It saddens me when I come across a Christian who is either clueless or just not interested in the rapture. According to the Bible it will happen in the last days, of which we are currently living in. We are living in a time where lawlessness abounds. Just look at the new law allowing live birth abortions. Who would have ever known? And there are other things that people, and even churches, are saying is good, in spite of the Word of God saying those things are evil. Jesus said in Luke 21:28, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
The rapture is an event when Jesus will call His Bride, all true born again believers in Him, to leave this earth and to be with Him forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 tells us, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep 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 by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." I am truly looking forward to this event, and believe it will be soon.
There are some people being taught, or already believe that the rapture will not happen before the Antichrist comes. But 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9 teaches differently. "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders." The Restrainer is the Holy Spirit in us true believers, and God will remove us from this earth before the Antichrist is revealed. After this happens, a seven year tribulation will take place, called Jacob's Trouble, in which God will send His powerful wrath on all unbelievers in this world, especially those unbelieving Jews in Israel. Remember Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah? God removed him because he was the only righteous man living there. God took him out before He destroyed the cities because of their wickedness. We are the Bride of Christ, and we are not appointed to God's wrath, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:9 "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."
And then, there are scoffers. I remember talking to a guy who occasionally preaches, asking him if he was looking forward to the rapture since the world is getting so wicked. I was surprised to hear him tell me no. He said people have thought for years He is coming, and He hasn't come yet. Because people have set dates, and nothing happened, many people have gotten discouraged and stop looking for Him. Jesus said this in Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." No wonder people lose hope.
We should be anxiously looking for Jesus' return to happen at any time. It is imminent, as nothing needs to happen before it occurs. The things we are seeing happening in this world, and especially in the Middle East, are those things that will happen after the rapture. So how much sooner will we be taken up?
If you are truly born again and have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you should be happy about leaving this world to spend eternity with Him. You should be rejoicing, knowing that He is coming soon for you.
If you don't know Jesus, then you will be left behind, to face God's wrath. Which will be nothing this world has ever experienced. Please, make today the day of your salvation. Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, acknowledging He paid the price for your sins with His blood on the cross. Romans 10:9-10 tells us, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Please make this decision now. We do not know when Jesus will call His Bride up. It could be today, tonight, or tomorrow. Every day brings us one day closer.
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!!
Jesus says, "Surely, I am coming quickly." Revelation 22:20
Jesus says, "Surely, I am coming quickly." Revelation 22:20
