Podcast Summary: "Jesus is Returning" | Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel

Date: April 13, 2026
Host: Jentezen Franklin

Episode Theme & Purpose

Jentezen Franklin launches a new teaching series on the return of Jesus Christ, aiming to answer questions about biblical prophecy, the rapture, the rise of the Antichrist, the millennial reign, and the believer's hope in eternity. The episode centers on the imminence and certainty of Christ’s return, the importance of living with readiness, and the transformative hope this expectation should instill in believers.

"We're not crazy for believing that. The early church absolutely preached the second coming of Jesus Christ. They expected it at any moment. They were right to do so."
— Jentezen Franklin (02:46)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Biblical Foundation for the Return of Christ

• Franklin reads and expounds on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, emphasizing both the historical expectation and the enduring hope tied to Jesus’ promise to return.
• The early church lived with daily expectation of Christ’s return and viewed it as central to their faith and life decisions.
• Addressing concerns of the Thessalonians when their loved ones died before Christ’s return, Franklin draws from Scripture to reassure that the dead in Christ will rise first.

"The early church, the first church, had an expectancy of the coming of Jesus Christ soon in their lifetime… They believed he was coming any day."
— Jentezen Franklin (05:10)

2. Ignorance, Sorrow, and Hopelessness Without This Hope

• Franklin outlines the consequences when the return of Jesus is neglected in Christian teaching: ignorance of prophecy, sorrow at death, and lack of hope.
• He contrasts Christian hope with other worldviews that don’t promise resurrection.

"If the coming of Jesus Christ, the return of Jesus Christ is not preached and understood clearly in the church... three things happen to people: Ignorance… you’ll be sorrowful… and you’ll have no hope."
(08:00)

3. Nature and Mechanics of the Rapture

• Key texts: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:52.
• Franklin describes the rapture's suddenness: "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."
• Explains the Greek term "harpazo," meaning "caught up, seized by force," giving biblical and practical illustrations (Philip and the Ethiopian: Acts 8:39).
• Franklin uses the metaphor of a magnet at a junkyard: only metal of the same nature as the magnet is drawn upward; likewise, only those with the nature of Jesus will respond to the trumpet call.

"If you have the nature of Jesus, when that trumpet sounds… everyone that has the nature of Jesus will begin to rise and meet him in the sky."
(17:55)

4. Assurance Rooted in the Resurrection

• The certainty of the rapture is based on Jesus’ own resurrection.
• Believers’ future resurrection is guaranteed if they truly trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection—and if they are truly "in Christ."

"If He raised Jesus from the dead, that's proof that Jesus can raise you and your loved ones from the dead."
(22:54)

5. Sequence of End-Time Events

• The rapture will trigger unprecedented global chaos: economies will crash, millions will vanish.
• The seven-year "great tribulation" follows, with the Antichrist rising after the "restrainer" (the Church/Holy Spirit) is removed (2 Thessalonians reference).
• The Antichrist brings deceptive peace initially; then full evil and persecution break out.
• Israel remains central to God’s prophetic plan—the world’s attention and hostility will focus there.

"The moment the church is raptured, suddenly tens of millions of people will vanish… Instantly that will begin the great tribulation."
(24:54)

6. Readiness—The Call for Personal Holiness

• Jesus’ return will be instant and at an unknown hour (Matthew 24:36, 44).
• Franklin decries attempts to predict the exact date and urges continuous readiness.
• Emphasizes a lifestyle marked by purity, rejecting immorality, indulgence, materialism, and compromise.
• Uses illustration of sheep and hogs: sheep may fall in mud but do not like it; they want cleansing. Those with Christ’s nature pursue holiness.

"If you believe this message, you don't live a loose, lax, moral, wicked, evil [life]... there's a nature in you that says, I don't belong here."
(40:56)

7. Encouragement, Challenge, and Urgent Appeal

• The hope of Christ’s imminent return should inspire urgency in evangelism, worship, and personal purification.
• Franklin closes with an altar call, inviting listeners to respond and ensure they are ready for Christ’s return.

"If I'm going to do anything for the Lord... if we're going to do anything that's going to last for eternity, we better do it now. Give now, pray now, witness now, get a burden now."
(44:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Rapture’s Imminence:
  "That's 20,000 episodes that Jesus could come in every day. You ought to be living like that." (09:44)
• On Holiness and Readiness:
  "If you're not living right, you're going to be left behind... Oh my God, you better hear this preacher. Come out of that immorality." (29:33)
• On Israel in Prophecy:
  "That sound of the trumpet, the voice will be the voice of... to the church, the Gentile Church... but when the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled... the door is shut." (33:30–34:24)
• On Personal Transformation:
  "If you don't have that kind of nature, you're a hog, not a sheep... A hog has a nature that, ‘Oh, I love this filth and I'm not giving it up.’" (41:06–41:18)

Key Timestamps

• Series Introduction & Purpose — 00:33–02:30
• Biblical Text & Early Church Expectation — 02:30–07:50
• Repercussions of Ignorance & Loss of Hope — 07:51–09:24
• The Rapture Defined & Described — 09:24–14:19
• Nature of Christ & Readiness Analogy — 17:55–19:41
• Assurance in Resurrection — 19:41–23:16
• Tribulation, Antichrist, and End-Times Sequence — 24:51–36:30
• Readiness, Holiness, and Living Expectantly — 39:18–44:55
• Invitation to Respond, Closing Challenge — 46:06–47:41

Conclusion

Jentezen Franklin’s sermon fervently calls believers to live with readiness, rooted in a daily, practical expectation of Jesus’ imminent return. Anchored in both Scripture and urgent application, Franklin challenges the church to holiness, soul-winning, and unwavering hope. The episode ends with a powerful invitation for listeners to surrender their lives to Christ and be "rapture ready" above all else.

For further study: Listen from [00:33] for main content, skipping intros and advertisements.
Recommended Action: Reflect on personal readiness and share this teaching to encourage others.