The Rapture and The 1000 Year Reign | Frank Brancato

I'm just going to say at the very outset of this lesson, I

have an enormous task today. This is a very difficult

subject, and it's a very big subject, as you can see on the

screen. It is entitled The Rapture and

the Thousand Year Reign. And I'm just going to tell you

the reason for the lesson. We're going to deviate from our

series on the great Sermon on the Mount just for one sermon.

So I can preach this very important subject.

And the reason that I'm going to preach this lesson is because in

all of the Bible discussions that I have with people, I would

say in all the things that come up, this is probably the hottest

topic. And that is people talking about

the second coming of Christ but misunderstanding what the Bible

teaches and talking about the concept of the rapture, the

seven years of tribulation, and the thousand year reign.

So what I'm going to ask you to do is this, do me a favor, stay

tuned in, and I'm going to do my part to be very methodical and

systematic as we go through this.

And I'm going to do my very best.

Also not to talk too long, but I want to talk on this very, very

important subject. I will say one more thing by way

of introduction. Every time there is political

unrest in our country or in the world, people talk about the

rapture and they talk about things like like I heard the

other day, somebody says, well, the rapture's coming.

Look what's happening in the world today.

I want to talk about what the Bible teaches.

First of all, I want to talk about the second coming before I

say anything. We'll say a whole lot later on

this, but I want to say this going before we go any further.

This is very important to the second coming of Christ is

everything to us. In fact, the entire Bible

revolves around Jesus. You've heard me say this many

times. From the book of Genesis to the

book of Malachi, the message is Jesus is coming.

From the book of Matthew to the book of Acts, the message is

Jesus is here. And from the book of Acts to the

Book of Revelation, the message is he's coming again.

I'm so thankful and I'm so grateful that Jesus Christ is

coming back. And this world is not the end,

OK? But when people try to

understand the second coming of Christ, many times people in

misunderstanding the Book of Revelation.

And may I just say this too? And I'm not saying this

sarcastically, I'm saying this really as a truism.

There's so many people that don't know know anything at all

about the Bible or about Jesus, but they think they know

everything about Revelation and they know everything about the

end of time. They got that dialed in, OK.

And many people, well meaning people, in their quest to

understand the figures and the symbols in the Book of

Revelation, have put together a doctrine regarding the second

coming of Christ that is not scriptural and really is quite

blasphemous. And that is the doctrine of

premillennialism. Now I'm going to get to what

that great big word means. It's a very big word.

We'll get to that in just a moment.

But you may have seen, by the way, when it comes to the

rapture or the concept of the rapture, we'll talk about what

that means too. By the way, if you Google

Rapture, it has a number of definitions, one of which is

when Jesus comes back to take his people to heaven, is that

going to happen? Jesus Yes, and the second coming

is going to take his people to heaven.

But the doctrine of the rapture is a misunderstanding about the

second coming of Christ. OK, have you ever seen that

bumper sticker that says this warning, in case of the rapture,

this car will be unoccupied? And the concept or the meaning

is this in that bumper sticker, it means this, that when Jesus

comes back in the rapture, the car is going to still be

continuing down the road and some people are going to be left

behind. That is part of the doctrine of

the rapture, which is false. It is one of the doctrines of

premillennialism. In fact, there are five, and

we're only going to notice 2 today, but I'll just put them on

the screen. The five doctrines of

premillennialism are these #1 prophecy unfulfilled.

And what that means is that means that the prophecies

concerning Jesus Christ, his reign, and the Kingdom have yet

to be fulfilled. That is a doctrine of

premillennialism that is false #2 here's another one.

The rejection of the Messiah by the Jews #3 imperfection of the

church. These are three of the five.

But I'm just going to focus on the last two because that's our

title. And that's our sermon today.

And that is this, that only the Saints will be raised in the

rapture. And #2 or finally, the earthly

reign of Christ will happen at that point in time, after the

seven years of tribulation, and he will reign on the earth in an

earthly Kingdom. All right, I'm going to ask 4

questions. I'm going to put these four

questions on the screen, and we will answer these questions in

our conclusion. Number one, will there be a

rapture #2 will there be 7 years of tribulation after the rapture

#3 will Jesus establish an earthly Kingdom after the seven

years of tribulation? And #4 will Jesus reign on earth

for a literal 1000 years in an earthly Kingdom?

We'll talk about those things in conclusion, Just stay with me as

we systematically build the case for the Word of God.

OK? Before we go into this any

further, though, premillennialist misunderstand

the promise of David's throne. That's number one, the promise

of David's throne. Premillennialists believe and

hold to the fact that David's throne is a literal throne that

will be established on the earth someday and it will last

forever. But the scriptures teach

otherwise. What was the promise regarding

the throne? A number of scriptures.

Now stay with me on this. We first go to the Old

Testament, Second Samuel, Chapter 7, beginning in verse

2 Samuel 7 · chapter mention

12. When your days are fulfilled and

you rest with your Father's, I will set up your seed after you

and will come from your body, and I will establish His

Kingdom. He shall build a house for my

name, and I will establish the throne of His Kingdom forever.

All right, who's going to be the one that's first of all going to

be on that throne that was promised and prophesied so long

ago? We go to the book of Isaiah

Isaiah 9 · chapter mention

Chapter 9, beginning in verse 6. For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his

shoulder, and his name will be called.

Wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of

Peace, of the increase of his government and peace, there will

be no end upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom, to

order it and establish it with judgment and justice.

From the time forward, even forever, the zeal of the Lord of

hosts will perform this. Let's go to the New Testament by

the way. First of all, I think everybody

in this room knows exactly who that is unto us.

A son is given, a child is born. Who's that?

That's Jesus. We know that Jesus is going to

be the one that's going to sit on that throne.

Now we're going to get to what the throne is.

We're going to get to whether it's literal or figurative, but

we know that Jesus is the one to sit on that throne.

Let's go to the New Testament. Let's go to the Gospel according

to Luke chapter 1, beginning in verse 32.

Luke 1 · chapter mention

He will be great and he will be called the Son of the highest,

and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

and he will reign over the House of Jacob Forever, and of His

Kingdom there will be no end. OK, Jesus was to be on the

throne. We have concerning the reign of

Christ the following in Hebrews chapter 1, beginning in verse 3

Hebrews 1 · chapter mention

and also in verse eight. Who being in the brightness of

his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all

things by the word of his power, when he had by Himself purged

our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.

But to the Son he says, your throne, O God, is forever and

ever. A scepter of righteousness is

the scepter of your Kingdom. Let's notice, please, what

happened and when did Jesus sit on the throne?

Notice upholding all things when he had Himself purged our sins.

When was that? When Jesus was crucified, when

he was buried, when he rose from the dead, when he ascended to

his Father, What happened? He sat down on that throne that

we're talking about, and that is forever and ever.

What does forever and ever mean? Again?

We've got all kinds of figurative language here.

Forever and ever means it's not limited by space and time.

In other words, it's eternal. It's an eternal Kingdom.

Let's go to the book of Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

It's the first time the gospel was preached with the

opportunity to respond in Acts chapter 2 on the day of

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Pentecost. Therefore, being a prophet, and

knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit

of His body according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ

to sit on his throne. He, for seeing this, spoke

concerning the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not

left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

This Jesus God is raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having

received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he

poured out this which you now see and hear.

OK, notice please. He was resurrected to sit on

that throne. Where's the throne on the earth?

It's at the right hand of God. Jesus is sitting on the throne

of David now. He's reigning now over the

Kingdom and that rain or that place or that place where he's

sitting, that throne is to the right hand of God.

OK, there's more. Let's go to the Book of

Revelation chapter 3 and verse 21.

Revelation 3 · chapter mention

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my

throne, as I also overcame and passed tense and sat down with

my father on his throne. OK, there's many prophecies

which the premillennialist claim have yet to be fulfilled.

And me, I just suggest this to people misunderstand the Book of

Revelation because they misunderstand the Old Testament.

Many people look to the Book of Revelation as things that all

the things that are found therein with all of its symbols

and all of its wording and phraseology is talking about

something that is going to happen in the future instead of

something that has already happened or is currently in

process. One of which is regarding the

Kingdom of Jesus Christ. In John chapter 18 and verse 36,

John 18 · chapter mention

Jesus answered My Kingdom is not of this world.

If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight

so that I should not be delivered to the Jews.

But now My Kingdom is not from here.

In other words, His Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom.

I'm going to give you another Bible passage though.

I love this. I preached on this recently in

our series on the Sermon on the Mount, Luke 17.

I noticed this passage with you verses 20 and 21.

Now when he was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of

God would come, he answered them and said, the Kingdom of God is

does not come with observation, nor will they say see here or

see. Therefore indeed the Kingdom of

God is within you. You know what that means?

There's not going to be a future Kingdom.

He is already reigning. It's not going to be on the

earth after Jesus comes back. He's reigning now.

And where's the Kingdom? It's within you.

What's the Kingdom? The Kingdom is the church.

Who are the church? Baptized believers, faithful

members of the body of Christ, Christians, those that are doing

their best to be Christ like those that are true learners and

followers of Jesus, disciples of Jesus, obeying with the word of

God says you throw all that in. We're talking about Christians

are in the Kingdom. Therefore Jesus is reigning now

on his throne at the right hand of God.

And guess what? He's reigning.

If you are the Kingdom, he's reigning in you.

He's reigning in your heart. It is a spiritual Kingdom.

It is not a earthly Kingdom. Got to say this though.

Got to say this. The Kingdom is a heavenly

Kingdom, and the church is the earthly institution of the

heavenly Kingdom. And he's raining now.

That's beautiful. So as some would say, well,

Jesus failed to set up the Kingdom.

Well, let's notice 10 things. I got to be fast about this. 10

things #1 Daniel prophesied that it would come in the days of the

Roman Empire. Daniel chapter 2 and verse 44.

Daniel 2 · chapter mention

It did check. Got that one done.

What about this? John the Baptist preached that

it was at hand, meaning I like my, my, my father-in-law used to

say it was so close. You can see it, you can taste

it, you can touch it. It was right there.

That's how Daryl used to put it. In other words, when something

is at hand, it's near. It's right here.

John the Baptizer, the cousin of Jesus, the forerunner of Jesus,

said it was near. Oh, but there's more #3 Jesus

comes on the scene and he preached that the Kingdom of

heaven was also near or hand. Matthew 4 and 17 #4 Jesus told

his disciples to preach the very same thing.

The Kingdom was at hand. Matthew 10 and verse 7 #5 Jesus

said that the Kingdom would come before some of those standing

around had not died. That sounds like something is

coming in the future. That sounds to me like something

was coming real soon while they were still alive.

And that's what Jesus said in Matthew 16 and 28 numbers Also,

in addition to that, it would come with power.

Mark Chapter 9 and verse #1 number six.

Mark 9 · chapter mention

Jesus said that power would come when the Holy Spirit came in

Acts chapter 1 and verse 8. The Kingdom came with power by

Acts 1 · chapter mention

the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2, which was in the lifetime of

Acts 2 · chapter mention

the disciples, just as Jesus said.

Next, Jesus said that the disciples would eat and drink at

His table in the Kingdom. Luke 22 and 30.

And they did, and we do too. Jesus did not fail to set up His

Kingdom. It's in existence today.

He is the king and He's reigning over His Kingdom, and the

Kingdom is the church. And finally, Christians,

Colossians 1 and 13 says we are translated into the Kingdom of

God's dear Son when we are baptized for the remission of

our sins. OK, now let's talk about the

doctrine of the rapture. Then you already know in advance

I believe in the resurrection. I believe in the same coming of

Christ. I long for the second coming of

Christ. In fact, the only reason that I

don't want Jesus to come back and the only reason that I don't

want him to come back right now, right this minute, now, there's

only one reason you all know it's coming, is to give people

time that are not ready. That's it.

Oh, but we longed for that day. Wonderful day.

What about the Rapture though? What's wrong with the doctrine

of the rapture? Let's talk about that.

The doctrine of the Rapture believes this, that only the

Saints are going to be raised in the rapture.

In other words, Jesus is going to come back and pluck the

Saints out of here, but only the Saints are going to be raised in

the rapture. Then the rapture is the time

when Jesus will come back to the earth and take the saved to

heaven with him. Then after that.

This is what's wrong with the doctrine of the rapture.

I'm going to prove this, I promise.

There's going to be a period of great tribulation for seven

years. After the seven years of

tribulation, this is the doctor of the rapture.

The belief is this, that after those seven years, Jesus is

going to come back to the earth and reign on the earthly throne

for a literal 1000 years. What have we already

established? He's reigning now.

He's on the throne. And by the way, I promise you

this, I'm going to tell you at the end of this lesson what 7

represents, what 1000 represents.

And I think it's going to make sense, I promise.

Or I'm going to try. Do my best.

OK? Here's the problem.

When you talk about only the Saints will be raised in the

rapture. Have you ever seen that video on

YouTube? There's a video on YouTube.

And by the way, I've said this so many times, Chris, and I

laugh about that, but stay off YouTube, man.

YouTube's killing me. They don't know anything about

the Bible, boy, they know about YouTube.

Dial in YouTube, right? I saw a video on YouTube and

this is what it was. It showed this an auditorium

full of people and then all of a sudden there was a great big

booming sound and I don't know half of them were blown out of

there. They disappeared and the rest

had to stay. That is the doctrine of the

rapture, that the save get blown out of here.

But then there's a seven-year period of tribulation where

everybody else has to stay and have a second chance.

And then when that's over with, Jesus will come back and reign

on an earthly throne for 1000 years.

All right, it's false to say that only the Saints will be

raised when Jesus comes back in the rapture.

That's false. And I'm going to give you a

Bible and I'm going to give you a Bible and I'm going to give

you Jesus. This is what Jesus said in John

chapter 52829 Do not marvel at this for the hour is coming in

which all I know I put it in all caps and underlined it but I

don't think I needed to do that did I?

What's all mean all? I don't think there's anybody

here that doesn't understand all, but there's more to the

verse to understand who's included in the all.

Do not marvel at this. The hours coming in which all

that are in the graves will hear His voice.

Those that have done good to the resurrection of life and those

that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation.

Who are the all? The All are the good and the

evil. In other words, that's everybody

will be resurrected in the resurrection, those that have

done good to the resurrection of life, those that have done evil

to the resurrection of condemnation.

Let me ask you, how many resurrections so far?

I'm going to get more Bible for you, but how many so far?

It's one in that hour. When that comes now, Acts 24 and

verse 15, I have hope in God, which they themselves do accept,

that there will be a resurrection of the dead.

Both of the just and the unjust. How many resurrections?

Singular. A resurrection, not plural.

OK, Plain teaching of Scripture here, all right, There's only

going to be 1 resurrection, both of the good and the bad.

So what about this? What about the period of the

seven years of tribulation? And what about the literal 1000

year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth?

OK, premillennialism teaches that Christ will come back to

the earth after the period of tribulation and reign on earth,

and when he does this is the belief.

Here it is. He will do it in Jerusalem with

all consent of the Jews. He will do this at a time when

all kingdoms of the earth will be brought into subjection for

1000 years and those that had part in the rapture will be able

to join in and get special privileges and special

governorships and reign with Jesus Christ during that

thousand year period. That is the doctrine of the

rapture. Where do they get that teaching?

This is where I'm going to ask you really stay with me.

Where do they get the teaching? They get that idea from a

misunderstanding of this verse right here.

Revelation 20 beginning in verse 5.

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the 1000 years

were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection

over such the second death has no power, but there shall be

priest of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him 1000 years.

So the entire doctrine of the rapture, the seven years of

tribulation, the thousand year literal reign of Christ on the

earth is a misunderstanding of this passage.

And I know you can look in there all manner of commentaries and

all manner of things that you can read about and there's all

different theories. I'm going to present it to you

in the simplest way that I believe makes the most sense and

not give you all the other interpretations.

I'm just going to tell you what I believe makes the most sense.

OK, first of all, let's talk about the first resurrection,

OK? I love what Emzer said.

He said when he talks about the first resurrection, he's not

referring to what he's already said.

He's referring to what he's about to say.

In other words, let me read it like this because this is what

people normally do. But the rest of the dead didn't

live again until the 1000 years. We're finished.

This is the first resurrection. That's how people usually read

that. Let's read it like this.

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the 1000 years

were finished. Period.

New subject. This is the first resurrection.

Then he says this blessed and holy is he who has part in the

first resurrection over such the second death has no power, but

they shall be priest of God and of Christ and shall reign with

them 1000 years. OK, let's notice, please.

Let's go to John Chapter 11 when Jesus was about to raise Lazarus

John 11 · chapter mention

from the dead. Remember that.

And Martha's talking to him. And Martha says, Master, if you

would have been here, everything would have been fine.

Jesus says this, I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in me, though he may die, yet shall he live, and

whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Do you believe this? He said I am the resurrection

and the life. Jesus Christ.

Please get this was the first one ever resurrected from the

dead, never to die again. Now there were others that were

resurrected from the dead, but you know what happened?

They had to die. Jesus was the first one ever

that was resurrected, never to die again.

And you know what? Then he says he who believes in

me, though he may die, yet shall he live.

Now notice and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

And I got to make a little side point here, please.

Sometimes people cherry pick scriptures and build an entire

foundation or an entire doctrine or an entire belief system when

it comes to their salvation. For example, one passage says

you got to believe all. That's all you got to do.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

That's it. That's the only one not

realizing the Bible also says you got to repent.

I tell you nay, but accept you repent, you will all likewise

perish. You also have to confess the

name of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

You also have to be baptized for the remission of your sins.

You got to do all of it and people do it like this.

They take the Bible, by the way, and they take the Bible and

pluck various things out and then draw in a conclusion or an

entire religious position and belief on cherry picking one or

two passages. Let's not do that.

Anybody here had a job? You've had a job.

If you've ever had a job, chances are you have had an

employee handbook. What if you went to your

employer and you said in your employee handbook, I'm just

going to look at number line number one.

I'm going to obey that one. Forget the rest.

I choose this one. You know what happened?

If you didn't obey the rest of the stuff, you get fired.

The Word of God is the employee handbook for the child of God.

So let's not cherry pick passages of Scripture.

I said all that to say this, do you see this right here?

You have to believe, Yes, that's true.

And having the belief to obey, that's what that means.

When you believe in Jesus, you obey Jesus.

And part of that's obeying the gospel.

But notice, after you believe, there's so much more you have to

do. What you've got to live.

You got to live it. You got to live it.

OK, back to the Book of Revelation chapter 20 verses

Revelation 20 · chapter mention

5:00 and 6:00. But the rest of the dead did not

live again until the 1000 years were finished period.

This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has

part in the first resurrection over such the second death has

no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and

shall reign with Him 1000 years. Notice first of all this if you

take part in the first resurrection, how do you do

that? First of all, we already said

it. Who's the 1st resurrected Jesus,

the first one resurrected never to die again.

That's the first resurrection. How do you have part in the

first resurrection when you're baptized for the remission of

your sins? Romans chapter 6 beginning in

Romans 6 · chapter mention

verse 3. Know ye not that so many of us

as were baptized in the Jesus Christ were baptized into his

death, therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death.

That like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of

the Father, Even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we've been planted together in the likeness of his

death, we should also be in the likeness of his resurrection.

That's how you take part in the first resurrection.

And guess what? The second death, that's the

death of the lake of fire has no power.

Wow, isn't that great? But then people get messed up

about this one. Let's look at that last phrase,

please. First of all, the word rain here

is not literal. This word went rain.

I'll say it again, is not literal.

The word rain here we know cannot be literal because

there's one throne, and Jesus is occupying that throne as our

King of Kings and Lord of Lords by himself.

That means that the word rain has to be figurative.

And if the word rain is figurative, then the 1000 here,

this number 1000 also has to be figurative.

Now what I'm going to do is I'm going to put Thayer's

explanation on the screen, and if it sounds a little confusing,

I wrote one run under it. Simple, Thayer says this way.

John transfers the word to denote the supreme moral

dignity, liberally, liberty, blessedness, which is to be

enjoyed by Christ's redeemed ones.

OK, in other words, these are my words.

Under that reigning with Him means sharing and enjoying His

blessings. That's what that means.

If you take part in the first resurrection at baptism and you

live a faithful life, what have we already noticed?

You got to live, you got to believe, you got to do both.

You got to live it. And when you do, guess what?

That second death has no power. The death of the lake of fire

has no power. Isn't that great?

And when Jesus is reigning on that throne, which He is right

now, and we are alive as members of the body of Christ, guess

what? We are enjoying His blessings,

all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.

So the number don't get limited to the number.

The number is not literal in the Bible.

The Bible does not limit itself to mathematics.

These are symbols here. So all statements about a

resurrection that is to occur before the 2nd coming of Christ

must also be declared as figurative.

How do you know, by the way, if you should interpret a Bible

passage literally or figuratively?

It's very simple. This came up in a in a private

Bible study just the other day. When you interpret scripture,

the Bible must be interpreted literally.

Until a literal interpretation is impossible, then it must be

figurative. For example, in the Old

Testament talks about 300 foxes. There were literal foxes.

Then another man was called a fox.

Even a literal fox. It was it was a figurative

phrase recalling him a fox. So when something is impossible

to be interpreted literally, then it must be figurative.

That's how we know, all right? Nowhere in plain teaching of

Scripture does it ever say that Jesus Christ will ever set foot

on this earth ever again. In fact, the opposite is true.

Now let's talk about what I believe in, what we all believe

in, and that's the resurrection. First Thessalonians chapter 4

1 Thessalonians 4 · chapter mention

and verse 17. Then we who are alive and remain

shall be what? Caught up together with Him in

the clouds to meet the Lord? Where to meet the Lord in the

air. That sounds like the Lord's

coming back to the earth. Sounds to me.

When he comes back, we're going to meet Him in the air, because

that's what it says. We're going to meet Him in the

air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.

How about this second Peter chapter 3, beginning in verse

2 Peter 3 · chapter mention

10? But the day of the Lord will

come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens will pass

away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent

heat, Both the earth and the works that are in it will be

burned up. Therefore, since all these

things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to

be in all holy conduct and godliness, looking for and

hastening the coming of the day of God?

Because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on

fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat.

Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new

heavens and a new earth in which dwells righteousness.

First of all, let's notice what's going to happen to the

earth. Jesus will not be back on this

earth ever again. What's going to happen to it?

Notice, first of all, the heavens.

What's the heavens? I preached on this recently.

I'll be very brief. There are three heavens.

There is the aerial expanse of the sky.

That's where the rain is produced.

That's where the clouds are. You look up, that's it.

Above that is the Siberia or starry heavens.

That's where the planets are. And above that is the 3rd heaven

and that's where God is. What this is talking about is

Peter says the heavens, meaning the aerial expanse of the sky

and the stars and all that place it's going to what?

Pass away? What else?

The elements. What's that?

That's the elements that even made-up the universe.

What's going to happen to that? It's going to melt with fervent

heat. What about the earth?

The earth is going to be burned up and dissolved.

Gone, burned up and dissolved. Pass away, melt, burned up,

dissolved. But what?

Let's look at verse 13 though. What about this phrase here?

Nevertheless, we that's faithful Christians, according to his

promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which

righteousness dwells. OK, first of all, the word new

means uninhabited. It doesn't mean refurbished.

It doesn't mean restored. It doesn't mean redeemed.

It means something brand new that we have never been to ever

before. Where's that?

Jesus says 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 to prepare a place for you, I will

bring you into myself that where I am, where is he?

He's up there. There you may be also.

So that's what the word new means.

What about this place right here?

Now notice please, this is very important.

I'm wrapped. I'm getting close to being dumb,

but you got to stay with me. This place, when Jesus comes

back is going to be a place where righteousness dwells.

Very important, where righteousness dwells.

There's no wickedness there at all at all.

Yet premillennialism teaches that the wicked will remain

during the 1000 year reign. Notice also about all the people

that say, see, man, it's coming. Heard some kids say the same

thing the other day. Oh yeah, it's coming Signs.

Look what's going on, You know, it's going to thief, thief.

It's going to come as a thief in the night.

People are going to be saying peace and safety and then the

end. We can't see it because there

are no signs. It's going to be as a thief in

the night, and many people misunderstand Matthew 24 when

the destruction of Jerusalem and try to bind that to the end of

time, and that's when they get all out of whack.

That's happened a long time ago. It's going to be as a thief in

the night. Little side note here.

You know why? I believe that God is the only

one, and I believe that God is the only one.

I have a reason for believing that Jesus says the only one

that knows when the Father's coming, when the Father puts an

end to everything and sends Jesus back, the only one that

knows that is God. He said my Father only.

He said not even the angels in heaven, but my Father only.

Now the Bible doesn't say why God is the only one that knows

that. So take it for what it's worth.

This is me. I believe that perhaps, and it

makes sense, that the only reason that God is the only one

that knows when that'll be is because God hasn't decided when

that will be yet. Because God is still waiting for

people that are lost with good honest hearts to come to Jesus.

Maybe you know why. Going to throw some Bible on

that the long-suffering of God is salvation, not willing that

any should perish, but that what all should come to repentance.

So just maybe God hasn't determined that day yet and

therefore nobody else knows. And by the way, if you look at

Bible history, when God got a, when he got AI don't know when

he had enough, he had enough. When he had enough, he destroyed

it in the Old Testament. Guess what?

He doesn't have enough yet. He's still patient and loving

and waiting and long-suffering because there's still people

with good, honest hearts that are left.

Don't ever think that there's not people any good anymore.

That's not true. Don't think it's more wicked

than it's ever been. That is not true.

Genesis 6 was as bad as it'll ever get.

The thoughts of man's heart were ever evil continually.

That was Genesis 6. So what did God do?

He destroyed the world with the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah.

They couldn't even find 10 righteous.

God destroyed it. Guess what?

God hasn't destroyed anything here.

You know why? They're still good and they're

still good and honest hearts that want the gospel.

But when it comes and God puts an end to it, it will be as a

thief in the night. There's not going to be

righteous people disappearing in the in the seven-year in the

rapture and then, you know, for seven years of tribulation and

then come back and reign on the earth.

All right, let's look at verse 14.

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be

diligent to be found by him in peace without spot and

blameless. OK, if there's going to be a

period of tribulation which some people believe for a second

chance, why in this passage does it say make sure that we live

our life without spot and blameless?

Why would it matter if we're going to get another shot during

the period of tribulation? There is no other shot.

There is no second chance. You know what I love?

I'm just going to add this. I love this.

While you're living, you can change your life an A number

amount of times. You can fix it, you can change

it, you can repent, you can get up from your mistakes, and you

can get it right while you're still living.

When you're gone, it's too late and there is no second chance.

That's why the whole thing is be diligent that we live our life

without spot and blameless. And by the way, blameless

doesn't mean I've never done anything wrong.

Blameless means no sustainable charge.

In other words, if you've got a sustainable charge against you

from God, get rid of it, ask for forgiveness and make it right.

That's it. All right, let's look at verse

16, say Peter 316, as also in all of your epistles, speaking

in them of these things in which are some things hard to

understand, which untaught and unstable twist to their own

destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

You know what this verse means? This verse is a warning.

People are going to twist the Scriptures with reference to the

second Coming, just like they do with reference to the other

Scriptures. That's what the Bible says, and

that happens even today. First Corinthians chapter 1523

and 24. What's going to happen at the

resurrection? But each one in his own order.

Christ the first fruits afterward, those that are Christ

at his coming. You know this is beautiful when

I said that Jesus Christ was the first one to be resurrected or

raised from the dead, never to die again.

That's why he is the first fruits of them that slept.

But guess what, in the resurrection afterward, those

that are Christ, those that are his at his coming.

When Jesus comes back, guess what, We too will be raised,

never to die again. Then comes the end, when He

delivers the Kingdom to the. Kingdom to God the Father when

he puts on an end to all rule and all authority and all power.

No rapture, no tribulation. OK, what comes next?

Paul? Notice the end.

What's the end mean? We know what all means, right?

Simple. Don't let somebody explain that

away. End is end, then comes the end,

and what's going to happen? He's going to deliver to God the

Father, the Kingdom. Not going to be a rain on the

earth after that. When he comes back, it'll be at

the end and he'll give the rain back over to God and he'll step

down from his rain. OK, when's that going to happen?

And we're almost finished. It's going to happen when death

is destroyed. King James or Death is

conquered. New King James, First

Corinthians 1554 and 55 S When this corruptible has put on

incorruption and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall

be brought to pass the same that is written.

Death is swallowed up in victory.

Oh Death, where's your sting? Oh Hades, where is your victory?

The Kingdom of of Jesus Christ will be delivered back to God.

He'll put down all rule and all authority, and it'll happen at

the same time time that death is destroyed.

You know when that is. We already read it at the end.

And then nothing. And Peter says what's going to

happen to the earth? Nothing is gone, all right?

The last thing that's going to ever happen on the earth is the

resurrection. And Jesus will not set foot on

this earth ever again. Those that have done good to the

resurrection of life, those that have done evil to the

resurrection of damnation. One final more encourage, one

final encouraging passage. What about those that have died

in Christ and those that are still remaining and still

living? What if the Lord came back right

now? The Bible says that those that

have died in Christ will be raised first, then the living

Saints, which would be all of us if the Lord came back right this

minute and we would be changed and then we would ever go be

with the Lord. So those that have died in

Christ, don't think for a minute they're going to miss out.

They're not going to miss out on anything.

They'll be raised before living Saints or change.

So in conclusion, I said we're going to notice these four

questions. Here they are.

Will there be a rapture? That is, will there be something

that happens where only the saved are plucked out of here

and other people stay behind? Answer to that, No.

Number 2. Will there be a seven years of

tribulation after the rapture? No.

So what? Well, let me let me answer all

of them, then I'm back up. Will Jesus then establish an

earthly Kingdom after the seven years of tribulation?

No. And will will he reign a literal

1000 years on the earth? The answer is no.

OK, So what is the seven years of tribulation?

What is tribulation to us today? Tribulation, First of all, the

word 7 is a number of completeness.

It is not a literal number. That's number one.

The period of tribulation is the period of your life when Jesus

in the seven churches of Asia to Smyrna, the persecuted church.

He said you're going to have tribulation as a long time ago.

How long? 10 days.

Literal 10 days. No.

Another figure, Another symbol of what, 1 short lifetime?

You're going to have tribulation. 10 days.

But be faithful and I'll death and I'll give you a crown of

life. The period of tribulation is

right now, not after Jesus comes back.

It's right now. And it also existed all through

the Kingdom, going all the way back to Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

It is all through the New Testament.

It's the period that you're going through in your life while

you're living. That's the period of

tribulation. All right, what about this then?

What about the thousand year reign Thousand?

As I said, the word rain is figurative.

So the word, the number 1000 is also figurative.

It is a number of completeness. It is describing the period of

time while Jesus is reigning. So when is Jesus reigning?

Right now. So when's the 1000 years?

Right now. It's right now.

Not literal, but figurative. I don't know about you.

I don't want all that stuff that's being taught.

I want to go to heaven. I want to be in the Kingdom now

because I want to go to heaven. And when Jesus comes back and

says he will do it at the end, He will deliver the Kingdom back

over to His Father. That's what I want to do.

So how do you get in the Kingdom as we offer the invitation?

How do you get in the Kingdom? Very simple.

Here's the invitation. You got to hear the word of God.

Romans 10/17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the

word of God. After you hear the word of God,

you got a choice to make. Hebrews 11 and six says you got

to believe with all your heart. Without faith it's 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.

Then what? I got to repent.

I got to repent of my sins. I got to change my life.

Acts 17 and 3rd. And truly these times of

ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere

to repent. What else am I do I need to do?

I need to confess the greatest thing I will ever say and

confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Acts 837 Then Philip said if you believe with all your heart you

may. And he answered and said, I

believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Upon taking those steps of obedience we're now a fit

candidate to go to the point of salvation and that is baptism.

Remember I said that's how you take part, the first

resurrection. Here it is.

He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does

not believe will be condemned. If you've never taken those

steps of obedience, we would love to assist you in that

today. Just step out in obedience.

We'll take. We'll take care of that today.