THE RAPTURE EXPLAINED

Where do we (saints) go after the rapture ? We go directly to heaven where we are presented before God the Father and established in eternal and unblameable holiness by God. The judgment of believer’s works takes place at this time. From that time henceforth, we literally become the saints of the most high God forever. Death and Hell no longer has power over us and we shall rule the earth with our Lord Jesus Christ at His return with a rod of iron (Rev 20:1-6). For how long shall we rule with Him? Forever, even for ever and ever. Of this coming kingdom, there shall be no end. It is even an everlasting dominion where all things shall be subject to us as we in Christ and Christ in God. This is the kingdom that John the Baptist proclaimed in his days when he declared in Matt 3:2: repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Some Christians today often ask the question: If there is rapture, what would be the purpose of it? Why must the church be raptured, or rather say, why must Christ take away the church out of the earth? To receive saints to Himself as promised (1 Thess 4:17, John 14:1-3, Eph 5:27). To resurrect the dead in Christ from the wicked dead (1 Thess 4:14, 16-17, Rev 20:4-6). To take saints to Heaven to live in the New Jerusalem and receive rewards for their labor of love while on the earth (1 Thess 4:17, 3:13, John 14:1-3, 2 Corinth 5:10, Rev 19:1-10, 21:9-10). To change the bodies of saints to an immortal body that can no longer die physically (1 Thess 4:16-17, 1 Corinth 15:35-58, Phil 3:21). To present saints before God as our high priest (1 Thess 4:17, John 14:1-3, Jude 24, Rev 19:1-10). To make saints whole in body, soul, and spirit, so that we can be perfected in all things like our Lord and be capable of ruling and reigning with Him on earth at His return in the millennium (1 Corinth 13:9-11, 1 Thess 5:23, Phil 3:21). To receive the fruit of the early and latter rain; the early rain at seed time (day of Pentecost which begins the church), the latter rain at harvest time (the harvest or taking away of the church which ends the church age - James 5:7). To hide the saints from the tribulation, the days of God’s wrath which shall devour the whole earth in the days to come (1 Thess 5:9, Luke 21:36, Rev 4:1, Rev 6:1-19, 21). To remove the hinderer of lawlessness, and allow the full revelation and unveiling of the Man of Sin, the Antichrist, who is also called the Beast (2 Thess 2:7).

It will be a great shock to many that are left behind on that day of the rapture when our Lord comes to take His own. The whole world would be upside down, filled with heavy panic. Places on earth will be disrupted with great noise everywhere. Great terror will be written on every face. Are you so bold that you fear nothing? If you get left behind, the terror of those days will make you tremble. People will run wildly and total pandemonium will reign. People will run up and down in the streets, yelling, weeping, and screaming. Many will lose their children and some their spouse because they would have gone with the Lord.

Therefore brethren, we beseech you by the mercies of God to know that the day is almost over and night is fast approaching when no man can work anymore. Please, whatsoever you desire to do for the Lord, do it now while it is still day, for time is very short. What so ever you are planning to do for the Lord In the future, it is extremely important that you start it today. Our Lord is coming and He is almost already here. Please, this is the time to labor steadfastly by sharing the gospel with many that you can find. All your unbelieving friends, neighbors, and colleagues at work, share our Lord Jesus Christ with them. Surely Our Lord will ask you all what you have done with this message of grace that you have heard. Do you have earthly plans for years to come? Buying a land? Building a house? Purchasing a car? Aspiring to get to the top in your company? Planning to get married? You had better plan all these things in view of the Lord’s coming.

So then, this we say to you by the word of the Lord that, now is come another in the spirit of Elias with the same message as John: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Our Lord has sent us to declare these things to all His children. He has commanded us to warn all His children not to sleep and be careless like the unfaithful virgins (Matt 25:5, 1 Thess 6:6-7). This means not to go back into sin in any form; even in foolish talking or jokes which are not convenient. We must deny ourselves of some of the pleasures of this world that could gender unto sin. He has also commanded us to tell all His children to be watchful, sober and full of prayer. Be alert. Look up; for our redemption is so near that many in the church today are totally unaware of what God our Father is going to do very shortly. Many Christians have been deterred by the cares of this world from pursuing the truth, and by this they have become lukewarm in Christ. Hear the word of the Lord today: Because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth ( Rev 3:16). Some Christians think because they serve tenaciously in church as choirs, ushers, etc. they will certainly partake of the rapture. Hear again the word of the Lord: Nevertheless, I have something against you, because you have left your first love (Rev 2:4). It is extremely important that all workers in the church of our Lord in any capacity study Rev 2:1-4. This is our Lord’s letter to you. What is your first love? It is your original burning desire to please the Lord and tarry in His presence in personal fellowship when you first got born again. Our Lord commands you today to return to those days and come spend time alone with Him. Separate time for yourself alone to fellowship with Him everyday in prayer and His Word. For in this He has much more delight. Continue also to serve in church but your personal fellowship with the Lord is much more important.

Let everyone pursue souls for the kingdom sake. Do not spend too much time on buildings and tabernacles for time is short. What counts most to our Lord now is preaching the good news and testifying of Him to many that they may believe and be saved from eternal damnation. How many people have you witnessed to this week? Do you bear good fruit as a believer? Do the ungodly feel very comfortable around you? Are you still one leg in the church and one leg in the world? Do you still exaggerate during conversation not knowing that you are taking pleasure in lying? Do you think you are godly and saved and yet you do not study the Scriptures and tarry in the presence of our Lord? If you do not have all the right answers to these questions you still have work to do. The evil one, the devil, will not allow you to escape and partake of the rapture except you are filled with Holy Spirit, praying always, and feeding daily on the Word of God to observe and to do ALL His commandments. We plead with you by the mercies of our Lord to repent of all these inconsistencies and turn to steadfastness today. Cry out to our Lord for help and He will answer. Submit to Him and let Him help you and show you how to run this race blamelessly by His Spirit in you. Pray to the Lord for daily grace to do all these things. It is our prayer that none of you will miss the rapture but rather will partake of it. This we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.