So When Is The Rapture of The Church?

 "The most dangerous lie is not "There is no God," not "there is no hell"; but the most dangerous lie of Satan is "there is no hurry." Repent and believe and Trust Jesus Christ Today!

Dear Saints:

Last week we introduced the topic of the Rapture of the Church where Jesus Christ will descend from heaven and call up His disciples to meet Him in the air/cloud; and they will be with Jesus forever (see 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18).  The unbelieving in Christ will be left behind on the earth to experience the Great Tribulation. 

Note that the Rapture is the first of two returns of Christ. After seven years and at the end of the Great Tribulation, Jesus will physically return again with the Church to earth to rule and reign for a thousand years (see Revelation 19:7-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Zechariah 14:9 and Revelation 20: 2-6).

So when will Christ come for His Church? Simply, I don’t know and nobody knows according to Jesus:

“³⁶ “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. ³⁷ But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ³⁸ For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 

⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴² Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:36-42.

It is a surprise. However the Bible speaks to our readiness and being watchful. Let’s look further at the Scriptures. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11:

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 

⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

 ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” 

The background here is that the Thessalonians had already been taught that no one knows the time and date of Christ coming. Therefore, Paul reminds them of who they are already in Christ and what they should be doing while waiting for that day. They were too expectant then. What about us after two thousands plus?

We are reminded that we are the children of light and of the day, as such we are not in darkness and not to be sleeping and careless. We must watch and be sober at all times.

Our joy in the waiting is that we have been appointed and saved from God’s wrath in judgment that is to come upon the unbelieving world. Jesus has secured our salvation because He died for us and He is a substitute for the wrath we would have received. On this basis we must encourage one another and not be afraid of Christ’s coming or the day of judgment.

We have also been granted these armors to wear as we go along our business of living for the glory of God. We have FAITH and LOVE as our breastplate of protection for the vital organ of our existence in Christ. Without faith and love of God, we are nothing. We must keep believing and trusting God at all times. We must keep loving God and all people at all times.

We also have a great HOPE in Christ as helmet of salvation. It is a sure salvation forever no one can take it from us because whether we are dead or alive, we are with Christ forever. What a great news. What a great faith, hope and love in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. We are the most blessed and favored of God in the world. We must tell the whole world good news of Jesus Christ.

For the disciples of Christ yes, it’s a surprise but it doesn’t mean we are clueless and live careless lives. We are to live in gratitude to God as a result of what He has done for us. This is what Jesus expects of us while we wait for His return. “⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

We must be fruit bearers in character, conduct, conversation/communication, contribution/giving for the work of God and in converting hearts and minds of the unbelieving to Christ. All these we can do by the enablement of the Holy Spirit (see the fruit of  the Spirit – love, joy, patience, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; Galatians 5:22-23).  Are you bearing fruit that glorifies the Father? Let’s judge ourselves and repent and live differently. We have a part to play.

For the unbelievers in Christ, it is a surprise and a doomsday and terrible day. They will think and live as usual.  ^“For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape”.

Have you believed and trusted in Christ? There’s no escape from God’s wrath without Christ Jesus as the mediator. “ ⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time”(1 Timothy 2:5). No Mary or any other dead “Saint” can plead our case and atone for our sins.

Can I invite you to repent of your sins for the first time and put your faith and trust in Christ? Hell is for those who will stand for judgment trying to show God their good works instead of relying on the greatest good work already done on the cross by Christ. May God’s grace abound for you and for all of us. Amen.