RAPTURE/SECOND COMING #10: “Tying Things Together – My Final Post in This Series”
This is the Finale, the final post in my series on “Rapture at the Second Coming.” If you have read all the posts #1-10, I hope you agree that I have made a compelling case to substantiate my belief that the Rapture of the Church takes place at the Second Coming of Christ, following the Tribulation period.
Speaking personally, this has not been about trying to win a theological debate (As I have said before, I would not mind at all being wrong about this, and if my Pre-Trib Rapture friends are proved right, I will joyfully apologize to them on the way up!) No, I’m not trying to win a debate, but am just being honest about what I believethe Scriptures EXPLICITLY teach about these things.
I have tried to stay laser-focused on this one issue: “The Rapture takes place at the Second Coming of Christ.” My reason for zeroing in on this one event is simple: I believe that the followers of Jesus need to be prepared spiritually, mentally, emotionally for what lies ahead. Although I’m not making predictions or proclamations about whether or not we are entering the period Jesus described as “great tribulation,” there are enough indicators currently presenting themselves that it makes one wonder. If this isn’t “it,” then this hour can certainly serve as a wake-up call and should jolt us into evaluating where we stand with Christ. Are the roots of our faith in Christ deep enough to see us through to the end, whatever comes?
Take a moment to ponder the current trends, developments, and imminent future possibilities in our own country and in the world that are being thrust upon us at seeming lightning speed. There are so many startling changes – spiritually, politically, socially, medically, morally and religiously, technologically, economically, etc., etc., that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that something very unusual is going on. Do I think this is “it,” that we are entering the final tribulation period before the Christ’s return? I don’t know; I wrestle with this, have mixed feelings. I look forward to being with Christ and all His saints in Heaven. On the other hand, I hope this is not it! My reason for that is the same reason the Apostle Peter gave for the delay of Christ’s expected return: God wants people to be SAVED! He is “NOT WISHING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD REACH REPENTANCE” (2 Peter 3:9). I’m praying that there will be a MASSIVE, world-wide spiritual awakening with hundreds of millions, even billions more souls coming to Christ before the end!
Am I confident that I will personally be strong enough to endure whatever lies ahead? No, not in my own strength. But, thankfully, we who sincerely believe in Christ do not have to rely on our own resources. By God’s grace, as we surrender our lives fully to Christ and cleave to Him, His grace will prove sufficient to bring us through, no matter what.
Someone wrote to me as I began this series that my position was “not comforting” and “dangerously misleading.” I hope by now you see that my teachings are not “misleading,” but clearly and responsibly grounded in the Scriptures. The remark, “not comforting,” seems to infer that truth is somehow determined by whether or not something is “comforting.” That view itself is “dangerously misleading”. My goal in this series is not to provide false hope by side-stepping, misinterpreting, and redefining the Scriptures until our desires for comfort are satisfied. Because God’s people need truth, want truth, and deserve truth, my goal is to teach the truth. Here’s truth: God’s purpose isn’t to make us comfortable; His purpose is to make us like Jesus, that we will “be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29); and also that we will be worthy and effective ambassadors for Christ, reaching the lost for whom He died and rose (2 Corinthians 5:14-20; John 3:16).
Jesus and most of His apostles experienced horrendous suffering and persecution, and many died as martyrs. Jesus warned His disciples that they would be hated by all nations, and many would be put to death for their faith. These things have happened throughout history, as we know, and even more so right now we keep hearing of atrocities happening to our sisters and brothers in Christ in many parts of the world. The call to follow Christ is not an invitation to “comfort,” but an invitation to live in vital and loving relationship with the one and only true God who loves us so much, He sent His Son to die for us. Our comfort as Christians isn’t to be construed as easy, comfortable lives (which we all hope for and enjoy when we can), but our comfort is in experiencing the present reality of God’s nourishing and strengthening presence. It is His loving reassurance that He will see us through to the end and bring us through the curtain of death, when that time comes, to see Him face to face. And hopefully we will all hear His amazingly wondrous words, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt 25:23).
Again, the call to follow Christ is not a call to a life of comfort and escape from tribulation. “In the world,” Jesus said, “you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). However, it is definitely a call to escape in one way: Putting our trust in Christ enables us to escape the wrath of God at the final judgment. Jesus’ teaching is clear, as is the whole New Testament, that there is a final judgment. Our eternal destinies are at stake over whether or not we receive Christ. Some will go to Heaven; others will go to Hell. This is no day to sit on the fence with our spiritual commitments. “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation” (Heb 2:3)?
If you’re not sure where you stand with Christ, and you want assurance that you belong to Him, I would like to lead you in a prayer of commitment and surrender to Him. It’s as simple as A-B-C:
A dmit you’re a sinner, that you have sinned and made mistakes, and that you need God’s forgiveness and salvation.
B elieve Christ died for you on the Cross, taking responsibility for your sins and mistakes, and believe that He rose again and will come into your life when you ask Him.
C hoose to receive Christ now, by praying in faith a prayer of commitment and surrender.
HERE IS A SUGGESTED PRAYER:
“Thank You, Jesus, that You love me and that You died for my sins. I invite You into my life right now, trusting You as my Lord and Savior. Please take Your rightful place in my life. I surrender myself to You – who I am, all I have, and everything I can do. I give You my past, my present, and my future. Please fill me with the Person, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit, and enable me by Your grace to be Your ambassador, shining my light for You and living for Your glory until I see You face to face in Heaven. Thank You, Jesus. Amen!”
(Please let me know if you prayed that prayer, so I can rejoice with you, and also with our Heavenly Father, who celebrates whenever someone puts their trust in His Son!)
Thanks, all of you, who have been with me on this journey. You may be interested in an upcoming online class I will be teaching on Zoom, starting in September. My class is entitled, “The Holy Spirit and the Spirit-Filled Life.” It is one of four classes being offered in the brand-new Renewal School of Ministry. My class will be offered on Thursday nights beginning Sept 17. We will be using my book, “Called to High Adventure: A Fresh Look at the Holy Spirit and the Spirit-Filled Life.” Registration for the course is $10, and the cost of my book and study guide is $12 including shipping. You can register for my class, and the others, too, at https://www.hsrm.org/blog-events/june-2020-online-event.