Some Christians don’t believe in a coming rapture—some believe in suffering through tribulation and not being raptured—some don’t think it matters if you watch for the rapture or not—well let’s try to sort this all out.
So here we go…
The rapture of the church to come—is not the first rapture—take a moment and go to your Bible and look up Enoch who was raptured alive—Elijah who was taken up alive in a whirlwind, and CHRIST WHO ascended to heaven: “rapture” events. So “rapture” concept is ALIVE—and well so-to-speak.
The truth whether people like it or not is that GOD is about “warning”—“redemption and restoration”—“salvation and rescue.” HE is not going to just prove this at the time of the rapture of the church—HE has already proven it previously. It is HIS very nature to WARN—redeem and restore those who want to be redeemed and restored and to rescue and save.
Let’s think about this concept:
GOD is about WARNING people: HE WARNED: Pharaoh; Nineveh; the Israelites; Adam and Eve; the Jews: Pharisees as well; Abraham; Noah; Disciples; Apostle Paul; the seven churches in Revelation; and us. He sends prophets and other messengers—human and angelic.
GOD is about redemption and restoration: Noah; Abraham; John the Baptist; Jeremiah; Isaiah; Jonah; CHRIST were all those who pleaded with people to repent, turn to GOD and to be redeemed and restored before it was too late. GOD IS STILL PLEADING TODAY WITH THE LOST TO REPENT AND SEEK REDEMPTION before it is too late.
GOD is about SALVATION and RESCUE: parting of the red sea; Noah’s ark; Salvation of Nineveh; Joseph saving of HIS people during famine in Egypt; Esther saving her people from destruction in Persia; CHRIST DYING ON THE CROSS TO SAVE US ALL—and the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH—GOD’S NEXT GREATEST RESCUE MISSION.
If you don’t want to believe in rapture—this is your coming fate (because GOD won’t force anyone’s hand and deciding there is no rapture is a choice):
Revelation 20:4 (KJV): And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of JESUS, and for the word of GOD, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with CHRIST a thousand years.
And if you don’t want to believe that GOD’s nature is to WARN—REDEEM—RESCUE even today’s generation then you will be living a self-fulfilling prophecy: YOU won’t be raptured because WATCHING for the event IS a REQUIREMENT to be “raptured.” Luke 21:36 (KJV): WATCH ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the SON of man.
Why is the “WATCHING FOR RAPTURE” so significant to GOD’s plan of redemption versus the plan of NO RAPTURE DOCTRINE AND NOT WATCHING FOR IT?
HAS IT HIT YOU YET?—well the reason is GOD HAS SET THE WHOLE THEME TO “WATCH” FOR HIS RAPTURE RESCUE—because people who believe in rapture BELIEVE in WATCHING and “BEING READY AT ALL TIMES—COME WHAT MAY”: and believe me things come: look at the crisis AROUND THE WORLD NOW.
Now if you are NOT “INTO” the watching for the rapture and you are into the “NO NEED TO WATCH—WE ARE GOING THROUGH TRIBULATION” thing—then YOU HAVE NO SENSE OF URGENCY—not like the people looking for rapture—and so when people leave the planet whether it be death; disaster; or rapture—they are either spiritually ready or they are not sitting on the edge of their seats waiting or watching for anything. How often might that happen? A lot because the Bible says the road to hell is BROAD and MANY GO THERE. go to any search engine and enter the words: “rapture scripture” and see all that comes up both OT & NT.
NOW HERE IS ONE OF MY PERSONAL ALL-TIME FAVORITE RAPTURE VERSES: 1 Corinthians 15:52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
I have yet to figure out how 1 Corinthians 15:52 can apply to any other scenario but to the RAPTURE of the church.
As for me: I vote for the “twinkling of an eye” event and the GOD WHOSE NATURE IS TO WARN—REDEEM—RESCUE.
Matthew 24:42 (KJV): Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Matthew 24:43 (KJV): But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Matthew 25:13 (KJV): Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Mark 13:28-33 (KJV): 28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Mark 13:34 (KJV): For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Mark 13:35 (KJV): Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Mark 13:37 (KJV): And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Luke 12:37 (KJV): Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Luke 12:39 (KJV): And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Luke 21:36 (KJV): Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
SIDE NOTE: To really get this, you need to see the bigger picture–so here is a line-by-line study for beginners of Revelation:
