Left Behind...

"Hey Mike, I keep hearing this word, "rapture"... what does it mean, and why should it be important to me? Well, you asked!

"RAPTURE" "Being LEFT BEHIND" "Missing the SECOND COMING" "Discovering that MILLIONS HAVE DISAPPEARED..." You've heard them all... Now, what do they mean?

I've been noticing lately that a lot of mainstream Christian websites are beginning to post "What to do if millions disappear" web pages on their sites. All of them address issues like what to do if your entire family is gone and you are left, or what to do if you've been raised in a Christian home, and you KNOW what just happened etc. Quite honestly, it's freaked me out a little bit.

Why would rapture-talk cause me concern? Well, because frankly, many of my own family members are not saved. And, honestly, the times and events around us that are happening seem to line up well with end-times prophesy. Dr. David Reagan of Lamb & Lion Ministries (http://www.lamblion.com/index.php) has been warning of the end times for some time now. On his website you will see a link to an article entitled, "Did Many People Disappear? Jesus Came, What Next?" which goes into great depth about what to do now that you've been left behind. The article is written by Nathan Jones - a ministry partner with Dr. Reagan. I recommend reading them.

I'd like to just point out a couple things. This isn't a joke. Many people feel because of the popularity of the Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins novels - "Left Behind" that the rapture is simply a device used in fiction to create a good story. Well, the fact is, Jesus IS coming back. When he does, we can expect that many people will disappear - why? Because the infallible Word of God tells us so. In the book of 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 18, we're told, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." That phrase in red - "caught up" is the word "ἁρπάζω" or "harpazo" - which means, "catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force)" Indicating that it will be sudden, and seemingly violent or quick. The English word "rapture" comes from the latin verb meaning "caught up" In the Latin Vulgate, the phrase, "caught up" is rendered, "rapiemur" or "raptus," hence our use of the word, "rapture" literally, "snatched away." This is the same verb used in Acts 8:39 after Philip had witnessed to the ethiopian eunich and had baptized him. The bible says that, "...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. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea."

We can trust that this will happen because Jesus Himself said it would. in John 14:1-3 it says, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 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." Also, in 1 Corinthians 15: 51 & 52 it says, "Behold, I show 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."


Also,in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus alludes to this event in chapter 24:29-44 by using phrases such as, "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (vs. 31) and "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." (vss. 37-42) That last part of the passage (vs. 40-42) should cause you to think. Jesus said it plainly. THERE WILL BE PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND - EVEN IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD!


We've all seen this image. But I want you to take a close look at it and consider that when the Lord comes back to take His church off the earth - the REAL Church - NOT an organization as some would have you believe, but rather, the BODY OF BELIEVERS - or all who've made Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of their lives - it will signal the beginning of what the bible calls the tribulation. A time of intense suffering like the world has never known. Those who are left behind will experience suffering - even if they come to faith in the Jesus Christ of the Bible... they will still suffer. The point is, don't miss it the first time. Don't go through the tribulation. Don't put yourself in a position to have to choose to take the mark of the beast, or face being beheaded. Make Him Lord of your life now.

Jesus is standing at the door knocking. I love this picture because it shows no door knob. He never forces His way into anyone's life. It's up to you to invite Him in, and open that door. The bible tells us that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and that there is none righteous on this earth. (Romans 3: 10 & 23). But the wonderful news - literally the "GOSPEL" or GOOD NEWS, is that "God demonstrated his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" But most important, "the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9) The Lord has been patient in delaying his return. His desire is that all would repent and turn to Him. He has waited and waited, but now is the time! There are no biblical prophesies concerning the second coming of Christ yet to be fulfilled, and with all the signs of the times, there is little time for you to sit on this and wait.

So, you ask yourself the question, "Do I need to be saved?" Well the answer is found in the bible. God is holy. No sin will ever enter His presence, for 'righteousness and judgement are the habitation of His throne.' " (Ps 97:2) Man is sinful. "For all have sinned all fallen short of the Glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Sin separates man from God. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you." (Isaiah 59:2) It is impossible for man to save himself. "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight." (Romans 3:20) - In other words, WORKS will not save you.

If all are sinners, you may ask, "Can I be saved?" Again we turn to what the Word of God says: God sent His Son to be your Savior. "Herin is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to the propitiation (payment) for our sins." (1 John 4:10). The living Savior invites sinners to receive Him. "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Forgiveness of sins and salvation can be yours today! "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (1 Peter 3:18)

Now, know that you CAN INDEED be saved, you might ask, "How can I be saved?" It shouldn't surprise you that the bible shares this as well. Agree with God that you are a lost sinner unable to save yourself. "God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and ask Him to be your Savior. "As many as receive Him, to them He gave power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12) You are not born as a child of God. We are alienated from him by sin. You only become adopted, or grafted in through belief and acceptance. Confess the Lord Jesus Christ before men. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved!" (Romans 10:9-10)

It's really that easy. Think about it. If you were Satan, and you wanted to keep people in your control, or thinking they'll never measure up, you'd make the conditions of salvation almost impossible to obtain. If you're LDS, this means keeping ALL of the commandments, being faithful in tithes, temple work, and callings. Not one person on earth can keep the commandments of God without failing. Jesus Christ made salvation simple so we wouldn't miss it. Satan has complicated it with ritual, obligation, works, lies, and false prophets, teachers, and doctrine. If you can believe that Jesus Christ would never lie, then take him at His word, revealed through those men inspired of the Holy Spirit to write what they did... and from His own words. He said,

"Verily verily I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death into life!"
(John 5:24)

Jesus is alive, and He's coming back.
Be found waiting - Not wanting!