Now, I don't have any "official" numbers... I just have what I've seen with these tired, not real functional, eyes. But, it seems that it would be safe to say that at least half of the rapture-related sites are saying that there is no such thing. Period.
Of the remaining half, about half state that there will be a rapture, but they expect it to be years, decades, perhaps even centuries away.
Of that last 25%, half say there is a rapture approaching, but then they go about a hundred feet past the line, and start polluting the truth with false doctrine. They will say, "The Lord is coming soon..." (which is true), then they add on something like, "... and if you will send this ministry $50, you too can be a part of that event." Sigh.
To make things even more confusing, when you get down to that last tenth or so that DO get the basics right, (that the Lord Jesus is coming back soon) they start breaking down into the pre-trib groups, the mid-trib, the post trib, the this, the that, the other. And we won't even START to touch on the ones that try to attach a specific date and time.
No wonder people are so confused nowadays!
Now, I won't try to say that my beliefs are right or wrong. But, I will say that, as I have been led by the Holy Spirit in the understanding of the Word of God (and no, that doesn't mean I'm getting anything given to me that any Christian wouldn't likewise be given), these things are what I believe the Bible says. And, if it can't be shown in the Bible, which is God's infallible, inerrant, 100% accurate message to the world, then it should not be taken as truth.
So, is there a rapture? Yes
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15:51-52
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 The. 4:14-17
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 The. 4:14-17
There is assuredly an event wherein the believers that are alive will be changed, where all the believers (dead and alive) will be gathered together by the Lord Jesus. There will be a rapture.
When will it be? Before the time of wrath for the earth (known as the tribulation.) After the rebirth of the nation of Israel.
When will it be? Before the time of wrath for the earth (known as the tribulation.) After the rebirth of the nation of Israel.
"And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." Gen. 7:1
"For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth." Gen. 7:4
"For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth." Gen. 7:4
God made a way for His people to be removed from the oncoming wrath BEFORE He sent His wrath.
"And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?" Gen. 18:20-23
When God has decided it was time to punish Sodom and Gomorrah for their sin, Abraham pleaded with God to refrain if there were any righteous people in the city. God's final reply?
"And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for ten's sake." Gen. 18:32
Even with all the horrible sin that was taking place in those cities, God said He would not send His wrath if there were even ten righteous people. So, what did God do?
"And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;" Gen. 19:1
God sent angels into Sodom to contact Lot and his family. The angels told them to get out.
"Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar." Gen. 19:22
God would not send His wrath until His people were removed to safety. Once they were safe...
"The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground." Gen. 19:23-25
God protects His own. Jesus protects His own. Truly, like Father like Son!
So, we know that the rapture will be before that most terrible of all times, the tribulation. We know that it would have to take place after Israel was reborn as a nation, because there was a prophecy that had to be fulfilled first.
So, we know that the rapture will be before that most terrible of all times, the tribulation. We know that it would have to take place after Israel was reborn as a nation, because there was a prophecy that had to be fulfilled first.
"Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken [it], and performed [it], saith the LORD." Eze. 37:11-14
God said He would revive the whole house of Israel. This took place on May 14th, 1948. So, we have a "window" now of when Jesus will return. And we are living right smack in the middle of that window!
As for when that rapture will take place, we really can't be sure. However, we can see the signs of how quickly it is approaching. One doesn't need to look very hard to find stories in the news that would have made the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah hang their heads in shame (which is saying alot!) God is being patient as the harvest is finished.
As for when that rapture will take place, we really can't be sure. However, we can see the signs of how quickly it is approaching. One doesn't need to look very hard to find stories in the news that would have made the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah hang their heads in shame (which is saying alot!) God is being patient as the harvest is finished.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Pet. 3:9
So, the only real question that remains is, how can one be assured of being taken to a place of safety during the rapture? You must be born again!
A person must heed the call of Jesus. When a person comes to understand that they have sinned against God Almighty, and that they are in danger of going to hell as punishment, this understanding is happening because the Holy Spirit is moving their soul. This is conviction. When one asks Jesus to forgive their sins, they are given a new, reborn spirit...and the promise of a new, glorified body! When the sins are washed away, a person can start to lead a life that God can use. And, be it either at the end of that life or before the end of life (through the rapture), that born again person WILL be forevermore with Jesus Christ. They will be members of the family of God Almighty!
If you haven't made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life, there is but a short time left to heed His call!
Grace and Peace....
A person must heed the call of Jesus. When a person comes to understand that they have sinned against God Almighty, and that they are in danger of going to hell as punishment, this understanding is happening because the Holy Spirit is moving their soul. This is conviction. When one asks Jesus to forgive their sins, they are given a new, reborn spirit...and the promise of a new, glorified body! When the sins are washed away, a person can start to lead a life that God can use. And, be it either at the end of that life or before the end of life (through the rapture), that born again person WILL be forevermore with Jesus Christ. They will be members of the family of God Almighty!
If you haven't made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life, there is but a short time left to heed His call!
Grace and Peace....
