Are You Ready?
Do You Qualify to Go in the Rapture?
What is the Rapture? The signs are all around us that Jesus will be returning in the clouds soon to quickly catch away the dead in Christ and the living saints to meet Him in the air and be caught up to heaven (John 14:1-3, I Thes 4:13-17, I Cor 15:51-57). This is commonly referred as the rapture of the saints. This event can occur any time. There are no Biblical prophecies that have to be fulfilled before this occurs. The return of Jesus for the rapture will trigger the start of the seven year tribulation period on earth described in the Bible’s book of Revelation, Chapters 4 – 18. Those who are left behind will experience almost indescrible pain and suffering during these seven years. The scriptures say that one-half of the world’s population will die during this time period as God releases His wrath on wicked mankind who have rejected the gospel, persecuted both Christians and Jews, and have aligned themselves with the “man of sin”, the antichrist (the beast in Revelation) who will control the world and proclaims himself as god. At the end of the tribulation Jesus Christ returns to earth with the saints (Rev 19:11-16, Jude 14-15, II Thes 1:6-10, Mat 24:29-30). Returning in the battle of Armageddon, He slays the antichrist and all the wicked who have come to do battle against Jerusalem (Zech 14:1-9). His throne will be established in Jerusalem. From there He and the saints will reign over the world for 1000 years. The curse will be lifted, there will be peace, the earth will produce abundantly, and the lion will lay down by the lamb. The polluted environment should be cleansed, also.
Are you ready for the soon coming rapture? With these things in mind, won’t you seriously consider whether or not you and your family members are ready for the coming of Christ to rapture away those who are true to Him. Many think they are ready but are not. Jesus told us to be watching and ready. In Mark 13:33-37, alone, Jesus said three times that we are to be watching for His coming. Let's not be careless in looking for and being ready for the rapture of the saints. If we are not ready, even though we say we are Christians, we will be like the foolish (unwise) virgins Jesus spoke about in Matthew 25:1-13. We are already living in the perilous times the Bible says will precede Christ’s return (II Tim 3:1). To be ready for the rapture it is more important than ever to be living for Christ like the scriptures tell us and be watching for His return. He is coming for those who like the wise virgins of Matthew 25:1-13, are prepared and looking for His coming. We are living in some of the most awesome times of mankind. A paradigm change is about to occur in which God intervenes in this world and destroys the works of Satan. Years ago, Billy Graham said that if he could chose anytime in history in which to live, he’d choose to live now because he believes we are living in the generation in which Jesus will return.
You can be ready! An essential part of being ready and prepared for Christ’s return is to be “born again” as Jesus described to Nicodemus in John 3:1-17. Speaking to Nicodemus (a ruler of the Jews), Jesus said, …Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God(John 3:3). In verse 5 He said, .. Except a man be born of water [natural birth] and of the Spirit [Holy Spirit],he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Anyone who believes on Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died on the cross to redeem us from our sins may call upon Him to be born again. Doing so, the person becomes “saved” and receives the gift of eternal life. The Apostle Paul, quoting from the prophet Joel (2:32), said, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom 10:13). If you’ve never been born again you can decide right now to give your life to Christ and start following Him in a new life (II Cor. 5:17). The following is a prayer you can pray now to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior and be born again. Pray humbly and sincerely with an attitude of genuine repentance of sins, submitting yourself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, I come to you needing you to be my Savior. Thank you for dying on the cross to save me from my sins. Please forgive me of all my sins. I repent and turn away from sin and receive you as my Lord and Savior. I surrender and commit my life to you. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Guide me throughout the rest of my life and help me to faithfully follow you and become the person you want me to be. Amen
Having sincerely prayed this prayer, you can be assured that you are born again (saved) and have eternal life. Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (Emphasis supplied). Start your new life in Christ by reading and studying the Bible (begin with the Gospel of John). Also, start fellowshipping with other believers and attending a good Bible believing church regularly. Ask the minister to baptize you. Set aside a period of time each day to pray and read God’s Word. Ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit. He will lead you by His Spirit as you trust Him and yield yourself to Him.
Unfortunately, there has been little or no real change in the lives of many professing Christians. They continue, or have fallen back, to live like people of the world. Jesus said, Not every one that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven(Mat 7:21). As true followers of Christ we are to love Him and keep His commandments (John 14:15, 21,23). Jesus should be #1 in our lives – Jesus first, then everything else!
Too many professing Christians have allowed themselves to be caught up in the cares of life and in a love of the world and the things it has to offer. The Apostle John exhorts believers to Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will God abideth forever (I John 2:15-17, Emphasis supplied). Christians like this have no fellowship with the Lord and because they are following Him afar off. It is hard to believe that they are looking for our Lord and are ready for His return. They are like the foolish (unwise) virgins Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25:1-13. When the bridegroom [Jesus] came they were unprepared. Their lamps had gone out because they had no oil for their lamps (oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit). Many who claim to beChristians are living lives in which they are not walking with Christ and are not being led by the Spirit. They are nearly prayerless, unmoved by God’s Word, have little if any concern for the lost, and, thus,bear no spiritual fruit. They are disobedient to God’s Word, not obeying our Lord’s commandments. If Christ came today they risk being left behind.
In John 15:2,Jesus speaks about the importance of bearing fruit. He said, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. In verse 6, He speaks of the consequences of not abiding in Him so as to bear fruit. He said, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Jesus foretold that many of His followers would not be ready for His coming. In chapters 1 - 3 of Revelation Jesus Christ instructed John to write to each of the seven churches in Asia. Many Bible scholars believe that the merits and shortcomings Jesus spoke to each church applied not only literally to the respective churches but, also, were descriptive of the church, as a whole, during successive periods from its founding until the return of Christ. That being the case, the last church and church period was that of the Laodiceans (Rev 3:14-22). The Lord’s evaluation of the Laodicean church is very descriptive and fitting to so many Christians today. They will not be found worthy of the rapture and will enter into the tribulation period. This is what the Lord said to them (emphases provided).
14. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning and the creation of God;
15. I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot.
16. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked;
18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.
19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev 3:14-22)
Are not the foolish virgins, described in Matthew 25:1-13 and theLaodicean Christiansessentially the same? Many of today’s Christians fit the descriptions of both, especially those in western and more affluent countries of the world. Theyclaimto be, and consider themselves, born again Christians so they will go in the rapture - as so many ministers assert. However, I’m afraid they are blind and self-deceived. They are increased with goods and possess many things the world has to offer – land, houses, automobiles, fine clothing, foods, etc. They enjoy their life styles and possessions such that subconsciously they have need of nothing. It is difficult to distinguish them from the world. Their worldly appetites, goals, and behaviors are much like those of the unconverted. Spiritual erosion has taken its toll, and they have unwittinglybecome lukewarm and lean in their souls.
Desirable things of life can be okay, but it seems that they have caused too many Christians tolose their spirituality. They have lost their first love – affection for Jesus Christ. Few live Spirit-filled lives. There seems to be no oil in their lamps. They have no light to shine before people. They are not led by the Spirit and seem powerless to be witnesses to help bring others to Christ. They are not anxiously looking and yearning for the coming of Christ. Many act like they would be well satisfied for life to continue as it is, as long as they could be assured of going to heaven when life is over.
How about yourself? Now would be a good time for an honest self-evaluation of your spiritual life and what you sincerely do that fits the life of a true Christian – one who has put Christ first in his/her life. This world system is already starting to fall apart. The world is in turmoil. The birth pangs of the coming tribulation seem to be upon us. God is about to pour out His wrath on this ungodly world. If you want to escape the seven years of tribulation, you must be ready to go up instantly in the rapture. In Luke 21:36 Jesus said, Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. If you are not ready for the rapture, Jesus in His love calls on you to repent. He says to you and the Laodiceans,Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man [person] hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him [have fellowship with him], and he with me(Rev 3:20). Come to Christ or renew your commitment nowand truly follow Him (see the suggested prayer on Pg 2).
If you’ve never before come to Christ, you must understand that to qualify for the rapture and escape the tribulation period which will follow it, you must be born again, as described above. Then,believe and obey every teaching given in the Holy Scriptures (review Mat 7:21, John 14:15,21,23). In obedience to the scriptures you are to become a disciple of Christ and have a minister to baptize you in water. This is symbolic of your dying to sin and rising to newness of life in Jesus Christ. Also, it serves as a public testimony that you have received Christ and are following Him.
As a true follower of Christ, ready for the rapture, you are to make Him first in the day to day activities of your life. That is to be your number one priority every day.
You are tolive a holy, righteous life,set apart from this world(Heb 12:1, 14). Anytime you sin repent of it and ask God for forgiveness (I John 1:9). Be in the house of God (church) regularly to worship Him and hear the preaching and teaching of God’s word(Heb10:25). Make sure you are in a good Bible believing church that considers the Bible the inspired, inerrant Word of God. A true follower of Christ will give in tithe and offerings to support the church, missionaries, and other Christian organizations that are trying to reach people for Christ. Become a member and involved in a good church; but, always remember that it is not byreligiousrituals and good works that we are saved. We are saved by grace through faith. We are not saved by our works of righteousness (Eph 2:8,9; Titus 3:5).
Fellowship continually with other Christians who are sincerely following Christ and putting Him first in their lives. Pray and study God’s Word (the Bible) daily. Grow in the knowledge of the scriptures so that you will know truth from error and be spiritually strong. Realize that you and other believers are in a spiritual war against Satan and his demonic spirits. The battle is largely in the mind, so place God’s Word in your mind.
Become filled with the Holy Spirit and allow the gifts and fruits of the Spirit to be operative and evident in your life. Learn to share your faith with others. Make a list of your lost friends and relatives and pray for them by name. Be prepared to reach them as the Spirit leads. Be ready to share your own testimony of what God has done in your life. Gospel tracts, good literature, tapes, and DVDs can be helpful.
Do these things sincerely and consistently, and you will be ready and qualified for the rapture, the blessed hope,and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ(Titus 2:13). In so doing, you should be without spot or wrinkle and be rapture ready (Eph 5:27). John said, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin(I John 1:7).
------
All scripture references are from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible.
Additional literature is available to help Christians and for use in reaching others for Christ.
Dr. Noel L. Caldwell, . (803)788-5259, (803)210-7385, cell. 9-2-11, Revised 6-7-12.
1