Ready for the Rapture

(Note: Clicking the church name above will take you back to the home page,
and clicking the three crosses at the bottom will take you back to the top of the page.)

Ready for the Rapture

#1527 0522 11A

Being prepared to meet Jesus, by maintaining a believing faith on His Atonement sacrifice, is our primary concern every day. God will have us ready, if we are willing to interpret His grace correctly. Titus 2:11-14 ”For the grace of God has been revealed [with healing power], bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.

“We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to [purify] cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right”—by trusting in faith on the Blood of Christ.

The rapture will take place, so we have to be ready. Daniel 7:13-14 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power.” Matthew 28:18, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Jesus said Matthew 24:30 ”They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” The apostle John confirmed Revelation 1:7 ”Behold, [Messiah] is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.”

Christ returns for believers—they will be caught up to meet Him. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

Most Christians agree with the sudden departure of God’s people at the rapture, but there are several views on when it will take place. A pre-Tribulation rapture, however, is supported most in Scripture. The rapture happens suddenly—taking most by surprise—even though ample warnings have been given.

Following the disappearance of true believers from the earth, there begins seven years of horrible conditions on earth called the Tribulation. At the end of those seven years, Jesus comes back again to set up His millennial kingdom on earth.

The apostle explains 1 Corinthians 15:23-24 “There is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised. After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having put down all enemies of every kind.”

The Tribulation consists of the worst natural disasters, plagues, deception, death, and persecution this world has ever seen. The wrath of God will be unleashed on a wicked, rebellious, and unrepentant world. Anyone who is not a true believer—because they are not truly trusting God in faith for things in this life—will miss the rapture and are left behind to endure the tribulation horrors.

Jesus explained about this sudden disappearance at a private meeting with His disciples. Referring to the global Flood and how they were taken by surprise, Jesus said Matthew 24:40-42 ”Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour [day] your Lord doth come.”

Those ready, are those who have allowed God to prepare them, by trusting Him every day to do the necessary spiritual work on their rebellious hearts. The rapture could happen any moment, so we must judge our own attitudes, examine our own heart, and ask ourselves if we are sincere in our faith.

2 Corinthians 13:5 ”Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers: put your own selves under examination. Or do you not know that Jesus Christ is within you, unless you are insincere [fail the test; ye be reprobates-corrupted; are disqualified]?” Only God can search our heart and reveal hidden resentment, bitterness, or unbelief. If we have sinned, we must repent; if we have resented, we must forgive.

When the disciples asked Matthew 24:3 “When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?” the Lord replied that they would not see Him again until He returned—adding, Matthew 24:4 “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Multitudes will turn away from faith in God because of false teaching and spiritual blindness. When the leaves of a tree begin to bud, the rapture could take place as the “lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west [lights up the entire sky]” Matthew 24:27.

The first Advent of Jesus included His humble birth in Bethlehem, living in Nazareth, and His earthly ministry. Then came the mocking, crucifixion, resurrection, and return to Heaven. The Second Advent will include the rapture; devastating plagues, divine judgment, and a kingdom on earth. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 “May [Jesus] strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus appears with all his holy ones.”

We are not to set dates, but we must be ready—with a repentant heart, a forgiving spirit, and a trusting faith in the Atonement of Christ—for health, healing, daily needs, justice, peace, and every life issue. Matthew 24:36 "Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

Before the global Flood, the world was rebellious, evil, and wicked—just like today. It was when the unbelieving and unprepared perished. Genesis 6:5 “GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

News reports of earthquakes, terrorist attacks, suicide bombers, wild fires, devastating floods, famines, hurricanes, tornadoes, and armed conflicts warn of the coming rapture—in the blink of an eye 1 Corinthians 15:52. Jesus said people will be working, eating, and going about their lives with little thought of judgment. Matthew 24:39 ”Nor did they realize any danger till the Deluge came and swept them all away; so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man”—taken by surprise for not heeding the warnings.

"Just as it was in the days of Noah [Jesus said], so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man” Luke 17:26 “The flood came and destroyed them all” 27. These are serious warnings to repent of sins, to forgive everyone, to keep our faith in Christ, and to keep trusting on His Blood sacrifice. We must be watching and praying, because only by the Blood of Christ, are we forgiven and ready. Ephesians 1:7 ”In Him we have redemption through His blood.”

Today’s world is full of wickedness, hatred, rebellion, and unbelief, but if we keep a believing faith on the Blood of Jesus, we will be ready for His return. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you” 1 Peter 1:3-4.

While we wait for His return, “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” Hebrews 10:22.

When a believing faith is on the Blood of Christ, the promises of God cannot be denied. 1 John 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

There were those inside the ark—because of their trust on God; and those outside the ark—because of no trust on Him. Jesus is everyone’s Judge, and He knows everyone’s heart. Matthew 24:40-41 ”Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

When we place ourselves under the Blood of Christ, we are being watchful, and when we keep a trusting faith in His Atonement sacrifice, we are ready for His return. We do not know the hour nor the day, but we do know He stands at the door. God has given His Spirit to enlighten us, and to lead us into all Truth. 1 Thessalonians 5:4 ”You, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.”

To be ready “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” 2 Peter 3:12. We must repent of sins, be willing to forgive people, and keep a believing faith on the Blood of Christ.

Jesus said "Watch out that no one deceives you.” The only way to be watchful is to have the Holy Spirit protect us from deceit by enlightening us to false teaching. To be ready, we must be forgiven by God, by a trusting faith in the Blood of Christ—through every test of faith. Revelation 2:10 ”Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

We are ready for the rapture when we love God with all our heart, and we maintain a trusting faith on the power of the Blood. 1 John 3:21 “If our hearts do not condemn us [If our conscience is clear], we have confidence before God.” If we are truly trusting God, He will be truly faithful to His promise and have us ready. Our part is to 1 John 2:28 “Continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and un-ashamed before him at his coming.”

Receiving God’s gift of righteousness depends on our willingness to believe Him, and to trust Him in faith each day, so He can change our heart from rebellion to submission. Being ready depends on whether we are trusting on the Blood sacrifice Jesus made for us—concerning health, healing, finances, justice, protection, and other relevant life issues.

Forgiving everyone of everything—because we love God with all our heart—is a good way to be ready for the rapture and prepared for the return of Christ. Revelation 22:20 “Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

†††