Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Not Left Behind (Part 2)

April 14, 2026 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress

#WordofGod #Prophecy #Future #Revelation #Christ #Resurrection #Belief #Rapture #EndTimes #Eschatology

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Not Left Behind (Part 2) | April 14, 2026

...
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Male announcer: join us on the "pathway to victory" cruise to
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Alaska, june 13 through 20, 2026.
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Jeffress: let me paint a picture for you.
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You're standing on the deck of a beautiful cruise ship, coffee in
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Hand, watching a glacier calve into the pristine waters while
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Bald eagles circle overhead.
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That's going to be us this coming june.
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You've got to see alaska with your own eyes to believe it.
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Announcer: seven days of pure luxury where every meal is
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Prepared for you.
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The world-class service means you never have to think about
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The details.
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Instead, you can focus on casual conversations with like-minded
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Christians, laughing, telling stories, while surrounded by
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God's breathtaking creation.
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Jeffress: this is purposeful travel at its finest, refreshing
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Your soul in god's stunning cathedral of natural wonders.
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Announcer: call...
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Or visit ptv.org.
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♪♪♪
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Announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
00:01:08.992 --> 00:01:11.561
With dr. robert jeffress.
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Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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Again to "pathway to victory."
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Christians are observing the violence and moral decay in our
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World and wondering could the end be near?
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Well, i don't know for sure what tomorrow will bring, but here's
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What i do know, beyond a shadow of a doubt.
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Our prophetic future is playing out before our very eyes and we
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Need to be ready at any moment for jesus to return and gather
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His church.
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My message is titled, "not left behind," on today's edition of
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"pathway to victory."
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♪♪♪
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♪ hear the heart of heaven beating ♪
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♪ jesus saves jesus saves ♪
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♪ and the hush of mercy breathing, ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves ♪
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♪ hear the host of angels sing ♪
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♪ "glory to the newborn king." ♪
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♪ and astounding joy repeating, ♪
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♪ jesus saves. ♪
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♪ he will live, our sorrow sharing ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves. ♪
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♪ he will die our burden bearing, ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves. ♪
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♪ it is done, will shout the cross ♪
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♪ christ has paid redemption's cost. ♪
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♪ while the empty tomb's declaring, ♪
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♪ jesus saves. ♪
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♪ freedom's calling, chains are falling. ♪
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♪ hope is dawning, bright and true. ♪
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♪ day is breaking, night is waning. ♪
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♪ god is making all things new. ♪
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♪ jesus saves. ♪
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♪ jesus saves. ♪
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♪ oh to grace, how great a debtor, ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves. ♪
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♪ all the saints who shout together, ♪
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♪ jesus saves, jesus saves. ♪
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♪ rising up, so vast and strong, lifting up ♪
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♪ salvation's song. ♪
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♪ the redeemed will sing forever, ♪
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♪ jesus saves, ♪
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♪ jesus saves. ♪
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♪ jesus saves. ♪♪
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♪ jesus saves. ♪♪
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♪ jesus saves. ♪♪
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[congregation applauding]
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Male announcer: wars, natural disasters, global instability.
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Many people look at the headlines and wonder if we're
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Living in the end-times.
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In his brand new book, "ask dr. jeffress about the end times,"
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Dr. robert jeffress provides clear, biblical answers to the
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20 questions people ask most about the future.
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Request "ask dr. jeffress about the end times" when you
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♪♪♪
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Jeffress: you know, just because two things are similar does not
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Mean they're the same thing.
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Dr. riri, our friend and member here at first baptist church,
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Makes that great point when he says that because things are
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Similar doesn't mean they're the same.
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For example, my car has a motor.
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Our washing machine has a motor in it.
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Our garage door opener has a motor in it.
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But even though all three of those item have motors in them,
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They're not the same thing, are they?
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They're different.
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Just because two things are similar, doesn't mean they're
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The same.
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Yes, there are some similarities between the rapture and the
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Second coming.
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And one of the similarities is they both involve the appearance
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Of the lord, but that doesn't mean they're the same thing.
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Think about that word, "coming."
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Doctor riri uses this illustration.
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Suppose some grandparents are talking to their friends and
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They're so excited and they say, "we're so excited because our
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Grandchildren are coming for a visit next week."
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And then a few sentences later, they say, "we're really thrilled
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That our grandchildren are coming for our golden
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Wedding anniversary."
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Now, you could draw one of two conclusions from that comment--
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Those comments.
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You can conclude that the children are coming next week to
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Celebrate the golden wedding anniversary and therefore the
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Anniversary must be next week, that those grandparents are
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Talking about the same event.
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Or they could be saying, "we're really excited our grandkids are
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Coming next week and we're also excited that they're coming at a
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Later event for our golden wedding anniversary."
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Just because two things are similar, doesn't mean they're
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The same.
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Look, the rapture and the second coming are similar.
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But when we get to the second coming, we're gonna talk about
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Some vast differences between the rapture and the
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Second coming.
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Let me just point out one obvious one right now.
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Look at verse 17 of 1 thessalonians 4: "then we who
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Are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
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The clouds to meet the lord in the air."
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Where does christ descend to at the rapture?
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He descends in the air.
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We go up to meet him, not on earth, but in the air.
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But at the second coming, when the lord appears, he doesn't
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Just appear in the air.
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He actually comes to earth.
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Zechariah 14, verse 4 says: "on that day, his," jesus's, "feet
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Will stand on the mount of olives which is in front of
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Jerusalem on the east."
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These are two different events.
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The rapture begins with, number one, the descent of christ.
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Secondly, the resurrection of the dead in christ is the second
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Component of the rapture.
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Look at verse 16: "for the lord himself will descend from heaven
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With a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the
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Trumpet of god, and the dead in christ shall rise first."
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Now, who are the dead in christ?
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He's talking here about the bodies of christians who
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Have died.
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When the lord descends, the first people who will be raised
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Will be those who have died in christ jesus.
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Exactly who are those people?
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Now, some people believe it is all christians, all believers,
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From all ages: adam and eve and moses and david, paul, john the
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Baptist, perhaps your grandparents who died last year,
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All the dead in christ will rise at that time and receive their
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New bodies.
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But i believe it's not all believers.
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I think it's a particular group of believers, those who were a
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Part of the church of jesus christ.
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I think the rapture is reserved for the church.
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Remember when unbelievers in the old testament died, their
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Spirits immediately went to be with christ, just like our
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Spirits do.
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But i don't believe that the old testament saints or any other
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Person other than the church is gonna receive their new body.
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It's the old testament saints that will receive their new
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Bodies as we'll see at the second coming of christ
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7 years later.
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The rapture, i believe, is reserved for the church age.
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The bible says on that day,
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The dead in christ will rise first and then we who are
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Alive and remain shall be caught up together to meet them in
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The air.
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And thus, we shall always be with the lord.
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That's the great hope.
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Whatever separation you're experiencing right now, i'm
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Looking out over the congregation.
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I can see some of you who've gone through tremendous
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Heartache in losing that husband, that wife, that child.
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Whatever sadness you feel right now is only temporary.
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There is a day coming when god shouts out, "rise," and the dead
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In christ will rise first.
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That's the promise of every believer.
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Aren't you looking forward to that day?
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That's the hope that we have.
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Now, it doesn't stop there.
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Doesn't stop with just a bunch of corpses being raised.
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Verse 3 says it will be followed by the removal of all
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Living christians.
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After the dead in christ rise first, and look at what it says
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In verse 17: "then we who are alive and remain shall be caught
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Up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the
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Air, and thus, we shall always be with the lord."
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Whoever happens to be alive at that time, whatever christian
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Happens to be alive at that time, will not experience death,
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But he will be immediately caught up to meet the lord in
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The air, just like enoch and elijah in the old testament.
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They didn't experience death.
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They were caught up, transported to heaven immediately.
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There will be a group of christians who will never
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Experience death.
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They will be raised and translated into heaven.
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Now, one common objection to this idea of the rapture is
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People say, "well, you don't find the term in the bible.
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That's just something you made up.
00:11:27.777 --> 00:11:29.145
There's no word 'rapture' in the bible."
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Now, even if that were true, which it isn't.
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But even if it were true, it wouldn't matter because the fact
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Is there are lots of things we believe in and know are true,
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Even though the words aren't used in the bible.
00:11:41.724 --> 00:11:43.759
For example, did you know the word "trinity" is never used in
00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:46.562
The bible?
00:11:46.562 --> 00:11:47.897
Yeah, we believe in god the father, the son, and the holy
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Spirit, even though the word isn't used.
00:11:50.566 --> 00:11:53.235
But the fact is the word "rapture" is used and it's used
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Right here in verse 17: "we shall, those of us who are alive
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And remain, shall be caught up."
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We shall be caught up.
00:12:03.412 --> 00:12:05.281
Now, the latin word for caught up is rapturo.
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That's where we get our word "rapture" from, 'rapturo.'
00:12:09.618 --> 00:12:12.788
Rapturo, the latin word, is a translation of the original
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Greek word in 1 thessalonians 4:17 that paul used, and that's
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That word "harpazo."
00:12:21.030 --> 00:12:23.599
Harpazo means to catch up, to snatch away.
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That's what the word is.
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The word "rapture" is here, the latin translation is rapture.
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Our word is "caught up," but it's all the same concept.
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We shall be caught up to meet the lord in the air.
00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:39.949
This greek word, "harpazo," is used 13 times in the greek new
00:12:39.949 --> 00:12:44.620
Testament, and it refers to the snatching away of something.
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For example, in acts 8:39, remember the story of philip and
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The ethiopian eunuch i talked about a few months ago, when
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Philip baptized the ethiopian eunuch, it says in verse 39:
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Immediately after he baptized the eunuch, philip
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Was harpazo'ed.
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He was caught up miraculously and transported from gaza to
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Caesarea, or in 2 corinthians 12, paul talks about the
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Experience in which he was caught up into the third heaven
00:13:10.346 --> 00:13:13.883
To see things that he was commanded not to speak.
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That word is raptured, to catch away, to snatch away.
00:13:16.518 --> 00:13:20.556
Now, i want you to think about this for a moment.
00:13:20.556 --> 00:13:23.626
At the rapture of the church, if that happens, and i believe it
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Is, that means suddenly, in an instant, millions of christians
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Are going to disappear from the face of the earth.
00:13:31.467 --> 00:13:35.437
Now, you may ask yourself, "how in the world is that going to
00:13:35.437 --> 00:13:39.141
Be explained?
00:13:39.141 --> 00:13:40.476
And if such an event were to happen, wouldn't that mean
00:13:40.476 --> 00:13:42.444
Everybody who's left behind would suddenly become
00:13:42.444 --> 00:13:44.380
Christians?
00:13:44.380 --> 00:13:45.748
I mean, wouldn't that naturally happen?"
00:13:45.748 --> 00:13:47.750
Two responses to that.
00:13:47.750 --> 00:13:49.885
First of all, when the rapture occurs, those who are left
00:13:49.885 --> 00:13:53.856
Behind are not going to recognize that it was only
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Christians who were taken up.
00:13:56.825 --> 00:13:59.528
You see, you and i, from a christian perspective, we see
00:13:59.528 --> 00:14:02.865
There are only two categories of people: the saved and the lost.
00:14:02.865 --> 00:14:06.769
But unbelievers don't see it that way.
00:14:06.769 --> 00:14:09.171
And so they're not going to recognize that those who were
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Taken away were only christians.
00:14:12.308 --> 00:14:14.209
And one reason they're not gonna see that is churches are gonna
00:14:14.209 --> 00:14:18.147
Continue to operate after the rapture.
00:14:18.147 --> 00:14:21.517
After all true christians are taken away, churches will
00:14:21.517 --> 00:14:26.889
Continue to operate.
00:14:26.889 --> 00:14:28.624
First methodist will operate.
00:14:28.624 --> 00:14:32.728
First presbyterian will operate.
00:14:32.728 --> 00:14:36.432
Watermark will continue to operate, and first baptist
00:14:36.432 --> 00:14:41.737
Dallas will continue to operate.
00:14:41.737 --> 00:14:43.939
Do you know that?
00:14:43.939 --> 00:14:46.442
The reason i say that is in every church, don't matter who--
00:14:46.442 --> 00:14:49.144
What church it is, there are both christians and
00:14:49.144 --> 00:14:51.714
Non-christians who worship, side by side.
00:14:51.714 --> 00:14:53.983
Jesus called it the wheat and the tares.
00:14:53.983 --> 00:14:56.518
Not everybody who comes to church is a christian.
00:14:56.518 --> 00:15:00.656
Being in a church doesn't make you a christian, any more than
00:15:00.656 --> 00:15:03.192
Being at mcdonald's makes you a hamburger, okay?
00:15:03.192 --> 00:15:06.762
Just being a part of a church doesn't make you a christian.
00:15:06.762 --> 00:15:08.998
There are gonna be christians who are taken to heaven, all
00:15:08.998 --> 00:15:12.234
Christians, but there are gonna be non-christians left behind,
00:15:12.234 --> 00:15:14.903
Who will continue their church operation.
00:15:14.903 --> 00:15:16.572
And i think because of that, because churches certainly will
00:15:16.572 --> 00:15:18.807
Be smaller than they were, but many churches will continue
00:15:18.807 --> 00:15:22.411
To operate.
00:15:22.411 --> 00:15:23.779
And that's why people won't realize it's christians who
00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:25.881
Were taken.
00:15:25.881 --> 00:15:27.216
Secondly, and now this is conjecture, but i think it's
00:15:27.216 --> 00:15:29.184
Sanctified conjecture, if you will.
00:15:29.184 --> 00:15:32.087
I believe the rapture is going to coincide with some major
00:15:32.087 --> 00:15:36.291
Cataclysmic disaster in the world that is gonna be used to
00:15:36.291 --> 00:15:40.429
Explain the disappearance of millions of people.
00:15:40.429 --> 00:15:43.198
It may be some kind of nuclear holocaust, i don't know.
00:15:43.198 --> 00:15:45.567
But the reason i say that is because immediately after the
00:15:45.567 --> 00:15:49.371
Rapture, the antichrist rises to power.
00:15:49.371 --> 00:15:53.575
The world is going to be in such turmoil that everyone is going
00:15:53.575 --> 00:15:57.046
To be looking for a leader who can bring order out of chaos.
00:15:57.046 --> 00:16:00.616
And i believe whatever event it is that causes the antichrist to
00:16:00.616 --> 00:16:05.387
Accede to power is going to be the event that is also used to
00:16:05.387 --> 00:16:08.690
Explain the disappearance of millions of people.
00:16:08.690 --> 00:16:11.693
What's gonna happen at the rapture?
00:16:11.693 --> 00:16:13.062
The descent of christ, the resurrection of the dead in
00:16:13.062 --> 00:16:15.864
Christ, the removal of all living christians.
00:16:15.864 --> 00:16:18.400
Number four, the transformation of our bodies.
00:16:18.400 --> 00:16:21.870
You know, one question people have is, "okay, at the rapture,
00:16:21.870 --> 00:16:25.307
You have all of these corpses being raised in whatever
00:16:25.307 --> 00:16:28.210
Condition you can imagine, you know.
00:16:28.210 --> 00:16:31.046
How is that gonna look in eternity?
00:16:31.046 --> 00:16:33.615
That's kind of eerie to think about.
00:16:33.615 --> 00:16:35.417
And then you think about your own body, you think, am i gonna
00:16:35.417 --> 00:16:37.786
Have to lug this body around with me for eternity?
00:16:37.786 --> 00:16:40.055
I'm not sure it's gonna make it through next year.
00:16:40.055 --> 00:16:41.890
How is it gonna last through all eternity?"
00:16:41.890 --> 00:16:44.893
Well, paul answers both of those questions.
00:16:44.893 --> 00:16:46.829
Turn over to 1 corinthians 15, verse 50.
00:16:46.829 --> 00:16:49.798
I love this passage.
00:16:49.798 --> 00:16:51.133
I saw some brand-new things in it this
00:16:51.133 --> 00:16:52.668
Week, i wanna share with you.
00:16:52.668 --> 00:16:54.703
1 corinthians 15, beginning with verse 50, paul says: "now i say
00:16:54.703 --> 00:16:58.640
This, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
00:16:58.640 --> 00:17:02.711
Of god; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable."
00:17:02.711 --> 00:17:06.281
In other words, paul says, in answer to your question, how are
00:17:06.281 --> 00:17:09.284
These bodies ever gonna last through eternity, understand
00:17:09.284 --> 00:17:12.321
This: to inherit eternity, you need an
00:17:12.321 --> 00:17:15.557
Eternal body.
00:17:15.557 --> 00:17:17.092
You can't go into eternity with a temporal body.
00:17:17.092 --> 00:17:20.496
You need an eternal body in which to spend eternity.
00:17:20.496 --> 00:17:24.733
And that's why this perishable body that we have right now
00:17:24.733 --> 00:17:28.337
Cannot inherit the imperishable kingdom of god.
00:17:28.337 --> 00:17:31.707
You can't enter into heaven in your present bodies.
00:17:31.707 --> 00:17:35.310
There needs to be a transformation and he describes
00:17:35.310 --> 00:17:38.013
That transformation beginning in verse 51:
00:17:38.013 --> 00:17:40.149
"behold: i tell you a mystery."
00:17:40.149 --> 00:17:42.084
Here's another one.
00:17:42.084 --> 00:17:43.418
"behold, i tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep."
00:17:43.418 --> 00:17:47.256
Now what does he mean by that?
00:17:47.256 --> 00:17:49.191
He's saying, "we're all not going to die."
00:17:49.191 --> 00:17:51.793
There's a generation of christians who will not
00:17:51.793 --> 00:17:53.896
Experience death: those who are alive at the rapture.
00:17:53.896 --> 00:17:56.231
He said, "we're not all going to die, but we all shall
00:17:56.231 --> 00:18:00.469
Be changed."
00:18:00.469 --> 00:18:02.171
That is whether you're already dead when the rapture occurs,
00:18:02.171 --> 00:18:05.908
Your body is already dead, or whether you're alive, you still
00:18:05.908 --> 00:18:09.211
Have to be changed.
00:18:09.211 --> 00:18:10.679
You still have to have a brand-new body to inherit the
00:18:10.679 --> 00:18:14.783
Kingdom of god.
00:18:14.783 --> 00:18:16.118
And that's the fourth thing that's gonna happen at
00:18:16.118 --> 00:18:17.553
The rapture.
00:18:17.553 --> 00:18:18.887
At the rapture, both the dead in christ are being raised as well
00:18:18.887 --> 00:18:22.024
As those who are being snatched up to meet the lord in the
00:18:22.024 --> 00:18:24.326
Air, in an instant, they're going to be changed.
00:18:24.326 --> 00:18:26.762
He says that in verse 52: "in a moment, in the twinkling of an
00:18:26.762 --> 00:18:30.799
Eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the
00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:34.269
Dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall
00:18:34.269 --> 00:18:37.005
Be changed.
00:18:37.005 --> 00:18:38.340
For this perishable must be-- put on the imperishable, and
00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:41.977
This mortal must put on immortality."
00:18:41.977 --> 00:18:44.313
In a moment, there is going to be a dramatic costume change for
00:18:44.313 --> 00:18:47.883
All of us.
00:18:47.883 --> 00:18:50.152
This summer, amy and i saw the revival of the
00:18:50.152 --> 00:18:53.455
Musical "cinderella."
00:18:53.455 --> 00:18:55.190
And there's a scene in "cinderella" when cinderella is
00:18:55.190 --> 00:18:58.927
On stage in her dowdy peasant girl clothes and the fairy
00:18:58.927 --> 00:19:02.898
Godmother shows up and does her waving of the wand and suddenly,
00:19:02.898 --> 00:19:08.270
Right there on stage, cinderella's whole
00:19:08.270 --> 00:19:11.907
Appearance changes.
00:19:11.907 --> 00:19:13.275
All of a sudden, i mean, you just blink and those peasant
00:19:13.275 --> 00:19:16.445
Clothing are removed and she suddenly appears in this white
00:19:16.445 --> 00:19:20.315
Beautiful gown as a princess.
00:19:20.315 --> 00:19:23.185
Everybody's amazed.
00:19:23.185 --> 00:19:24.553
It's a trick.
00:19:24.553 --> 00:19:25.921
I still haven't figured out how they've done it.
00:19:25.921 --> 00:19:27.256
As soon as it happens, people turn around and say,
00:19:27.256 --> 00:19:28.724
"how did they do that?
00:19:28.724 --> 00:19:30.058
How did they do that?
00:19:30.058 --> 00:19:31.426
How did they do that?"
00:19:31.426 --> 00:19:32.761
Well, at the rapture of the church, we're gonna go
00:19:32.761 --> 00:19:34.129
Through that same kind of change.
00:19:34.129 --> 00:19:35.464
We're all gonna be ascending to heaven and suddenly our
00:19:35.464 --> 00:19:37.633
Appearance is gonna be changed.
00:19:37.633 --> 00:19:38.967
We'll be looking at each other.
00:19:38.967 --> 00:19:40.335
"how did that happen?
00:19:40.335 --> 00:19:41.670
How did that happen?"
00:19:41.670 --> 00:19:43.038
And notice how quickly it's going to happen.
00:19:43.038 --> 00:19:44.373
It says it's gonna happen in a moment, in the twinkling of
00:19:44.373 --> 00:19:47.576
An eye.
00:19:47.576 --> 00:19:48.910
Now, do you know what a twinkling of an eye is?
00:19:48.910 --> 00:19:51.179
It's not the blinking of an eye.
00:19:51.179 --> 00:19:53.915
It's the twinkling of an eye.
00:19:53.915 --> 00:19:56.018
I had to do a little research on that this week.
00:19:56.018 --> 00:19:58.086
The twinkling of an eye is a phrase that probably refers to
00:19:58.086 --> 00:20:02.324
The amount of time it takes from--for light to travel from
00:20:02.324 --> 00:20:06.328
Your iris to your retina in your eye.
00:20:06.328 --> 00:20:09.865
That's the twinkling of an eye.
00:20:09.865 --> 00:20:11.733
The amount of time it takes light to travel from the iris to
00:20:11.733 --> 00:20:15.537
The retina.
00:20:15.537 --> 00:20:16.872
Now, the best calculation i read this week of that amount of time
00:20:16.872 --> 00:20:21.310
Is 1/6 of a nanosecond.
00:20:21.310 --> 00:20:25.347
Now, do you know what a nanosecond is?
00:20:25.347 --> 00:20:27.883
I didn't, until i looked it up this week.
00:20:27.883 --> 00:20:30.552
A microsecond is one 1/1,000,000 of a second.
00:20:30.552 --> 00:20:35.957
Now, that's a microsecond.
00:20:35.957 --> 00:20:37.592
A nanosecond is one 1/1000 of a microsecond.
00:20:37.592 --> 00:20:43.365
So a nanosecond is one 1/1000 of one 1/1,000,000 of a second.
00:20:43.365 --> 00:20:50.172
And the time it takes light to go from your iris to a retina is
00:20:50.172 --> 00:20:53.842
1/6 of a nanosecond.
00:20:53.842 --> 00:20:57.245
Now, that's pretty fast.
00:20:57.245 --> 00:20:59.281
And paul says that is how fast your body is going to be changed
00:20:59.281 --> 00:21:04.119
And you're gonna receive that brand-new body from god, a body
00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:09.157
That is going to be made for eternity.
00:21:09.157 --> 00:21:12.260
We're gonna talk in the weeks ahead about the nature of that
00:21:12.260 --> 00:21:14.463
New body.
00:21:14.463 --> 00:21:15.831
When you look in scripture, the bible tells us that our body is
00:21:15.831 --> 00:21:18.166
Gonna be like that of the resurrected lord.
00:21:18.166 --> 00:21:20.402
It's gonna be similar to your present body.
00:21:20.402 --> 00:21:23.038
That is, it's gonna retain some of the same
00:21:23.038 --> 00:21:24.773
Physical characteristics.
00:21:24.773 --> 00:21:26.308
We're gonna know one another in heaven, but it's gonna be vastly
00:21:26.308 --> 00:21:29.478
Superior to anything we've ever known before.
00:21:29.478 --> 00:21:33.582
We had a listener to our "pathway to victory" program who
00:21:33.582 --> 00:21:36.918
Called in with this question.
00:21:36.918 --> 00:21:39.421
She said, "i have discovered that i have terminal cancer and
00:21:39.421 --> 00:21:44.226
I'm going to die soon.
00:21:44.226 --> 00:21:45.560
I'm a christian and i'm not afraid of death, but i realize
00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:48.830
My children cannot afford a funeral, so i've decided to
00:21:48.830 --> 00:21:51.900
Donate my body to medical science.
00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:55.137
But i've discovered that after they're through with my body,
00:21:55.137 --> 00:21:58.173
They're going to cremate my body.
00:21:58.173 --> 00:22:00.208
So i'm wondering, is it okay for a christian to be cremated?"
00:22:00.208 --> 00:22:05.147
And so i responded that historically, traditionally,
00:22:05.147 --> 00:22:08.683
Christians have buried their dead instead of burning their
00:22:08.683 --> 00:22:12.754
Dead like the pagans.
00:22:12.754 --> 00:22:14.489
It was a way of saying that they were looking forward to a future
00:22:14.489 --> 00:22:17.659
Resurrection of that body that had fallen asleep.
00:22:17.659 --> 00:22:20.095
But that's only tradition, that's not in the scripture.
00:22:20.095 --> 00:22:23.165
And the fact is, it really doesn't matter what happens to
00:22:23.165 --> 00:22:26.034
Your physical body when you die.
00:22:26.034 --> 00:22:27.736
It can be burned up in a car accident, it can explode in an
00:22:27.736 --> 00:22:30.572
Airplane accident, or it simply can waste away and become dust
00:22:30.572 --> 00:22:35.310
In the coffin.
00:22:35.310 --> 00:22:36.678
No, cremation just speeds up what is a natural process.
00:22:36.678 --> 00:22:39.881
It really doesn't matter because you were made from dust, your
00:22:39.881 --> 00:22:43.585
Physical body is gonna return to the dust.
00:22:43.585 --> 00:22:45.654
But when the time comes from the great resurrection, it doesn't
00:22:45.654 --> 00:22:48.890
Matter what condition your body in or what part of your body is
00:22:48.890 --> 00:22:52.561
In somebody else's body, it makes no difference at all,
00:22:52.561 --> 00:22:55.697
Because the fact is god is gonna raise that old dilapidated body
00:22:55.697 --> 00:23:00.602
Of yours and he's not going to rebuild it.
00:23:00.602 --> 00:23:02.938
He is completely going to recreate it.
00:23:02.938 --> 00:23:05.774
And the bible says you're gonna receive a new body from god that
00:23:05.774 --> 00:23:10.312
Is free from all of the sadness, a body that is free from all of
00:23:10.312 --> 00:23:14.516
The temptation to sin, a body that is free from all of the
00:23:14.516 --> 00:23:17.853
Emotional and physical suffering of this life.
00:23:17.853 --> 00:23:21.523
We shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of
00:23:21.523 --> 00:23:25.060
An eye.
00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:26.394
Doesn't that sound great to you?
00:23:26.394 --> 00:23:27.729
That's why in titus 2:13, paul calls the rapture of the church,
00:23:27.729 --> 00:23:31.633
"the blessed hope of the church."
00:23:31.633 --> 00:23:34.803
It is our hope.
00:23:34.803 --> 00:23:36.171
It's what we're looking forward to, the rapture of the church.
00:23:36.171 --> 00:23:39.975
♪♪♪
00:23:40.775 --> 00:23:45.013
Jeffress: for the follower of jesus christ, there's no need to
00:23:45.013 --> 00:23:48.116
Live in fear.
00:23:48.116 --> 00:23:49.484
Even though these are volatile times, our eternal future with
00:23:49.484 --> 00:23:52.888
God is secure.
00:23:52.888 --> 00:23:54.956
Now, before our time is up for today, let me say a word of
00:23:54.956 --> 00:23:57.926
Thanks to those of you who support "pathway to victory."
00:23:57.926 --> 00:24:01.196
God is using our partnership and ministry together to change
00:24:01.196 --> 00:24:05.500
Lives for his glory.
00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:07.402
You're the part of a growing movement all across america
00:24:07.402 --> 00:24:10.939
That's committed to this primary cause: piercing the darkness
00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:15.243
With the light of god's word.
00:24:15.243 --> 00:24:17.245
We're in a season of exponential growth right now at "pathway to
00:24:17.245 --> 00:24:20.715
Victory," and it's a step of faith we believe god is charging
00:24:20.715 --> 00:24:24.753
Us to take because of loyal friends like you who support us
00:24:24.753 --> 00:24:28.857
So faithfully.
00:24:28.857 --> 00:24:30.258
So, thank you for standing with us.
00:24:30.258 --> 00:24:33.128
Now, stay right there.
00:24:33.128 --> 00:24:34.663
I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
00:24:34.663 --> 00:24:38.166
Announcer: with everything happening in our world today.
00:24:39.668 --> 00:24:42.470
It's natural to wonder, are we living in the end-times?
00:24:42.470 --> 00:24:46.741
In his brand-new book "ask dr. jeffress about the end times,"
00:24:46.808 --> 00:24:50.912
Dr. robert jeffress answers the 20 questions people ask the
00:24:50.912 --> 00:24:54.316
Most about the future.
00:24:54.316 --> 00:24:55.717
Jeffress: in my 40+ years as a pastor, i've answered countless
00:24:55.717 --> 00:24:58.954
Questions about the end-times, and that's why i wrote this
00:24:58.954 --> 00:25:02.791
Book, to give you clear, biblical answers that will fill
00:25:02.791 --> 00:25:06.595
Your life with peace, joy, and excitement as we look forward to
00:25:06.595 --> 00:25:10.665
Our lord's return.
00:25:10.665 --> 00:25:12.300
Announcer: request your copy of "ask dr. jeffress about the
00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:15.337
End times" when you give a generous gift to support
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"pathway to victory" or when you become a pathway partner.
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And when your ministry gift is $125 or more,
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You'll also receive dr. jeffress's bestselling book
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"perfect ending," also the stunning full-color resource
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"the end times illustrated," and the complete "perfect ending"
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Teaching series on both cd and dvd.
00:25:36.591 --> 00:25:39.294
Jeffress: the end-time events are going to be
00:25:39.294 --> 00:25:40.996
Very frightening.
00:25:40.996 --> 00:25:42.364
It's going to consist of economic turmoil.
00:25:42.364 --> 00:25:44.366
There'll be wars, there'll be unprecedented persecution.
00:25:44.366 --> 00:25:48.336
But fortunately christians don't have to fear that period
00:25:48.336 --> 00:25:51.373
Of time.
00:25:51.373 --> 00:25:52.707
Announcer: your generous support of "pathway to victory" helps us
00:25:52.707 --> 00:25:55.310
Proclaim the hope of christ's return through television,
00:25:55.310 --> 00:25:58.680
Radio, and online streaming to people across the country and
00:25:58.680 --> 00:26:02.484
Around the world.
00:26:02.484 --> 00:26:03.818
Together we're piercing the darkness with the light of
00:26:03.818 --> 00:26:06.688
God's word.
00:26:06.688 --> 00:26:08.056
Jeffress: today, i presented what i believe should be the
00:26:11.159 --> 00:26:13.528
Convincing biblical evidence for the rapture of the church.
00:26:13.528 --> 00:26:17.599
But i realize there are still many christians who don't
00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:20.201
Believe in the rapture.
00:26:20.201 --> 00:26:21.703
They believe that we're destined to go through this horrible time
00:26:21.703 --> 00:26:24.906
Of suffering known as the great tribulation.
00:26:24.906 --> 00:26:28.176
So how do i know that we're not going to go through the
00:26:28.176 --> 00:26:31.646
Great tribulation?
00:26:31.646 --> 00:26:33.448
How can i be so certain of the rapture?
00:26:33.448 --> 00:26:36.484
Well, next time, i'm going to share with you four specific
00:26:36.484 --> 00:26:39.721
Reasons i'm absolutely convinced that we are not going to be left
00:26:39.721 --> 00:26:44.492
Behind for the great tribulation.
00:26:44.492 --> 00:26:47.128
Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
00:26:47.128 --> 00:26:49.731
Series, "perfect ending."
00:26:49.731 --> 00:26:53.001
Jeffress: the next event that is going to happen is the sudden
00:26:53.068 --> 00:26:56.037
Disappearance of millions of christians around the world.
00:26:56.037 --> 00:27:00.475
We've read that description of what the rapture will be like,
00:27:00.475 --> 00:27:05.480
And those famous "left behind" novels, but the rapture is not
00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:08.950
Just the product of tim lahaye's overactive imagination.
00:27:08.950 --> 00:27:12.687
It's something that is found in the bible.
00:27:12.687 --> 00:27:15.056
It is prophesied in the bible.
00:27:15.056 --> 00:27:17.358
Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
00:27:17.425 --> 00:27:20.662
"making sure you're not left behind,"
00:27:20.662 --> 00:27:23.298
Here on "pathway to victory."
00:27:23.298 --> 00:27:24.833
♪♪♪
00:27:24.833 --> 00:27:27.268

Robert Jeffress - Not Left Behind (Part 2)

April 14, 2026 | 27:29

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