KJV)

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

 

If there is ever a time to wake up and live for God, it is now. If there is ever a time to get your mind made up, it is now. If there was ever a time to get in the church, it is now. If there was ever a time to repent, it is now.

Jesus is on His way back for His church. The Bridegroom is coming for His Bride.

We are drawing nigh to the coming of the Lord.

Soon the trumpet is going to sound.

 

1 Corinthians 15:52 (KJV)

52 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 shall be changed.

 

We will step out of this flesh and into immortality.

Everything we’ve been living for, everything we’ve been singing about, and everything we’ve been preaching about Is going to become reality.

When that trumpet sounds, every trial you’ve had won’t matter, every storm you’ve been through won’t matter, and every valley you had to walk through won’t matter; you will have finally made it.

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see!

That day is approaching and approaching fast.

We could be living in the rapture generation.

That puts excitement in my spirit.

I am living for the Rapture of the Church.

Anybody want to go in the Rapture?

Anybody want to hear the sound of the trumpet?

God is coming soon, but God isn’t coming for just anybody! He isn’t coming just to take any old church! There are some requirements to go in the rapture:

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV)

16 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 shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive 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.

 

God is coming back for those who are dead in Christ.

Meaning those who have already paid the price. Those who have already walked the road.

They are asleep and resting now, but as soon as the trumpet sounds they will be the first to go.

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up. That doesn’t mean those who simply have breath. It means those who are dead to sin and alive to God.

Are you ready for some old fashion preaching?

 

Acts 2:38-39 (KJV)

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

 

Acts 3:19 (KJV)

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

 

Luke 13:3 (KJV)

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

 

Mark 16:16 (KJV)

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

John 3:5 (KJV)

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

 

The message hasn’t changed!

If you are going to go in the rapture:

You must repent, be baptized in Jesus Name, and have the Holy Ghost.

The message still applies today.

God is coming for a church that is dead to sin and alive to God.

When you receive the Holy Ghost, that is when you really start living and experiencing life.

That word alive has a few meanings:

1. having life; living; existing; not dead or lifeless.

God isn’t coming back for a church that is dull, dry, boring, or dead.

He is coming back for a church that has life.

He is coming back for a church that is on fire for God.

He is coming back for a church that knows how to praise Him, how to worship Him, and how to walk by faith.

Is there anybody that is alive tonight?

Is there anybody that is dead to sin and alive to God?

Is there anybody that has the power of the Holy Ghost in them?

The world needs a church that is alive. They don’t want to go to a church that is dead. They want to go to a place where when they walk in they can feel the power of God.

2. in a state of action; in force or operation; active:

If there is ever a time to be aware of what is around us it is now.

God has revival waiting for His church, but somebody has to be active. Somebody has to take action.

God is on his way back, yes, but that tells me that we are instore for the greatest outpouring in the church’s history.

 

Acts 2:17 (KJV)

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

 

We need to be aware of what God is doing.

God is moving and trying to get his people in place for what he has for them. God is trying to stir his people so they will be aware that now it is time.

Do you feel him in this house right now?

Is anybody aware of their surroundings?

God is in this house right now!

3.  If you’re alive you’re occupying space.

God didn’t save you merely take up space.

God has a plan for you to occupy some territory.

It’s time for us to come alive and take what God has for us.

You’re still not hearing me.

God put this church here for a reason.

God put you in this church for a reason.

The reason: to occupy the city and territory around us with Holy Ghost power and anointing and to make a difference in your family and friends.

When you go home from an outpouring of God’s spirit your family sees life.

When you hang around your friends they see life.

God wants you to occupy their life with power and anointing.

It’s time to claim some territory.

I wish there was somebody alive to God in this house tonight that would step out by faith and claim some territory for God.

 

Deuteronomy 11:24 (KJV)

24 Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.

 

Everywhere your feet go claim it for revival in Jesus Name.

Somebody claim something!

But it doesn’t stop there: It says those who are alive and are remain.

Not in the world, but in the church of the living God.

1. The word remain means to still be standing in one’s place. To not be moved.

God is coming back for a church that still holds to the doctrine!

A church that has taken a stand for what is right.

A church that is willing to fight for what they believe.

That is what we need.

We need a spirit that would come over us and say, “Sorry, but no storm is going to pull me away from the church!”

Every storm you’ve faced and overcome has brought you closer to the rapture.

Every valley you have had to walk through is worth it if you make it in the rapture.

2. To not be destroyed.

God is coming back for those who have never fallen; If that was the case he wouldn’t have a church.

The church that goes in the rapture will be a church full of those who have fallen but haven’t stayed down.

 

Micah 7:8 (KJV)

8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.

 

If you are going to go in the rapture it will be because you haven’t let the enemy have his way.

He would love to destroy you tonight. He would love to keep you from what God has for you.

But I believe I am preaching to some people that are saying, “No, I have made it this far. I’m not going to quit now.”

Friend, we are too close to lose out now.

We are too close to hearing the sound of the trumpet to let the enemy have his way now.

We are too close to revival to not be a part now.

If there was ever a time to sell out it is now.

If there was ever a time to commit it is now.

If there is ever a time to come back home, it is now.

Anybody want to go in the rapture?