This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion […] Source: https://atoday.org/sharing-scripture-for-september-19-25-2021/
Does the Bible Teach About a Secret Rapture?
“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.” Matthew 24:40-41 NLT
Many people have used this passage to suggest a secret rapture, where people will suddenly just disappear and be taken to heaven. Growing up, I occasionally saw bumper stickers, warning that in case of rapture, this car will be unmanned. But when you read this passage in context you will see no hint of a secret rapture. * Unlike the secret rapture theory, the Sabbath is found in the Bible and has been taught and observed in the Bible and throughout history. The secret rapture was never taught before 1830 and is not found in the Bible.
Let’s take a look at the entire context of the passage in Matthew 24.
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. Matthew 24:37-41 NLT
In the days of Noah the people who were swept away or “taken away,” as other versions describe, were the wicked people, not the righteous. Jesus tells us it will be the same when He comes. So the ones taken in the field and at the mill are not the righteous, they are the wicked. They are taken away from the presence of the righteous and destroyed, just like in the days of Noah. So, Jesus is telling us that two men will be in the field; one will be taken and destroyed, just like the tares that are bundled up and destroyed in Matthew 13:30 while the wheat remains in the barn. By saying the other man is left, Jesus means that man is left alive and not destroyed. In Matthew 13:38 Jesus says the field is the world. That tells us that the one who is taken is destroyed while the one who is left inherits the new earth. (See Matthew 5:5 and Revelation 21:1-5.)
Luke makes it even more clear that those who are taken are not taken to heaven, but rather are taken to destruction like those left to be eaten or destroyed by vultures.
I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” Luke 17:34-37 NKJV
Neither Matthew or Luke give any hint of a secret rapture. After all, when the wicked were swept away in the flood, that was no secret. The whole world at that time saw what was happening. The eight who remained and took over the earth knew what was going on the whole time also. There were no secrets either way.
Far from being a secret the entire world will know.
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. Revelation 1:7 NKJV
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NKJV
mage © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
Yes there will be a rapture when we are taken up, but it will be no secret. Why is it so important that everyone sees Jesus coming instead of the righteous just secretly disappearing? There are many reasons, but I am sure that Satan does not want to have to face the music. He would rather avoid that confrontation when Jesus comes as King of kings and Lord of lords. But there is no avoiding it. One day,
As I live says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God. Romans 14:11 NKJV
When the great controversy is finished, the entire universe will declare that God is love. And that is a truth that Satan would rather cover up and keep secret, but he won’t be able. The whole world will see Jesus coming, and He will take home with Him all those who have accepted His love into their lives. Let’s accept Him into our hearts now so that we will greet His coming with joy.
*By the way the secret rapture rapture was never even taught until the theory was invented by John Darby around 1830. The Sabbath truth was re-discovered around the same time.
Amen!
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Thursday: Rejoice in the Lord Always
One of the most-used apps on our smartphones is Google Maps. Most of us cannot remember what we did before GPS-based maps existed on our phones. We may be nervous heading toward a place that we have never been to before, but with Google Maps on our phones, we can confidently venture out and find our way in any foreign city. Could this confidence be an illustration of the kind of rest God wants to give us with His prophetic timetable?
Sometimes, however, we may enter the wrong address into our apps, or we may just decide not to follow the directions because we think we know a shortcut. In either case, we may end up somewhere we didn’t want to be — and most definitely not in a restful frame of mind, either.
Read Philippians 4:4-6. What is Paul saying here to us about the way to have true rest, true peace, even amid a harried and painful world?
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
In this passage, Paul is not saying to rejoice, always, in all the trials that you are facing. Instead He is saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” No matter our present situation, no matter what trials we are facing, if we dwell on God, on His goodness, His love, and on His sacrifice on the cross for us, we can rejoice in Him and have peace for our weary souls.
Just the very tone of the texts implies rest, peace, and a transcendent hope of something beyond this world.
Imagine, too, the kind of rest for our souls that we would have if, indeed, we could be “anxious for nothing.” This hardly seems realistic for anyone in this world (even Paul had plenty of worries), but again, knowing that a loving God is ultimately in control and will save us into His kingdom can, surely, help us put the things that we are anxious about into proper perspective.
The “Lord is at hand”? That is, He is always close to us, and that as soon as we close our eyes and rest in the sleep of death, the next thing we know is the return of Christ.
No question, life is full of tensions, trials, and struggles. None of us escape them; certainly the apostle Paul didn’t, either (see 2 Corinthians 11:1-33). Nevertheless, his point is to tell us that even with all that we endure now, we can rejoice in what we have been given in Christ and, indeed, we can find rest for souls, even now.
| Read Philippians 4:4-6 again. In what ways can you apply these wonderful words to your experience right now in whatever trials and tribulations you are facing? |
Amen!(0)
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Right Living Brings Honor
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. Proverbs 21:21.
The world today is in crying need of a revelation of Christ Jesus in the person of His saints. God desires that His people shall stand before the world a holy people.—Testimonies to Ministers, 458.
In the history of Joseph, Daniel, and his fellows, we see how the golden chain of truth may bind the youth to the throne of God. They could not be tempted to turn aside from their course of integrity. They valued the favor of God above the favor and praise of princes, and God loved them and spread His shield over them. Because of their faithful integrity, because of their determination to honor God above every human power, the Lord signally honored them before men…. These youth were not ashamed to display their true colors. Even in the court of the king, in their words, their habits, their practices, they confessed their faith in the Lord God of heaven. They refused to bow to any earthly mandate that detracted from the honor of God. They had strength from heaven to confess their allegiance to God. You should be prepared to follow the example of these noble youth. Never be ashamed of your colors; put them on, unfurl them to the gaze of men and angels. Do not be controlled by false modesty, by false prudence which suggests to you a course of action contrary to this advice. By your choice words and a consistent course of action, by your propriety, your earnest piety, make a telling confession of your faith, determined that Christ shall occupy the throne in the soul temple; and lay your talents without reserve at His feet to be employed in His service.—Messages to Young People, 27, 28.
With God at Dawn p. 267
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Prayer Requests
—-May I ask your prayers for a friend, Don who is now in the hospital for bleeding due to flu. Pray this not to be Covid again. Sally
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, a friend was telling me about their neighbor. The man is a rich doctor and his wife spends her time lounging around the house watching the shopping channel on TV and spending his money. She is very spoiled and self-centered and feels as if everyone should serve her.
My friend was half laughing-half disgusted at the woman’s attitude and how the woman’s husband treats her. When the doctor asked my friend’s husband, who cares his and other’s lawns as a side business, if the grass seeds he had just planted would grow this time, he responded, “If you have your wife turn on the sprinklers, it will.”
Shocked that anyone would expect his wife to do such a menial task, the doctor said, “Oh, my wife couldn’t do that. She doesn’t feel well. She is going through menopause.”
It’s hard to believe that there are people in this world that are so pampered that they cannot even turn a knob. We shake our head in disgust. Yet, how often we are like that woman living a self-centered life as if we deserve all of God’s good gifts which He daily showers upon us. How seldom we give Him thanks for all He has done for us? How rarely do we put aside our desire for ease and work for Him? How unlike our Dear Saviour we are!
Think of it! The Great King of the Universe, the Creator of all things, the One Whom all Heaven adores, came down to this sinful, rebellious world and humbled Himself living a life of service to others. He “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” He equipped His disciples for a life of service as well. “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Matt 20:28; 9:35-10:1
In view of all that Jesus has done for us, how can we sit in self-centered idleness? May we serve as He served. May we respond with the attitude in this poem by Ralph Atwood.
To fill a need as best I can
To see the worth in broken man
To break the hold of guilt and pain
And restore dignity again
To see a smile where there were tears
To offer hope that shatters fears
To love the unloved while there’s time
And make his heavy burden mine
To look a lost soul in the eye
And tell him Jesus came to die
And follow through with word and deed
And never quit while there’s still need
To recognize my Master’s voice
And serve with love This is my choice
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/8TrJi0lIiI0/right-living-brings-honor.html
Adventist Journey – Lynelle Ellis
[vimeo 611710735 w=640 h=360]
Dr. Lynelle Ellis is an associate professor at Walla Walla University in Washington. In that role, she is also program director for Cinema, Religion, and Worldview,…Source: https://vimeo.com/611710735
