This past Monday, millions of Americans experienced something that shocked them into praying, if only for a brief moment in time people prayed and without any backlash of legal action. They prayed on a football field, they prayed wherever they were and gather with others in secular places even in bars. All for a young Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who made what, looked like an ordinary tackle. He stood to his feet and seconds later fell to the ground and die. For nine minutes the teams’ medial unit struggled to restart his heart all while a nation was horrified and prayed. A deafening silence filled the stadium and it was transmitted to homes across the country. Intuitively most of the team players and coaches fell to their knees encircling Hamlin in concern and support while they began to pray. Sports commentators frequently broadcasted for people across America to pray for Damar while some actually prayed on the air. Millions of Americans who had never met this man or even knew his name joined in prayer for his recovery.

Perspectives changed but for how long? After 9/11 our nation came together to pray and there was a special bonding among people but then we turned again; against others and God. People died in over 140 cities streets during the riots after the George Floyd killing. What will it really take for people to turn back to God to have a real true change of heart? What’s it going to take to change this nation to come back to God? When will Americans falls to their knees and beseech Almighty God to protect their families, bring revival and heal our land?

I believe whole heartily that day will only come when God himself blows that trumpet for His church to “Come up hither”! It is the last trumpet of God that time is up. God then will make Himself know to this world in his wrath. The calling up of the Bride of Christ is when millions will vanish in a twinkling of an eye. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. I Cor. 15:52

It will cause a revival the world has never known. That is the future that is what it will take and I believe that future is not too distanced from our time. Exactly what that future looks like only one man got a glimpse like no other, John. God rolled back the curtain between Heaven and earth and opens a door into Heaven for John to see things what is to come what no man had ever seen before. That is what chapter four to the end of Revelation unveils. When is all this to happen?

Mark 13:32 state, ” But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but (if not) the Father. ”

I. John is taken to the Throne (4:1)
1. John is transported in the spirit through an open door up into to the throne-room of heaven. Most Bible scholars believe this is a picture of the rapture of the Church. In chapter one of the book of Revelation, John was commanded to write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter (verse 19). The third section, the things which shall be hereafter, begins in Revelation 4:1, since John says a voice said to him, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2. The events unveiled to John were to happen after the messages contained in chapters 1-3 as the “the things which are” the existing state of the seven churches as is clear in the word hereafter, which in the Greek literally means “after these things.” The phrase “after these things” is used throughout the book of Revelation to mark the beginning of a new vision. This Greek word opens and closes verse one of chapter four, so the emphasis cannot be missed. These events come after the Church age which we finished studying the periods of the 7 churches. Therefore the church does not exist in the tribulation.

3. In chapters two and three, the churches are the central theme… but after chapter three the church disappears. Some argue that this is just related to John and not supportive of the rapture. Please look with me at verse ten… Note these supporting verses: Bema seat judgment is next. The elders sit and wear crowns…only saints are given these crowns.
2 Cr. 5:10 -For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

1Cr 3:13 -Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
I Peter 5:4 -And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The next time we find the church, she is not on earth but in heaven as the bride of Christ. We find the word church (Gk, EKKLESIA) in Revelation 22:16. So, this is evidences that this time is after the rapture. How did she get to heaven with Christ? This great mystery is partially explained in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

4) This mystery is called the “rapture.” The word rapture is not found in the NT but is taken from a Latin word (Rapiso), which means “caught up,” “to transport,” or “to snatch away.” Reference to this is I Thess. 4:13-16, harpazo/ Greek: shall be caught up so, the word rapture refers to the snatching away of the church from the earth.

II The Rapture & Aftermath – Luke 21:25-28

1) What will the world after this event be like? Those that are left behind will be hard press to make sense of it all. They will have to wait until the panic and chaotic period subsides.
So overwhelmed and distressed will people become that men will have heart failure and others will commit suicide. 25. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26. Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

The world will quickly become a very different place in the aftermath of the rapture. Those left behind will experience the horrible chaos that will result after the Christian community is gone. The trauma will be the greatest where believers are rapture from various means of transportation such as flight – rail and personal automobiles.

2) There is just no telling what kind of disasters will occur when millions of people working in critically important job instantly vanish. But this will only be the beginning for those who are left behind. There will follow seven years of tribulation such as the world has never seen. This is what we will be studying in detail and they will begin with the Seal judgments, follow by the trumpet judgments and by the unknown nature of the Thunder judgments and finally the Bowl or vial judgments. These are recorded in the Book of revelation. These are the Times of Jacob’s trouble and God will turn once again to the nation of Israel. Many do not believe! — II Peter 3:1-9

3). Scientist and scholar will give there explanations as they have try for centuries to explain away the resurrection of Jesus Christ the greatest most important event in human history and so they will try to explain this away too.
They will offer their theories. Some will claim it was an UFO- invasion from outer space; this happened to repopulate another planet. Others will claim that the electromagnetism in the earth atmosphere combined with atomic ionization from our nuclear fallout over decades was ignited by lighting and it dissolves all the atoms of these particular people taken. These are just a few possible crazy theories that people will believe. They would rather believe a lie. Please look with me at II Thessalonians – Chapter 2:9-12

4.) Jesus foretold us these truths in the scriptures. [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21

The world’s environment will be changed. Martial law will be enforced to control evil elements. Governments will tumble and international disorder will pave the way for the charismatic leader and deceiver known as the anti- Christ. The world will be changed economically and ecologically. You will not be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast-anti Christ. The wrath of God; Satan and evil men will be unleashed on planet earth. Food supplies will be exhausted and diminishes from the many disasters. Revelation 6:5-6

5. A loaf of bread will cost $20 or 3 pounds for barley flour; olive oil and vinegar will be almost impossible to purchase. Natural disasters will destroy 1/3 of marine life and prices will rise on sea-foods or become very hard to purchase. Revelation 8:7-11, 1/3 vegetation and trees and 1/3 the water supplies will be undrinkable.

Conclusion:

Satan is not present in the throne room nor any of the fallen angels… according to the world they are successful…he is as you know the Prince power of the air, the god of this world but he has no part with the God of eternity, the God of the universe, will you?