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Rapture Ready
Get Right Or Get Left
By James H. Rayner AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2016 James H. Rayner
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5246-1857-5
CHAPTER 1
WHO
In this particular segment we must determine who is going to inherit the kingdom of God. We will do this by first determining who is not going to inherit the kingdom of God. This decision is ultimately in God's hands. We are using qualifiers in the word of God to do what every teacher of the gospel should be doing.
JEWISH CUSTOMS
In the Jewish marriage customs a young man chooses the bride. He then negotiates with her father that they may be betrothed. The young man presents three things to the father, a dowry, a contract, and a cup of wine. The young lady is called forth, and if she approves and drinks of the cup of wine, the covenant is ratified. She is betrothed and to be married. The young man returns home to his father, where he begins to build onto the family home. Once he is finished building, and once the father is satisfied with his effort and timing he tells the son to go get his bride and bring her to the home.
THE RAPTURE IS IN THE FATHERS HANDS AN EXCEEDINGLY GREAT OPERATION
This operation having been put in the hands of the Almighty father must be of extreme importance because we know that he framed the worlds and he set the ornaments in space, and of these projects were no short-term task. The following Scripture says who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out the heaven with us with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the Hills in a balance. This is God. Do you wonder how big God is? He is a great big God, and telling his son to go for the bride is a great big project.
GOD ADORNED THE KOSMOS
Isaiah 40:12 (KJV) Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
HOW BIG IS GOD?
For those of you who asked the question how big is God, well I can tell you he measured the waters of the earth in the hollow of his hand. That looks to me like a great big God. The word says he comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure. That looks like a great big God, and he weighed the mountains in a scale. Where do you think he got the scale to weigh the mountains?
God is a great big God. The word ofGod says that he's exceedingly great.
JESUS IS COMING FOR HIS BRIDE
John 14:2-3 (KJV)
In my Father's house are many mansions: ifit werenotso, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,thereye may be also.
Abraham sends for Isaacs bride
She must be of his kinsman
Gen 24 Let's take a look at Isaacs bride which is a type of Christ's Bride (the church)
FATHER ABRAHAM: sent his servant Eliezer to Mesopotamia; the place where his kindred dwells because he did not want his son to marry from the Canaanites, but from his kindred.
ELIEZER THE SERVANT: Eliezer goes to Mesopotamia to bring back a bride for Abraham's son. His intention is to bring back a bride of Abraham and Isaac's kindred.
Eliezer makes a decree that sets a standard for the particular person, who is to be the bride? Rebecca meets the standard because she yields to the demands of Eliezer and shows that she is a person's zealous of good works. Eliezer gives Rebecca gifts. Rebecca leaves her family and gladly goes with him to be married to Isaac. As far as the family and the other young women who met at the well at this time, many are called but few are chosen. The other women were not of the family, nor did they meet the standards of the decree.
ISAAC: Isaac awaits his bride. Rebecca takes the journey back to Haran where Abraham and Isaac dwell. When Rebecca arrives she asked Eliezer who is that one in the field. He responds that is Isaac. At that time she lit off the camel, and ran to Isaac, for she had said unto the servant, what man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said it is my master: therefore she had taken a vail, and covered herself.
Rebecca:
A PEOPLE ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS Titus 2:13-14 (KJV) reference scripture
Rebecca, the bride of Isaac; was zealous of good works. She yielded To Eliezer and refreshed him with water. She also watered the camels. (A camel can drink 30 gallons of water, and there were 10 camels). She was familiar with working hard and showed great hospitality.
Jesus gave himself for us to purify us and make us a holy people and a people that are zealous of good works just like Rebecca. If Rebecca can be as committed as she was for Isaac how can we do any less for our Lord who gave himself for us.
On Rebecca's journey to Isaac, once he is viewed, she lit off of the camel and ran to him.
Participants of the rapture:
God the father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit, the church (the bride) When Jesus is in view our blessed Hope is one of a desire to embrace with the bone we will spend all eternity with.
JESUS IS TRULY OUR BLESSED HOPE.
GODS PERSPECTIVE
FATHER GOD SENT THE SON TO RECEIVE A KINGDOM
Sent to receive what is very valuable to God the father
Luke 19:12 (KJV)
He said therefore, a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
This was Jesus' first coming. He came as a nobleman into a far country to receive a kingdom and return. As he went into the city and the people said hosanna they were receiving the kingdom, but shortly thereafter they killed him rejecting the king
JESUS
Matt 13:44-48 (KJV)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
The treasure in the field is the church.
The one who sold all that he had and bought the field was Jesus the merchant man seeking goodly pearls was Jesus he found one of great price, which is the church he sold all that he had and bought it Jesus is also the one who cast the net, and when it was full he with joy cast out the bad, and gathered the good ones into the vessel.
John 14:15-17 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Jesus said in my father's house are many mansions if it were not true I would've told you. He says: I will go and prepare a place for you, that I may receive you unto myself, that where I am you may be also
It is God the father who will give the command for the son to come to the earth, and received his bride.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 16:13-14 (KJV)
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Jesus loves you
Eph 5:25-27 (KJV)
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish
There is a Standard to enter the kingdom of heaven
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness
We will be matured in the earth, and then transformed, ready for heaven
JESUS:Just as Rebecca lit off of the camel to meet Isaac so shall the bride of Christ be raptured to meet Jesus in the air.
We must mature in God
Eph 4:13-14 (KJV)
The word of God's is that we will come into the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man and to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. In other words we will be matured in the things of God, no more like children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slightest of Manning cunning craftiness whereby we lie in wait to be deceived. In other words we will grow up, walking in the fullness of God. We shall be conformed to the image of Christ, not being deceived by the devil, not being deceived by preachers, not being deceived by the world, and walking in the full stature of Christ.
PERFECT = Teleious / Growth in mental, and moral character. Mature in the things of God
We will be transformed to be like him
1 John 3:2-3 (KJV)
There is to be a transformation when Jesus appears we will be transformed to be like Jesus those who are watching and praying and waiting. We don't even know what he will change us to, but we know that we will be like him. This promises to everyone who hopes and rejoice in his appearing, for we will be pure as he is pure
Who aspires to go in the rapture? What are the qualifications needed First and foremost you must be born again
This is a good start
John 3:3 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. I believe that the rapture is for the bride out of the church.
This Scripture does not say that everyone is going in the rapture, even though he has a mansion for you
John 14:1-3 (KJV) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Watch and pray that you may escape
Luke 21:36 (KJV)
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
*I believe that these things that we are to escape, that shall come to pass are the things that will take place during the tribulation.
Jesus is our blessed hope
Titus 2:13-14 (KJV)
This Scripture says that we are looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. That can mean nothing but the rapture. That can mean nothing but the appearing of Jesus which is our blessed hope. It also says that he gave himself for us that we might be redeem from all iniquity. The realize it is iniquity that keeps us from getting in heaven. It's sin that keeps us from getting in heaven. The only way the whole church can be the bride is that all would be purified when Jesus returns, because of the hope of his return. I ask you the question is all of the church hoping for his return? Is all of the church believing that he will return? Does all of the church have the doctrine and is being taught about his return? The answer has to be no. The word of God says in 1 John 3:2 – 3 that when he appears we will see him as he is, and we will be like him. Every one that has this hope will be purified as he is pure. This is what will prepare us for the transformation that we may be fit for heaven. He also says he gave himself for us that we might be redeem from sin and iniquity, that he may purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. This purification may take place when Jesus returns, but until then we are a peculiar people, designated to be to be zealous of good works.
Zealous of good works FEAR GOD FOR HE, AND HE ONLY DETERMINE WHO GOES TO HEAVEN
Luke 12:4-5 (KJV) But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Though we are not told who is going in the rapture, we are told some of the guidelines that will get us there, and that will get us to heaven. We are also told what will hinder us from getting there. By no means am I trying to determine who is going and who is not but I will do like every preacher does on Sunday or the Sabbath and rather than place one in heaven or hell I will do what it says in Ephesians 4 and do my best to equip the saints.
Eph 4:13-14 (KJV)
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Until the father actually says to Jesus; son go get your bride, what I am presenting to you is instruction as written in the word of God.
As a student of the Bible it is your job to rightly divide the word of truth. I will present the word of God that was given to me through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and your job is to hear, research and see if it's true, and supply the faith if it is.
I would not dare attempt to undermine the authority of God and say who is to go in the rapture, but God has given me a strong indication through parables and metaphors and scriptures for instruction, and they cannot be received any other way. I present them to you. Truly in the old testament is the new testament concealed, and in the New Testament is the old testament revealed. In the Old Testament is the new testament contained, and in the new testament is the old testament explained.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE A HOPE AND EXPECTATION BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD.
We are not told to guess when the rapture is to take place, but we are told to watch and pray that we may escape the trial or tribulation that is coming upon the earth.
Based on the sequence of the truth and the word of God, we can discern the season and the time without expecting to know the exact day or hour.
Blotted out of the book of life
Psalms 69:26-29 (KJV)
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Remember to repent because your works are not perfect
Rev 3:1-4 (KJV)
Repent of these things and watch for my coming, or be blotted out of the book of life.
The Scripture says that you appeared to be living, but you are ready to die because your works are not perfect before God. You must repent you must remember how you received the word before and how you helped pass before and repent. And if you don't watch I will come on the as a thief and you shall not know the hour that I come.
You can be blotted out you must overcome
Rev 3:4-6 (KJV)
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Rapture Ready by James H. Rayner. Copyright © 2016 James H. Rayner. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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