1. All born-again people are part of the Bride of Christ:

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:7 KJV)

"...Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." (Revelation 21:9 KJV)

2. Many who consider themselves saved are not:

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you..." (Matthew 7:22-23a KJV)

3. The return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Bride in the Rapture is approaching, but not all who are born-again Christians are watching. They are part of the Bride and will be Raptured, but will lose a reward due to their neglectful watching:

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJV)

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." (Revelation 3:11 KJV)

Robert Jensen, a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin, recently penned an article stating that he had recently joined a local church in that city. He stood before the congregation and affirmed that he "endorsed the core principles in Christ's teaching; intended to work to deepen my understanding and practice of the universal love at the heart of those principles; and pledged to be a responsible member of the church and the larger community." Mr. Jensen calls himself a "real Christian", but Mr. Jensen openly admits "I don't believe in God. I don't believe Jesus Christ was the son of a God that I don't believe in, nor do I believe Jesus rose from the dead to ascend to a heaven that I don't believe exists." Mr. Jensen is an Atheist.

His motive for church membership was "more a political than a theological act." He wants a forum, as he says, to engage in discussion of politics and underlying values. Inasmuch as local church attendance by the unsaved is part of the evangelization process so as to proclaim the Gospel and the offering of Jesus' free gift of salvation, this local church is apparently not interested in the saving of lost souls with the Truth of the only way to Heaven (John 14:6), or it would not have welcomed a self proclaimed Atheist into its membership:

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." (Matthew 7:6 KJV)

But churches such as this are a subject for another commentary. So interested in politics and openly denying the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Mr. Jensen fails to realize that He who will control all governments in the future is He who is about to return:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder..." (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)

His disdain for the Truth in the Bible is proof in itself that we are near to the Rapture:

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers..." (2 Peter 3:3 KJV)

The term Christian was first used in the Bible by King Agrippa to the Apostle Paul in Acts 26:28. Through and due to Paul's witness, King Agrippa knew what a Christian was: a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ. Again the term is used in 1 Peter 4:16 signifying that those persecuted as a Christian not be ashamed, but to glorify God in their persecution. Would you glorify God at any time? To deny God and the Lord Jesus Christ even exist is the denial of denials. By that, one cannot be a Christian no matter how loudly they announce it. There are many in today's society that proclaim Christianity by name only but deny the Lord as a part of their lives. That said, the Bride is a small woman:

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:14 KJV)

On the other hand, there are many today who are truly born-again and admittedly owe their salvation solely to Him, but are not watching for His soon return. I talk to many brothers and sisters in the Lord, in person and on numerous Christian message boards around the Internet, who are fanatic in their belief that the Church will go through the Tribulation. Well, I've got news for you: The Lord Jesus Christ is not guilty of spousal abuse. For the Church to enter the Tribulation is to contradict the Bible's mandate for husbands to love their wives as Jesus loves the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Given many members of the Bride refuse to see this, the Bride is not too bright:

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV)

There are many of us who are watching in glorious anticipation of the Rapture, and for that we will be rewarded. But we shouldn't be surprised there are those who aren't watching. The fact that a crown is given only to those who are tells us there are going to be many who don't. And as I said before, they are part of the Bride and will be Raptured, but will lose a reward.

I'm hearing Pastors all the time say what we need is revival. Sadly, as the Rapture draws near, that's not going to be the case:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." (2 Timothy 3:1 KJV)

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13 KJV)

Society will continue to deteriorate up to the event of the Rapture, and fewer and fewer will come to believe in the Truth of the Gospel. Not only that, but many who professed knowledge of the Truth will depart from it:

"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;" (1 Timothy 4:1 KJV)

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV)

It's not going to be until after the Rapture, during the terrible time of Tribulation, that revival will come:

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;" (Revelation 7:9 KJV)

"...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:14 KJV)

The Bride's a small woman, and not too bright. Many who believe they're saved aren't and will perish. Many who should be watching aren't and will lose rewards. So what can we, who are born-again Christians and are watching do? What should those who are born-again Christians, but not watching do?

"...look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28 KJV)

Keith

03-11-2006