One of my favorite cartoon strips shows a puppy at a Humane Society sitting at his cage door with a smile on his face (and yes, dogs do smile). Four of the five frames have the same scene with the caption “Maybe Today” under each one. Then, the fifth frame shows the puppy on the front seat of an automobile with a paper beside him with the heading, “Adopted.” The caption of that frame is, “Yes, Today!” and the puppy is totally ecstatic with anticipation of going to a new home. No matter what, all true believers should be comforted that one day we will be taken from this sin-filled world to be in our forever home that will be prepared by Jesus Himself (John 14:1-3). [Scripture ESV; all emphasis mine]
Being an impatient person myself, that puppy is an inspiration as to just how I should behave right now. Having studied the Father’s word over the years that He has provided for us, even a novice such as myself can see that we are the generation that will hear our Savior call out for His flock to meet Him in the air. There have always been some signs that tell us God has not forgotten about us. But when signs of the end of this age are described by Jesus, Paul and others, every one of them is here and at the same time right now.
As a reminder of what Jesus said we should be doing today, Luke 21:28, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” We don’t know the Father’s timing, as it is totally up to Him, but when it’s written in His word that we are getting close, then we are at the very door.
Think of Noah building an Ark for an event that had never before taken place on this earth, and that was rain. Genesis 6-8 tells what took place and why God took the action that He did. Genesis 5 tells us Noah was 500 years old when his sons were born, and he was 600 when the flood came all over the earth. After the flood, Noah lived to be 950.
Initially, humans were created to live forever in the Garden of Eden, but because of sin (Genesis 3), death entered the world. With all the wickedness that took place before the flood, Genesis 6:3 states, “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not abide in man forever for he is flesh; his days shall be 120 years.'” After the flood, the humans that populated the earth had shorter and shorter life spans as time passed.
A prayer of Moses in Psalm 90:10 states, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone and we fly away.” (Note, some translations state three score and ten, which is the same as 70.)
In 2 Peter 3, we can get a feel for why we are seeing all the evil changes that are taking place. One thing to remember over everything else, God is not surprised by anything that is happening. 2 Peter 3:3-4, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.'”
This message is impressed on people’s minds by Satan as one of his best lies. He would have us think we have all the time in the world to live any way we want. Other lies are, “Did God really say?”; There are many ways to Heaven, as all religions worship the same god”; “If you feel you need Jesus in your life, call on Him later; meanwhile, enjoy life any way you please.” The only problem with these lies is that we aren’t guaranteed another hour, much less all the time we want. Also, to die without Jesus as our Savior is an automatic reservation at the Great White Throne without any recourse whatsoever.
Continue with 2 Peter 3:8-9; “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, as some count slowness; but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” The “perish” here is not earthly death but is “eternal death” in the lake of fire. It could be that the Father is allowing a bit more time for more souls to be able to call on Jesus and be saved (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13), but eventually, He will send Jesus for us, and the wrath will begin.
The false prophets today are filling people’s minds with feel-good, ear-tickling messages that are not biblical. What God called abominations are still not acceptable to Him, no matter what some so-called evangelical preachers are saying.
Jesus knew, even when He was on this earth, that more would turn to the worldly ways than would accept Him. Matthew 7:13-14 gives us what He said about the narrow and broad pathways and where they would lead. He knew that anyone who called out to have Him as their Savior would be persecuted, but in John 16:33, He tells us to have faith because He has overcome the world.
John 10 is a wonderful chapter that tells us how much Jesus loves all of His flock and that He would willingly sacrifice Himself so that we could be with Him forever. John 10:16 states that there will be “one flock; One Shepherd.” It’s a promise for all, not just God’s chosen, that everyone can be saved if they will receive and accept Jesus as their Savior. By the way, Christianity has not stopped any of God’s covenants with the Jewish people. His covenants with them stand forever, yet even they have to accept Jesus to be given an eternal home in Heaven.
God’s will since Calvary is that all would receive and accept the free Gift Jesus paid for so dearly on that cruel cross. We must confess and admit we are all sinners (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23) in need of a Savior. Believe and have faith that Jesus is the only one that qualifies as our true Savior (John 14:6) and is the only way to the Father. All who truly call on Jesus will be saved (Romans 10:13).
Think of the puppy. “Maybe Today” Jesus will call for us; but even so, “Yes, Today,” we need to have Him in our hearts. Then, it won’t matter when He calls because our eternity will have already started as a precious member of His flock.
To miss the Harpazo, Rapture, or taking up to meet Jesus in the air would be a tragic mistake. One may very well survive for a while under the rule of the antichrist, but it’s very unlikely it will be for the full 7 years.
God will be working with His chosen ones, and some will be protected in a place specified by Him, which many believe will be at Petra in Jordan. However, as given in Zechariah 13:8, only about one-third of the total Jewish population will be left alive.
We’re told in Romans 11:25-27 that Israel will go through a “partial hardening” until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. Not all Jewish people will have this hardening, as a small percentage (1%-2%) of them are Messianic, who have accepted Jesus as their true Messiah. They will go up in the Rapture with all the other true believers in the world; they will not enter the tribulation.
The ones that are left behind will be under the direct discipline of the Father, and by the end of the 7-year period, all will be Messianic. As Romans 11:26a states, “And in this way, all Israel will be saved….”
It’s getting very real as we see all the events that are taking place in the whole world today. It’s as if we’re seeing end-time Bible prophecy being fulfilled at a faster and faster pace.
We should be like the puppy and looking forward to seeing Jesus. The term “fear not” is in the Bible 365 times, so this is something the Father definitely wants for us. It’s very possible we could take our last breath before the Rapture call, but at that instant, we will be in His presence. No matter what, we are His, and John 10 states that we cannot be taken from His hands.
So, Rejoice – Maybe Today!