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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Making Sure You're Not Left Behind (Part 1) | April 15, 2026
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- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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- 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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- For generations, people have used the bible to concoct some
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- Pretty wild ideas about how the world will end and what to
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- Expect in the next life.
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- So, what does the bible actually say about the end times?
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- Today, we're going to set the record straight about one of
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- The most hotly debated topics in bible prophecy,
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- The rapture of the church.
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- I'll explain what each of us needs to know about the rapture
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- And why christians need not fear the great tribulation.
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- My message is titled, "making sure you're not left behind,"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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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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- Give a generous ministry gift to pathway to victory.
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: some of you, like i, are old enough to remember
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- The name of jeane dixon.
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- Jeane dixon was a popular psychic in the 1950s and '60s
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- Who made a number of predictions, but her most famous
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- Prediction was made in 1956, when she prophesied
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- That a democrat would win the 1960 presidential election, and
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- That the winner of that election would be assassinated while he
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- Was in office.
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- Of course, we know, in 1960, john f. kennedy was elected
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- President of the united states, and tragically, three years
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- Later, he was assassinated right here on the streets of
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- Downtown dallas.
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- Well, immediately after the fulfillment of that prophecy,
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- Jeane dixon became a media sensation, everybody turned to
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- Her to try to find out what was going to happen in the future.
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- Now, what most people don't realize is jeane dixon also made
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- Some predictions that didn't come true.
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- For example, she professed that in 1958, a red china would
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- Plunge the world into the third world war.
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- She predicted that in 1970, fidel castro would be banished
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- From cuba.
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- But her most famous false prediction had to do with
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- The kennedys.
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- After president kennedy was assassinated, jeane dixon
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- Predicted that the widow, jackie kennedy, would never
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- Marry again.
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- The day after she made that prediction, jackie kennedy
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- Married aristotle onassis.
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- Somebody did a study one time of psychics and all the predictions
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- That they made just in one year, in 1975.
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- Out of all of the predictions that were made in one year,
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- 1975, only 6% of those predictions actually came
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- To pass.
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- The world is filled with false prophecies, but compare
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- Jeane dixon's record or any prophet's records to the bible.
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- Did you know the bible is filled with hundreds and hundreds and
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- Hundreds of prophecies of things that are gonna occur in
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- The future.
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- Many of those prophecies have already come to pass, for
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- Example, in relationship to the first coming of jesus christ.
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- There are more than 250 prophecies about the first
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- Coming of christ, prophecies about the manner of his birth,
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- The place of his birth, the type of life he would lead.
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- Some of those prophecies were made 1,000 years before christ
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- Was born, and out of those 250 prophecies, every one of them
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- Came to pass.
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- Amazingly, there are 250 prophecies about christ's first
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- Coming, there are over 1,800 prophecies in the bible about
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- His second coming.
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- You can't turn a page of the old or the new testament without a
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- Prediction about the return of jesus christ, and i believe
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- Every one of those predictions is going to come true, the bible
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- Has a perfect batting average when it comes to
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- Fulfilled prophecy.
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- We're in a series right now on bible prophecy called "perfect
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- Ending, why your eternal future matters today," and we're
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- Looking at what the bible says will be the events leading up to
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- The return of jesus christ, and what the world and eternity will
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- Be like after jesus christ.
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- What are we going to be doing in heaven, what is it going to be
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- Like when christ returns?
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- That's what we're looking at in this series.
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- Now, it's true, in matthew 24:36, jesus said we cannot know
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- When these things are going to happen.
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- Nobody should try to set dates, history is littered with the
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- Bodies of prophets who have tried to predict falsely when
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- Christ was coming back.
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- We cannot know when christ is coming back, but we can know the
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- Events that will lead up to christ's return.
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- God wants us to understand what those events are, we are to live
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- In anticipation of those events, and live our lives in
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- Anticipation of his return.
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- Remember what abraham lincoln said one time?
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- He said, "if you can tell me where we are and where we are
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- Going, i can better tell you what to do and how to do it."
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- Bible prophecy, what's going to happen to us in the future,
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- Ought to have a very real application in how we live our
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- Lives now.
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- I would like to just do a brief recap of where we are in
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- Our series.
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- Take your outlines out, and take your bibles and turn to 1
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- Thessalonians chapter 4, and let me remind you where we are in
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- Our series.
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- Last time, we began looking at the next event on god's
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- Prophetic timetable, it's called the rapture of the church, and
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- The definition of the rapture is there on your outline to
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- Fill in.
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- The rapture is the snatching away to heaven of all christians
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- Before the beginning of the tribulation.
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- The rapture, the snatching away of the church, before the great
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- Tribulation, the next event that is going to happen is the sudden
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- Disappearance of millions of christians around the world.
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- We've read that description of what the rapture will be like in
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- Those famous "left behind" novels that have sold hundreds
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- Of millions of copies around the world.
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- Interestingly, the "left behind" series is going to be placed
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- Into a motion picture, a reboot of a new motion picture coming
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- Out this spring, a $20 million hollywood epic, starring
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- Nicolas cage, if you can imagine such a thing, and that is coming
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- Out this spring, to dramatically show this event called
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- The rapture.
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- But the rapture is not just the product of tim lahaye's
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- Overactive imagination, it's something that is found in
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- The bible, it is professed in the bible.
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- Now, notice here on the chart, i show you where the rapture is in
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- Relationship to where we are right now.
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- Notice, right now we are living in this period of time called
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- The church age.
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- Why do we call it the church age?
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- You know, the bible says that beginning with abraham in about
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- 2000 b.c., god said to abraham, "i'm gonna make you a great
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- Nation," and abraham was the father of the israelites.
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- And god wanted a nation that would be his own people, a
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- Nation that would be a human object lesson of how god treated
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- Those who revered and reverenced him.
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- And so israel was god's people, they were god's object lesson of
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- What happens to a people who decide to follow after god.
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- But you know that when israel rejected christ and crucified
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- Christ, what does the bible said god did with israel?
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- Did he say, "i'm finished with you israel"?
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- No, he said, "i am temporarily going to turn away from you and
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- Give gentiles," non-jews, people like us, "the opportunity to
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- Be saved."
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- And that's the period of time we're living in right now, this
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- Period of time called the church age, when god has temporarily
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- Stopped his dealing with israel and has given gentiles the
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- Opportunity to be saved.
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- Paul wrote about that time in romans 11:25, he said, "for i do
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- Not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest
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- You be wise in your own estimation, that a partial
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- Hardening has happened to israel until the fulness of the
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- Gentiles has come in."
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- When the last gentile has been saved
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- Whom god has chosen to be
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- Saved, then god will turn his attention back to israel one
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- More time, he will give israel and the world one last chance to
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- Be saved.
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- When will that be?
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- It will be during the final seven years of earth's history,
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- It's a period we call the great tribulation.
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- There will be a world leader known as the antichrist, that's
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- The beginning of the tribulation.
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- But prior to that tribulation, there's an event that has to
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- Happen, and that's what we're talking about today, that is,
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- The rapture of the church, the taking away of the church.
- 00:09:41.937 --> 00:09:45.841
- The bible says before this tribulation begins, all
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- Christians who are alive will be snatched away to meet the lord
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- In the air.
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- People ask me, "pastor, what prophecies have to be fulfilled
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- Before the rapture can occur, how many prophecies have to be
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- Fulfilled before this rapture can happen?"
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- You know what the answer is?
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- Zero, zippo, nothing has to happen before the rapture
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- Can occur.
- 00:10:11.634 --> 00:10:12.968
- Now, there are some prophecies related to the second coming,
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- Seven years later, and we're seeing many of those come
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- To pass.
- 00:10:19.709 --> 00:10:21.043
- Last remaining piece before the second coming can occur is gonna
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- Be the rebuilding of the temple on that mount over there that is
- 00:10:24.413 --> 00:10:27.783
- Under arab control right now.
- 00:10:27.783 --> 00:10:29.752
- But that's the second coming, the rapture could happen at any
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- Moment, we say it is imminent.
- 00:10:33.522 --> 00:10:36.158
- The rapture could happen next year, next week, it could happen
- 00:10:36.158 --> 00:10:39.261
- Before we finish the service today, it is an imminent event.
- 00:10:39.261 --> 00:10:44.100
- It begins with the descent of christ, suddenly, without
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- Warning, the trumpet is going to sound, the archangel of god is
- 00:10:46.902 --> 00:10:50.172
- Gonna shout out, and the lord will descend from heaven.
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- That will be followed by, secondly, the resurrection of
- 00:10:53.642 --> 00:10:56.912
- The dead in christ.
- 00:10:56.912 --> 00:10:58.280
- Every believer over the last however-many years it is since
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- Acts 2, until the rapture, "the dead in christ shall
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- Rise first."
- 00:11:04.954 --> 00:11:06.322
- Now, let me remind you, when a christian dies, his spirit goes
- 00:11:06.322 --> 00:11:12.895
- Immediately into the presence of jesus.
- 00:11:12.895 --> 00:11:15.431
- 2 corinthians 5:8 says that, for a christian, "to be absent from
- 00:11:15.431 --> 00:11:18.467
- The body is to be at home with the lord."
- 00:11:18.467 --> 00:11:20.803
- If you were to die right this moment, right there in the pew,
- 00:11:20.803 --> 00:11:23.773
- If you were to die of a heart attack or just sheer boredom,
- 00:11:23.773 --> 00:11:26.742
- You know what happens to you?
- 00:11:26.742 --> 00:11:30.346
- Your spirit immediately goes into the presence of jesus, it
- 00:11:30.346 --> 00:11:33.716
- Don't float around up there, it doesn't go to sleep, you go to
- 00:11:33.716 --> 00:11:37.253
- Be with the lord, your spirit, the essence of who you are.
- 00:11:37.253 --> 00:11:41.223
- But, obviously, you leave a body behind, we'll have to haul your
- 00:11:41.223 --> 00:11:44.560
- Body out of here, we'll have to do something with it.
- 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:47.563
- Some of you may have your loved ones bury it, you may cremate
- 00:11:47.563 --> 00:11:50.833
- It, you know, who knows what's gonna happen to it, but that's
- 00:11:50.833 --> 00:11:54.103
- Your physical body.
- 00:11:54.103 --> 00:11:55.771
- The bible says it falls asleep, your physical body, but not for
- 00:11:55.771 --> 00:11:58.741
- Real, you don't fall asleep, you go into the presence of
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- The lord.
- 00:12:01.477 --> 00:12:02.812
- But god does not mean for us to spend eternity as disembodied
- 00:12:02.812 --> 00:12:07.316
- Spirits floating around up there.
- 00:12:07.316 --> 00:12:09.185
- Remember, when god made us, he made us body, soul and spirit,
- 00:12:09.185 --> 00:12:13.689
- We've always been that way, there was never a time in
- 00:12:13.689 --> 00:12:15.758
- Eternity past where you were existing without a body.
- 00:12:15.758 --> 00:12:20.029
- You were created with a body, you will always have a body, and
- 00:12:20.029 --> 00:12:23.632
- It's at the rapture that those who have already died will
- 00:12:23.632 --> 00:12:26.368
- Receive their brand new bodies that god has planned for them.
- 00:12:26.368 --> 00:12:32.208
- Thirdly, at the rapture, the removal of all
- 00:12:32.208 --> 00:12:36.178
- Living christians.
- 00:12:36.178 --> 00:12:37.546
- There will be a generation of christian, whatever christians
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- Are alive when this rapture occurs, they will be exempt from
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- Death, they will never experience physical death.
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- Instead, at the rapture, they will simply be snatched away,
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- Harpazo is the greek word, they will be caught up together to
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- Meet the lord in the air.
- 00:12:53.796 --> 00:12:55.898
- By the way, who is this, "with them," that christians will be
- 00:12:55.898 --> 00:12:59.869
- Caught up together?
- 00:12:59.869 --> 00:13:01.203
- It says, "those of us who are alive and remain shall be caught
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- Up together with them."
- 00:13:04.073 --> 00:13:05.975
- The word, "them," refers to the dead in christ, those christians
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- Who have already died.
- 00:13:11.146 --> 00:13:12.715
- Their spirits are in heaven, but at that moment, their bodies are
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- Resurrected and, as in a moment we'll see, they're gonna be
- 00:13:15.751 --> 00:13:18.153
- Changed into brand new bodies.
- 00:13:18.153 --> 00:13:20.122
- And the bible says if we're alive at that time, we're gonna
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- Be caught up together with those christians who have died, that
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- Christian husband, that christian wife, that child, that
- 00:13:30.266 --> 00:13:36.572
- Christian friend of yours.
- 00:13:36.572 --> 00:13:38.374
- The bible says there's going to be a great reunion with them at
- 00:13:38.374 --> 00:13:42.344
- The rapture of the church, we will be caught up together
- 00:13:42.344 --> 00:13:46.115
- With them.
- 00:13:46.115 --> 00:13:48.684
- Isn't that a great truth to think about?
- 00:13:48.684 --> 00:13:51.954
- You know, i've been a pastor for 30 years, the saddest things i
- 00:13:51.954 --> 00:13:56.992
- Ever see occur at funeral services, when people say
- 00:13:56.992 --> 00:14:00.763
- Goodbye to their loved ones.
- 00:14:00.763 --> 00:14:03.132
- There is nothing more final, let me tell you, there is nothing
- 00:14:03.132 --> 00:14:06.635
- More final, it seems, than seeing the body of your loved
- 00:14:06.635 --> 00:14:11.507
- One lowered in a casket into the ground.
- 00:14:11.507 --> 00:14:15.377
- It seems like it's all over at that point, that you'll never
- 00:14:15.377 --> 00:14:19.348
- See them again.
- 00:14:19.348 --> 00:14:21.617
- But where we place a period, god places a comma, he said it's not
- 00:14:21.617 --> 00:14:27.656
- Always gonna be this way.
- 00:14:27.656 --> 00:14:29.591
- The pain that you feel right now, it's real, but it's also
- 00:14:29.591 --> 00:14:34.363
- Temporary, there is a great resurrection and a great reunion
- 00:14:34.363 --> 00:14:39.768
- In heaven.
- 00:14:39.768 --> 00:14:41.103
- And you know what the best part of this reunion is?
- 00:14:41.103 --> 00:14:42.571
- The bible says, in verse 17, it's going to be forever, "we
- 00:14:42.571 --> 00:14:47.242
- Shall always be with the lord," as well as our loved
- 00:14:47.242 --> 00:14:51.413
- Ones, forever.
- 00:14:51.413 --> 00:14:52.781
- That's the rapture of the church.
- 00:14:52.781 --> 00:14:54.116
- Now, this isn't the second coming, that happens seven years
- 00:14:54.116 --> 00:14:56.852
- Later, this is the rapture.
- 00:14:56.852 --> 00:14:58.320
- Finally, what happens at the rapture?
- 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:00.289
- The transformation of our bodies, whether our bodies are
- 00:15:00.289 --> 00:15:03.459
- Already dead, and we're in the ground and with the lord, or
- 00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:06.128
- Whether we happened to be alive at that time.
- 00:15:06.128 --> 00:15:08.464
- Regardless, whatever body we have or had is gonna be changed
- 00:15:08.464 --> 00:15:13.602
- Into that brand new body that god has prepared for us, a body
- 00:15:13.602 --> 00:15:17.473
- That will last through all eternity, a body that is free
- 00:15:17.473 --> 00:15:21.110
- From pain and sickness and the suffering of this life.
- 00:15:21.110 --> 00:15:25.180
- Look at what paul says in 1 corinthians 15 verses 51 to 53.
- 00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:29.818
- "behold, i tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep," that
- 00:15:29.818 --> 00:15:33.722
- Is, not every christian is gonna die, those that the rapture
- 00:15:33.722 --> 00:15:36.558
- Won't die, we're not all going to sleep, that is, die, "but we
- 00:15:36.558 --> 00:15:41.397
- All shall be changed--in a moment,
- 00:15:41.397 --> 00:15:43.632
- In the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
- 00:15:43.632 --> 00:15:47.369
- For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
- 00:15:47.369 --> 00:15:50.873
- Imperishable, and we shall be changed.
- 00:15:50.873 --> 00:15:53.842
- For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this
- 00:15:53.842 --> 00:15:56.879
- Mortal must put on immortality."
- 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:59.481
- This change is gonna happen, of our old bodies into our new
- 00:15:59.481 --> 00:16:02.718
- Bodies, the bible says, "in a twinkling of an eye."
- 00:16:02.718 --> 00:16:05.020
- Remember how quickly that is?
- 00:16:05.020 --> 00:16:06.488
- It's not the blinking of an eye, it's the twinkling of an eye,
- 00:16:06.488 --> 00:16:09.792
- The amount of time it takes light to go from the iris to the
- 00:16:09.792 --> 00:16:12.494
- Retina, that's 1/6th of a nanosecond, that's how quickly
- 00:16:12.494 --> 00:16:17.066
- Your body is going to be changed into that brand new body god has
- 00:16:17.066 --> 00:16:20.936
- For you.
- 00:16:20.936 --> 00:16:22.271
- Now, i want you to notice something both in
- 00:16:22.271 --> 00:16:23.639
- 1 thessalonians 4 and 1 corinthians 15.
- 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:26.475
- Both passages say this event called the rapture will happen
- 00:16:26.475 --> 00:16:30.846
- When the trumpet sounds.
- 00:16:30.846 --> 00:16:32.748
- Notice in verse 16 of 1 thessalonians 4, "for the lord
- 00:16:32.748 --> 00:16:36.385
- Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
- 00:16:36.385 --> 00:16:39.321
- The archangel, and with," what?
- 00:16:39.321 --> 00:16:41.056
- "the trumpet of god."
- 00:16:41.056 --> 00:16:43.058
- And then, in 1 corinthians 15:52, "it will happen in a
- 00:16:43.058 --> 00:16:45.928
- Moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet."
- 00:16:45.928 --> 00:16:50.365
- Well, what, what's the importance of the trumpet, why
- 00:16:51.533 --> 00:16:55.237
- Does he say trumpet instead of xylophone or accordion or
- 00:16:55.237 --> 00:17:00.175
- Something else?
- 00:17:00.175 --> 00:17:01.510
- Why does he say trumpet, what's the significance of the trumpet?
- 00:17:01.510 --> 00:17:05.147
- Remember, this was written with a roman background to it, and in
- 00:17:05.147 --> 00:17:08.784
- Paul's day, when a group of roman soldiers were about to
- 00:17:08.784 --> 00:17:12.788
- Break camp and move to a new location, there would be three
- 00:17:12.788 --> 00:17:17.292
- Blasts of the roman trumpet.
- 00:17:17.292 --> 00:17:19.995
- The first blast meant, "strike your tents and prepare
- 00:17:19.995 --> 00:17:24.466
- To depart."
- 00:17:24.466 --> 00:17:25.801
- The second blast of the trumpet meant, "fall in line and be
- 00:17:25.801 --> 00:17:30.272
- On alert."
- 00:17:30.272 --> 00:17:31.707
- And when that third blast of the trumpet occurred, it meant,
- 00:17:31.707 --> 00:17:36.178
- "march away to your new location."
- 00:17:36.178 --> 00:17:40.048
- I believe the first trumpet has already been sounded by god, god
- 00:17:40.048 --> 00:17:44.486
- Has already told us, "strike your tents," he's reminded us
- 00:17:44.486 --> 00:17:48.790
- This world is not our home, we're to live as aliens,
- 00:17:48.790 --> 00:17:53.662
- Strangers in this world, quit getting attached to the things
- 00:17:53.662 --> 00:17:57.466
- Of this world.
- 00:17:57.466 --> 00:17:58.967
- Don't get attached to your job, don't get attached to your
- 00:17:58.967 --> 00:18:01.837
- Position, don't get attached to your stock portfolio, you're
- 00:18:01.837 --> 00:18:05.307
- Gonna leave it all behind, we're to live as aliens in this world.
- 00:18:05.307 --> 00:18:11.079
- "strike your tent," god has already said.
- 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:13.081
- Secondly, i believe he's sounded the second blast of the trumpet,
- 00:18:13.081 --> 00:18:16.585
- "be alert."
- 00:18:16.585 --> 00:18:18.420
- The bible says we're to be looking, we're to be watching
- 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:21.190
- For the return of jesus christ, and living our
- 00:18:21.190 --> 00:18:24.293
- Lives accordingly.
- 00:18:24.293 --> 00:18:26.128
- All we are waiting for is the blast of that third and final
- 00:18:26.128 --> 00:18:29.998
- Trumpet at the rapture, when god tells us to break camp, to march
- 00:18:29.998 --> 00:18:34.870
- Away into the presence of our heavenly commander.
- 00:18:34.870 --> 00:18:38.240
- That's the significance of the last trumpet.
- 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:41.877
- Now, what i've just presented to you is what i believe the bible
- 00:18:41.877 --> 00:18:45.614
- Teaches about the rapture.
- 00:18:45.614 --> 00:18:47.716
- Now, i realize, especially after this week's emails, not
- 00:18:47.716 --> 00:18:50.752
- Everybody agrees with me, not everybody in our listening
- 00:18:50.752 --> 00:18:54.590
- Audience agrees with me about the rapture.
- 00:18:54.590 --> 00:18:57.025
- So, for full disclosure, i wanna share with you just for a
- 00:18:57.025 --> 00:19:00.495
- Second, three different views about the rapture.
- 00:19:00.495 --> 00:19:02.998
- I'm not gonna go into any great detail about these views,
- 00:19:02.998 --> 00:19:06.068
- They're included in my book, "perfect ending," but let me
- 00:19:06.068 --> 00:19:09.271
- Just give you the three different views about
- 00:19:09.271 --> 00:19:11.473
- The rapture.
- 00:19:11.473 --> 00:19:13.208
- I'll tell you what everybody else believes and then i'll tell
- 00:19:13.208 --> 00:19:15.410
- You why i'm right, okay?
- 00:19:15.410 --> 00:19:17.212
- But we're gonna look at these other views.
- 00:19:17.212 --> 00:19:21.250
- First of all, there is what's called the post-tribulation
- 00:19:21.250 --> 00:19:24.086
- Rapture view, the post-tribulation rapture view,
- 00:19:24.086 --> 00:19:26.822
- That is, the church will endure the seven years of the
- 00:19:26.822 --> 00:19:29.958
- Tribulation which precede the second coming of christ.
- 00:19:29.958 --> 00:19:33.495
- If you look on your chart there, where i put the rapture, just
- 00:19:33.495 --> 00:19:36.665
- Move it over to the right seven years at the end of
- 00:19:36.665 --> 00:19:38.900
- The tribulation.
- 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:40.235
- That's what the 9 believes,
- 00:19:40.235 --> 00:19:42.271
- Post means after, the rapture happens after the tribulation.
- 00:19:42.271 --> 00:19:46.608
- This is the view that the church must go through the great
- 00:19:46.608 --> 00:19:49.711
- Tribulation, and at the end of the tribulation, the church,
- 00:19:49.711 --> 00:19:52.848
- Whoever is alive at that time, will be snatched away, and then
- 00:19:52.848 --> 00:19:56.351
- Will come back at the second coming.
- 00:19:56.351 --> 00:19:58.353
- The rapture and the second coming are almost concurrent
- 00:19:58.353 --> 00:20:01.056
- Events according to this viewpoint.
- 00:20:01.056 --> 00:20:03.392
- Now, proponents of this view make their argument this way,
- 00:20:03.392 --> 00:20:08.063
- They say, "christians in every age have suffered tribulation,
- 00:20:08.063 --> 00:20:12.267
- Why in the world do you believe there's a group of christians
- 00:20:12.267 --> 00:20:15.604
- Who will escape tribulation?
- 00:20:15.604 --> 00:20:17.773
- That just doesn't make sense, it's not true in history,
- 00:20:17.773 --> 00:20:20.309
- Christians have always endured tribulation."
- 00:20:20.309 --> 00:20:22.644
- Well, as we'll see in a moment, during the last seven years of
- 00:20:22.644 --> 00:20:25.981
- Earth's history, the kind of tribulation that will be
- 00:20:25.981 --> 00:20:28.350
- Experienced is far different than any other kind of
- 00:20:28.350 --> 00:20:31.753
- Persecution christians have gone through before.
- 00:20:31.753 --> 00:20:34.990
- Secondly, they say, "it's very obvious when you read revelation
- 00:20:34.990 --> 00:20:37.993
- 6 to 19, that there are believers on the earth who are
- 00:20:37.993 --> 00:20:41.563
- Being persecuted by the antichrist.
- 00:20:41.563 --> 00:20:44.466
- If these believers are not the church that was here before the
- 00:20:44.466 --> 00:20:47.669
- Tribulation, who are they?"
- 00:20:47.669 --> 00:20:49.371
- As we'll see next week, there's a very logical answer to
- 00:20:49.371 --> 00:20:52.874
- That question.
- 00:20:52.874 --> 00:20:54.242
- But that's the post-tribulation view, the church will be here
- 00:20:54.242 --> 00:20:56.578
- For the tribulation and then will be raptured at the end.
- 00:20:56.578 --> 00:20:59.681
- Secondly, there is the
- 00:20:59.681 --> 00:21:01.350
- Mid-tribulation rapture view,
- 00:21:01.350 --> 00:21:03.352
- And that is, the rapture will occur after the first 3.5 years
- 00:21:03.352 --> 00:21:08.223
- Of the seven-year tribulation.
- 00:21:08.223 --> 00:21:10.759
- The proponents of this view say, the first 3.5 years are gonna be
- 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:14.930
- Relatively peaceful, everybody's gonna love antichrist, and it's
- 00:21:14.930 --> 00:21:18.900
- Only after 3 and a half years, that he turns against israel and
- 00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:23.205
- Begins persecuting israel and the church, and that the earth
- 00:21:23.205 --> 00:21:25.974
- Suffers the wrath of god."
- 00:21:25.974 --> 00:21:27.943
- And so, the church is here for the first 3 and a half years,
- 00:21:27.943 --> 00:21:30.512
- But we get snatched away before the final, really intense
- 00:21:30.512 --> 00:21:34.216
- 3 and a half years of tribulation.
- 00:21:34.216 --> 00:21:37.919
- There's a variation of this view called the pre-wrath rapture
- 00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:41.289
- Popularized by marvin rosenthal, and basically, it's saying
- 00:21:41.289 --> 00:21:45.427
- The first 3 and a half years of the seven years are natural
- 00:21:45.427 --> 00:21:48.597
- Disasters which the church will have to experience,
- 00:21:48.597 --> 00:21:51.933
- They're called the seal judgments in revelation 6.
- 00:21:51.933 --> 00:21:54.736
- But halfway through the tribulation,
- 00:21:54.736 --> 00:21:57.072
- Before antichrist persecutes the world and god
- 00:21:57.072 --> 00:22:00.008
- Persecutes the world, christians will be snatched up.
- 00:22:00.008 --> 00:22:02.978
- Now, there are three problems with this view of the pre-wrath
- 00:22:02.978 --> 00:22:06.681
- Rapture, or the mid-tribulation rapture.
- 00:22:06.681 --> 00:22:09.151
- First of all, revelation 5 through 6 teaches that that
- 00:22:09.151 --> 00:22:13.422
- First series of judgments against the earth at the
- 00:22:13.422 --> 00:22:16.658
- Beginning of the seven years are unleashed by jesus
- 00:22:16.658 --> 00:22:20.328
- Christ himself.
- 00:22:20.328 --> 00:22:21.663
- In fact, in revelation 6:2, remember, it is the lamb of god
- 00:22:21.663 --> 00:22:24.866
- Who is deemed the only one worthy to open the seals of
- 00:22:24.866 --> 00:22:28.503
- Judgment that come upon the earth.
- 00:22:28.503 --> 00:22:30.238
- So this is not just a natural disaster that just happened to
- 00:22:30.238 --> 00:22:33.341
- Happen, it's not even a satanic judgment, it is a judgment by
- 00:22:33.341 --> 00:22:37.646
- God himself.
- 00:22:37.646 --> 00:22:40.348
- Jeffress: and we'll continue our discussion of this important
- 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:47.355
- Topic next time, as i explain how you can know for certain
- 00:22:47.355 --> 00:22:51.193
- That you'll be among those who are delivered from the coming
- 00:22:51.193 --> 00:22:54.830
- Wrath of god.
- 00:22:54.830 --> 00:22:56.364
- Now, before we wrap up today's message, let me share with you
- 00:22:56.364 --> 00:22:59.935
- A note i received in response to my teaching series about heaven.
- 00:22:59.935 --> 00:23:04.439
- Linda wrote, "your teaching has blessed me with the knowledge of
- 00:23:04.439 --> 00:23:08.076
- Heaven and given me more peace and anticipation of my going
- 00:23:08.076 --> 00:23:12.047
- Home to heaven one day."
- 00:23:12.047 --> 00:23:14.382
- Well, linda, your words certainly encourage us, and you
- 00:23:14.382 --> 00:23:17.619
- Inspire all of us to reach as many people as possible with the
- 00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:20.989
- Ministry of "pathway to victory."
- 00:23:20.989 --> 00:23:23.558
- Thanks to everyone who empowers me to proclaim the truth of
- 00:23:23.558 --> 00:23:27.462
- Scripture with boldness, and to touch lives for god's glory.
- 00:23:27.462 --> 00:23:32.167
- Stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
- 00:23:32.167 --> 00:23:36.238
- In just a moment.
- 00:23:36.238 --> 00:23:38.740
- Announcer: with everything happening in our world today.
- 00:23:38.807 --> 00:23:41.710
- It's natural to wonder, are we living in the end-times?
- 00:23:41.710 --> 00:23:45.981
- In his brand-new book "ask dr. jeffress about the end times,"
- 00:23:46.047 --> 00:23:50.151
- Dr. robert jeffress answers the 20 questions people ask the
- 00:23:50.151 --> 00:23:53.555
- Most about the future.
- 00:23:53.555 --> 00:23:54.956
- Jeffress: in my 40+ years as a pastor, i've answered countless
- 00:23:54.956 --> 00:23:58.193
- Questions about the end-times, and that's why i wrote this
- 00:23:58.193 --> 00:24:02.030
- Book, to give you clear, biblical answers that will fill
- 00:24:02.030 --> 00:24:05.834
- Your life with peace, joy, and excitement as we look forward to
- 00:24:05.834 --> 00:24:09.905
- Our lord's return.
- 00:24:09.905 --> 00:24:11.540
- Announcer: request your copy of "ask dr. jeffress about the
- 00:24:11.540 --> 00:24:14.576
- 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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- "the end times illustrated," and the complete "perfect ending"
- 00:24:32.294 --> 00:24:35.830
- Teaching series on both cd and dvd.
- 00:24:35.830 --> 00:24:38.900
- Jeffress: the end-time events are going to be
- 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:40.235
- Very frightening.
- 00:24:40.235 --> 00:24:41.603
- It's going to consist of economic turmoil.
- 00:24:41.603 --> 00:24:43.605
- There'll be wars, there'll be unprecedented persecution.
- 00:24:43.605 --> 00:24:47.576
- But fortunately christians don't have to fear that period
- 00:24:47.576 --> 00:24:50.612
- Of time.
- 00:24:50.612 --> 00:24:51.947
- Announcer: your generous support of "pathway to victory" helps us
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- Proclaim the hope of christ's return through television,
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- Radio, and online streaming to people across the country and
- 00:24:57.919 --> 00:25:01.723
- Around the world.
- 00:25:01.723 --> 00:25:03.058
- Together we're piercing the darkness with the light of
- 00:25:03.058 --> 00:25:05.927
- God's word.
- 00:25:05.927 --> 00:25:07.295
- Jeffress: the world may seem like it's going to hell in a
- 00:25:10.332 --> 00:25:12.434
- Hand basket, but what we're experiencing right now is
- 00:25:12.434 --> 00:25:15.937
- Nothing compared to what will take place during the
- 00:25:15.937 --> 00:25:19.240
- Great tribulation.
- 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.909
- Now, we'll get into all the details of what will happen
- 00:25:20.909 --> 00:25:23.979
- During that seven-year period in another message.
- 00:25:23.979 --> 00:25:27.282
- But the point i want to leave with you today is this; before
- 00:25:27.282 --> 00:25:30.986
- The tribulation begins, all christians who are alive will be
- 00:25:30.986 --> 00:25:34.990
- Snatched away to meet the lord in the air.
- 00:25:34.990 --> 00:25:38.426
- And next time, we'll continue to explore the biblical evidence
- 00:25:38.426 --> 00:25:41.930
- For the rapture of the church.
- 00:25:41.930 --> 00:25:43.765
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
- 00:25:43.765 --> 00:25:46.735
- Series, "perfect ending."
- 00:25:46.735 --> 00:25:50.071
- Jeffress: ladies and gentlemen, the fire of god's wrath burned,
- 00:25:50.138 --> 00:25:55.176
- It was poured out on jesus christ when he died on
- 00:25:55.176 --> 00:25:58.079
- The cross.
- 00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:59.414
- He, by his own choice, decided that he would take the
- 00:25:59.414 --> 00:26:02.784
- Punishment from god that you and i deserve.
- 00:26:02.784 --> 00:26:05.787
- Male announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two
- 00:26:05.854 --> 00:26:08.523
- Of the message, "making sure you're not left behind,"
- 00:26:08.523 --> 00:26:11.626
- Here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:11.626 --> 00:26:18.600
- Male announcer: alaska is unlike any other place on earth, and
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- You alaska.
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- I've been there before, and every time i witness those
- 00:26:33.148 --> 00:26:36.484
- Massive glaciers and towering mountains, i'm reminded of how
- 00:26:36.484 --> 00:26:40.422
- Incredibly creative our god is.
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- Announcer: picture this, waking up to snow-capped peaks outside
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- Your window, then heading to your refreshing breakfast,
- 00:26:46.461 --> 00:26:49.597
- Knowing that all your meals are prepared for you.
- 00:26:49.597 --> 00:26:52.133
- The world class service means that you can truly relax.
- 00:26:52.133 --> 00:26:55.470
- Jeffress: we'll explore charming villages together,
- 00:26:55.470 --> 00:26:58.006
- We'll stroll alongside the still waters of the mountain stream,
- 00:26:58.006 --> 00:27:01.910
- And, yes, we'll see god's artistry at every turn.
- 00:27:01.910 --> 00:27:06.247
- Announcer: reserve your spot on the 2026 pathway to victory
- 00:27:06.247 --> 00:27:09.951
- Cruise to alaska by calling... or visit ptv.org.
- 00:27:09.951 --> 00:27:09.951