READ Matt. 14:30

Much time is given by preachers, and believers, in talking about the Rapture. You might be asking yourself, "Just what is the rapture?" Let me define it as, an event in which the Lord Jesus Christ returns in the clouds of earth, and calls all born-again believers to go home to Heaven with Him. In that moment all true believers are glorified and are given immortal and perfect bodies. This is seen in the Scriptures in I Thess. 4:13-18.

Recently, in the newspaper, I saw an article about some religious group where a number of members had sold much of their possessions and they were waiting for the rapture of Jesus Christ. The article declared that they were "all dressed up, but had no place to go." They were expecting Christ to return on a certain day, as their leaders had determined it to be, but were disappointed because Christ had not come.
Being a preacher, I noticed this article and have seen others like it from time-to-time. I do not want to poke fun at these people - most of whom trust their leaders.

Certainly difficulties of getting jobs and a place to live become immediately apparent. I do, however, want to point out that unnecessary hardships and ridicule could be avoided if those who claim to believe the Bible would simply know their Bible a little better. Books have been written, prophecies made, others will come, but the Almighty God is not subject to the whims and fancies of men! He has said in Psalms 119:89 that "for ever, 0 Lord, thy word is settled in heaven." He'll not change His plans. Let's now look at the Bible to see what it says about the question "What are the evidences of the rapture?"

Matthew 24:3-8

In looking at this passage, it is important to remember that the Jews are not looking for a rapture, but for a King on the throne! The evidences, or signs, that Jesus gave in this chapter are not applicable to our question because they all point to His return to the earth as King! I do want us to note that we are seeing wars, rumors, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, etc. They point to an event that is at least seven years away! They are not what we should be looking for today!

Revelation 1:19 gives us a key to the Book of Revelation.

Read Revelation 3:14

Instead of looking "signs", it would be more correct to examine the state of the church.
Just before the Rapture, the local churches will be:

• 1. lukewarm in all they do Lukewarm in: a. attendance b. Bible knowledge c. giving d. missions e. evangelism

• 2. increased with goods - comfortable
  They don't need to pray or trust God like they once did!

• 3. They are without the things that matter to God

  • a. Not satisfied with the Holy Ghost and His will

  • b. Not having riches laid up in Heaven's bank

  • c. Not made clean by the blood of the Lamb -the filth of the world still cleaves to their lives.
     

The state of the church is the best evidence that Christ's coming is nigh.
We also read in I Timothy 4:1: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."
Teachers who are shallow, callous, and themselves ride on emotionalism rather than truth, are turning many away from the faith. Christianity is not a joyride. It is a constant walk with a loving Savior Who goes with us through good times and bad times. He is there both on the mountaintop and in the valley! Both places are parts of our lives with God!

Read Mt. 28:20, Hebrews 13:5

We are told that His coming is like a thief in the night. (I The. 5:2). Thieves are not known to announce in advance their coming. Neither will Christ. It is not encoded in the pages of Scripture that someone may dig it out one day. Christ wants believers to be faithful and ready.
This brings me to the second question: "Who will go at the Rapture?" Is this talking about the Baptists, the Methodists, Catholics, charismatic, or any other so-called Christian group or denomination? No, not any of them. God has not promised any denomination or church that all of them would be in Heaven. I Thes. 5:14 tells us "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."  Note first what it does not say. It does not say that if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and are a good church member.... Nor does it say, "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again and we try to keep the 1 0 Commandments..."  Nor does it say, "if we believe in Jesus and speak in tongues, or are baptized..."

It does say that if we believe that Jesus died and rose again - that is, if we understand that Jesus death, burial, and resurrection are all that we need to cover your personal sins and transgressions against a Holy God, then you will go with Jesus when He comes!

Are you ready to go when He comes!
The true believer will never be face the great wrath of God. The Tribulation is a period of time in which God pours out His wrath upon an unbelieving world. Rev. 11:18 says: "And the nations were angry,and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great..."
Note that there is clearly a distinction between the saved and the unsaved. The dead, or unbelievers are terrible dealt with during this time, but the saints, or, the saved are rewarded in Heaven.
I Thess 5:9: "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."
Friends, knowing the One Who forgives sins and has power to cleanse for sin and give a new life is all that matters. For the believer, Christ took for us the wrath of God against our sin. He is our righteousness, and He wants us to live righteously. In preparing to meet Him, or, in other words, if you knew that today was your last, is there anything in your life you would change? May He always help us to be ready - this could be the day.

-Pastor Mike Valles