One can't help but
notice events occurring around the world these
days. Even unbelievers realize there's something
going on, but for the born-again believers that
are watching and aware, these signs point to the
soon return of the Lord, and thereby the Rapture
of the Church!
"So
likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things,
know that it is near, even at the doors."
(Matthew 24:33)
Knowing the
Rapture could happen at any moment, let's explore
what it is, when it will occur and what we need
to do as Christians...
First, the Church
is not appointed to wrath:
"For
God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," (1
Thessalonians 5:9)
Second, the Church
is not only kept FROM temptation
during the Tribulation, but FROM
the hour of its occurrence, not THROUGH
the temptation:
"Because
thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also
will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which
shall come upon all the world, to try them that
dwell upon the earth." (Revelation 3:10)
Notice the
difference:
"from" (G1537 - ek): "A
primary preposition denoting origin (the point
whence motion or action proceeds), from, out ( of
place, time or cause)" [Strong's Hebrew
and Greek Dictionaries]
"through"
(G1223 - dia): "A primary preposition
denoting the channel of an act; through (in very
wide applications, local, causal or occasional).
In composition it retains the same general
import: to avoid" [Strong's Hebrew and
Greek Dictionaries]
Third, Jesus said
for men to love their wives as He loves the
Church (Ephesians 5:25). So for Him to place the
Church in Tribulation would be equivalent to
spousal abuse, since the Church will be His Bride
(Revelation 21:9 & 22:17).
Fourth, the
Rapture is a rewards event for saved people:
"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)
But there are
saved people who will lose that reward because
theyre not looking for Him till
later:
"Behold,
I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown." (Revelation
3:11)
And fifth, here
specifically is the admonishment from Jesus to
those who believe He will not appear until during
or after Tribulation:
"But
and if that evil servant shall say in his heart,
My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to
smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink
with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall
come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in
an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut
him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the
hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth." (Matthew 24:48-51)
"shall
cut him asunder" (G1371 - dichotomeo): "to
bisect, that is, (by extension) to flog
severely" (Strong's Hebrew and Greek
Dictionaries)
Notice the
admonishment is to the "evil
servant" whos offending "fellow
servants". Thats saved people creating
arguments with saved people. Mid and
post-Tribulationists will be taken by the Lord in
the Rapture, however they will suffer severe loss
of rewards for not only believing their Lord
would allow them to endure the time of
Tribulation, but for arguing with their brethren
about it.
Which brings us to
this final point: The Rapture topic does not
determine salvation and therefore should not be
debated as thats considered in Gods
Word to be unrighteous (Romans
1:29-32).
As Christians, we're to give an answer for our
hope of eternal life (1 Peter 3:15 &
Titus 1:2),
but not debate as that creates division.
So what do you
need to do now? Tell everyone you know what Jesus
has done in your life and can do in theirs. Tell
them about the free gift of eternal life that He
offers and how little time there may be left for
them to make a decision to receive it.