Dear Friend,
In recent days the entire world witnessed a unique moment in our time. An American minister grabbed the attention of all by using mathematical calculations and the Bible to try and predict the end of days and the return of Christ. By his calculations Saturday May 21, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. was to be that day and hour.
His prediction prompted skeptics and believers alike to spend huge chunks of time to blog about it while newspapers wrote detailed articles and television news programs spent valuable air time on the subject. All had an opinion. A few took the time to recall that in just a few short months, the year had brought earthquakes, many tornadoes, a volcanic eruption, and a major tsunami/nuclear crisis to Japan.
One thing is important to remember- Christ Himself declared NO ONE knows the exact hour or day when His return will be, only the Father.
Can the days we are living in now be likened to the conditions that Scripture tells us will foreshadow the return of Christ?
Let's look at Luke 17:26-30
"And as it was in the days of Noe (Noah), so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."
"They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe (Noah) entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."
Yes, just like any other day for the unbelieving.
"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;"
"But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all."
"Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."
And to the wise:
"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1Thessalonians 5:4
The word Rapture itself is not found in the Bible but is used by Christians to describe a certain event in Scripture, meaning to be
caught away or to be caught up. It has been conveniently used to avoid repeating the whole verse whenever speaking of this event:
"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 Thess. 4:16-17
Some have not completely understood the term Rapture
and
are unsure as to the order the Bible says this will occur. Many mistakenly believe this occurs before the great tribulation. They feel that God has not appointed the Church to wrath and use the scripture verse found in 1st Thessalonians below to erroneously prove their point.
"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"
1 Thessalonians 5:9
But the tribulation is not the wrath of God which is reserved for unrepentant sinners in judgement.
True believers are still here during the great tribulation though Christ warns us there will be many false prophets and false Christs. The below verse should help make this clear to us.
"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not."
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
"Behold, I have told you before." Matthew 24:21-25
This short period of the great tribulation is that time when Satan will be loosed from the pit to deceive the nations (Rev. 20), and then the end will come. The Rapture occurs with the Sound of a great Trumpet and the Lord will descend with a shout!
The unsaved have been living in darkness. To them, His coming will be as a thief in the night. They are not expecting Him!
2Peter 3:10
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
Many will be caught unaware at His coming, but all will know as every eye shall see Him.
Revelation 1:7
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
This occurs at Christ's second advent, at the last day, the end of the world.
Matthew 24:29-30
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"
"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
It is after the tribulation that Christ returns to gather (rapture) His elect.
Mark 13:27
"And then shall he send His angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven."
When Christ returns on that last day, it will be to raise up believers to everlasting life and unbelievers to judgement.
1Corinthians 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."
For the world, the Great Tribulation period will come either as judgment or as a test of our faith.
2Timothy 3:13
"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
We are commanded to watch so that we are not deceived.
"And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them." Luke 21:8
