Rapture...Fantasy or Reality?

In the second part of my blog posts on the end times Bible Prophecy I am continuing where I left off. If you missed yesterdays blog, I would suggest you start here and then come back.

Because I truly believe in the pre-tribulation theory, my studies are based around those Bible events that lead me to believe that our next major event in Bible history will be the rapture of the church.

What is that you may ask? It is being taken by force as a believe in Jesus Christ, to meet with Him and our loved ones that have gone before us that also are believers to be with Him forever. We will not have to physically die in our bodies.

This will be the ultimate family reunion with our loved ones who have died before us. No more sorrow and sadness and will experience joy in an instant.

In the twinkling of an eye is how quickly this will all take place. That is faster than we can blink. It is actually 1 /1000th of a second. Your mind can't even comprehend just how fast that is. One second your here and the next you are reunited with family and God.

Will we be the generation of believers to see this happen? No one really knows, however quite some time ago believers thought it would have happened already based on world events that were occurring at that time. So why didn't it?

Have you sat in church recently and seen anyone come to God? That is the very reason it hasn't happened yet. God is waiting for that one person to believe and then we are outta here.

2 Peter 3:9 " The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance."

So where does the Bible say all this rapture stuff will happen?
2 Peter 3:10 "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the coice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead is Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to met the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Matthew 24:40-42, "Two me will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on which day our Lord will come." 1 John 3:2 "But we share know that when He appears we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, "Listen, I tell you a mystery; We will all not sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."

Can you imagine just how many current Christian believers are living on the Earth currently among a population of 7 billion? Can you explain how much that would impact the World to have all those people gone from all over the world in an instant?

Can you see how it would set the stage then for the anti-christ to rise up? This can't happen until the church is removed from the world.

Think about how the economies and the businesses would be impacted during that rapture of the believers. This is the perfect time for a charismatic person who is wise in economic and military strategies to come to power and fix everything.

We won't have to worry about a one world currency even though they have been talking about it for years, it will be more likely to see a one world government with a cashless society thanks to where technology has us all headed in the future.

This can not occur until the existing restraining force is removed. What is that? The church through the rapture will provide no more resistance on the Earth.

Christians for the most part are the ones that speak up for what is right and true in the world today. We are the ones helping when natural disasters strike, when the homeless and hurting need help and to restore and hold together families and marriages.

Once that is gone from the face of the Earth, evil can pretty much do what it wants with no one to speak out against what is right or wrong anymore.

So at this time let your thoughts be on heaven and eternity with God.

Here are some of the effects of the Rapture.

1. No death! The generation that witnesses this event will not die a physical death.

2. It will happen in a instant. 1 Corinthians 15:51

3. Transformation - New Bodies, no more aging, health issues or disabilities.

4. Rescue Operation - God's Special Ops Team will come to remove us all to avoid the tribulation period. 1 Thessalonians 1:10, "to wait for his Son from heaven, who he raised from the dead ~ Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." This is where I come to believe in pre-tribulation.

So what is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming? Aren't they the same? No. Here are the differences.

Rapture: will be a stealth event, we will meet Jesus in the air, He comes for His church and before judgement.

Second Coming: It will be a public event, Jesus comes to Earth, with His church, and with Judgement.

So what should we as Christians do? Walk with God. Like Enoch who was the proto-type who experienced a solo rapture.

Genesis 5:24, "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." He did not die. He took a walk with God and went home with Him.

That is how we need to live our lives, walking with God, consistently and constantly!

Are you sure you'd be ready when God returns or will you be left? Do you have that ultimate certainty behind any reasonable doubt? If not, let's fix that now!

We need to repent or turn away, stop doing sin filled things and stop living in both worlds even as Christians. It's time to get right or get left. Ready? Pray this prayer!

Lord Jesus,

Come into my life!
I know that I am a sinner!
I thank You for dying on the cross for me and rising again from the dead.
Now fill me up with Your Spirit and write my name in Your Book of Life,
and help me follow You all the days of my life.
Thank you that my sins are forgiven and that I am now going to heaven.
In Jesus Name I pray! ~ AMEN!

If you just prayed that prayer, you are a new creation and a believer in Jesus Christ. This is the reason for His delaying of the rapture of the church. You will now be part of that ultimate family reunion and I can't wait to welcome you when I see you!

Look for what happens when the church is gone and see just why you want to make sure you aren't here for what is coming next tomorrow!