1 Cor. 15:52 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.
Good morning! The topic of the Rapture excites me and stirs my spirit! I hope it is a blessing to all who read it. God does not leave His children to despair during these times of what is happening in our Country today. The times are changing so rapidly and there’s fear in the hearts of mankind: fear of the unknown! When is the next pandemic going to happen and where is it going to lead us? Are we going to remain hostages in our own homes? Are people going to be restricted from purchasing even the basic necessities of life if they are not vaccinated, or if they don’t convert to digital currency? Will citizens lose their freedoms in order to corral them? Americans, and the world for that matter, have no idea what is to come. But the born-again Christian isn’t looking to this world for his hope. We look to Christ! Why? Let’s look and see.
The Rapture is an event that will definitely happen. The timing of the Rapture is uncertain but the event itself is most surely going to happen. This is why it is considered to be imminent. The Thessalonians thought it had already happened and Paul addresses that in 2 Thessalonians.
However, the Scriptures below tell us that it is as definite as Christ’s resurrection. Without Christ’s resurrection, one would have no hope!
It is the Word of God, reader! Paul taught them about the Rapture and God saw fit to include this topic in the Bible through His Holy Spirit. (John 14:26) Friend, Christ does not leave us hopeless! He left us with His Word to encourage us during these end times! If we are blessed enough to be alive at the time of the Rapture, we will not see death! How exciting is that!
Every single detail in God’s Word will be fulfilled.
It is said that 6,000 prophecies in the Bible, and nearly 80% of those prophecies have occurred without failure or error. The remaining nearly 20% will be fulfilled because God’s Word in Matthew and Luke above say so. The Church experienced God’s mercy and grace by providing a Saviour. But God’s judgment must still take place because it is part of His Word. He magnifies His Word above His name!
This truly defines how important that every single thing in God’s Word must be fulfilled! The Rapture is no different. The Rapture is only for those who are truly born-again and live accordingly. To the one who claims he is a Christian but does not separate himself from sin, he is not a true believer. If he is disobedient to the Word, then he is considered a part of the children of disobedience.
Anyone can believe in God – in fact, the devils believe in Him, but that does not make them saved! In fact, they tremble!
Check yourself, reader. If you have indeed been born again, you will strive to live the Christian life according to the Bible. If you are not, sure, make sure! If you know that you are not living according to the Bible, then you are considered as part of the children of disobedience. A born-again believer walks after the Holy Spirit’s influence. This is why the Church will not be experiencing the Tribulation’s wrath of God.
If you are a born-again Christian and have never studied this out, I hope you are blessed by it and encouraged in your heart. If you are not born again, I urge you to settle the matter right now! Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
Good morning, reader! I pray that you are receiving some encouragement with this series when the Rapture could happen! This topic is what led me to the Lord in the first place. A miracle occurred when God sent my best friend to visit me on her vacation. She had no idea that I was interested in the future of this world. I read after famous ancient authors looking for answers. She brought along a recording of a Bible scholar who was renown for end time prophecy. Everything he said was backed up by Scripture. He spoke of the Rapture: I had never heard of such a thing in my religion. It was then that I found the One True God and the salvation He provides! So I pray that you, too, are searching and that this devotional series will lead you to Christ, our Saviour!
Three things will happen at the Rapture: the dead in Christ will be resurrected and the born-again Christians who are alive will be transformed in an instant, and will be caught up in the air to be joined with Jesus Christ. This transformation will happen in an instant! The transformation of those Christians who are alive at the time of the Rapture is described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (below) as the corruptible and mortal body being instantly changed to an incorruptible and immortal one (verses 52-53).
Isn’t this wonderful? Just as Noah and his family entered the ark and were protected against the flood that affected the entire earth, so shall born-again Christians be protected from the coming Tribulation. If you notice, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says that we meet Jesus in the air and that we will forever be with Him! How exciting this is to the believer! What an encouragement it is to know that nothing will separate us from Him for all eternity! This is our hope, dear reader! The unbeliever has no hope! I recall that prior to my salvation, I too had no hope! I “hoped” that I would go to heaven but I was never certain.
As we continue this series, you will come to see how it all fits together for those who are saved. We await a wonderful event! Paul encourages the believers in Thessalonica with the promise of the Rapture. In fact, he tells them to comfort themselves together as the end approaches! (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Why? Because this event will usher in the most terrible time this earth has ever experienced since the creation of man! We thought Noah’s flood was bad, well apparently the Tribulation will be worse!
If you are a born-again Christian and have never studied this out, I hope you are blessed by it and encouraged in your heart. If you are not born again, I urge you to settle the matter right now! Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
Good morning! Could this be the year that the Rapture will occur? If you’re new to this blog and have never heard of this Rapture I write of, we’ll be taking a closer look at its meaning and what it represents to the born-again Christian. It is a message of hope and excitement to all believers who are awaiting the Lord’s return in the clouds for His bride. Read through today’s Bible verses and we’ll take a few days to explain and prove this event can occur at any moment. Today, however, we will just cover what the word means and where it is found in the Scriptures.
We are seeing a great divide in Christian circles about the pre-tribulational Rapture. The topic is being ridiculed by believers. They are calling it a “secret” Rapture or escapism by those who believe it will happen before the Tribulation. I always thought that those who scoffed at Christians would be unbelievers. However, it makes perfect sense that it comes from within the Church itself.
The fact that these scoffers are referring to the “fathers,” tells us that they are religious. Is it any wonder that people are not turning to the Church in these end times? So let’s get down to business.
Although the word “rapture” doesn’t appear in the English translation of the Bible, it’s a term that describes the removing of born-again believers from the earth. The Latin word “rapturo” is where our English word comes from. The term “caught up” in verse 17 is elsewhere translated “pluck” (John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.) We see another reference to it when Philip was snatched away after he witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch (Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.) If you followed my series on the attitude of mankind during the end times, you saw that we are in a time where the antichrist will come into power. It is a time that no born-again believer will go through and a time that you do not want to experience if you are not born again. Prior to the revealing of the antichrist, this Rapture will occur: it can happen at any moment: it is imminent and you do not want to be caught unaware.
The New Testament was written in Greek and, therefore, we will see what the Greek language has to say about the word “rapture.” Strong’s Concordance states this:
It will help you if you look up each of these verses in your Bible to see the different uses. The Rapture represents being caught up, taken by force, taken away, plucked, and pulled away. The word “rapture” isn’t found in the Bible. But, friend, neither is the word “bible” found in the Bible or the word Trinity. But the concept and description of the rapture is found in the Bible and, therefore, it’s worthy of study, amen?
If you are a born-again Christian, you may have heard of the various beliefs of when the rapture will occur. To understand why it is important, you need to know when the different beliefs occur. There are three popular schools of thought of when the rapture will occur: the pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post-tribulation. Pre-tribulation is defined as occurring before the tribulation. Mid-tribulation is defined as occurring in the middle of the tribulation. And finally, the post-tribulation is defined as occurring after the tribulation.
The latter two beliefs claim that the pre-tribulation rapture was only recently “invented” but there is historical proof showing that this was the belief of the Christians as early as third century AD. This is only one example of the writings of that day:
All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.
-Pseudo-Ephraem (c. 374-627)
Please read his quote and let it sink in. Proponents against the pre-tribulation Rapture claim that Darby introduced it in the 1800’s. However, we see in this quote that the pre-tribulation rapture was not invented in the past 150 years but in the third century! As we continue our series, we will dig in deeper and we will see that this was what was intended through the Scriptures! The Apostle Paul spoke a lot about this blessing reunion and we will cover those verses to bring it all together.
No other Tribulation viewpoint can explain away these four verses:
Joh 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (4) And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
After Jesus’ Second Coming, the Millennial Kingdom begins. If the Rapture happens at the end of the Tribulation, how will the Church go to Heaven where Jesus went to prepare a place and THEN go into the Millennium? They will never go to Heaven? That makes no sense at all. Jesus says in verse 2 that He was going to prepare a place for us. Then verse 3 says that He will come again and receive us unto himself so that where He is, we will be also!
If you are a born-again Christian and have never studied this out, I hope you are blessed by it and encouraged in your heart. If you are not born again, I urge you to settle the matter right now! Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
The Rapture of the Church could happen at any moment. I have had several series dealing with the end times, the Rapture and the Book of Revelation. But let’s look at it from another perspective. If you knew that the Rapture would happen next Thursday, would you be about the Father’s business?
I hope you are blessed by this series. Please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts.
Good morning, Reader! When you read today’s verse, what comes to your mind? I believe that when we succumb to the devil’s temptations, we reap the repercussions of that sin. For example, indulging in drugs will result in an addiction that will be hard to break. It wears out the body and the addict quickly goes from a healthy body to an emaciated one. But there can be victory over this in Jesus Christ.
Matthew Henry’s commentary on this verse summarizes it best:
When Satan has drawn a child of God into worldly compliances, he will reproach him with the falls into which he led him. Victory must come from the cross of Christ. When we enjoy the sweetness of God’s precepts, it will make us long for more acquaintance with them. And where God has wrought to will, he will work to do.
God’s judgments may not seem good or fair to you at the time but they are always good. His judgments are always for our benefit. Don’t think for a minute that your sin will be overlooked by God.
Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
As born-again believers, we have an Advocate, a lawyer if you will. He goes before the Father defending us:
This is where “Christians” who continue in sin fail. They did not abide in Christ and are as the seed that fell upon the rock. But those Christians whose seed fell on good soil, we grow in the Lord and His love is perfected in our lives. (Matthew 13:3-9) So don’t be surprised when you are disciplined by the Lord when you succumb to the devil’s temptations. Acknowledge your sin before God and seek forgiveness. Ask the Lord to keep you from the hour of temptation so you are not so easily turned away. Each victory over sin brings a perfection of God’s love in us.
As we draw nearer to the Antichrist’s overtaking of the world, we can see the devil’s influence over the world. Can’t you see it? What used to be called evil is now accepted by the majority. Who would have thought that schools would have after school Satan clubs??? Parents who allow their young children to transition from their birth sex!
I would not want to face God if I participated in this type of sin. What God has called good and holy will still be good and holy come Judgment Day!
There is nothing on this earth that is worth spending eternity in a Lake of Fire. There will be no escape and no second chance!
Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
The word “testimony(ies) in this verse is very poignant. The Treasury of David has an interesting comment – I’ve added it below. David was the apple of God’s eye. One would think that he kept his heart focused on the Lord. But being human, I’m certain that he had tendencies to lean toward the opposite direction, as shown below.
“The only way to cure a wrong leaning is to have the soul bent in the opposite direction. Holiness of heart is the cure for covetousness.“
The Treasury of David
The only way to deal with sin is to be focused and centered on the Lord and His Word. Jesus quoted scripture to Satan when He was tempted by him in the desert. Jesus Christ took on human form and, therefore, could have succumbed to sin after 40 days of no eating. What human being wouldn’t? When the body is in pain and weak, it is harder to ward off the devil. Job is a good example of this. However, Jesus quoted His words from the Old Testament back at the devil. Is that what we do when we have fallen into temptation? Being tempted is not sin but giving into temptation is. The Lord promises to help us out of these situations.
James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
It is not until the temptation has been “conceived” in our heart that it brings forth sin. Therefore, do not let yourself get to that point. We have a choice as born-again believers! We do not have to sin. We can stay focused on God’s Word and quote it back to the devil when we are tempted. Be encouraged, Christian… it won’t be long now before the Rapture occurs. Our troubles here on earth will be gone and we will be forever with the Lord for all eternity! Oh joy! I love this hymn! It becomes sweeter to me as I see the day of Christ’s return to get His Bride in the Rapture of the Church! (1 Corinthians 15:50-55, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 2 Timothy 4:8, Titus 2:13, James 5:7-8, Revelation 3:10, Revelation 4:1) Be encouraged, believer!
WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE
There’s coming a day when no heartaches shall come No more clouds in the sky No more tears to dim the eye All is peace forever more On that happy golden shore What a day, glorious day that will be
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see When I look upon His face the one who saved my by His grace When He takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land What a day, glorious day that will be
There will be no sorrows there And no more burdens to bear No more sickness and, no more pain No more parting over there And forever I will be with the one who died for me What a day, glorious day that will be
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see When I look upon His face the one who saved my by His grace When He takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land What a day, glorious day that will be
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see When I look upon His face the one who saved my by His grace When He takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land What a day, glorious day that will be
But for the one who is not authentically born again, it is not so. The unbeliever is not looking forward to the Rapture, if he even knows anything about it. The bottom line is salvation. This determines where a person will spend eternity: forever burning in the Lake of Fire or in Heaven with the Lord Jesus. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
Oh what a blessing today’s verse is!! I love how the Word of God (Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour John 1:1) has provided His words through the Scriptures! Through them, we learn about His saving power, grace and mercy! Through them, I came to know Him and was gloriously born again!
But His Word doesn’t stop there! Reading the Scriptures brings comfort in this Topsy Tervy world! What does one do when the world seems to be falling apart all around us? The Bible has all the answers. In fact, God doesn’t want you fretting and has given you everything you need to know to live life when everything around you is going crazy!
Approximately 2,500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, about 2,000 of which already have been fulfilled to the letter—no errors.
(The remaining 500 or so reach into the future and may be seen unfolding as days go by.)
Reasons to believe website
We can trust God’s promise to fulfill the remaining 500 or so because of His track record! He gave prophecies to prophets of old and approximately 2,000 have been fulfilled without error! Who can do that? God can! Therefore, we can count on the remaining prophecies to be fulfilled without error! You can take God’s Word to the bank, Reader! Don’t be afraid of what’s to come but be afraid if you don’t know where you will spend eternity! If you don’t know Christ as your Saviour, you will not be able to take part in the glorious rapture of the church! Those who remain on earth after the Rapture, will suffer God’s wrath during the Tribulation which will come upon all the earth.
Don’t be one who will be left behind! Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
Do you see Jesus in this verse? He is the only truth that one must follow. We find that truth in His Word. (John 14:6) Not only is He the truth in all things, but He desires to have close fellowship with us. So much so, that He calls the church His Bride! (Revelation 21:2, 21:9, 22:17) The church has continued to build, from the time Jesus arose to Heaven to the day the Rapture takes place. After the Rapture, the church is not mentioned because the Bride has gone home to her Groom! He loves us so much that He gave His life for us!
Jesus took all our punishment upon Himself so that we could be free from sin. The penalty of sin has been paid on the cross over 2,000 years ago! What love!
Jesus made it clear that if we follow Him, we are not only His Bride, but His friends! We are not servants but friends! Jesus is my Saviour! My eyes are fixed on Him as He leads me! We all need Him today more than ever! The world is upside down with sin running rampant in our streets. It is only through Him that we find truth, peace and comfort. (Matthew 11:28-30) Thank you, Lord!
Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
Admitting when I’m wrong has gotten easier as I have grown older. It’s never easy to admit you’ve done something wrong or that you have sinned against God. But once you’ve done it a few times, it does in fact get easier. Why? Because confession is good for the soul. It frees the soul from guilt and worry.
Is it any wonder that many Christians today are not walking closer with Jesus? Many have not declared their ways to Him. In a time where pride is at the pinnacle of society, Christians must beware of adjusting their spiritual walk to society’s “walk.” It is of the utmost importance to stay away from the evil doctrine of this world. We are most certainly living in the end times, of this I am certain.
Admitting to Jesus our sins sets us free, especially when we come to salvation! A closer walk with Jesus helps us to keep our sin list short. We must desire that close relationship with Him. The closer we get to Him, the less we fall prey to sin. Furthermore, notice the verse says that He hears us in Psalm 119:26? Praise the Lord that our prayers for forgiveness are not lost in the air but are actually heard by the Lord! Praise Him!!
Amen and amen! Jesus’ grace is sufficient each and every moment! Keeping ourselves centered around God’s Word helps us to deal with the pressures of today. Our world has gone crazy! They call that which is sin, good, and that which is good, evil!
I don’t know how people make it through the day without fretting or worrying about what is happening around us. We all need the Lord and with Him, there is peace and rest.
Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!