The Purpose And Qualifications

• TOPIC: THE PURPOSE AND QUALIFICATIONS

II | THE PURPOSE AND QUALIFICATIONS (1 Corinthians 15:21-23,51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
Purpose is the rational, reason for, or 'the why' of something, while qualifications are the credentials someone needs to be fit for something, or the requirements for being in a position. What is the reason for the coming back of our Lord Jesus, and what are those things that would make anyone worthy of 'flying away' with Him?

A.    THE PURPOSE OF THE RAPTURE (1 Cor. 15:21-23,51-58; 1 Thess. 4:14-17)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 (1Thess. 4:17).
i.   To receive saints to Himself as He promised (Jn. 14:1-3; Eph. 5:27; 1 Thess. 4:17).
ii.  To raise the dead in Christ from among the wicked dead (1 Cor. 15:21-23,51-58; Phil. 3:11; 1 Thess. 4:14-17.
iii. To take the saints to the firmament to receive their rewards (Jn. 14:1-3;2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Thess. 3:13) and partake of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:19).
iv. To transform the bodies of the saints from mortality to immorality (1 Cor. 15:21-23,51-56; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 3:20-21). To make the saints whole in spirit, soul and body (Phil 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; 5:23).
v.  To present the saints before God (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 3:13; Jude 24)
vi. To receive the fruit of the early and latter rain (Jn. 14:1-3; Jas. 5:7).
vii. To remove the One restraining the mystery of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:1-8).
viii.To make the saints to escape the Tribulation that is to come upon the earth (Lk. 21:34-36; Rev. 3:10).
ix. To allow the appearance of the anti-Christ (2 Thess. 2:1-8). Once the saints have been raptured, the anti-Christ would surface to fulfill the prophecies concerning him.
x.  Going by the reasons why our Lord Jesus would be coming back, the rapture is worth waiting and working for.

B.  THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR BEING RAPTURABLE (1 Thess. 4:16)
...The dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thess. 4:16b).
i.  Be in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18; 1 Thess. 4:16).
ii. Be holy and pure (Jn. 3:1-3); without spot (Eph. 5:27).
iii. Watch and pray always (LK. 21:34-35).
iv. Walk in the light (1 Jn. 1:17; Col. 2:6-7).
v.  Live and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16,25-26), demonstrating His fruit daily (v. 22).
vi. Be in the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn. 14:1-6).
vii. Crucify the flesh with its affection and lust (Gal. 2:20).
viii.Be in the Church or body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:27; 1:22,23; Col. 1:18,24).
ix.  Maintain justification by faith and salvation by God's grace, and obey the truth.
x.  Doing good (Jn. 5:28-29).
xi. These qualifications call for seriousness on the part of the Christian. The day is far spent. We must live our lives according to the holy standard of our Lord Jesus Christ, and this standard is there in the Bible. We must study it, live by it, and preach it, in season and out of season.

LESSONS DERIVED
1.   God couldn't have allowed the rapture purposelessly. It is in our best interest. Don't joke with it.
2.   Only those who meet Christ's expectations would enjoy the benefits of the rapture.

QUESTIONS
1.   What is the meaning of the Rapture?
2.   What are the manners of the Rapture?
3.   What are the purposes of the Rapture?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWERS TO QUESTION 1:
i.   Refer to division I, part A.
ii.  Meanwhile, generally, rapture is a euphoric magnificent state in which somebody is overwhelmed by happiness or delight and unaware of anything else.
iii. From the Christian point of view, in the immediate sence, it is that supernatural experience in which somebody believes he or she is transported into the spiritual realm.
iv. This is also applied to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, when true believers are expected to rise up to join Him in the sky.
v.  The rapture is that supernatural experience in which those who have accepted the Lordship of Christ, washed in His blood, and are living for Him in His holiness and righteousness, would be transported or translated in the spirit realm, rising up to meet Him in the air, after He must have first appeared in the clouds.
vi. The supernatural experience would give every Christian who would partake of it, both living and dead, the true, total, permanent, and complete experience of intense pleasure or Joy.
vii. 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13ff and other related scriptures clarify this.

ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
i.  Manner is the way in which something is done, or the way it happens.
ii. By the manner of rapture, we are talking of how the rapture would happen.
iii.Jn. 14:1-3; 1Cor.15:51-56; Phil. 3:11,20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18 are scriptures that have explained this.
iv. Refer to division I, part B of this lesson, for further commentary.

ANSWER TO QUESTION 3:
i.  Refer to division II, part A.

LIFE APPLICATION
In the Old Testament, we see pointers to what the rapture would look like and how it would happen. Hebrew 11:5 refers to the incidence in Genesis 5:24, where, By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him." Also, there was the supernatural translation of the firebrand prophet Elijah, who was scooped up by a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kgs. 2:11).

An unknown source once gave the following account:
We are to work while we wait for the rapture. A gardener for a large estate in northern Italy was conducting a visitor through the castle and the beautiful, well-groomed grounds. As the visitor had lunch with the gardener and his wife, he commended them for the beautiful way they were keeping the gardens. He asked, "By the way, when was the last time the owner was here?"
"About ten years ago." The gardener replied.

The visitor asked, "Then why do you keep the gardens in such an immaculate, lovely manner?"

The gardener replied, "Because I'm expecting Him to return."

"Is he coming next week?"

The gardener replied, "I don't know when he is coming, but I am expecting him today."

That is the truth. We don't know when Jesus would be coming. That is why we must be expecting Him, even now. The rapture would be like everyone being busy with our daily tasks one moment. Then all of a sudden, people are being taken directly into the sky to meet with the Lord, by passing all the infirmities of old age and even death itself! That is what would herald Jesus' return (Matt. 24:37-41). The Bible says that at His Coming, all believers will be taken directly to Heaven, just like Enoch and Elijah! Are you ready?

CONCLUSION
So far, a lot has been said about the next major phenomenon that we are expecting to happen worldwide - the rapture. We have discussed the meaning and manner of the expected phenomenon. We have also discussed the purpose of and the qualifications for the rapture. It is one thing no one can afford to miss. It therefore calls for a life of holiness and commitment to the things of God in Christ Jesus. May we not be found wanting at His coming. Amen.