Things to Come

He Gave Himself

"Who gave Himself for our sins..." (Gal 1:4)
- It was Purposeful

"...Who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Gal 2:20)
- It was Personal

"...Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it..." (Eph 5:25)
- It was Passionate

"Who gave Himself a ransom for all..." (1 Tim 2:6)
- It was Payment

"Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity..." (Titus 2:14)
- It was Powerful

Judgment Seat of Christ

The Judgment Seat (Bema) of Christ is to:

1. Reveal 
• "made manifest" 
• the man/worker (2 Cor 5:10); the motives/will (1 Cor 4:5); the material/work (1 Cor 3:13)
2. Review
• "give account of himself to God" (Rom 14:12)
• "try every man's work" (1 Cor 3:13)
3. Reward
• "receive the things done" (2 Cor 5:10)
• "receive a reward" (1 Cor 3:14)
• Rewards are given for:
• self-discipline - incorruptible crown (1 Cor 9:25)
• soul-winning - crown of rejoicing (1 Thess 2:19; Phil 4:1)
• stewardship - crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8)
• suffering/steadfastness - crown of life (James 1:12; Rev 2:10)
• shepherding - crown of glory (1 Pet 5:4)

Raptures of Scripture

There are 6 incidents of rapture mentioned in Scripture:

• Enoch (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5)
• Elijah (2 Kings 2:1,11)
• Christ (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11; Rev 12:5)
• Paul? (2 Cor 12:2-4)
• The Church (1 Thess 4:17)
• The Two Witnesses (Rev 11:3,11-12)

Things to Come - Record of Daniel

Daniel 9:24-27

verse 25
Week 1
The commandment to restore and build Jerusalem (Neh 2:1-9)
Week 7 
The completion of the rebuilding?
Week 69
The coming of the Messiah the Prince, Christ (John 12:12-13)

verse 26
After Week 69
The cutting off of Messiah (the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus)
The collapse of Jerusalem (A.D. 70 - destroyed by the "people of the coming prince" which were the Romans)

verse 27
Start of Week 70
The covenant by the "coming prince" (not the Lord Jesus)
Middle of Week 70
The cessation of the sacrifice, breaking of the covenant, setting up the abomination (idol) in the temple to be worshiped
End of Week 70
The consummation and judgment of the "coming prince"

Outline of Things to Come

Rapture of Saints
(John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Reception of Saints
(Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:7)

Retribution of God
(Matthew 24:8, 21; Revelation 6, 8-9, 11, 16)

Revelation of Christ
(Matthew 24:30)

Reign of Christ
(Isaiah 11:1-9; Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 20:4-6)

Renewal of Creation
(Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1)

Things to Come - Rapture of Saints

It will be private
1. Christ will return from heaven just as He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11)

It will be personal
2. Christ Himself will descend from heaven to the earth's atmosphere with a shout, voice and trumpet (John 14:3; 1 Thess 4:16-17)

It will be powerful
3. The souls of those already dead will return with Christ (1 Thess 4:14; 2 Cor 5:6-8)
4. The bodies of the dead will be raised immortal and incorruptible and be reunited with their souls (1 Cor 15:42-44,52-53; 1 Thess 4:14-16)
5. The bodies of the living will be changed to become immortal and incorruptible (1 Cor 15:51-53)
6. Both the dead and the living will be caught up together to meet Christ in the air (1 Thess 4:17; John 14:3)

It will be purposeful
7. Together all will return with Christ to His Father's house in heaven to be with Him always or at all times (John 14:2-3; 1 Thess 4:17, 5:10)

It will be preparatory 
8. As the church is raptured, the Holy Spirit will also be taken away from the earth (2 Thess 2:7)

It will be prompt
All this will take place suddenly: caught up (1 Thess 4:17), in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor 15:51-52)