The Rapture of the church is the future event in which Christ will descend from heaven to gather His bride, the church, to Himself. Paul describes it as a mystery previously unrevealed but now made known, declaring, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Cor 15:51-52). The term rapture comes from the Latin rapio, a translation of the Greek harpazō, meaning to seize or snatch away, as found in Paul’s statement that believers will be “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Th 4:17). This supernatural catching away involves the bodily resurrection of deceased believers, the transformation of living saints into their glorified bodies, and the collective meeting of the entire church with Christ in the air.
Category: Church
Overview of Future Prophetic Events
The prophetic Word of God unveils a majestic and ordered panorama of future events, from the imminent Rapture of the Church to the eternal state in the new heavens and new earth. Each stage—whether the Tribulation, Christ’s return, the Millennial Kingdom, or the final judgment—demonstrates God’s sovereign control over history and His faithfulness to fulfill every covenant and promise. For the Church, prophecy is about prediction and preparation. It reminds us that history is moving steadily toward divine consummation, and that our hope is anchored not in the shifting sands of this world, but in the unshakable promises of our returning Savior. As we await that blessed hope, we do so with confidence, vigilance, and joy, knowing that the same God who keeps His Word about the future is the same God who sustains us in the present. Come, Lord Jesus (Rev 22:20).
Israel, Globalism, and the Rapture
The Rapture of the Church is imminent—it could happen at any moment, without warning or prerequisite signs. However, while no event must occur before the Rapture, Scripture does reveal the conditions of the world leading up to the seven-year Tribulation that follows. As we observe present global trends, it appears that the stage is being set for the fulfillment of end-times prophecy. These developments, though not signs of the Rapture itself, may indicate how close the Tribulation—and thus the Rapture—may be.
The Kingdom Is Not Now
Many Christians today are confused about whether the kingdom of God is a present reality or a future hope. Some claim that Christ is already ruling on David’s throne, and that the Church is the kingdom foretold in the prophets. But a careful examination of Scripture reveals that, while God is always sovereign and Christ is indeed exalted, we are not living in the kingdom now. The promised Messianic kingdom—where Jesus rules from Jerusalem over a restored Israel and the nations—has not yet begun. Today, God governs providentially from heaven, Christ intercedes for us as High Priest, and the Spirit works within us to produce Christlike character. The kingdom is not now—but the King is coming. Until then, we walk by faith, rest in grace, and look forward to the day when “the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev 11:15).
World Events that Imply the Rapture is Near
While we do not know the day or hour of the rapture of the church (1 Th 4:13-18), we can be discerning of the times and alert to developments that appear to be setting the stage for the coming Tribulation (1 Th 5:4-6). According to Scripture, the rapture will occur prior to the Tribulation, and it stands to reason that we may observe certain precursors unfolding before the Lord calls His church to heaven. In light of this, it seems that several world events and technological advances today align with what Scripture describes as dominant features of the Tribulation period, especially the rise of the Antichrist, a centralized global government, and a unified economic system (Dan 7:23-25; Rev 13:16-17). With this in mind, we identify several trends and developments that may help us see how the world is being prepared for these future realities.
What is a Spiritual Gift?
The Bible provides instruction about spiritual gifts, which are divine enablements given by God to Christians. Every Christian receives at least one spiritual gift, intended for use in ministering to others. These gifts are designed to benefit the body of Christ and contribute to its spiritual growth. However, not all spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible are active today, as some have ceased. The gifts that remain operative in the church can be broadly categorized into two groups: speaking gifts and serving gifts. These gifts continue because they are essential for the edification of believers and the fulfillment of God’s purposes during the present Church Age. The gifts that remain active today are intended to build up the church (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11-12), equip believers for ministry, and promote unity and spiritual maturity (Eph 4:11-16). The proper exercise of these gifts operate within the framework of God’s revealed Word, which is fully sufficient for guiding Christians in matters of faith, conduct, and ministry (2 Tim 3:16-17; Jude 1:3).
The New Covenant
The Bible outlines key covenants revealing God's plan for humanity: the Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants. While the New Covenant offers spiritual blessings to the church, it is primarily directed towards Israel and awaits fulfillment during the millennial kingdom, emphasizing God's unwavering promises to both Israel and the church.
Does Acts 2:38 Teach Baptismal Regeneration?
In Acts 2:38, Peter calls his Jewish listeners to change their minds about Jesus and to be baptized as a public testimony of their faith. The passage, when properly interpreted, harmonizes with the broader biblical doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Acts 2:38 does not teach baptismal regeneration.
The Price of Forgiveness
Forgiveness comes at a price. Though it may be offered freely to the offender, it always costs the giver something. The word “forgive” translates the Greek verb aphiemi (ἀφίημι), which means to let go, cancel, send away, or pardon. Forgiveness refers to the act of releasing someone from a debt or offense without demanding payment or retribution.
The Spiritual Gift of Teaching
The New Testament highlights the importance of the gift of teaching, emphasizing the role of instructing others in the doctrines of faith. The responsibilities and sacrifices involved in developing and exercising this gift are significant. A good Bible teacher is a lifelong learner, dedicated to deepening their understanding of Scripture and impacting others' lives.
The Believers’ Adoption Into God’s Family
The term adoption derives from the Greek word huiothesia (υἱοθεσία) which, according to BDAG, refers to “those who believe in Christ and are accepted by God as God’s children…with full rights.”[BDAG, 1024]. For the first time, as children of God, we have the privilege and right to cry out to God as “Abba! Father!” (Rom 8:15). This adoption by God is an act of love and grace, for “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will” (Eph 1:5).
The Christian with Integrity
Words are the currency of the heart, for by them, we reveal our moral wealth or poverty. For some, a person’s word is gold. We trust what they say is true and that they will keep their promises, even at great cost to themselves. Faithfulness to keep a promise is a measure of one’s integrity. God wants us to have integrity, because He has integrity. To say God has integrity means He is honest in nature, that He always speaks truth, and that He is faithful to keep His Word. Because of who He is, God does not lie, and when He makes a promise, He always keeps it. The Bible reveals, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num 23:19; cf. 1 Sam 15:29).
A Role Model for Believers
There’s a wonderful passage in the book of Ezra that tells us, “Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Ezra's determination speaks of an inward decision to do three things: 1) to study the law of the LORD, 2) to practice it, and 3) to teach it to others.
Choosing a Righteous Life and Righteous Friends
The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of choosing a righteous life and righteous friends. Solomon wrote, “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Prov 12:26 NIV). Elsewhere, Solomon said, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov 13:20). There is a danger in choosing foolish friends, for the one who befriends a fool will end a fool, and this with injury.
A Divided World Until Christ Returns
For the present time, Satan is the ruler of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2; 1 John 5:19), and we are all born under “the dominion of Satan” (Act 26:18), into his “domain of darkness” (Col 1:13). Our spiritual state changes at the time we turn to Christ and trust Him as Savior (1 Cor 15:3-4). At the moment of faith in Christ, we become “children of God” (John 1:12), are transferred to the kingdom of His Son (Col 1:13), forgiven all our sins (Eph 1:7), given eternal life (John 10:28), the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17; Phil 3:9), and the power to live holy (Rom 6:11-14). And, it is God’s will that we advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1; Eph 4:11-13; 1 Pet 2:2), and serve as His ambassadors to others (2 Cor 5:20).
The Armor of God
In his letter to the church at Ephesus, the apostle Paul set forth the Christian armor which, in many ways, is a picture of the healthy Christian life. It is something we intentionally put on and use to defend ourselves when we come under attack. The assaults ultimately come from Satan who has well developed strategies of warfare and demonic soldiers to command. Satan and his fallen angels knowingly and intentionally attack. They are behind every act of terror the world has ever known, they do not relent of their activities, and they are not reformable. In addition to these fallen angels, Satan also has useful idiots—unbelievers and carnal Christians—who assist him in his efforts. These people help make up Satan’s world-system that seeks to envelop and enslave everyone it can. Satan’s system is philosophical, social, political, economic, religious, and cultural. These are all things external to us, but which are intended to penetrate our thoughts and impact our values, speech and practices. Furthermore, Satan has an inside agent within every person, which is the sinful nature which naturally resonates with all that is sinful and prideful.
Future Christian Rewards
Christ has secured our salvation through the substitutionary atoning death of Christ who shed His blood at the cross and propitiated every righteous demand the Father has toward us (Rom 3:25). Having trusted Christ as Savior (John 3:16), we now have peace with God (Rom 5:1). However, after salvation, God expects us to learn His Word, live righteously (Tit 2:11-14), and encourage others to do the same (Heb 11:24-25). After the Rapture of the church (1 Thess 4:13-18), all Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be evaluated for how we lived our lives (2 Cor 5:9-10). This evaluation is not a judgment concerning the Christian’s right to enter heaven as the place of eternal residence, for Christ has secured our salvation and there is no fear of condemnation before God (John 3:18). Rather, it is a judgment concerning eternal rewards for the life we’ve lived in service to Christ (1 Cor 3:10-15). Apparently, we must stay the course in faithfulness, otherwise we run the risk of losing part of our reward (2 John 1:8). Those who learned God’s Word, lived His will, and taught others to do the same, will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. But those believers who disobeyed God’s Word and taught others to disobey as well will be called least in the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:19).
The Rapture of the Church
The Bible reveals Jesus will return to earth; however, a distinction must be drawn between Jesus coming for His saints at the Rapture, and Jesus coming with His saints at His Second Coming to reign for a thousand years.
God Used Jonah to Change a Culture
God used the preaching of Jonah to change the corrupt culture of Nineveh. Around 760 BC, God sent His prophet, Jonah, to preach a message of judgment to Nineveh, a major city in Assyria. The reason for the message was, as God declared, “their wickedness has come up before Me” (Jon 1:2). As “the Judge of all the earth” (Gen 18:25), God had paid attention to the wickedness of the Ninevites, and the time was near for Him to pour out His wrath.
The Biblical Teaching on Tithes
The word tithe means “to give a tenth.” The tithe consisted of produce and livestock (Lev 27:30-32), and was given to the Levites for their support for ministry (Num 18:21-24). The Levites, in turn, gave a tithe of the tithe to the Priests for their service (Num 18:25-28). Additionally, the worshipper could eat a portion of the sacrifice with his family and the Levites (Deut 12:17-19; 14:22-27). Lastly, a tithe was taken every third year to help the poor, the alien, the orphans and the widows. This tithe was comparable to a social welfare system for the most unfortunate in society.
The Old and New Priesthood
Presently, in the church age, every Christian, at the moment of salvation, becomes a priest to God. Peter writes of Christians, saying, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5), and “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9). This is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who “has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” (Rev 1:6), and “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Rev 5:10; cf. 20:6). Furthermore, we do not worship at a temple; rather, “we are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor 6:16; cf. 1 Cor 3:16-17). And we do not bring animal sacrifices, but “offer up spiritual sacrifices” to God (1 Pet 2:5).
Social Justice from a Biblical Perspective
When Israel was a theocratic kingdom, God legislated certain benefits to the poor, widows, orphans and sojourners in order to meet their daily needs, and these were to be given by those whom He’d blessed with abundance. God instructed His leaders to uphold and defend the rights of the vulnerable, knowing there would be wicked persons who would seek to exploit them. Sadly, much of Israel’s history was marked by a breakdown among His people, as the leaders and wealthy in the land exploited the poor they were called to defend. Now, in the Church age, God provides care for the needy in society through human governments, as well as through individual Christians and local churches. Lastly, perfect government will come in the future when Jesus Christ returns and establishes His kingdom on earth and provides righteous reign and care for all.
What is the Church?
The church refers to the body of Christ which began on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. It is comprised of Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Jesus as Savior. The church exists universally as an organism, the global presence of Christians who form the body of Christ. The church also exists locally as an organization, a nearby assembly of believers who gather together for Bible study, worship, fellowship, and the practice of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Christian church is a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament and is separate from Israel, having a different identity and purpose.
Treating Others with Dignity
What does it mean to treat others with dignity? Dignity most commonly refers to the honor we confer on others. Scripture directs us to “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king” (1 Pet. 2:17). The word honor translates the Greek word τιμάω timao, which means “to show high regard for, honor, revere.”
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus while celebrating the Passover meal on the night before His crucifixion. The unleavened bread symbolizes the perfect humanity of Christ, and the red juice symbolizes the blood of the New Covenant that was ratified on the cross. Christians who partake of the Lord’s Supper see themselves as the beneficiaries of the spiritual blessings of forgiveness and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Honor the Lord From Your Wealth
Giving for the Lord’s work is legitimate. The issue for the Christian is not how much one gives, but rather, that one gives joyfully, “for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).
The Characteristics of a Christian Leader
A Christian leader is marked by how he/she serves and treats others. The biblical teaching is that one who wishes to lead must make himself/herself a servant to others. This requires a biblical mind and an attitude of humility.
The Biblical Qualifications for Church Elder
The Bible states qualifications for church elders. Paul lists 15 qualifications for elder in his letter to Timothy (1 Tim. 3:1-7), and 17 qualifications in his letter to Titus (Tit. 1:5-9). The two lists differ slightly, both in number and characteristics mentioned. Each list served either as a general guideline, or was specifically tailored by the Apostle … Continue reading The Biblical Qualifications for Church Elder
The Church – Then and Now
I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house. (Act 20:20) The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Cor. 16:19) Greet the brethren who are in … Continue reading The Church – Then and Now
The New Covenant and the Lord’s Supper
The promise of the New Covenant was specifically with “the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (Jer 31:31). However, the Christian benefits from some aspects of the New Covenant, namely the forgiveness of sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Christian is able to benefit from aspects of the New Covenant that are in effect right now because of his union with the Lord Jesus Christ who inaugurated the covenant with His shed blood on the cross.
Choosing a Good Bible Church
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the … Continue reading Choosing a Good Bible Church
Early Church Persecutions
Persecution is the suffering or pressure, mental, moral, or physical, which authorities, individuals, or crowds inflict on others, especially for opinions or beliefs, with a view to their subjection by recantation, silencing, or, as a last resort, execution. (G. W. Bromily, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, 1986, p. 771) For I am the least … Continue reading Early Church Persecutions