Lately, there's been a lot of talk about the "last days" and that we are presently living in them. If we know anything about Bible prophecy, truly we see things lining up in preparation for Jesus soon return. But it bothers me that the Church, (Bible-professing believers) seem to be more caught up with the end-time events of our times than the actual return of Jesus, or the Rapture. And so many people are afraid. The Rapture is supposed to be something we are looking for with joyful anticipation. It says so in I Thess. 4:13-18:
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 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.
1Th 4:16 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Notice verse 18, the word “comfort.” In my own experience, the moment Jesus revealed His love for me, I knew that His love for me was real and that it would never change. He took away my fears, and He taught me about His love. Before, I used to be afraid of God and His wrath. I believed I could lose my salvation, and that I had to somehow live a life that would please Him. Part of this fearful works-oriented theology included the belief that I must be constantly made worthy to please Jesus so He would accept me. So it only made sense to me to believe that I would have to suffer through the end times seven year tribulation period so that through suffering I could be even more worthy of Him and He would be pleased with me. So as long as I held onto a doctrine of the fear of God and of His wrath, I could never feel the comfort and have the assurance of His love for me. I lived a life of fear.
As I delved into the Book of John, Romans, Galatians and the New Testament in general, I discovered the God of the Bible as an incredible forgiving and loving God. Jesus’ work on the cross was complete. All I had to do was accept Him and His incredible free gift of salvation. He loves me as I am, with all my mistakes and imperfections. Along with the comfort of knowing I could NOT lose my salvation, came the knowledge that I have not been appointed to wrath.
1 Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
He’s done this before. He saved Noah and his family before sending the world-wide flood that destroyed everything. He spared Lot and his family before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah Kingdom of God
Redeem the Time
As a teenager, I had a couple of vivid dreams about the Rapture. I'll never forget them because they still burn in my heart. In the first dream I was at a fair and it was at night. People were busy going on rides, playing games, and buying their snack foods. They were completely oblivious to the fact that Jesus was returning that very night. I was taught that you must tell them about Jesus and His awesome free gift of salvation (see John 3:16) before it is too late for them and they die and pass into a Godless eternity. So at this fair, I was given only five minutes to warn people and I remember how frustrating this was because I didn't even really know where to begin. The sense of panic and regret that I had done nothing up until now overcame me and I froze, unable to speak. My time was soon up and I looked up into the sky which had now started to open up, and then I woke up.
In the second dream, I was standing on a platform, more like a large dock on a lake. Many people were there also waiting for the Lord's return (the Rapture). A tall middle-aged man came up to me and said, "Why didn't you tell me?" I'll never forget the look of anguish on his face and how tongue-tied I felt not having a single excuse and nothing to say in reply. Then it was too late to say anything and Jesus was about to return.
In both of these dreams, I was left with the sense of time, that time and timing are crucial when it comes to understanding the Rapture. Although we do not know the exact day or hour (see Mark 13:32), it is enough to know that the rapture is a real forthcoming event and that it WILL HAPPEN. And it is crucial to do everything we can first and foremost to spread the Good News of the Gospel to those that are lost without Christ.
The Church must be getting ready TODAY and LOOKING FORWARD with great hope and anticipation to the Rapture and the reunion with Jesus in the air. So rather than look more for the signs of the end of the age, we are to look for His soon return and be always ready to meet Him. Don't get me wrong -- we are to be wise concerning the world around us as it relates to prophecy and Scripture, but our focus is always Jesus and what He wants us to do for Him before His imminent return for us. And, we must be warning people that TODAY is the day of salvation and that no matter what is happening in the world as we see prophetic events unfolding, the most important thing is to be personally ready to meet Jesus and obey whatever calling He has placed on our life.
In another blog I’d like to discuss the importance of not confusing the Rapture to the Second Coming of Christ.
God Bless You and thanks for reading.
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