It just seems appropriate, with all that’s happening worldwide, to talk about our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ. No one can give an actual date or time that this era will end, but it could be any day now. The issue is, will you be ready when it happens? (ESV – all emphasis is mine.)
For all who have received and accepted Jesus as their Savior, their eternal destiny is to be with Him forever when we leave this earth. There is an event that will take place just before the worst seven-year period of time that this earth has ever seen. That event is commonly known as the Rapture of all believers to meet Jesus in the air before the wrath/tribulation begins.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Paul gives this description: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep [have died], that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
Going further to 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might be with Him.”
The way Paul wrote about this, he believed that the Rapture could even take place while he was still alive.
Jesus is quoted in Matthew, Mark, and Luke about things that would take place before this era ends. In 2 Timothy 3, Paul tells about all the negative events and attitudes that will be taking place in the last days. John, Peter, and numerous other writers in both Old and New Testaments gave more details of what can be expected. If we look at the world events of today, it is almost as if we’re reading straight from the Bible.
We are told in 1 Corinthians 15:52 that the Rapture will occur “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trumpet.” This is an adequate warning that the event will be over almost as fast as it starts. And, yes, our Heavenly Father is able to do this just as it’s written. He is not bound by time units as we humans are.
Our Savior did not say exactly when this would occur, but did tell us in Luke 21:28: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
One issue we are seeing today is that some churches that had been biblical in the past are now giving messages that are totally against the true Bible Scriptures.
In 1 John 2: 18-23 we’re told, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist [the ultimate evil one of the tribulation] is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, so that it might become plain they are not of us.
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is in the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”
Any church pastor that says there are “many ways to Heaven, and Jesus is only one of them” is absolutely a false prophet. Also, those who say that what God has called “abominations” are actually not sins in today’s world, are preaching from Satan’s textbook.
Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” This tells us that our Savior is eternal, unchangeable, and perfectly reliable. As believers in our Lord and Savior, we need to be firm in our faith, focus on Him, and not give in to false teachings and cultural trends.
Today, more than ever, we need to have Jesus in our hearts as our true Lord and Savior. In 1880, Fanny Crosby wrote a hymn titled: “Tell Me the Story of Jesus.”
1.) Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard. Tell how the angels in chorus sang as they welcomed His birth; “Glory to God in the Highest; Peace and Good Tidings to earth.
Ref.) Tell me the Story of Jesus, write on my heart every word. Tell the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.
2.) Fasting alone in the desert, tell of the days that are past. How from sins He was tempted, yet was triumphant at last. Tell of the years of His labor, tell of the sorrow He bore. He was despised and afflicted, homeless, rejected and poor. (Ref)
3.) Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, writhing in anguish and pain. Tell of the grave where they laid Him; tell how He liveth again. Love in that story so tender, clearer than ever I see. Stay; let me weep while you whisper, Love Paid the Ransom for Me. (ref)
Philippians 1: 21-23: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”
Our Savior left Heaven to come to this earth in human form in order that a perfect, sinless blood sacrifice could be made for all mankind. He could have chosen not to do so, but as stated in John 10:18, “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
Jesus had no illusions, and He knew more would reject Him than would receive His precious gift for us. Their desire for the things of this world is greater than their desire to receive and accept Jesus as their Lord. Yet, He still went through a most agonizing human death for our sake.
Our Heavenly Father promises that all who receive and accept His Son as their Savior will have eternal life in Heaven. Likewise, all who reject the free gift and take their last breath on this earth without Jesus will have a place in line at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15.
Unlike some man-made religions who force their will on their members, our Heavenly Father allows us to choose our eternity of our own free will – eternal life with Jesus our Lord, or eternity in the lake of fire with Satan and his demons. There is no third option, no matter what any false prophet may try to tell you.
No matter what your past contains, the shed blood of our Savior cleanses us from all sin. That’s a promise found in 1 John 1:7. Once we are a part of His flock, we will still sin as long as we are in these fallible human bodies, but He gives us 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Once we are taken up to meet our Savior in the air, we will have new eternal bodies and a mindset that will be free from any temptation to sin.
Our Savior would love for you to be a part of His precious flock. Today would be a great time to call out to receive and accept His free gift (Romans 10:9-13 and Ephesians 2:8-9).
As stated, the choice is entirely up to you. Choose wisely!
Maranatha! (Come, Lord Jesus!)