Rapture Update
January 30, 2008
There is much being said now about dates, times, and seasons. Of these we should be aware and we should know what is and is to come. Such gives us hope while both prodding us to stay faithful to the message of the Gospel and at the same time bringing up in us that mixture of wanting more time to see more come in while desiring to be at home with the Lord.
We have many signs concerning the Second Coming of the Lord to earth to rule and reign. We have one sign concerning the catching away or rapture of the saints:
Acts 1:9
After He (Christ) said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
From that time on, the rapture of Church has always been possible. We say possible, as the rapture of the Church seems to be tied to the nearness of the Second Coming of Christ of which all signs point to
Matthew 24:32-33
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors!”
While we have no warnings or signs to tell us when the rapture of the Church will take place, we can see Israel and know that if Her time is nearing – the time of Jacob’s trouble, then our time – the Church, must be closing as well! Yet the Church is not given anymore information than to watch and to be ready. (Not be watching in fear or dread as legalistic teachers would have us do, but watching in anticipation and excitement!)
1 Thessalonians 5:4-11
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
While we as Believer’s should keep our eyes on Israel and the signs accompanying Her progress through time, we have one focus and that is upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the joy and spreading the Gospel to every people, tribe and nation! Because the Church has already received salvation, even though we wait for the culmination of our salvation which is to be taken up with the Lord, we have nothing to fear from the future but we do have an expectation of glory! The Church is not here to be saved as is
Romans 11:25-27
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The deliverer will come from
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
The work of the Church is then not to be given to countdowns but to reaching the lost with the true Gospel of Christ. We have one message and it is not the ramblings of ancient pagan cultures and vague prophets of days past with end of world predictions that come and go and only bring disrepute on the message of the Church that Christ will return and that all will be as He has said!
Luke 21:33
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
The promise of the Lord is sure, in every respect, but if we cannot believe the promise of God for today, how will we trust in Him for what is to come? Time is moving and will continue to move. Yet all is well for the Church and will be well for God is still God, our Lord is still on the throne, and we, the Church, are still His body and are still endued with power from on high! We are not armed with dates but Truth. We are not concerned with the ramblings of the world but with the Word of Life! We are ready to go, but delighted to stay to speak more of our Savior. While we do have a Word of warning we also have the promise of Salvation for all who call on the name of our Lord! (Romans 10:13) Until that Day we expect daily to be with the Lord and we live and work accordingly. No Day is of more importance than the day that we live today. Yet no Day that we live now will ever match the Day that we shall soon know. (1 John 3:2-3)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
