Bible Studies

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The Rapture: God’s Wedding Coach
By Patricia Backora, author of the book
Tough Love in Christ's Millennium
Which you can order online from: http://www.publishamerica.com

Christians are often accused of having an escapist attitude where it concerns leaving this world at the time of the Rapture. Especially since the Rapture is held by many to be an unloving doctrine because unrepentant sinners and backsliders won’t go up too. But by rejecting Christ, sinners exclude themselves from the Rapture. Jesus exhorts us in Luke 21:36 to pray always that we may be accounted worthy to escape (not endure) all the terrible things which will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. By clear inference, some will be found to be unworthy, sadly. Titus 2:13 instructs us to look for "our blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." We are not told to look for the appearing of Antichrist, who will rule Planet Earth during the Tribulation, just before Christ returns to reign 1000 years (Revelation Chapter 13; Rev.20:4-6). Looking first for Antichrist’s appearing would be a terrible nightmare, not a blessed hope!

If Christians must feel guilty for expecting to be taken out of this sin-infested world before the Tribulation hits, then Noah should feel guilty too for obeying God and getting into the Ark before the rains came. By that time Noah had done his part by being a preacher of righteousness (II Pet.2:5). After Noah and his family went in, the door of the Ark stayed open for seven days before the Lord finally closed it. That pictures God's grace. But how many sinners took advantage of that final opportunity to join Noah in the Ark?

Why do Christians debate about the translation of the Church to heaven, which is the completion of our salvation process? They argue over this much more than they do over the earlier phases of salvation, which are justification and daily sanctification. I think part of the controversy springs from the fact that our translation to heaven at the Rapture is the only stage of our salvation which absolutely does not involve any personal suffering. Paul, who was already converted, speaks of a salvation that is nearer than when we first believed (Rom.13:11). In Romans 8:23 he longs for the redemption (salvation) of our body, which will be changed from vileness to immortal glory when Christ appears for us (Philippians 3:20-21).

Why should we feel guilty that we will get to enjoy our long-awaited union with Christ in heaven while lost sinners suffer the Tribulation Period on earth? The fact some think it's unfair to exclude sinners from the Rapture doesn't make the catching away of the saints to meet Christ in the air any less scriptural! I Thessalonians 4:13-18 promises that those who are in Christ will rise up to meet Him in the air (not on earth) at His appearing. The fact that many reject Christ and won't join us there is tragic. And that will be but the beginning of the sorrows they will experience for rejecting Christ. But to proclaim that the Bible holds dire warnings for rejecters of Christ does not mean we don't love lost souls and pray for their salvation. Some people will choose to take their chances with enduring the Tribulation or even risk going to hell because while they might enjoy the fire insurance Christ offers, deep down they don’t want to accept Him as Lord.

Jesus demands much more than a thirty-second sinner’s prayer. He wants your whole heart and your entire devotion. Those who aren’t willing to part with their sins cannot be His disciples. Jesus did not say: Compose a quickie “sinner’s prayer” for people to pray, and then let them go on their way and live life in their usual way with no personal follow-up. He told His followers to go out into all the world to teach all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matt.28:19-20). In the margin of my Bible it clarifies the meaning: to make disciples, or Christians of all nations. There’s a vast difference between filling out a church membership card and committing to a lifetime of discipleship. It means forsaking the Broad Way to Destruction and walking the Straight and Narrow Path to Life (Matt.7:13-14). People hate being different and sticking out from the cool crowd, but bucking the sinful trends in society is part of the price you pay for following Jesus. People can’t have their extra-marital fling and claim to be in love with Jesus at the same time. Many aren’t prepared to pay that price.

So is it fair to call God unfair because He will keep His promise to reward each person according to his works (Romans 2:6; Rev.2:23; 20:12,13)? The sinner’s reward will be to reap the pain and heartache he sowed throughout his lifetime, because he has refused to accept God’s remedy for his lost condition. The Blessed Hope of the Church is to be taken home to be with Christ, her heavenly Bridegroom. Following the Rapture, the faithful believer’s reward will be spiritual marriage to Christ in heaven and participation in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (II Cor.11:2; Rev.19:7-9). This most wonderful of all events is for those who are in love with Jesus, the Bridegroom, not for those who do not know Him (Matt.25:11-12). Christ will give the crown of righteousness to all who love His appearing (II Tim.4:8).

So let us all be ready!

[email protected] http://www.kingdomageministry.com

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