CHRIST ETERNAL SENIOR MINISTRIES
THE "WORD"
AUGUST 1, 2026
Sabbath Meditations LX658-31
Welcome to this week's Parasha "EIKEV" (Because)
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25, Isaiah 49:14-51:3, John 14:1-31
“Then it will happen, as a result of your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them, that Adonai your God will keep with you the covenant kindness that He swore to your fathers. He will love you, bless you and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your soil, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you."
(Deu 7:12-13 tlv)
SUNDAY
THE LORD'S DAY LX658-31
RAPTURE..."The Great Taking Away"
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (1Th 4:16 nasb)
GREETINGS: Welcome Beloved. By the very Grace of GOD, we gather this day, around the globe, to WORSHIP The CREATOR; to FELLOWSHIP around The Holy Scripture reading and absorbing His "WORD". Grant us all that we need, O' Lord, and equip us with unveiled eyes and open souls and lead us to a full understanding and Your mighty Will, through Jesus, The Christ, AMEN
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. (Rom 1:16-17 kjv)
CALL TO WORSHIP: 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." (Rev 3:20 nasb)
PROLOGUE : Jesus is truly standing at the door. The Shofar has been brought forward. The call could come at any hour. Are YOU ready?
OPENING PRAYER: Majestic and powerful Creator, thank You for gathering us together in fellowship to worship on this Holy day. Lead us through past "Rapture-like" events and fill us with confidence, faith, and understanding today. We feel your very presence knowing that You are at the door. Our Faith and Love fills us with joy and anticipation of the ETERNAL seeing You as You truly are, forever in the Kingdom to come, O' COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS, AMEN
THE "WORD":
The word "RAPTURE" does not appear in our Bibles. The biblical event(s) dealing with a rapture do exist. It is in this context and at this time that we examine the "Taking" or "Catching Away", as it is known, or as in the Latin "rapio" meaning to snatch away or capture. To be taken quickly!
Several thousand years earlier, we discover an event that could well be the very first Rapture type of "catching up" or "taking away" and recorded in Holy Scripture. (Gen 5:22-24) Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
This is the first recorded incident of what we may identify as a "RAPTURE" ; "The snatching away" "the being caught up" of a living human from the surface of the earth; transporting them into the Heavenly Kingdom.
It was Elijah { Chapter 17 of First Kings} who confronted King Ahab and his sinful ways, along with his wife Jezebel, and relayed the word of God that their land would not see rain nor dew for years as punishment for their deeds. This warning came to be!
In an interesting side-bar, Elijah and another fellow would would follow 800- years later had very similar tastes in clothing: Both being large "HAIRY" men who wore "HAIRY" clothing with a big leather belt around the waist. That other fellow was...named John -- JOHN the BAPTIST! John's diet was Locusts and Honey. Elijah's diet was often "raw meat of unknown origin" often brought to him by Ravens.
The Prophet ELIJAH was a most interesting and effective servant and God had a close relationship with him.
Now, about 2,000 years later during or about 868 BC., we find another beloved servant of God named ELIJAH. Elijah was of the TISHBITE family line; serving as a Prophet of the Living God during King Ahab's Reign. We find this in 1 Kings Chapter 17.
Elijah and prophet partner Elisha traveled together, engaged in the Lord's business perhaps through what I believe that Elijah had forethought that he was near death! On the last day that Elijah was on the earth, the Jordan River was parted like the RED SEA was, and both Elijah and Elisha crossed over to the other side. This was witnessed by many. Once on the other side, the river flow returned to normal.
From here we travel forward nearly 1,000 years and the life, death and Resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus the Christ. The ascension of the LIVING Jesus in full view of the Apostles as He rose into the heavens disappearing in a cloud was, to me, Jesus demonstrating the method and manner of Rapture that the church would experience on that day when He calls us to Him and the dead in Christ will rise first and WE then will together join the Lord in the Air, in an instant.
(Joh 5:28-29 nasb) John writes: "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Later on The Apostle Paul further expands the rapture event;
(1Th 4:13-17) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep-- [having died as believers]. We will immediately follow along in the RAPTURE and meet the Lord in the air!
It is there, in the Kingdom, where we will be witness to the events that lead to the earth's destruction and renewal. Our minds and eyes will finally be unveiled whereby we will clearly know and understand the eternal significance of these events, and the wisdom in the promise of eternal Joy in the presence of he who created all things, including you and I.
When the NEW Jerusalem comes to the earth. [1500 miles wide, 1500 miles long, 1500 miles high; A PERFECT CUBE.] The term, "Heaven on Earth" will take on a whole new significance!
After Elijah arranged to get rid of all Queen Jezebels BAAL Priests, the Lord advised him that he needed to prepare to depart the earth and to hand over the Reigns of Prophesy to a man curiously named ELISHA! The Lord did not say that Elijah was about to die. Only that he would be departing alive from the Earth...in chariots of fire, a most dramatic and wondrous departure from Earth!
SUMMARY: Perhaps one day, in the Kingdom of God in the New Jerusalem we might have the opportunity to ask the Lord if He would comment on many mysteries that have perplexed humans for a very long time. WE should be equipped now to understand on a celestial level. For certain, "Boredom" will never be found in the New Kingdom of God. The more we know...the more we know that we do not know...and the cycle will repeat for ever!
CLOSING PRAYER: Almighty God, thank-You for this global assembly. All of these precious eyes reading and then sharing the "WORD" of our Master, our CREATOR, our GOD with hungry souls no matter the tongue, country, or land. Your blessings endure for ever and ever, and we are forever grateful, O' Lord Jesus, AMEN
DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, Ye heav'n-ly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen
BENEDICTION: (Num 6:24-26) The LORD bless you, and keep you; (25) The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; (26) The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'AMEN
SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE Rom 1:16-17, 1Th 4:16, 13-17, Rev 3:20, Gen 5:22-24, 1 Kings 17, Joh 5:28-29, Num 6:24-26
The Details are in The "WORD"
www.ChristEternalSeniorMinistries.org
May the Peace of Jesus Christ be with you always! Amen
Chaplain Gary
afndelago@gmail.com
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