Surely you have heard of the rapture? Nearly all Christian’s and even none Christian’s have heard of this, especially since the popular films and books “left behind“.
The origin of this teaching is said to have come from John Nelson Darby who was a 19th century theologian. Later the rapture was popularised by Hal Lindsay’s late planet earth in the 1970s. Now many believers are waiting eagerly for Christs snatching away of his bride before all hell breaks loose on earth. The “blessed hope” as it’s called is the great escape from the coming tribulation.
Image – John Nelson Darby (Google image)
This post is not to discuss the timing of the rapture such as; pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib or a new popular belief of pre-wrath rapture. This is to discuss if the possibility of the rapture exists according to scriptures.
The “blessed hope” sounds wonderful right? It’s the fairytale ending to a world that is about to be thrust into hells nightmare, the sweet escape before Satan unleashes his crazy one world government. I used to consider this blessed hope and think, “it’s okay, as soon as things get really bad I will be out of there quicker than you can say new world order“. I held onto verses such as 1 Corinthians 15:52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be changed imperishable, and we will be changed. I held onto this blessed hope and believed whole heartedly that when the going gets tough I get zapped out of here. Then something began to happen over the years:
I grew in knowledge and understanding. I realized that in history mass genocides of Christian’s and Jews had took place (Nero, Hitler) and they did not get raptured. I have heard of the systematic cleansing of Christians in some parts of the middle East with no rapture; christian villages in Nigeria burned to the ground or Christians beheaded on beaches. All this happening in modern times, with no rapture? Some would say, well yes but the tribulation is different, this is much worse than anytime in history. Say that to the Christian who was burned at the stake or eaten by lions, for them they were living in the worst time and they were not raptured.
Now then, we could well be ones to escape “the great testing” that is to come and those who are worthy will escape (Luke 21:36) but who said the escape is to be raptured? Remember the passover? The Israelites were protected by the blood of the lambs on the doors, they escaped the death angel, not by being taken out of Egypt, but by being protected in the midst of where they were (Exodus 12). Remember Noah and the flood? (Genesis 6-9) He wasn’t removed from the earth when the flood came, he was instructed what to do to be protected and when the flood came he was protected in the midst of it.
God is able to protect us in a divine way in the midst of chaos, but it’s not always in the way we think. God can protect us spiritually, meaning nothing can harm our spiritual being (the Holy Spirit) God can also protect our souls, so that we do not lose hope and give up. He can do all this during all the trials and tribulations we face. We may face physical pain because when we suffer this way in the body then we are done with sin (1 Peter 4:1)
Now then, here is another very important point to consider. Who is the one holding back the anti-Christ? (2 Thessalonians 2:7) Some do believe this is the church as the church is the spiritual government on earth restraining the enemies power through the Holy Spirit and prayer. This is a great point and case for the church being the restrainer! The other point would be the physical government such as the police and world justice system. This would also make sense.
What do you think? It’s crazy to think that in America right now there is a great calling to end the current police force! They want reformation because of what happened to George Floyd and other black people due to police brutality. Calling to end the police in America is a huge ask and a very dangerous one. When a power vacuum is emptied then it needs to be filled with something or someone, the question is, who or what will fill it?
All of what I am saying in this post is not to say with certainty that there is a rapture or not. It is to enable you to think upon matters and inquire of the Lord Jesus for wisdom and discernment.
One thing we Christian’s must do is prepare for the Lords coming. While we have the freedom to read the word and pray then we should. If those freedoms are at stake due to persecution then we should do even more so! Remember the 5 wise virgins and the 5 foolish ones? (Matthew 25) The foolish ones never got to go with the Lord when he came because they were too busy with earthly affairs and had no time for the groom. The wise ones were taken as they were prepared for his coming.
We can have different views about the rapture so we should not allow this to cause division. It is the means of salvation that we must not differ on; that Christ is the only way to heaven.
Prepare today whether there is a rapture or not. One thing for certain is that the tribulation will soon come and if we remain then we will need to hold onto Jesus with every fibre of our being (spiritual and physical!)
Fix your mind on things above and not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Collosians 3:2-4
Also, I think that this post will most likely need to be followed up with something about suffering persecution but not judgement.
If you want to share your view then please comment.
Image credit: Google images – rapture
Love and God bless
Deano
Gospel road 66 