Rapture of the Church

Rev Mar’s Aug 30 sermon in text and slides can be downloaded here:

THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH (The next event in the prophetic horizon.)

INTRODUCTION

1. Revelation 1:1  The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.
2. Revelation 1:19  Write:

1. the things which thou hast seen (PAST, JOHN’s VISION OF THE LORD JESUS, Revelation 1:10-19), and
2. the things which are (THIS PRESENT AGE, the period in time when the Lord deals with the Church, called the CHURCH AGE), and
3. the things which shall be hereafter (the time when the Lord, after dealing with the Church until the end of the Church Age, will deal with Israel to prepare them for the MILLENNIAL AGE).

SERMON

1. THE PRESENT AGE AND AGES TO COME.  (cf. Slide – Plotting the End-Times) In the last session, we finished discussing the 7 Churches in Asia Minor, THE PRESENT AGE pertaining to the Churches in this present CHURCH AGE. These local churches are the different types of churches representing the different spiritual conditions of churches in this PRESENT AGE, THE CHURCH AGE. If each of the churches represent a certain period of church history, which some Bible scholars believed, the Laodicean church would typify the sad state of the church in the “last days” whom the Lord said, because you are lukewarm, I will spew thee out.” This is the church who has a form of godliness but they deny the the power thereof  or they deny the authority of the Lord. This is the church which thought they were saved, but they are the last one to know that they are lost. Ganito ang mga tao sa huling mga araw na nagaakala na ligtas sila ngunit hindi nila nalalaman na sila ay nangapapahamak sapagkat ang Panginoong Jesucristo ay wala sa kalagitnaan ng kanilang iglesia at wala rin sa kanilang puso. Kaya ang Panginoong Jesucristo ay nasa pintuan ng kanilang iglesia, kumakatok nagnanais pumasok sa kanilang pananambahan at pananalangin sapagkat hindi ang Panginoong Jesucristo ang pinagtutuunan ng pagsamba at panalangin nila bagamat ang tanging Tagapamagitan ng buong niikha sapagkat walang makakaparoon sa Diyos Ama kundi sa pamamgitan ng Panginoong Jesucristo na sinasabi sa Banal na Kasulatan na ang Kaniyang pagka-Mataas na Saserdote ay magpakailanman kaya kailanman ay walang maaaring laktawan ang Panginoong Jesucristo at tumuloy sa Dios Ama. TANONG: Kanino ninyo ina-address ang inyong praise and worship? Kanino ninyo ina-address ang inyong devotion, pagtatalaga at panalangin? Kay Jesus ba? Sapagkat ang marami sa mga churches ngayon, bagamat sinasabi na sila ay Christ-centered at sila Bible-believing, Bible-thumping Christians ngunit hindi talaga naka-focus at hindi naka-address ang kanilang devotion at worship at prayers kay Jesus. Sapagkat ayon sa 1Corinthians 1:9, “Ang Dios ay tapat, na sa pamamagitan niya ay tinawag kayo sa pakikisama ng kaniyang anak na si Jesucristo na Panginoon natin.” Kaya ang tawag ng Dios Ama ay pumunta tayo sa Kaniyang sinisintang Anak na Kaniyang kinalulugdan at pakinggan ang Anak. (Matthew 17:5) at “Gaya nga ng sabi ng Espiritu Santo, ‘Ngayon kung marinig ninyo ang kaniyang tinig, huwag ninyong papagmatigasin ang inyong mga puso, na gaya ng sa pamumungkahi.’”(Hebrews 3:7-8)  Kaya ang panawagan ng Panginoong Jesucristo ay, “Magsiparito sa akin, kayong lahat na nangapapagal at nangabibigatang lubha, at kayo’y aking papagpapahingahin.” (Matthew 11:28) Kaya kung hindi ang Panginoong Jesucristo ang pinagtutuunan ng pagtitipon, pagsamba, pagpupuri, pasasalamat at panalangin ng mga tao o iglesia, sinusuway ninyo ang bilin ng Dios Ama at payo ng Banal na Espirito na ang tanging pagtitipunan ay ang Panginoong Jesucristo. But many of the churches today are like the church of Laodicea, the church of the “last days” wherein the Lord Jesus is outside their churches knocking to get into their churches. If churches are truly  gathering together in Jesus’ name, the Lord should not be outside their assembly but in their midst. Sabi ng Panginoong Jesucristo, “Ang hindi sumasa akin ay laban sa akin; at ang hindi nagtitipon na kasama ko ay sumasambulat. (Matthew 12:30) Kaya hindi katakataka na sinabi ng Panginoon sa mga nagtitipon subalit hindi sila nagtitipon sa pangalan ng Panginoong Jesucristo, mawawalaan ng kabuluhan ang kanilang pagtitipon. Kaya ang sabi ng Panginoon sa kanila, “Isusuka kita sa Aking bibig.” This is the church that will be found by the Lord Jesus when He comes to take His church. No wonder He ask, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” There will just be a little of faith, a little of grace, a little prayer, a little thanksgiving, a little thought and expectation of His coming. TANONG: Si Jesus ba ang nakaluklok sa iyong puso o iba ang nakaluklok sa iyong puso. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:30; Colossians 3:2  “Set your affection (phroneo, Gr, to earnestly or intensively interest oneself in) on things above, not on things on the earth.” Kung hindi na si Jesus ang nakaluklok sa trono ng iyong puso o kaya hindi mo pa binubuksan ang iyong puso mo kay Jesus, wika ng Panginoon, “Narito ako’y nakatayo sa pintuan at tumutuktok: kung ang sinoman ay duminig ng aking tinig at magbukas ng pinto, ako’y papasok sa kaniya, at hahapong kasalo niya, at siya’y kasalo ko.” Ang Panginoon ay malapit na ang Kaniyang pagparito upang Kaniyang hanguin ang Kaniyang mga mananampalataya at dalhin sila sa tahanan ng Dios Ama upang sila ay makakasama nila ang Panginoon sa Kaniyang kaluwalhatian magpakailanman. Ito ang tinatawag na RAPTURE at kung ikaw ay hindi nakasama sa rapture, naiwanan ka sa lupa, ikaw ay dadanas ng matinding kapighatian na hindi pa naranasan at hindi na uli mararanasan ng buong sanglibutan, upang hatulan ng Panginoon ang lahat na mga suwail at masasama na nananahan sa ibabaw ng lupa. (cf. Revelation 3:10) kaya kung ayaw mong dumanas ng pinakamatinding kapighatian ng sanlibutan na ito, kinakailangang pagisishan mo ang iyong kasalanan, humingi ka ng kapatawaran ng iyong mga kasalanan, papasukin mo ang Panginoong Jesus sa iyong puso at sumampalataya ka sa Kaniya bilang Siya ang katugonan sa lahat na iyong mga pangangailangan at ngayon mabubuhay ka alangalang sa Panginoon at mangyayari ayon sa pangako ng Panginoong Jesus na isasalo ka Niya sa buhay Niya na higit na masagana at walang hanggan.
2. What is the Rapture of the Church? (cf. Slide Word-Rapture)

1. After the PRESENT AGE or THE CHURCH AGE (chapters 2 and 3), after the letter to the last church, the Church of Laodicea, the next event is Revelation chapter 4 and we read in the first two verses: Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Rev 4:2  At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. This is an allusion of the Rapture when the apostle John is taken up to the abode of God, the third heaven.
2. A frequently-heard statement by Christians is, “There’s no word ‘rapture’ that is  mentioned in the Bible!” As we shall see, this is an inaccurate statement on two counts: 

1. The term “rapture” is a biblical term.
2. The teaching of the Rapture is found in Scripture even if the term is absent. Ex: Trinity

3. .Ang Rapture (sa Tagalog ay Pag-Agaw) ay isang kaganapan na mangyayari sa Iglesia na aagawin o dadagitin ng Panginoong Jesucristo ang mga mananampalataya sa Kaniya na sila ay aalisin sa lupa upang ang makatuwirang kahatulan ng Panginoong Jesucristo ay ibubuhos dito sa mga suwail sa lupa sa panahon ng 7 Taong Kapighatian o 7 years of Tribulation here on earth upon all dwellers and those who were left behind the rapture. The rapture is described primarily in 3 places in the Bible: 
4. Joh 14:1  Huwag magulumihanan ang inyong puso: magsisampalataya kayo sa Dios, magsisampalataya naman kayo sa akin. Joh 14:2  Sa bahay ng aking Ama ay maraming tahanan; kung di gayon, ay sinabi ko sana sa inyo; sapagka’t ako’y paroroon upang ipaghanda ko kayo ng dakong kalalagyan. Joh 14:3  At kung ako’y pumaroon at kayo’y maipaghanda ng kalalagyan, ay muling paririto ako, at kayo’y tatanggapin ko sa aking sarili; upang kung saan ako naroroon, kayo naman ay dumoon. At kung saan ako paroroon, ay nalalaman ninyo ang daan. Joh 14:5  Sinabi sa kaniya ni Tomas, Panginoon, hindi namin nalalaman kung saan ka paroroon; paano ngang malalaman namin ang daan? Joh 14:6  Sinabi sa kaniya ni Jesus, Ako ang daan, at ang katotohanan, at ang buhay: sinoman ay di makaparoroon sa Ama, kundi sa pamamagitan ko. 
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. 1Th 4:13  Nguni’t hindi namin ibig na kayo’y di makaalam, mga kapatid, tungkol sa nangatutulog; upang kayo’y huwag mangalumbay, na gaya ng mga iba, na walang pagasa. 1Th 4:14  Sapagka’t kung tayo’y nagsisisampalatayang si Jesus ay namatay at nabuhay na maguli, ay gayon din naman ang nangatutulog kay Jesus ay dadalhin ng Dios na kasama niya. 1Th 4:15  Sapagka’t ito’y sinasabi namin sa inyo sa salita ng Panginoon, na tayong nangabubuhay, na nangatitira hanggang sa pagparito ng Panginoon, ay hindi tayo mangauuna sa anomang paraan sa nangatutulog. 1Th 4:16  Sapagka’t ang Panginoon din ang bababang mula sa langit, na may isang sigaw, may tinig ng arkanghel, at may pakakak ng Dios: at ang nangamatay kay Cristo ay unang mangabubuhay na maguli; 1Th 4:17  Kung magkagayon, tayong nangabubuhay, na nangatitira, ay aagawing kasama nila sa mga alapaap, upang salubungin ang Panginoon sa hangin: at sa ganito’y sasa Panginoon tayo magpakailan man. 1Th 4:18  Kaya’t mangagaliwan kayo sa isa’t isa ng mga salitang ito. 
6. 1 Corinthians 15:50–54. 1Co 15:50  Sinasabi ko nga ito, mga kapatid, na ang laman at ang dugo ay hindi makapagmamana ng kaharian ng Dios; ni ang kasiraan ay magmamana ng walang kasiraan. 1Co 15:51  Narito, sinasaysay ko sa inyo ang isang hiwaga: hindi tayong lahat ay mangatutulog, nguni’t tayong lahat ay babaguhin, 1Co 15:52  Sa isang sangdali, sa isang kisap-mata, sa huling pagtunog ng pakakak: sapagka’t tutunog ang pakakak, at ang mga patay ay mangabubuhay na maguli na walang kasiraan, at tayo’y babaguhin. 1Co 15:53  Sapagka’t kinakailangan na itong may kasiraan ay magbihis ng walang kasiraan, at itong may kamatayan ay magbihis ng walang kamatayan. 1Co 15:54  Datapuwa’t pagka itong may kasiraan ay mabihisan ng walang kasiraan, at itong may kamatayan ay mabihisan ng walang kamatayan, kung magkakagayon ay mangyayari ang wikang nasusulat, Nilamon ng pagtatagumpay ang kamatayan. 

1. The rapture will involve an instantaneous (in the twinkling of an eye) transformation of our bodies to fit us for eternity. “We know that when he [Christ] appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
2. The doctrine of the rapture was not taught in the Old Testament, which is why Paul calls it a “mystery” now revealed. Colossians1:26  “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.” Paul then says, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52).God will resurrect all believers who have died, give them glorified bodies, and take them from the earth, then all living believers who will also be given glorified bodies and caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.

3. The rapture is to be distinguished from the second coming. (cf. Slide on this Topic) At the rapture, the Lord comes “in the clouds” to meet us “in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, the Lord descends all the way to the earth to stand on the Mount of Olives, resulting in a great earthquake followed by a defeat of God’s enemies (Zechariah 14:3–4).
4. Kailan Magaganap ang RAPTURE? May tatlong katuruan kung kailan magaganap ang Rapture (cf. Slide on this Topic):

1. Pre-Tribulation. Rapture occurs before the start of the Tribulation period;
2. Mid-Tribulation. Rapture happens in the middle of the Tribulation period;
3. Post-Tribulation. Rapture happens at the end of the Tribulation.  Ang Panginoong Jesus ay nasa pintuan na kumakatok. Malapit na malapit na ang Kaniyang pagparito. 

5. Challenges of the Pre-Tribulation RAPTURE. (cf. Slide on this Topic) Pre-tribulation chapter motivates the believer into holiness. 1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 
6. Discussion on Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Kapag nabuo na ang bilang ng mga mananampalatayang Gentil na bumubuo sa Iglesia o Church (Romans 11:25 when the fullness of the Gentiles is come in), magaganap na iyong tinatawag na RAPTURE.

1. There are no specific events to happen prior to the imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His church. No one knows the day and hour of His coming according to the Lord when He said: Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 
2. We may not know the day nor the hour of His coming for His church but He gave us signs when His coming is near. The Lord gave a lesson of rebuke to the leaders of religion (the Sadducees and Pharisees) that they, and so with us, should be able to discern the event of the times to know if the coming of the Lord is at hand. 

“At nagsilapit ang mga Fariseo at mga Saduceo, na tinutukso siya na sa kaniya’y nagsisihiling na sila’y pagpakitaan ng isang tanda na mula sa langit. Datapuwa’t siya’y sumagot at sa kanila’y sinabi, Sa kinahapunan, ay sinasabi ninyo, Bubuti ang panahon: sapagka’t ang langit ay mapula.  At sa umaga, Ngayo’y uunos: sapagka’t mapula at makulimlim ang langit. Kayo’y marurunong magsikilala ng anyo ng langit; datapuwa’t hindi ninyo mangakilala ang mga tanda ng mga panahon. Ang isang lahing masama at mapangalunya ay humahanap ng tanda; at hindi siya bibigyan ng anomang tanda, kundi ng tanda ni Jonas.” (Matthew 16:1-4)

We should be able to discern as to where we are in the prophetic timeline by the signs brought to us by the events happening in our day. Someone said that prophecy is today’s headlines written in advance. 

3. Kaya nagbigay ang Panginoon sa pamamgitanng Kaniyang mga alagad ng mga palatandaan na mangyayari sa huling mga araw bago Siya paparito upang Kaniyang hanguin ang Kaniyang mga mananampaltaya bago ibuhos ang poot ng Kordero sa suwail na sanlibutan na ito:

1. 1Ti 4:1  Nguni’t hayag na sinasabi ng Espiritu, na sa mga huling panahon ang iba’y magsisitalikod sa pananampalataya, at mangakikinig sa mga espiritung mapanghikayat at sa mga aral ng mga demonio, 1Ti 4:2  Sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaimbabaw ng mga tao na nagsisipagsalita ng mga kasinungalingan, na hinerohan ang kanilang mga sariling budhi ng waring bakal na nagbabaga; 1Ti 4:3  Na ipinagbabawal ang pagaasawa, at ipinaguutos na lumayo sa mga lamangkati, na nilalang ng Dios upang tanggapin na may pagpapasalamat ng mga nagsisisampalataya at nangakakaalam ng katotohanan. 1Ti 4:4  Sapagka’t ang bawa’t nilalang ng Dios ay mabuti, at walang anomang nararapat na itakuwil, kung tinatanggap na may pagpapasalamat: 1Ti 4:5  Sapagka’t pinakababanal sa pamamagitan ng salita ng Dios at ng pananalangin. 
2. Ti 3:1  Datapuwa’t alamin mo ito, na sa mga huling araw ay darating ang mga panahong mapanganib. 2Ti 3:2  Sapagka’t ang mga tao’y magiging maibigin sa kanilang sarili, maibigin sa salapi, mayayabang, mga mapagmalaki, mapagtungayaw, masuwayin sa mga magulang, mga walang turing, mga walang kabanalan, 2Ti 3:3  Walang katutubong pagibig, mga walang paglulubag, mga palabintangin, mga walang pagpipigil sa sarili, mga mabangis, hindi mga maibigin sa mabuti, 2Ti 3:4  Mga lilo, mga matitigas ang ulo, mga palalo, mga maibigin sa kalayawan kay sa mga maibigin sa Dios; 2Ti 3:5  Na may anyo ng kabanalan, datapuwa’t tinanggihan ang kapangyarihan nito: lumayo ka rin naman sa mga ito. 
3. 2Ti 4:2  Ipangaral mo ang salita; magsikap ka sa kapanahunan, at sa di kapanahunan, sumawata ka, sumaway ka, mangaral ka na may buong pagpapahinuhod at pagtuturo.  2Ti 4:3  Sapagka’t darating ang panahon na hindi nila titiisin ang magaling na aral; kundi, pagkakaroon nila ng kati ng tainga, ay magsisipagbunton sila sa kanilang sarili ng mga gurong ayon sa kanilang sariling mga masasamang pita;  2Ti 4:4  At ihihiwalay sa katotohanan ang kanilang mga tainga, at mga ibabaling sa katha. 
4. 2Pe 3:3-4 Na maalaman muna ito, na sa mga huling araw ay magsisiparito ang mga manunuya na may pagtuya, na magsisilakad ayon sa kanikanilang masasamang pita, at magsisipagsabi, Saan naroon ang pangako ng kaniyang pagparito? sapagka’t, buhat nang araw na mangatulog ang mga magulang, ay nangananatili ang lahat ng mga bagay na gaya ng kalagayan nila mula nang pasimulan ang paglalang…2Pe 3:8  Datapuwa’t huwag ninyong kalimutan, mga minamahal, ang isang bagay na ito, na ang isang araw sa Panginoon ay katulad ng isang libong taon, at ang isang libong taon ay katulad ng isang araw. 2Pe 3:9  Hindi mapagpaliban ang Panginoon tungkol sa kaniyang pangako, na gaya ng pagpapalibang ipinalalagay ng iba; kundi mapagpahinuhod sa inyo, na hindi niya ibig na sinoman ay mapahamak, kundi ang lahat ay magsipagsisi. 2Pe 3:10  Datapuwa’t darating ang araw ng Panginoon na gaya ng magnanakaw;
5. Lately, there have been issues raised because of some events this month.

1. In the middle of this month, there was a historic event that went under the radar because the main issue in the News since March of this year is the COVID-19 pandemic. This historic event was well in the News but it did not stir a lot of prophetic attention like the pandemic. This news is about the peace agreement signed by Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which was brokered by the United States. Many Presidents of the US have been working for peace in the Middle East. In March 1979, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Accord, mediated by President Jimmy Carter and on October 26, 1994, Israel signed the Treaty of Peace with the Kingdom of Jordan arranged by President Clinton. After 26 years comes this peace agreement of Israel and UAE brokered by President Trump and signed on August 13, 2020 . This is a significant agreement in the sense that if Israel can enter into peace agreements with other Arab countries, this diplomatic strategy will greatly diminish the leverage of the Palestinians to force Israel to give up Israeli land for peace in the region. Therefore, the strategy of coming up with a peace plan in the region is for Israel to enter into agreement with other Arab countries like Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. In the past, these Arab Sunni Muslim countries had always been hardline enemies of Israel. But with Iran, a Shi’ite Muslim, a rival of the Sunni Muslims, has become strong militarily that the Sunni Muslims have been threatened by Iran’s ambition to be the hegemon or religious leader in the region. Since Israel, an archenemy of Iran, has become a strong nation, the previously implacable Arab enemies of Israel started to align with Israel because of the principle that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” This is the reason why these Sunni Muslim countries in the region are aligning now with Israel. 
2. Question: if there is that peace agreement already signed, are we now in the tribulation period because the peace agreement with Israel has been signed which signals the start of the tribulation period according to Daniel 9:27? Does that mean that the Church will go through the tribulation period? This is a valid and relevant observation. Immediately, I can say that this agreement between Israel and the UAE is not yet the agreement that will be confirmed (higbyr), enlarged, strengthened, improved by the antichrist.

1. Firstly because the coverage of the peace agreement is limited in scope and does not yet cover all or a majority of the Sunni Muslim countries like Turkey. Lebanon, Syria, Iran. Oman, Bahrain Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and other Muslim African countries. The agreement does not cover a broad area or a majority of the countries in the region that we can say that this is an agreement that will bring peace to the Region. This will, however, be the seed to grow a much broader scope because the antichrist will confirm a peace agreement to cover the region of the near east, middle east and probably even the far east.
2. Second, a major component of the agreement is for Israel to be free to build the third temple in Jerusalem. The agreement does not stipulate that Israel will now be able to build its temple. Building a Jewish temple on the Temple Mount is impossible at the moment becaue there are two significant Muslim structures there: the Al Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, believed by the muslims to be the place where Mohammed was taken up to heaven. At the moment, Israel has no temple in the Temple Mount and the Jews have been longing to have one where they can offer sacrifices to Yahweh. 
3. Thirdly, according to the Book of Daniel chapter 9, in the last week (of years) of the 70 weeks (of years) appointed unto Israel and its people, the prince that is to come (John 5:43 – “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive;” that is the antichrist) shall confirm (higbyr, from root word gabar, Heb, means improve, strengthen, enlarge, intensify, enhance, boost) a covenant with many (nations) for one week of years or 7 years and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease. In this peace agreement, there is no time element as to how long the peace treaty will be;
4. Fourthly,  the antichrist who will confirm shall come from the Revived Roman Empire. The antichrist, therefore, shall come from that area of the world and not from the US. It is strongly believed that the antichrist will come from the Revived Roman Empire, which would most likely be the European Union for the following reasons:

1. in Daniel chapter 7, the fourth beast, which is the revived Roman Empire, is”terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong” (Daniel 7:7) has ten horns and out of them grew a little horn (Daniel 7:8) with eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. This is the Antichrist.
2. the fifth and final kingdom mentioned in Daniel 2 in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of an image made of various metals. The image had iron legs and feet made of a mixture of iron and clay. The iron legs represent the Roman Empire and the feet made up of iron and clay represents Revived Roman Empire. The ten toes are linked to the ten horns in Daniel 7:20;
3. the beast rising from the sea in Revelation 13 has ten horns which is linked with the ten horns of the fourth beast in Daniel 7 and the ten toes of the feet of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. This beast is the antichrist coming from the ten divisions of the Revived Roman empire. 
4. The visions and dreams interpret the ten toes or ten horns as the Revived Roman empire out of which will rise a small but blasphemous horn which is the antichrist. The Revived Roman Empire is believed to be the European Union (EU) because of the following reasons:

1. The EU has the properties of an empire composed of several or many countries under one ruler;
2. The empires preceding the Roman empire were all succeeded by military quest of the following empire. But the Roman empire was never conquered by another empire. It just fizzled out but now it is emerging as the Revived Roman Empire which is the European Union;
3. In Daniel chapter 9, the antichrist in v.27 who will confirm the peace covenant with Israel is called “the prince who is to come” in v.26. In that verse, the people of “the prince to come” shall destroy the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary or the 2^nd Temple in Jerusalem. History tells us that it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem and the sanctuary in 70AD. So the antichrist will rise from the Revived Roman Empire;
4. The last kingdom in Daniel 2 is represented by the ten toes of the feet of the statue that is made up of iron and clay which do not mix. The European Union is made up of countries with differing cultures, economies and aspirations which are difficult to blend together. There are nations that are strong and others that are weak and vulnerable. Just like the prophecy, the nations forming the European Union are like a mixture of iron and clay. The Union is partly strong and partly weak.
5. In conclusion, the signed peace agreement between Israel and UAE, is not the peace agreement to be confirmed by the antichrist although this will be (higbyr) brilliantly improved, strengthened, enhanced, intensified by the antichrist. So, we are not in the cusp of entering the Tribulation Period. The church shall be raptured before the start of the Tribulation Period. Again, let me emphasize that the church shall not go through the Tribulation Period. We are not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation theough our Lord Jesus Christ!

CONCLUSION

1. We are not watching for signs to be fulfilled before the Rapture. Instead, we are looking for that blessed hope (Titus 2:13) when Jesus comes to take away His church to keep us from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth (Revelation 3:10). This is the Rapture. Rapture ends the Lord’s visit to the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. (Acts 15:14). 
2. Today we have been reminded again that Jesus Christ, the grace of God that brings salvation, has appeared and will come again to judge the rebels left on earth. Today we have been reminded again of our blessed hope-the return of Christ for His church. This grace and this hope, by God’s power and strength, demands a response. Are we ready for His return? Do we look forward to the return of Christ? Are we abiding in Jesus so that when He shall appear, we shall not be ashamed at His coming?  1John 2:28  “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” May reservations ka pa ba? Ibalato mo lahat kay Jesus ang galit, inis, sama ng loob, kasalanan, karamdaman, sigalot sa buhay upang alin man ang mauna, rapture o hukay, walang problema dahil “when we are always focused on Jesus by being all for Jesus, Jesus has given us that assurance that He will never leave us nor forsake us and His promise shall never pass away. Surrrender your all to Jesus and Jesus will be your all. You cannot beat that kind of life-sharing.”

30 August 2020