Topic: End Times

You really are not going to be able to understand God, if you do not get what we are talking about in this series.

Faith is absolutely essential to your walk with God.

If you do not have faith in God, you will not walk with God closely.

Why do we need to study faith?

1. You cannot be saved without faith.

Ephesians 2:8 | NKJV (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

2. Faith is required to please God.

Hebrews 11:6 | NKJV (6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

3. You cannot live for God without faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 | NKJV (4) “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

Romans 1:17 | NKJV (17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Galatians 3:11 | NKJV (11) But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Hebrews 10:38 | NKJV (38) NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”

4. Faith is what allows God’s grace to work in our lives.

Romans 4:16 | NKJV (16) Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

5. Faith in Jesus Christ and His Blood is what makes us righteous before God.

Romans 5:1-2 | AMPC (1) THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  (2)  Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.

6. You cannot walk the Christian walk without faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7 | NKJV (7) For we walk by faith, not by sight.

7. You cannot grow spiritually without faith.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 | NKJV (3) We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

8. Faith is instrumental in defeating the devil in spiritual battle.

Ephesians 6:16 | NKJV (16) above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

We will study other topics as well because they all work with our faith.

Galatians 5:6 | NKJV (6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Faith is important and therefore we must spend time studying it.

To understand faith, you must understand a little bit about the spiritual world.

John 4:24 NKJV (24) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

You cannot worship God just in the outward sense because God is a Spirit, and you must make a spiritual connection with Him by worshipping Him in the spirit.

God is not a physical being at all, although He is very real.

God created this natural physical world out of the world in which He lives called the spirit world.

He created this world out of His Word.

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV (3) By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

If I limit my scope of my understanding to the natural realm only then I can never really begin to understand God or the realm in which He lives.

1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV (14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Natural man says, “I will not believe in it unless I can prove it by feeling it, seeing it, etc.” He says, “I have to prove it in order to believe it.”

There is a spiritual world that the natural man cannot understand.

1 Corinthians 2:15 NLT (15) Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things…

When you begin to understand spiritual things, you will learn that you have a spiritual nature that is different from your physical nature.

This is why people can be very successful in the material or physical, they are not satisfied or fulfilled.

That is because there is a spiritual God-sized void inside all of us until we have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

Faith is the force of God that creates.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV (13) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Faith is what moves the creative power of God from the spiritual world where He lives over to this natural world where you and I live.

Faith in God has superiority over any of the natural laws that are in operation in the earth.

The very first thing we see that Jesus did in the Gospels, was to show His superiority over the natural.

John 2:1-8 NKJV (1) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. (2) Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. (3) And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” (4) Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” (5) His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (6) Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. (7) Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. (8) And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. Jesus had never worked a miracle up to this point so Mary probably was not expecting a miracle. But He was full of wisdom and His mother knew that He could solve the problem.

Jesus could have turned air into wine as easy as it was to turn water into the wine.

Water pots were at a minimum of 3 firkins each which was 9 gallons per firkin or 27 gallons. We are talking about close to 150 gallons of water and it took quite a while to fill them up and the pots were very heavy. This took a lot of work.

We think it would be easier to turn the water into wine because it is a liquid but that is not true.

Jesus had them fill the water pots because He wanted them to be involved in the process of God’s power showing up to change the situation.

God could do everything that ever wanted to do without us because He is God and leave us out.

He chooses to bring us into the process and let us have a part in what is going on.

God wants to work WITH us in His plan in the earth but He must have faith to work with for that to happen.

Faith is the invitation we give God for Him to move in our situation the way He wants to and we need Him to.

Notice in verse 11, it says that because of this miracle, His disciples believed on Him and it was because they were involved.

John 2:11 NKJV (11) This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

Matthew 18:2-4 NKJV (2) Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, (3) and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (4) Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Little children intrinsically trust that they will be taken care of. This is the way that we should be in our faith in God.

Jesus was showing us that we must approach the Kingdom of God as a little child believes without any hesitation and question.

Why is faith such a big deal to God?

God wants to work with us all through faith to be able to get His power over into our lives so that He can make the difference He wants to make.

Faith is absolutely essential to your walk with God.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT (13) Three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love–and the greatest of these is love.

Notice in his teaching on love, Paul states there are three spiritual forces that will last forever: faith, hope, and love.

In saying it this way, Paul is telling us that there is a difference in hope and faith.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

1. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

There are a lot of people who think they are operating in faith but they are not. Hope does have some limitations. There are certain things that it cannot do. The two do work together and are connected.

Hope is a positive expectation of things in the future.

“I see good coming to me. Something good is going to happen to me this week…”

“I believe things are going to get better.”

God always builds our hopes before we actually begin to operate in faith.

Abraham is the father of faith. He is the classic case study of faith. Nobody matches him in terms of the quality of their faith.

What we see is that God did not begin Abraham in faith. He began him in hope.

Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV (1) Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. (2) I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:7 NKJV (7) Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 13:14 NKJV (14) And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are–northward, southward, eastward, and westward;

Genesis 13:17 NKJV (17) Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”

Notice the tense of the words that God is using while He is speaking to Abram. They are words like, “I will…, shall be…” This is all hope.

We see that God is instilling hope into the heart of Abram first because faith has to work with hope.

Faith and hope can be broken down like this:

Hope is a blueprint or a model.

It is not the building; it is the expectation of the building.

Hope is the ability to imagine what is going to happen.

This is where you start.

God began to build Abram a picture of what He is planning to do not only for him but this people that He is going to make.

You really are not going to be able to understand God, if you do not get what we are talking about in this series.

Faith is absolutely essential to your walk with God.

If you do not have faith in God, you will not walk with God closely.

Why do we need to study faith?

1. You cannot be saved without faith.

Ephesians 2:8 | NKJV (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

2. Faith is required to please God.

Hebrews 11:6 | NKJV (6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

3. You cannot live for God without faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 | NKJV (4) “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

Romans 1:17 | NKJV (17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Galatians 3:11 | NKJV (11) But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Hebrews 10:38 | NKJV (38) NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”

4. Faith is what allows God’s grace to work in our lives.

Romans 4:16 | NKJV (16) Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

5. Faith in Jesus Christ and His Blood is what makes us righteous before God.

Romans 5:1-2 | AMPC (1) THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  (2)  Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.

6. You cannot walk the Christian walk without faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7 | NKJV (7) For we walk by faith, not by sight.

7. You cannot grow spiritually without faith.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 | NKJV (3) We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

8. Faith is instrumental in defeating the devil in spiritual battle.

Ephesians 6:16 | NKJV (16) above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

We will study other topics as well because they all work with our faith.

Galatians 5:6 | NKJV (6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Faith is important and therefore we must spend time studying it.

To understand faith, you must understand a little bit about the spiritual world.

John 4:24 NKJV (24) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

You cannot worship God just in the outward sense because God is a Spirit, and you must make a spiritual connection with Him by worshipping Him in the spirit.

God is not a physical being at all, although He is very real.

God created this natural physical world out of the world in which He lives called the spirit world.

He created this world out of His Word.

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV (3) By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

If I limit my scope of my understanding to the natural realm only then I can never really begin to understand God or the realm in which He lives.

1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV (14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Natural man says, “I will not believe in it unless I can prove it by feeling it, seeing it, etc.” He says, “I have to prove it in order to believe it.”

There is a spiritual world that the natural man cannot understand.

1 Corinthians 2:15 NLT (15) Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things…

When you begin to understand spiritual things, you will learn that you have a spiritual nature that is different from your physical nature.

This is why people can be very successful in the material or physical, they are not satisfied or fulfilled.

That is because there is a spiritual God-sized void inside all of us until we have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

Faith is the force of God that creates.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV (13) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Faith is what moves the creative power of God from the spiritual world where He lives over to this natural world where you and I live.

Faith in God has superiority over any of the natural laws that are in operation in the earth.

The very first thing we see that Jesus did in the Gospels, was to show His superiority over the natural.

John 2:1-8 NKJV (1) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. (2) Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. (3) And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” (4) Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” (5) His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (6) Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. (7) Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. (8) And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. Jesus had never worked a miracle up to this point so Mary probably was not expecting a miracle. But He was full of wisdom and His mother knew that He could solve the problem.

Jesus could have turned air into wine as easy as it was to turn water into the wine.

Water pots were at a minimum of 3 firkins each which was 9 gallons per firkin or 27 gallons. We are talking about close to 150 gallons of water and it took quite a while to fill them up and the pots were very heavy. This took a lot of work.

We think it would be easier to turn the water into wine because it is a liquid but that is not true.

Jesus had them fill the water pots because He wanted them to be involved in the process of God’s power showing up to change the situation.

God could do everything that ever wanted to do without us because He is God and leave us out.

He chooses to bring us into the process and let us have a part in what is going on.

God wants to work WITH us in His plan in the earth but He must have faith to work with for that to happen.

Faith is the invitation we give God for Him to move in our situation the way He wants to and we need Him to.

Notice in verse 11, it says that because of this miracle, His disciples believed on Him and it was because they were involved.

John 2:11 NKJV (11) This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

Matthew 18:2-4 NKJV (2) Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, (3) and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (4) Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Little children intrinsically trust that they will be taken care of. This is the way that we should be in our faith in God.

Jesus was showing us that we must approach the Kingdom of God as a little child believes without any hesitation and question.

Why is faith such a big deal to God?

God wants to work with us all through faith to be able to get His power over into our lives so that He can make the difference He wants to make.

Faith is absolutely essential to your walk with God.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT (13) Three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love–and the greatest of these is love.

Notice in his teaching on love, Paul states there are three spiritual forces that will last forever: faith, hope, and love.

In saying it this way, Paul is telling us that there is a difference in hope and faith.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

1. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

There are a lot of people who think they are operating in faith but they are not. Hope does have some limitations. There are certain things that it cannot do. The two do work together and are connected.

Hope is a positive expectation of things in the future.

“I see good coming to me. Something good is going to happen to me this week…”

“I believe things are going to get better.”

God always builds our hopes before we actually begin to operate in faith.

Abraham is the father of faith. He is the classic case study of faith. Nobody matches him in terms of the quality of their faith.

What we see is that God did not begin Abraham in faith. He began him in hope.

Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV (1) Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. (2) I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:7 NKJV (7) Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 13:14 NKJV (14) And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are–northward, southward, eastward, and westward;

Genesis 13:17 NKJV (17) Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”

Notice the tense of the words that God is using while He is speaking to Abram. They are words like, “I will…, shall be…” This is all hope.

We see that God is instilling hope into the heart of Abram first because faith has to work with hope.

Faith and hope can be broken down like this:

Hope is a blueprint or a model.

It is not the building; it is the expectation of the building.

Hope is the ability to imagine what is going to happen.

This is where you start.

God began to build Abram a picture of what He is planning to do not only for him but this people that He is going to make.

For this particular Bible Study Session, we view two teaching videos by Pastor Bob Yandian found below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE3JT7d-hpQ[/embedyt]

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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ57E7bvteA[/embedyt]

For this particular Bible Study Session, we view two teaching videos by Pastor Bob Yandian found below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCN4WZhAgX4[/embedyt]

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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAjjnWiFNeY[/embedyt]

For this particular Bible Study Session, we view two teaching videos by Pastor Bob Yandian found below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBlaWetfTns[/embedyt]

---

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuR9HB5eQ8U[/embedyt]

For this particular Bible Study Session, we view two teaching videos by Pastor Bob Yandian found below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39RzqgXwtq4[/embedyt]

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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Ivnxt1AIs[/embedyt]

(Note – I would like to acknowledge that a great portion of the content of this message series comes from a series by the same name as taught by Pastor Bob Yandian of Grace Church and Bob Yandian Ministries in Tulsa, OK.)

Hebrews 11:5-6 NKJV By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:5-6 AMPC Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God. [Gen 5:21-24] (6) But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

“He was not found” – means that people were looking for Enoch

2 Kings 2:9-14 NKJV And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” (10) So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” (11) Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (12) And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. (13) He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. (14) Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

2 Kings 2:16-18 NKJV Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send anyone.” (17) But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. (18) And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

People tried to go and find Elijah after he was caught away.

John 10:1-5 NKJV “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (2) But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (3) To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (4) And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (5) Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The believers know the voice of the Shepherd and we will hear His voice when we are caught up.

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What will be going on in Heaven after the rapture of the Church?

Almost everything to do with the End Times has to do with the sovereignty of God and not the grace of God.

The sovereignty of God takes place whether we believe it or not. You cannot use your faith and modify or change the sovereignty of God.

The grace of God was provided through the Cross and must be received by faith. The things God provided for us through the Cross, must be received by faith and God will not force them upon anybody.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NKJV (15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Believing in the rapture of the church is not a heaven or hell issue. The rapture of the church is an event that will happen because of the sovereignty of God.

Ephesians 5:22-27 NKJV Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. (23) For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. (24) Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. (25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (26) that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, (27) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus is not coming back for a church that is without spot or wrinkle. He will present the church to Himself a glorious church after the judgment seat of Christ.

Romans 14:10-13 NKJV But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (11) For it is written: “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.” (12) So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (13) Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

Greek – “Bema” – rewards seat of Christ, rostrum, elevated place of address, tribunal

This has nothing to do with salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:8-10 NKJV (8) We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (9) Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:10 TPT For one day we will all be openly revealed before Christ on his throne so that each of us will be duly recompensed for our actions done in life, whether good or worthless.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NKJV (1) And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. (2) I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; (3) for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

There are carnal Christians.

1 Corinthians 3:9-15 NKJV (9) For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. (10) According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. (11) For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, (13) each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. (14) If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

We are God’s garden and God is continually working on us.

When someone receives Christ, a foundation is laid in their life, who is Christ.

Two piles: fold, silver, precious stones – wood, hay, or stubble

Fellowship with God = spiritual – during this time what you produce is gold, silver, precious stones

Out of fellowship with God = carnal – wood, hay, stubble

The condition of your heart determines what is built on the foundation

Our works shall be judged – not us

It’s not how big the works were, but the motivation of your heart while you were doing it.

Matthew 10:42 NKJV And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Mark 9:41 NKJV For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

(Note – I would like to acknowledge that a great portion of the content of this message series comes from a series by the same name as taught by Pastor Bob Yandian of Grace Church and Bob Yandian Ministries in Tulsa, OK.)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV (13) But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. (15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.

v 13 – asleep – reference to the death of Christians – we will all wake up one day, dead or alive

We do not sorrow as those who have no hope. It is OK to mourn and grieve because we will miss those loved ones.

The family of God is divided – part in Heaven and part on the earth but there is a time coming when we will all be brought together.

This event is so important that Jesus Himself will do it. He will descend from Heaven with a shout. He will be shouting all the way to the earth.

V16 – voice of the archangel – Michael

Jude 1:9 NKJV Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Perhaps when we are leaving, Satan, tries to contend for our bodies and Michael probably rebuked him.

Trumpet of God – trumpets were used to signal a gathering together of His people and the start of war.

God will deal with His family in Heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58 NKJV (51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed– (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.” (55) “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?” (56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Moment – atomos – that which cannot be divided any more – an indivisible point of time.

The rapture of the church will happen in a amount of time cannot be divided. Our bodies will be changed in a moment.

The world will not hear His voice but His sheep will hear His voice.

Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV (20) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (21) who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Jesus’ body is a prototype of a glorified body.

Colossians 3:4 NKJV When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

1 John 3:1-3 KJV Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Now we are the sons of God in our spirits but in that day, our bodies will be made whole and redeemed and our redemption is complete.

Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Everything that we have here in the earth is a small downpayment of our inheritance.

Romans 8:22-25 NKJV For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (24) For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? (25) But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Salvation is for us spirit, soul, and body. We have been Born Again, are in the process of renewing or saving our minds (James 1), but in that day our bodies will be saved from all death and immortality.

v24 – our bodies are saved in this hope (eager expectation)

1 Corinthians 15:35-44 NKJV (35) But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” (36) Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. (37) And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain–perhaps wheat or some other grain. (38) But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. (39) All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. (40) There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. (41) There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. (42) So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. (43) It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. (44) It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:35-44 NLT (35) But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” (36) What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. (37) And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. (38) Then God gives it the new body He wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. (39) Similarly there are different kinds of flesh–one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. (40) There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. (41) The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory. (42) It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. (43) Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. (44) They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

If you want to understand the rapture and the glorification of our bodies you must understand seed and harvest.

The shell of the seed is what dies but the inner part causes the outward body to come alive and produces the plant or tree.

The body and the spirit will become one.

The spirit is to the body like a hand is to a glove.

What about Cremation?

The Bible has nothing to say about cremation being wrong.

1 Samuel 31:11-13 NKJV Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, (12) all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. (13) Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

There have been saints that have been burned to death for their faith, died in fires, or drowned in the ocean and their bodies were not preserved in a traditional sense such as a funeral.

No matter what happens to someone’s physical body in death, the power of God is more than sufficient to miraculously glorify (resurrect) that body even on a molecular level.

God knows exactly where all the parts are located.

There are more important things for Christians to be concerned with.

(Note – I would like to acknowledge that a great portion of the content of this message series comes from a series by the same name as taught by Pastor Bob Yandian of Grace Church and Bob Yandian Ministries in Tulsa, OK.)

2 Peter 1:10-15 NKJV Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; (11) for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (12) For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. (13) Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, (14) knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. (15) Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

We will always be teaching “this present truth” even though there are things that we have heard before.

When you approach the Word of God, always make sure that you heart attitude is to hear it like you have never heard it before.

There is nothing that will stop the flow of revelation in our lives quicker than the attitude that says, “I have heard this before…”

Romans 11:25 NKJV For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Because of their rejection of Jesus, the Jews are blinded are in part during this dispensation, but after the Rapture of the Church, the Jews will readily accept the Lord Jesus.

Romans 16:25-27 NKJV Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began (26) but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith– (27) to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

The rapture of the Church is not taught in the Old Testament.

The Rapture of the Church is not taught in the four Gospels.

There might have been some vague references but no direct teaching in Jesus’ Ministry.

To see clear teaching on the Rapture of the Church, you must look at the New Testament Epistles.

There are two comings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

There will be the Rapture of the Church, the Tribulation Period, and then the Second Coming of the Lord. These two events are 7 years apart.

The Church at Thessalonica had a lot of confusion on the Rapture of the Church. They thought that the Rapture of the Church was so close by looking at events in the world at the time.

Someone wrote an epistle and put Paul’s name on it saying that everything in the first epistle to them was wrong and Paul had changed his mind.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 TPT Now, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, we plead with you, beloved friends, (2) not to be easily confused or disturbed in your minds by any kind of spirit, rumor, or letter allegedly from us, claiming that the day of the Lord has already come.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 NKJV (1) Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, (2) not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

Differences between the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of the Lord:

• At the Rapture of the Church, Jesus will not physically come to the earth but will come in the clouds to catch us away.
• During the Second Coming, He will come and touch the earth and establish His Kingdom in the earth.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Verse 1 is the Rapture of the Church

Verse 8 is the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus

Verses 2-7 is everything in between.

2 Thessalonians 2:2 NKJV (2) not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

There have been many times throughout history, that people have sought to establish that the Tribulation period had begun.

People don’t take the Word of God and then look at circumstances; people look at circumstances and try to make the Word of God fit the circumstances.

There have been people trying to guess who the antichrist is, but you will not know until he is revealed.

1 John 2:18 NKJV Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

There have been many with the spirit of antichrist that have come but that does not mean that they are THE antichrist.

Hitler may have been demon possessed, but THE antichrist will be Satanically possessed displaying evil on whole other level. He will even be able to perform supernatural signs and wonders to deceive the people. (Egyptian magicians could imitate the works of God to limited degree)

2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV (3) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

“THAT DAY” – the Tribulation Period and the revealing of the antichrist

“Falling Away” – apostasia – means in the pure text of the Greek in the noun form – THE DEPARTURE.

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Wuest (1-4) Now, I am requesting you, brethren, with regard to the coming and personal presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, even our being assembled together to Him, not soon to become unsettled, the source of this unsettled state being your minds, neither be thrown into confusion, either by a spirit, or through a word as from us or through a letter falsely alleged to be written by us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come and is now present. Do not begin to allow anyone to lead you astray in any way, because that day shall not come except the aforementioned departure comes first and the man of the lawlessness is disclosed, the son of perdition, he who sets himself in opposition to and exalts himself above everyone and everything that is called a god or that is an object of worship, so that he seats himself in the inner sanctuary of God, proclaiming himself to be deity.

The Tribulation cannot come unless the Departure has taken place first.

As long as the Church is in the earth, the antichrist cannot be revealed. The “He” is not the Holy Spirit, it is the Church because the Holy Spirit will not be taken out of the way. Many people will be Born Again during the Tribulation and this can only happen if the Holy Spirit is here at work during that period.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NKJV (7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV (4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

This is what will happen in the middle of the Tribulation Period.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NKJV (9) The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, (10) and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, (12) that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

There will be seeds of the antichrist and seeds of rebellion in the earth beforehand.

(Note – I would like to acknowledge that a great portion of the content of this message series comes from a series by the same name as taught by Pastor Bob Yandian of Grace Church and Bob Yandian Ministries in Tulsa, OK.)

I would not have you ignorant:

1 Corinthians 10:1 KJV Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

1 Corinthians 12:1 KJV Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 KJV But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

The three things are not hard to understand but men make them hard to understand:

• Understanding the Old Testament
• Baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, Gifts of the Spirit
• End time events

Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, (4) but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. (6) “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ (7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ (9) But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (11) “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ (12) But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ (13) “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Hebrews 1:1-2 NKJV God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

V 1 – God has in different time periods and in various ways in the Old Testament.

V 2 – the time period is referred to as the “last days”. This is referring to the Church Age in which we live.

In verse 1 there are many time periods and God spoke to His people in different ways but in verse 2 there is one time period, and God spoke to His people through the Lord Jesus.

In general terms, the Old Testament was written to the Jews and the New Testament was written to the Gentiles. (This is a broad stroke of summary because there are some variations of this.)

In the Old Testament, He spoke primarily through the prophets.

In the New Testament, He has spoken through the Lord Jesus.

God has divided time into Seven Dispensations (General state or order of things).

1. Dispensation of Innocence – Genesis 1-3 (Ends at the Fall of Man)
2. Dispensation of Conscious – (Ends at the Flood) – Every man did what was right in his own eyes.
3. Dispensation of Human Government – (Ends at the Tower of Babel)
4. Dispensation of Promise – God isolated one man – Abraham – and made a covenant with him. God made a new race spiritually through him. (Ended with Egyptian Bondage)
5. Dispensation of the Law – Given through Moses and ended at the Cross
6. Dispensation of Grace or the Church – Began with the Resurrection of Jesus and will end at the Tribulation Period.
7. Dispensation of the Millenium – This will end at the revolt of Satan when he is released and will be defeated once and for all by Jesus Christ.

All of the dispensations start by God and end by man. Starts with righteousness and ends with sin.

After the Millennial Dispensation, there are no more dispensations.

Hebrews 1:10-12 NKJV And: “YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS. (11) THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY WILL ALL GROW OLD LIKE A GARMENT; (12) LIKE A CLOAK YOU WILL FOLD THEM UP, AND THEY WILL BE CHANGED. BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT FAIL.”

The earth is compared to a garment. You buy it new, you wear it, then wash it until it falls apart. The earth will be made new without sin, death, and corruption. The earth will last forever after that time.

God spoke to man in a different way in each of the different dispensations.

How God approaches man in each dispensation has been different but how man approaches God has never changed – by faith.

Hebrews 1:2 NKJV has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (Ages – perpetuity)

The Church Age

The Church Age began on the Day of Pentecost, and it will end when the rapture of the Church takes place.

Ephesians 3:1-2 NKJV For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles– (2) if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

Dispensation – oikonomia – administration of a house or an administration since we are referring to a time period.

A new presidency is called an administration. The White House does not change; but the workings in it do change.

The bulk of the teaching on the Dispensation of Grace came through the Apostle Paul.

Ephesians 3:3-4 NKJV how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, (4) by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

Mystery – musterion – something hidden in other dispensations that was revealed in this dispensation.

Matthew 13:11 NKJV He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

There are church-aged truths that are taught in these parables taught by Jesus.

Matthew 13:44 NKJV “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Treasure is made up of precious jewels. God had the priesthood wear a vest that had precious stones fastened to it representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 13:45-46 NKJV “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, (46) who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

A pearl is something that comes out of the sea and is caused by an irritating sand or stone that as time progresses is built.

Matthew 16:18 NKJV And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Mark 4:10-11 NKJV But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. (11) And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

Ephesians 3:4-12 NKJV by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), (5) which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: (6) that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, (7) of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. (8) To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (9) and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; (10) to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, (11) according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, (12) in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Colossians 1:25-29 KJV Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (26) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (28) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (29) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.