March 27, 2024

Wednesday, March 27, 2024
March 27, 2024

Support Biblical Truth 

untitled artwork

untitled artwork

World news biblically understood

TRENDING:

Amid Today’s Ridicule Of Our Blessed Hope, Dare To Be Enoch

Jonathan Brentner

“Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).

Enoch is a type of our future departure from the earth at Jesus’ appearing. Hebrews 11:5 tells us this about his sudden disappearance:

Hebrews 11:5 KJV – “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

Enoch’s faith pleased God (see 11:6), but what exactly did he believe? The text does not directly answer that question; it only reveals that he pleased the Lord. Genesis 5:24 simply says that he “walked with God” before he vanished; others saw Enoch’s faith and knew the reason why no one could find him; he wasn’t killed by a wild animal, kidnapped, or lost somewhere. “God took him.”

Jude 14 adds that Enoch also “prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones.’” Isn’t it amazing that about six centuries before the Noahic flood, the Lord was already talking to Enoch about His Second Coming?

Enoch’s faith included an understanding of, as well as a belief in, future prophecy.

What does all this have to do with us?

Just as Enoch gained a reputation in the ancient world for his faith despite the rampant wickedness and lawlessness, so our belief in what Scripture says about our future sets us apart from the world.

Enoch lived 365 years before God took him away from the earth. From all that we know about the wickedness and lawlessness of the antediluvian world, that’s a long time to walk faithfully with the Lord.

Like Enoch, we must persevere amid today’s ridicule of our hope, such as the article from CNN mocking the Rapture, as we eagerly await our “blessed hope.”

What can help us do that?

KNOW THAT THE RAPTURE IS A BIBLICAL EVENT

Please understand that the Rapture is a biblical event. Consider the following quote from the late Dr. Ed Hindson, a beloved scholar whose insights into biblical prophecy we sorely miss:

“If you disagree on the timing of the rapture, please don’t tell people, ‘There’s never going to be a rapture.’ No, there must be a rapture or the Bible is not true. There must be a time when the archangel shouts, when the trumpet sounds, and the dead in Christ are raised and the living are caught up (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We may differ on the timing of the rapture but not the fact of the rapture.”

As Dr. Hindson alludes to in the above quote, there must be a time when the event, which Paul describes in numerous passages, happens or God’s Word is not true. Our hope in what we today call the “Rapture” rests upon what Scripture says will take place.

It’s a biblical event that cannot be combined with the Second Coming.

(Note: The Rapture will happen before the seven-year Tribulation. I have written many articles to that effect and spend many chapters in my book, The Triumph of the Redeemed, demonstrating why it must happen before this time of God’s wrath upon the earth.)

The Rapture is something we read about in passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 KJV – “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Our hope as New Testament saints consists of the following sequence of events that the Bible tells us will happen quickly, almost simultaneously:

The Rapture is a biblical event. The Lord will catch us up to be with Him someday and just like Enoch, I believe that most of us will still be alive when this happens.

REMEMBER THAT THE RAPTURE IS OUR GOSPEL HOPE

Unfortunately, many people today divorce the Rapture from the Gospel, but this was not the case in New Testament times.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 tells us that Paul’s initial proclamation of the Gospel in Thessalonica included the fact of Jesus’ appearing to take believers away from the earth before a future time of wrath, which he later described as the “Day of the Lord:”

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 KJV – “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

Their conversion story consisted not only of turning to God and away from idols, but also that of waiting for Jesus’ appearing (AKA, the Rapture).

Pay close attention to the words in Romans 8:23-24a: “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.”

The Rapture is when we will receive our immortal bodies (hence “the redemption of our bodies”). Notice what the apostle says about our anticipation of this event, “For in this hope we were saved.” The Rapture is an essential aspect of our Gospel hope.

Jesus often promised eternal life to those who would believe in Him and talked about His return for us in the Upper Room as He prepared His disciples for life without His physical presence. The apostles, especially Paul, later added more details about our hope under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The Rapture is either described or clearly alluded to in these New Testament texts: John 14:2-3; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 1:7, 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Titus 2:11-15; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:7-8; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 John 3:2-3, and Revelation 3:10-11a. 22:12, 20.

The Rapture was hardly an afterthought in the minds of the apostles as they proclaimed the Gospel.

HOLD TIGHTLY TO THE LORD FOR STRENGTH

It’s not easy being an Enoch in today’s world. It requires courage to hold on to our beliefs in Jesus’ imminent appearing amid ridicule from the world and from other believers.

CNN recently posted an article that mocks the Rapture by telling someone’s story about the anxiety it caused her. This woman, however, does not understand the Gospel message nor what Scripture says about our hope in Jesus’ appearing.

Of course, if people think their salvation depends on their good behavior and they never hear about the glories ahead for them in eternity, teachings about a sudden disappearance from all the things they love on earth will scare them. But that is NOT the Gospel nor is it the Gospel hope that we find throughout the New Testament.

One more thought about the CNN hit piece on the Rapture. Perhaps it’s an indication that Satan knows Jesus’ appearing will happen very, very soon and desires to get ahead of the curve by attacking it.

All this fierce opposition to our hope means that we must continually rely on Christ for our strength as we cling to the words of Scripture. The numerous passages I cited above confirm that the Rapture is a biblical event. Don’t lose hope.

I know it’s not easy waiting for the Lord to return for us; I also struggle with the wait at times. I never thought we would remain on the earth so close to the seven-year Tribulation, but here we are.

The longer the wait, the more we need the Lord’s help in order to persevere our hope of Jesus’ soon return.

The example of Enoch encourages us to endure amid the opposition to our hope that we encounter at every turn. And, we will not have to wait until we are 365 years old for it to happen.

Furthermore, the Lord will reward our faith despite the seemingly long, long wait.

THERE’S A SURE REWARD FOR LOVING JESUS’ APPEARING

God rewarded Enoch for his faith. He took him long before He judged the ancient world and included his name in Hebrew 11, a chapter that many regard as the hall of fame for faith. And, he has been with the Lord all these millennia.

For those of us who dare to be like Enoch in our walk of faith, there will be special rewards for maintaining our hope in Jesus’ imminent appearing. In 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul wrote:

2 Timothy 4:8 KJV – “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

When Jesus comes for His church, He will take all born again saints to His Father’s house in heaven just as He promises us in John 14:2-3. However, in 2 Timothy 4:8, the apostle tells us there will be a special “crown of righteousness” for those who long for or love His appearing, even if they, like Paul, die before the Rapture.

The Lord will reward those who persevere in holding on to their belief in the pre-Tribulation Rapture despite the wait.

I realize that “dare to be an Enoch” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as does “dare to be a Daniel.” I thought about “endeavor to be an Enoch” or “emulating Enoch,” but such phrases don’t convey the boldness required to be an Enoch today.

Enoch stood out in the ancient world because of his faith, which included a belief in the Second Coming of Jesus, which still hasn’t happened. We also please the Lord as we hold tightly to the Gospel message of grace and expectantly long for Jesus’ appearing to take us home.

I will close with the words of Romans 1:16-17:

Romans 1:16-17 KJV – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Hold tightly to your anticipation of Jesus’ soon appearing. Jesus will come for us very, very soon. He will not disappoint us and He will most certainly reward us for our perseverance and endurance as we eagerly await His appearing.

Jonathan Brentner - Logo

Will You Help Reach People With Biblical Truth?

When you make a donation to this ministry you will be helping us reach more people with the sound and unashamed truth of God’s Word and how it speaks to our times through world news.

Trusted Analysis From A Biblical Worldview

Help reach the lost and equip the church with the living and active truth of God's Word in our world today.

YOU CARE ABOUT

BIBLICAL TRUTH. SO DO WE.

 

Together, We Can Deliver A Biblical Understanding

Of News Events Around The World.

As Abortion Pill Cases Hit The Supreme Court, US Sees Highest Number Of Abortions In Over A Decade

“Abortion supporters try to make it sound more acceptable and less barbaric by saying that it ‘terminates a pregnancy.' But medication abortions, as they are called, are just another way to deliberately end the life of an unborn child—and that should be called what it is—murder.”

untitled artwork 6391

Purim: Jewish Survival Isn’t Contingent On The World’s Hostility, But The Power Of God

Today, we have the same spirit of the annihilation of the Jews coming from the same part of the world. Modern Iranian leaders are obsessed with the spirit of Haman even today. We don’t need an Esther in the palace anymore. We need the prayers of the saints worldwide.

ABC's of Salvation

TV AD

worldview matters

Decision Magazine V AD

TV AD

Amir V Ad #1

Decision Magazine V AD

Jonathan Brentner

“Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).

Enoch is a type of our future departure from the earth at Jesus’ appearing. Hebrews 11:5 tells us this about his sudden disappearance:

Hebrews 11:5 KJV – “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

Enoch’s faith pleased God (see 11:6), but what exactly did he believe? The text does not directly answer that question; it only reveals that he pleased the Lord. Genesis 5:24 simply says that he “walked with God” before he vanished; others saw Enoch’s faith and knew the reason why no one could find him; he wasn’t killed by a wild animal, kidnapped, or lost somewhere. “God took him.”

Jude 14 adds that Enoch also “prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones.’” Isn’t it amazing that about six centuries before the Noahic flood, the Lord was already talking to Enoch about His Second Coming?

Enoch’s faith included an understanding of, as well as a belief in, future prophecy.

What does all this have to do with us?

Just as Enoch gained a reputation in the ancient world for his faith despite the rampant wickedness and lawlessness, so our belief in what Scripture says about our future sets us apart from the world.

Enoch lived 365 years before God took him away from the earth. From all that we know about the wickedness and lawlessness of the antediluvian world, that’s a long time to walk faithfully with the Lord.

Like Enoch, we must persevere amid today’s ridicule of our hope, such as the article from CNN mocking the Rapture, as we eagerly await our “blessed hope.”

What can help us do that?

KNOW THAT THE RAPTURE IS A BIBLICAL EVENT

Please understand that the Rapture is a biblical event. Consider the following quote from the late Dr. Ed Hindson, a beloved scholar whose insights into biblical prophecy we sorely miss:

“If you disagree on the timing of the rapture, please don’t tell people, ‘There’s never going to be a rapture.’ No, there must be a rapture or the Bible is not true. There must be a time when the archangel shouts, when the trumpet sounds, and the dead in Christ are raised and the living are caught up (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We may differ on the timing of the rapture but not the fact of the rapture.”

As Dr. Hindson alludes to in the above quote, there must be a time when the event, which Paul describes in numerous passages, happens or God’s Word is not true. Our hope in what we today call the “Rapture” rests upon what Scripture says will take place.

It’s a biblical event that cannot be combined with the Second Coming.

(Note: The Rapture will happen before the seven-year Tribulation. I have written many articles to that effect and spend many chapters in my book, The Triumph of the Redeemed, demonstrating why it must happen before this time of God’s wrath upon the earth.)

The Rapture is something we read about in passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 KJV – “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Our hope as New Testament saints consists of the following sequence of events that the Bible tells us will happen quickly, almost simultaneously:

The Rapture is a biblical event. The Lord will catch us up to be with Him someday and just like Enoch, I believe that most of us will still be alive when this happens.

REMEMBER THAT THE RAPTURE IS OUR GOSPEL HOPE

Unfortunately, many people today divorce the Rapture from the Gospel, but this was not the case in New Testament times.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 tells us that Paul’s initial proclamation of the Gospel in Thessalonica included the fact of Jesus’ appearing to take believers away from the earth before a future time of wrath, which he later described as the “Day of the Lord:”

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 KJV – “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

Their conversion story consisted not only of turning to God and away from idols, but also that of waiting for Jesus’ appearing (AKA, the Rapture).

Pay close attention to the words in Romans 8:23-24a: “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.”

The Rapture is when we will receive our immortal bodies (hence “the redemption of our bodies”). Notice what the apostle says about our anticipation of this event, “For in this hope we were saved.” The Rapture is an essential aspect of our Gospel hope.

Jesus often promised eternal life to those who would believe in Him and talked about His return for us in the Upper Room as He prepared His disciples for life without His physical presence. The apostles, especially Paul, later added more details about our hope under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The Rapture is either described or clearly alluded to in these New Testament texts: John 14:2-3; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 1:7, 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Titus 2:11-15; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:7-8; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 John 3:2-3, and Revelation 3:10-11a. 22:12, 20.

The Rapture was hardly an afterthought in the minds of the apostles as they proclaimed the Gospel.

HOLD TIGHTLY TO THE LORD FOR STRENGTH

It’s not easy being an Enoch in today’s world. It requires courage to hold on to our beliefs in Jesus’ imminent appearing amid ridicule from the world and from other believers.

CNN recently posted an article that mocks the Rapture by telling someone’s story about the anxiety it caused her. This woman, however, does not understand the Gospel message nor what Scripture says about our hope in Jesus’ appearing.

Of course, if people think their salvation depends on their good behavior and they never hear about the glories ahead for them in eternity, teachings about a sudden disappearance from all the things they love on earth will scare them. But that is NOT the Gospel nor is it the Gospel hope that we find throughout the New Testament.

One more thought about the CNN hit piece on the Rapture. Perhaps it’s an indication that Satan knows Jesus’ appearing will happen very, very soon and desires to get ahead of the curve by attacking it.

All this fierce opposition to our hope means that we must continually rely on Christ for our strength as we cling to the words of Scripture. The numerous passages I cited above confirm that the Rapture is a biblical event. Don’t lose hope.

I know it’s not easy waiting for the Lord to return for us; I also struggle with the wait at times. I never thought we would remain on the earth so close to the seven-year Tribulation, but here we are.

The longer the wait, the more we need the Lord’s help in order to persevere our hope of Jesus’ soon return.

The example of Enoch encourages us to endure amid the opposition to our hope that we encounter at every turn. And, we will not have to wait until we are 365 years old for it to happen.

Furthermore, the Lord will reward our faith despite the seemingly long, long wait.

THERE’S A SURE REWARD FOR LOVING JESUS’ APPEARING

God rewarded Enoch for his faith. He took him long before He judged the ancient world and included his name in Hebrew 11, a chapter that many regard as the hall of fame for faith. And, he has been with the Lord all these millennia.

For those of us who dare to be like Enoch in our walk of faith, there will be special rewards for maintaining our hope in Jesus’ imminent appearing. In 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul wrote:

2 Timothy 4:8 KJV – “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

When Jesus comes for His church, He will take all born again saints to His Father’s house in heaven just as He promises us in John 14:2-3. However, in 2 Timothy 4:8, the apostle tells us there will be a special “crown of righteousness” for those who long for or love His appearing, even if they, like Paul, die before the Rapture.

The Lord will reward those who persevere in holding on to their belief in the pre-Tribulation Rapture despite the wait.

I realize that “dare to be an Enoch” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as does “dare to be a Daniel.” I thought about “endeavor to be an Enoch” or “emulating Enoch,” but such phrases don’t convey the boldness required to be an Enoch today.

Enoch stood out in the ancient world because of his faith, which included a belief in the Second Coming of Jesus, which still hasn’t happened. We also please the Lord as we hold tightly to the Gospel message of grace and expectantly long for Jesus’ appearing to take us home.

I will close with the words of Romans 1:16-17:

Romans 1:16-17 KJV – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Hold tightly to your anticipation of Jesus’ soon appearing. Jesus will come for us very, very soon. He will not disappoint us and He will most certainly reward us for our perseverance and endurance as we eagerly await His appearing.

Jonathan Brentner - Logo

Will You Help Reach People With Biblical Truth?

When you make a donation to this ministry you will be helping us reach more people with the sound and unashamed truth of God’s Word and how it speaks to our times through world news.

The World Is Only Going To Get Rougher, But Greater Things Are Still Ahead For Believers

Over and over the Bible directs our minds to the future. This practice enables us to face the present without being overwhelmed by temporary circumstances that are unpleasant or painful. Our future is one of fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.

As Abortion Pill Cases Hit The Supreme Court, US Sees Highest Number Of Abortions In Over A Decade

“Abortion supporters try to make it sound more acceptable and less barbaric by saying that it ‘terminates a pregnancy.' But medication abortions, as they are called, are just another way to deliberately end the life of an unborn child—and that should be called what it is—murder.”

untitled artwork 6391

Purim: Jewish Survival Isn’t Contingent On The World’s Hostility, But The Power Of God

Today, we have the same spirit of the annihilation of the Jews coming from the same part of the world. Modern Iranian leaders are obsessed with the spirit of Haman even today. We don’t need an Esther in the palace anymore. We need the prayers of the saints worldwide.

ABC's of Salvation

TV AD

worldview matters

Decision Magazine V AD

TV AD

Amir V Ad #1

Decision Magazine V AD